"Sure, I'll give it back if you put on a little show for me."
"What are you thinking?! A show? What do you take me for? A tanuki from the circus?" Nika retorted.
"A backflip would be good," Luffy suggested, ignoring her protest as he stroked his chin with a serious expression, his eyes twinkling with the anticipation of a good show. "Do twenty in a row."
"In your dreams!"
Nika was so angry her tail puffed up. "I am the noble Sun God Nika! How could I possibly perform such a demeaning act to amuse you? Give me back my wine!"
Luffy smirked, tucking the wine jug under his arm with no intention of returning it.
Nika jumped and hopped around him, trying every threat and bribe she could think of, but Luffy just picked his ear, letting it all go in one ear and out the other.
"I'm going to finish it."
"W-wait, hold on!"
Nika stared at the tempting liquor, her mind in turmoil. In the end, her craving for alcohol crushed her meager pride.
"Fine! Backflips it is! But you promised, you give it back after I finish!"
Why was Luffy being so obnoxious, you ask?
After everyone woke up, they were busy with their own preparations for the upcoming departure.
Zoro had found a quiet courtyard to continue digesting the insights gained from his fight with Mr. 1 about cutting steel. He said his training with Luffy was helpful, but the urgent task now was to solidify that state. He needed to permanently stabilize that realm, to be able to see an opponent's weak points with every breath.
Chopper was surrounded by the palace court physicians, earnestly summarizing his experiences treating everyone's wounds during the battle. An elderly physician next to him, watching Chopper's skillful techniques and meticulous attitude, had stars in his eyes. He couldn't go three sentences without exclaiming, "Doctor Chopper, you are truly amazing!"
"This treatment method is simply unheard of!"
"Please, take my kneecaps as tribute!"
"B-baka! Just because you say that doesn't mean I'm happy about it!" Chopper wriggled awkwardly on the spot, clearly pleased but trying to hide it. His hands never stopped sorting herbs, and he even kindly pushed a freshly brewed cup of herbal tea—perfect for refreshing the mind—over to the chattering physician.
The old doctor paused for a moment, then gave a knowing, kindly smile. He took a sip from the cup and continued his pattern of praise.
Sanji and Usopp had gone out early to replenish supplies.
On their way back, at the palace gates, they ran into a squad of Marines. The leading Petty Officer was speaking seriously with Chaka, the Deputy Commander of the Alabasta Royal Guards, a Zoan-type user of the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Jackal.
"Deputy Chaka, we have received reliable intelligence that pirates have infiltrated the palace. For Alabasta's safety, please allow us to conduct a search!" the Marine Petty Officer declared righteously.
Chaka stood with his arms crossed, looking impatient. His jackal-like ears twitched as he replied in a stiff tone, "Proof? You say there are pirates, so there are pirates? Alabasta has just been through a major war; we have a thousand things to rebuild. We don't have time to play guessing games with the Marines! If you don't have solid evidence, stop cluttering up the place."
The Marine Petty Officer was left speechless. Their intelligence source was indeed vague, based mainly on Captain Smoker's intuition and the area where the Straw Hat crew was last seen.
Just then, Sanji and Usopp walked past nonchalantly, carrying large and small bags of ingredients and tools.
Usopp, in a rather good mood, even waved at Chaka, whose face was stony. "Yo, Mr. Chaka! Hard at work, I see!"
Chaka's expressionless face instantly switched to a warm, smiling one. "You've worked hard too."
The Marine Petty Officer: " . "
He pointed a trembling finger at Sanji and Usopp's retreating backs. "Th-them?"
Chaka yawned, showing his sharp teeth. "They are honored guests of the palace, responsible for procuring some of the ingredients for the post-victory celebration banquet. Is there a problem? Or do the Marines now dictate what we serve our guests?"
The Petty Officer was silenced, forced to watch as Sanji and Usopp swaggered through the palace gates.
They look familiar... like members of the Straw Hat crew? But Chaka's attitude made him doubt himself. Though, to be honest, this guy really was like a dog, the way he could switch faces so fast.
Elsewhere, Nami was reaping a bountiful harvest. King Cobra, as a token of gratitude, granted Nami access to a vast number of books and navigation logs from the palace archives. Nami was very interested in all of it. Continuous learning and improvement were essential for giving better commands on the voyage ahead.
Carrying a stack of these books, Nami walked into the courtyard and saw Luffy teasing Nika. She walked over.
"Luffy, do you know what's up with Vivi?" Nami asked. "I saw her this morning, her eyes were all red, like she'd been crying for a long time. Did something happen?"
"Probably just feeling sad about leaving, saying goodbye to her family and friends," Luffy said, stopping his silly standoff with Nika. He casually set the wine jug aside, and Nika immediately pounced on it, hugging it tightly.
This guy...
Luffy's mouth twitched.
She really has become a drunkard.
"Leaving?!" Nami's beautiful eyes went wide as she processed the information. Her voice shot up an octave. "Vivi is coming to sea with us? Really?"
She had already been mentally rehearsing her farewell speech. Though reluctant, she respected Vivi's responsibilities as a princess.
Luffy's gaze drifted a little as he nodded, adding, "Yeah. And her bounty is even higher than mine. 500 million Beri."
Vivi had spilled everything, appropriate or not, that morning.
"F-five... five hundred million Beri?!" Nami's eyes instantly transformed into shining Beri symbols (฿฿). Her breathing grew rapid.
She practically teleported to Vivi, who had just stepped out of her room, her eyes still slightly red. Nami grabbed Vivi's shoulders and blurted out excitedly, "Vivi! Can I cash you in?!"
Luffy: "???"
Nami was only joking, but she was clearly overjoyed that Vivi could leave with them.
Finally, there'll be a normal person on the ship!
Even if this normal person might compete with her for things, Nami had absolute confidence in herself.
Vivi actually felt a bit embarrassed. "With my bounty being so high, I'll definitely cause you all a lot of trouble. Probably even more people will be after our pirate crew in the future."
"No worries!" Nami said, pulling Luffy over as he walked by. She confidently pinched his cheek and declared, "We've got this guy! Luffy's the man who can defeat a Warlord now. And with all this commotion we've caused, his bounty is bound to shoot up too!"
As she spoke, she trailed off. She looked between the two of them with a sudden sense of intuition.
Something feels off here...?
***
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