High above the New World, on an unnamed sky island...
After traveling for more than half a day, the Dream Exploration Team, the Revolutionary Army's Sabo and Karasu, and the Marines' Sengoku, Fujitora, and Aokiji had all gathered here.
"Huh???"
"Nami, Ryuen didn't come?" Sabo asked Nami right away when he didn't see Ryuen there.
The three Marines also looked confused.
This meeting between the three sides was incredibly important. Whatever they decided here was sure to shake up the whole sea.
And the key figure in all of this... was Ryuen!
Up to this point, Ryuen was the only one among them who had the power to deal with the Five Elders' regeneration ability. But now he wasn't here.
That made both the Marines and the Revolutionary Army a bit uneasy.
"Everyone, don't worry."
"Ryuen has something even more important to do. He'll show up in about twenty days or so. For now, we'll represent the Dream Exploration Team and work with you to make a plan," Nami said calmly.
"Alright then."
"Nami, the Marines and the Revolutionary Army both want to know — does your Dream Exploration Team have any of the Ancient Weapons?" Sabo asked directly, holding nothing back. It was the biggest question on everyone's mind.
Hearing this, Nami and the others smiled calmly. Ryuen had already told them before they left that it was okay to let the Marines and the Revolutionaries know they had an Ancient Weapon.
But whether it was Poseidon or Pluton — that, they wouldn't say.
"You guessed right. We do have an Ancient Weapon," Nami said straight out.
Even though they'd suspected it, hearing Nami confirm it out loud still left Sabo and the others stunned — after all, they were talking about the legendary Ancient Weapons!
None of them expected the Dream Survey Team to come across such a lucky opportunity!
Now that they had the answers they wanted, both the Revolutionary Army and the Marines felt more at ease—at least now, they had a way to counter the Celestial Dragons!
After that, everyone began planning for the battle that would take place in just over twenty days.
~~~
In the first half of the Grand Line...
The Alabasta Kingdom received six masked visitors today—they were CP0 agents sent by the World Government!
And their reason for coming? They were here to take Princess Vivi!
On the palace steps, soldiers lay scattered everywhere like they'd just been hit by a hurricane.
Among them were Pell and Chaka, the two guardians of Alabasta. But in front of CP0's overwhelming power, they were no match at all—like bugs trying to stop a cart.
Inside the palace, Igaram's royal guards had been completely wiped out too—CP0 crushed them without much effort.
Five CP0 agents stood emotionless, staring down at King Cobra like cold, unfeeling statues.
"What the hell are you trying to do!?" King Cobra, lying on the floor after being struck down, glared at them with fury burning in his eyes.
"King Cobra, where is Princess Vivi?" one CP0 agent asked coldly through his mask. "The Five Elders have asked her to come to Mary Geoise for a talk."
"Vivi isn't in Alabasta anymore," Cobra replied in a deep, firm voice, as if declaring his will to resist.
Hearing this, the CP0 agents exchanged looks. Then their leader asked again, "Then where is she now?"
"You think I'd tell you?" Cobra said, his face filled with anger.
Just then, another CP0 agent entered the room. He gave the leader a slight shake of the head—Vivi was nowhere to be found.
"Take him. We're going back to Mary Geoise," the leader said, his voice calm as still water.
One of the CP0 agents walked toward Cobra without a hint of hesitation.
"Bastards!"
"What do you think you're doing?! I'm the king of a World Government member nation!" Cobra shouted, his voice echoing through the palace.
But that didn't stop them at all.
The agent moved fast like lightning, knocking Cobra out with a single blow. Then he grabbed him by the collar like picking up a chicken and walked out of the palace with the others.
Meanwhile, on the way to the Calm Belt, Princess Vivi suddenly turned her head to look in the direction of Alabasta, as if sensing something.
There was a clear look of worry in her eyes.
Standing next to her was the palace head chef of Alabasta, Tilla Gotan, who looked exactly like Igaram.
"Princess Vivi, don't worry. Alabasta still has Pell and Chaka, and the army is there too. His Majesty will be fine," Tilla Gotan said gently.
"I hope so... I just hope nothing happens to Father and the others," Vivi mumbled.
At the center of the deck...
Salome had coiled her snake body into a throne. The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, was calmly seated there, with Sandersonia and Marigold standing beside her.
Vivi turned to look at the Empress, a little confused. "Lady Hancock...?"
"Call me Your Majesty the Empress!" Hancock replied coldly. "Only Ryuen is allowed to call me by name."
Her voice was as icy as a frozen lake, and her gaze was just as cold, staring at Vivi without the slightest bit of warmth.
When she got the call from Ryuen, her heart had stirred like stormy waves—she was incredibly excited.
But to her surprise, Ryuen didn't call to ask her out or propose. Instead, he asked her to go to Alabasta and pick up a princess named Vivi.
That moment left a bitter feeling in her heart, but she still set off right away without hesitation.
Vivi, now cut off mid-sentence, froze. Honestly, she felt kind of awkward.
When this unbelievably beautiful Pirate Empress first arrived in Alabasta, everyone thought the Kuja Pirates were there to plunder.
The whole country was ready for a fight—until Hancock stepped out and said Ryuen had sent her to pick up Princess Vivi. She even called him in front of everyone.
And ever since then, this woman seemed to hold a deep grudge toward her.
Now, Vivi finally understood—this world-famous beauty was in love with Ryuen!
And the reason she had been so hostile... was because Vivi was a girl, and Ryuen had asked her to escort Vivi personally. The Empress was jealous!
To be honest, Vivi felt like she had just uncovered a huge secret that no one else knew about.
If they were still in Alabasta, maybe she wouldn't feel this uncomfortable. But now, standing in front of this Pirate Empress, Vivi felt a kind of unease she couldn't put into words.
"Um… Your Majesty, the Empress… why exactly did Ryuen ask you to take me away from Alabasta?" Vivi gathered her courage and asked the question that had been bothering her.
She trusted Ryuen completely, but she still wanted to know the reason.
"Ryuen didn't say, so there's no need to ask me any further." The Empress spoke lightly, like a breeze passing by.
"Uh (⊙o⊙)…"
"…Alright, I get it." Vivi forced a smile, looking a bit awkward, then turned again to face the vast, endless sea.
---
You can read 10 Chapters ahead on my
pat reon.com/GMadman