Inside the royal city of Alabasta, Princess Vivi stared out at the vast forest that had appeared in the distance. A strange feeling told her it was connected to Admiral Purple Kirin.
The common people, however, were awestruck. They dropped to their knees in waves, praising it as a miracle from the heavens.
King Cobra, unlike them, was no fool. He didn't believe in miracles. Like Vivi, he suspected that Chiga was behind all of this.
The father and daughter stood silently, lost in thought, until a palace guard burst into the room in a panic.
"Your Majesty! Crocodile has arrived!"
"What?! What's he doing here? Could it be that Admiral Purple Kirin—"
A bad premonition surged through Cobra. Vivi immediately stepped forward, asking the guard anxiously,
"Did Admiral Purple Kirin appear with him?"
The guard paused for a moment, clearly startled.
"Your Highness… I didn't see Admiral Purple Kirin."
Cobra and Vivi exchanged worried glances. Before they could say another word, Crocodile entered the hall, flanked by his senior agents.
Cobra's eyes narrowed at the sight of Crocodile's scarred face. Instinctively, he stepped in front of Vivi, shielding her.
But Vivi pushed past him. She walked up and faced Crocodile head-on, trying to appear composed—though her trembling shoulders betrayed her fear.
Crocodile, chewing on a cigar, gazed down at the bold young princess. After a long pause, he suddenly bent forward in a slight bow—one that resembled a gentleman's gesture.
His subordinates behind him followed in unison.
Vivi and Cobra were stunned, unable to understand Crocodile's strange behavior.
Then, with half-lidded eyes, Crocodile spoke flatly:
"By Admiral Purple Kirin's orders, my crew and I will serve as guards within the royal palace for the next five years. Our top priority… is to protect Her Highness, the Princess."
Vivi gasped and raised her hand to cover her mouth.
Cobra, quick to recover, stepped forward.
"Where is Admiral Purple Kirin now? And that forest outside… is it his doing?"
Crocodile didn't raise his head.
"He's already gone. That forest is the result of his powers. He said… it was a gift for the Princess."
Vivi was speechless. In her heart, Chiga's image became clearer than ever—his Navy coat fluttering, his calm, radiant smile, and that unshakable sense of security.
She suddenly turned and ran to the balcony. Leaning over the edge, she shouted toward the open sky:
"Thank you, Admiral Purple Kirin!"
Boom!
A streak of radiant purple lightning flashed across the sky as if answering her call.
This time, Vivi didn't flinch. A bright, youthful smile appeared on her face as she whispered,
"I hope I can see you again, Admiral Purple Kirin…"
Crocodile, with his keen hearing, caught every word. His expression twitched involuntarily as he muttered under his breath,
"Tch… you'd better not. At least not in front of me."
---
High above Alabasta,
Chiga stood calmly, hands in his pockets. His Rinnegan eyes scanned the city below, an amused smile on his face.
Robin's voice echoed from the Door-Door space.
"You really leave an impression on young girls, Master."
Chiga could already picture her sly grin.
He chuckled. "Vivi may be young, but she's no ordinary girl. She even tried infiltrating your Baroque Works as a spy."
"What?! That little girl? Bold indeed… lucky for her, she met you."
"And what about you?"
"…"
Robin fell silent at his question. Her gaze softened as she looked at him through the dimensional gap.
"…I'm also lucky. I just hope you won't abandon me… this devil's child."
Chiga said nothing for a moment. Instead, he turned his head slightly and reached his hand down toward a point below.
"Almighty Pull."
Snap!
A man in a white robe and green mask shot up from the city below, seized by the throat mid-air.
Robin's expression changed the moment she saw the figure.
"That's a CP0 agent!"
Indeed, this was a member of Cipher Pol Aigis Zero. He had been secretly observing the recent chaos caused by Crocodile, sent by the World Government after Crocodile's reckless actions stirred too much attention.
The agent had initially been sent to investigate Crocodile's interference with Alabasta's civil unrest. But when he detected the presence of not only Admiral Purple Kirin but also Admiral Aokiji, his mission changed drastically.
He believed he was watching from a safe distance—until he saw Nico Robin.
Ecstatic at the discovery, he tried to contact the World Government. But his Den Den Mushi was inexplicably paralyzed—unresponsive, limp.
Forced to report back in person, he waited for the admirals to leave. But before he could act, he was pulled directly into the air by Chiga's gravity-like ability.
Now, panic gripped him.
"Admiral Purple Kirin, what are you doing?! Are you trying to rebel?!"
Chiga didn't answer. He spoke instead to the air, calmly.
"I'll dispose of this pest for you."
The CP0 agent flailed desperately in Chiga's grip, but it was futile. The more he struggled, the tighter the grip on his throat became.
"You can't do this! I'm with the World Government! This is treason!"
Crack!
"AAAGHH!!!"
Electric arcs lit the sky with sharp crackling. A scream echoed across the skies of Alabasta—then, silence.
All that remained was a scorched pile of ash.
Chiga brushed it away with one hand and finally muttered,
"Don't worry. Your friends will be joining you soon."
Robin, still watching from the Door-Door Space, was stunned. She realized then that Chiga had responded to her confession not with words, but with action.
Words are fleeting—actions carry weight.
---
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