The First Stop on the Grand Line: Whiskey Peak
After a string of twists and turns, the Alabasta main questline had finally been set into motion.
…
"Then, let's start with introductions. Report your names and positions," Sugisawa Yuuto said, feigning curiosity.
Of course, he already knew exactly who Vivi and Igaramu really were. But Erza and the others did not, and it was necessary to bring their identities into the open.
"My name is Igaramu—codename Mr. 8, an officer agent of Baroque Works," the curly-haired man introduced himself.
"I'm Vivi, codename Miss Wednesday of Baroque Works," the young woman added.
"Baroque Works?" Mirajane tilted her head. "Is that some kind of guild?"
"Yes." Igaramu nodded grimly. "The Baroque Works Agency is a criminal syndicate operating across the Grand Line. Officially, it claims its purpose is to create an 'ideal kingdom.' Everyone within the organization works tirelessly for that dream, or so they say…"
Desperate to protect Princess Vivi's life, Igaramu didn't hide a thing. He revealed everything he knew about the organization.
"Wait—hold it right there." Nami narrowed her eyes sharply. "You just said you don't even know who your boss is? You're working for a company and you don't even know who you're serving? That's ridiculous. You're lying!"
"It's true!" Vivi said hastily. "The mystery is the essence of Baroque Works. In fact, there's only one person in the entire organization who knows the identity of the boss!"
"And who is that?" Erza pressed, raising an eyebrow.
"Miss All-Sunday. She's the boss's direct partner."
"Miss All-Sunday, huh?" Erza muttered. "Well, whether or not that's true, it doesn't matter. What does matter is this—you attacked us, and you failed. That means you pay a price. Now, where's your treasury?"
Nami rubbed her palms together eagerly, her eyes shining with a money-hungry gleam.
But her excitement lasted all of two seconds.
Because as it turned out, this so-called bounty hunters' base was dirt poor. Nearly all the wealth they'd collected from pirates over the years had already been passed up the chain to their superiors. They had barely anything left. Yuuto's group had been their first assignment in a long time.
"Hey, Miss Vivi," Mirajane said softly, stepping forward to take Vivi's trembling hand. "I can feel that you're a kind-hearted girl. Why involve yourself in a criminal organization like this?"
"I…" Vivi bit her lip hard, shaking her head in silence.
"You still want to hide it?" Yuuto's calm voice cut through. His eyes narrowed. "You're not just a Baroque Works agent. You are Princess Vivi of Alabasta—and the man beside you is Captain of the Guard, Igaramu."
Princess Vivi and Igaramu froze, their eyes flying wide in shock.
It was impossible. This was their first meeting. Neither of them had revealed a single thing. And yet, Yuuto had spoken their true identities aloud as if reading their souls.
"Nani!? The princess of Alabasta!?" Nami, Erza, and Mirajane all cried out in surprise.
"A princess—a royal princess—a member of a criminal syndicate?" Erza was openly baffled.
"N-no, Princess Vivi is not—" Igaramu stammered, flustered, words tumbling over themselves.
"Enough, Igaramu." Vivi stopped him with a sad shake of her head.
Her lips curved into a wry, helpless smile. "Yes. It's true. I am Princess Vivi of Alabasta. And the reason I joined Baroque Works… was all because of what's happening in my kingdom."
Now that Yuuto had stripped away her cover, she no longer bothered to hide the truth. She revealed the turmoil consuming Alabasta—the civil war, the unrest, the shadowy hand behind it all. And her desperate choice to infiltrate Baroque Works to uncover the truth.
"For the sake of her kingdom, she set aside her royal dignity, risked her life, and joined a den of criminals… all to discover the roots of Alabasta's suffering." Mirajane's eyes softened with admiration. "What an incredible princess…"
"Then why not tell us from the beginning?" Erza asked firmly.
"Elza, think about it," Nami interjected. "Our president is a man with an eighty-million bounty on his head—a so-called great murderer. On these seas, kidnapping a princess and extorting a ransom isn't uncommon at all."
"I see." Erza nodded slowly, the reasoning sinking in.
Since Yuuto was an infamous criminal, Vivi and Igaramu had naturally assumed the worst—that Fairy Tail were nothing more than pirates. If they'd known the guild's true nature from the start, things might have gone differently.
But Erza looked at Yuuto, her expression knowing. Deep down, she understood. All of this—every step—was within Yuuto's grasp. It had been his plan from the very beginning.
And just as she expected—
"Well, we've cleared up what needed clearing," Yuuto said at last, his gaze turning to the princess. "Now, it's time to get to the real point."
"There are two paths before you."
"I choose whichever one ensures Princess Vivi's safe return to Alabasta!" Igaramu declared at once, raising his hand as if swearing an oath.
"Listen before you answer," Mirajane reminded him gently.
"First option," Yuuto began. "You part ways with us here. Pretend you never saw us, and we'll pretend the same. Though you plotted against us, you also treated us to food and drink. We can call it even."
"…Eh?"
"A generous man…" Vivi and Igaramu exchanged a look of relief.
"And the second option?" Igaramu asked hesitantly.
Part of him already regretted speaking, but curiosity pried the words from his mouth.
Yuuto said nothing. Instead, he glanced at Mirajane.
Mirajane nodded, producing pen and parchment from her bag and offering them to Vivi.
"T-this…" Igaramu's face turned ashen. He wanted to slap himself. What a fool! Asking was a mistake! Of course the other side would demand a ransom letter to the King of Alabasta.
"Miss Vivi," Mirajane said gently, "please write down what you wish to entrust to us."
"…I understand… Huh?" Vivi froze, startled.
"What don't you get? Not a ransom—an authorization. A written request for what you want Fairy Tail to do," Nami explained with a smirk.
Vivi and Igaramu both stared, utterly motionless.
"Vivi," Erza said softly, "you want to uncover the cause of Alabasta's civil strife and save your kingdom, don't you? That's the kind of mission you can entrust to us. Of course, if you prefer to handle it yourself, we won't interfere again. The choice is yours."
"Why… why would you… Who are you, really?" Vivi whispered.
"We are Fairy Tail."
Yuuto smiled.