Igaram's broad, performative smile faltered. Why were they laughing? He was completely baffled.
While he was still trying to figure it out, Leo stepped forward and clapped him amiably on the shoulder, lowering his voice. "Igaram, you can drop the act. We're all hungry. Go get some food ready."
Igaram: "..."
Being addressed by his real name felt like a lightning strike. Igaram froze solid on the spot, his mind reeling, a storm of panic and confusion raging inside him.
Vivi offered him an awkward, apologetic smile before leading Leo and the rest of the crew towards the temporary Baroque Works hideout.
Once the group was out of earshot, a recovered Igaram shot a deeply meaningful look at Vivi's retreating back. Realization dawned, and he followed them at a discreet distance.
Inside the hideout, Igaram prepared a table laden with food for Leo and his crew. Notably, it was all untainted by any sedatives or poisons. Leo and the women dug in without ceremony, enjoying the meal. While Igaram's culinary skills couldn't hold a candle to Carmen's, the change of pace was still welcome. The room soon filled with the sounds of eating and lighthearted conversation and laughter.
Meanwhile, Igaram pulled Vivi into a corner. "Your Highness," he whispered urgently, "I thought they were your captives? How does he know my real name?" When Leo had said his name, Igaram's heart had nearly stopped, fearing Baroque Works had finally sent someone for him.
Vivi twisted her fingers together, her expression deeply uncomfortable. "I told them. But they're not bad people! They have nothing to do with Baroque Works!"
She then proceeded to explain the entire sequence of events to Igaram, from the attempted theft to her forced—and then willing—recruitment.
"What?!" Igaram's face fell. "Your Highness, you are the Princess of Alabasta! You cannot simply join a pirate crew!"
"Igaram, it's the only way! The Captain agreed to help us defeat Crocodile only if I joined his crew." It was a non-negotiable condition, and she had no other choice.
Igaram was dumbfounded, but could only sigh in defeat. As the Captain of the Alabasta Royal Guard, he held immense respect for Princess Vivi. She was so young, yet she had willingly given up her royal comforts to infiltrate a dangerous criminal organization, risking her life for her kingdom. But she was still naive, too quick to trust. She believed their promises after just a few words! Their enemy was Crocodile, one of the feared Warlords of the Sea! A man who could carve out his own territory even in the treacherous waters of the New World! And who was Leo? A complete unknown. And the women with him? They looked delicate. Could they even punch through a wall? If King Cobra found out about this, it would break his heart.
"Princess Vivi," Igaram pleaded, his voice full of paternal concern, "I know you have a kind heart, but these matters are not as simple as they seem. They might be strong in their local waters, but this is the Grand Line. Do you truly believe they are a match for Crocodile?" He leaned in closer. "They probably don't even have bounties yet!"
"But they do!" Vivi shook her head, eager to defend her new crew. "The Marines have issued bounties! Captain Leo is worth 30 million Berries, and Sister Nami is worth 50 million! They are very powerful!"
Igaram: "..."
For newcomers to the Grand Line, a 30 million Berry bounty and a 50 million Berry bounty were indeed substantial. Wait... did she get those numbers reversed?!
"Igaram, you have to trust the Captain. He even has a mole placed right beside Crocodile himself!" Vivi added, checking to make sure no one was listening.
"A mole?!" Igaram's eyes widened. "Who is it?" It must be a high-ranking officer he knew.
"The Vice President, Miss All Sunday."
"Her?!" Igaram was shocked. Miss All Sunday was Crocodile's most trusted subordinate, his right hand. Her work was impeccable; every task Crocodile assigned was executed flawlessly. Such a capable agent was actually working for Leo?!
"Your Highness, are you sure you haven't been deceived again?" Igaram asked, suspicion creeping back into his voice.
"No! The Captain could describe all of Miss All Sunday's characteristics perfectly! Her Flower-Flower Fruit ability, and even... even her... measurements. I've seen Miss All Sunday; it all matches what the Captain said," Vivi explained, looking down at her feet.
Igaram: "..."
He described her in that much detail? Well, that was... convincing. Against his better judgment, he felt himself starting to believe it.
"If that's truly the case," Igaram mused, his tone shifting to one of strategic calculation, "with Lord Leo making a move and Miss All Sunday working from the inside, they might actually be able to take down Crocodile."
Vivi's mouth fell open at Igaram's rapid change of tune. She nodded firmly. "I believe the Captain can do it."
Now sharing her hope, Igaram glanced over at Leo, who was laughing and chatting easily with the circle of beautiful women. His expression turned slightly peculiar.
He ventured a delicate, hesitant question. "Princess Vivi... after you joined his crew... he hasn't... done anything to you, has he?"
Vivi blinked her large, innocent eyes, looking utterly confused. "Igaram, what do you mean? Done what?"
"You know... the... the man... and woman... that kind of..." Igaram's face turned bright red. He found it difficult to speak plainly, knowing how inappropriate the question was. But before they left Alabasta, King Cobra had entrusted Vivi's safety to him. The Leo Pirates consisted of one man and a crew of women. A single rooster among all those hens... it was hard to believe the captain was living a life of celibacy.
Finally understanding, Vivi's cheeks flushed. She glared at Igaram. "Igaram, what are you implying?! The Captain is a good man! He would never do anything like that to me! In fact, he even gave me two Devil Fruits! I'm much stronger now than I was before!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/N :
Access 25 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/GodFic