Watching Vivi and Evan kiss, King Cobra suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart.
It's over, the cabbage at home has been overtaken by others!
Vivi, my Little girl, why do you…
Cobra was in pain, but in this situation, there was nothing he could do.
Of course, he was very dissatisfied with Evan, but as he rubbed his chin and fell into deep thought, he tried to look at Evan with a critical eye.
"Besides being a pirate, it seems there are no real shortcomings."
Powerful, handsome, brave, resourceful, affectionate, righteous, and gentle to others...a perfect son-in-law, right in front of him!
Cobra felt conflicted.
On the one hand, it seemed like a good thing for his daughter to find a match like this, but on the other hand, it didn't feel quite right.
"Sure enough, I'm still very upset." Looking at Evan, Cobra's gaze was full of scrutiny, trying to find any flaw.
But despite everything he couldn't find anything wrong with it, in the end he decided that it was the best for Vivi and for Arabasta.
That way his daughter could be with the one she loved, she would have protection against the attacks of the world government towards the Nefertari D. Family and in case something happened to him, he was sure that Arabasta would be in good hands.
Plus, if he accepts Evan as his son-in-law, he could soon have what he wants most: A granddaughter
He could already imagine a mini version of Vivi with Evan's Golden Eyes, plus the Bold personality and who knows? Maybe she'll inherit her father's power too.
Thinking about that, he felt that he could soon abdicate, passing the throne to Vivi, dedicating his retirement to relaxing and playing with his granddaughter and when his time comes being able to meet Titi again.
After discussing with the Straw Hat Crew for a while, they decided to go out for a walk. They left the palace together, but someone was already watching them from afar.
A telescope reflected light.
"Gion Sama, I saw the Straw Hat Crew leaving the palace," reported a scouting Marine soldier.
"Very well, let's attack," Gion commanded, having waited long enough.
Originally, they wanted to go after Crocodile, but the "sand cod" had slipped away. After gathering some intelligence, they had planned to strike against Baroque Works, but Evan had already disbanded them.
With no other choice, Gion decided to target the Straw Hat Crew.
However, the crew had taken refuge in the royal palace. As they were under the protection of the desert kingdom's royal family, Marines couldn't just barge into the palace— the optics of such an action would be terrible.
But now, after waiting for so long, the chance had finally come. The Straw Hats were out in the open.
As the crew wandered the streets, Evan started to notice something odd. There were fewer residents around, and some people were guiding the evacuation.
"Evan, looks like…we've got company," Luffy said.
Having experienced battles and grown stronger since Logue Town, Luffy's Haki had developed. While he wasn't an expert yet, he had become adept enough to use Armament Haki about a third of the time. Though his Observation Haki was still unrefined, his overall perception had improved.
"It's Marine…had a feeling things wouldn't be that easy," Evan said with a smile, sensing familiar presences.
"Kaya? And… Isuka?" Evan blinked as he turned to face the incoming soldiers.
Isuka had already drawn her sword, and Zoro prepared to face her.
For him, a fellow swordsman could only be handled by his own hand.
"Damn, are the Marines targeting me?" Sanji wondered, frustration growing within him. "Of course, I'm the most threatening existence among our group, so they even arranged a battle specifically to counter me!"
His frustration stemmed from the fact that every Marine soldier who appeared was a woman.
Sanji was simultaneously overjoyed and devastated. Hitting a woman was against his chivalric code, and now, in this scenario, he was basically useless— a complete burden.
"Hey! Don't you dare hit these beautiful women hard!" Sanji yelled, lecturing his comrades.
"What nonsense are you spouting? We're pirates, and they're Marines!" Zoro snapped back. "This is a battle where we kill each other, and they're well aware of that. If you fight half-heartedly, it's an insult to them!"
"Yeah, they're first-rate warriors. If you don't take them seriously, you'll die," Evan said, narrowing his eyes as the situation became clear.
The Marines had surrounded them. The meticulous formation indicated that their commander had a solid grasp of Observation Haki, preparing extensively for this ambush. The encirclement had been laid out step by step, and now it was complete.
"Straw Hat Crew, your journey ends here," Gion declared as she stepped forward with a stern expression.
"Well, well, Vice Admiral Gion," Evan smirked, his gaze momentarily lingering on her long, bare legs and the generous curves of her figure.
[Oh wow, Mrs. Gion… that's quite an appearance.]
[With that outfit and such a short skirt, I feel like one wrong move and something's going to slip.]
[This is bad… I think my heart has been completely stolen by Gion. I might never feel joy or sorrow again.]
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Evan's thoughts in his diary remained as inappropriate as ever.
Nami covered her face with her hands, unable to look, while Robin chuckled softly, finding it all rather amusing.
"Then, I'll handle Luffy the Straw Hat," a woman in a veil stepped forward, surprising most of the crew. Though they didn't recognize her, Evan's Observation Haki quickly identified her presence.
"Kaya? But why does her aura feel… strange?" Evan wondered in confusion.
"Be careful, Evan you will be mine," Gion said as she drew her blade, Konpira, ready for combat.
"Then, Zoro of the Three-Sword Style… let me be your opponent," Isuka announced as she removed her glasses, eager to show how much she had improved.
"And what about me?" Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette and striking a cool pose. "I'm a high-level fighter in our group."
"But you never fight women," Evan pointed out.
"I want to… get spanked by beautiful women!" Sanji declared, much to everyone's shock.
"Bring on ten… no, bring on twenty beauties to beat me up!" he added, his statement leaving everyone speechless.
"Everyone should have their own unique qualities… but yours is really something else," Evan said, feeling exasperated.
As they exchanged banter, Gion launched her attack. Her swordsmanship was precise, her Haki refined. Evan drew his own blade, meeting her strike head-on. This was only the beginning of their duel, a small test of skill.