Captain Hina and her crew had lodged a formal, high-priority complaint with Marine Headquarters. Consequently, Darian's bounty was likely about to see another massive surge—though Darian himself remained completely oblivious to this fact as he sailed away from the blockade.
As for the Little Fish, they had originally expected to reach their next destination by noon. However, due to the intense combat delays caused by Smoker and his fleet, they were running several hours late.
The Kingdom of Akiba. This was the next island situated along their current magnetic navigation route.
Although they possessed Robin's Eternal Pose pointing directly toward Alabasta, Akiba Island lay squarely along the path leading there. Given the size of their ship and their rapidly depleting food stores, it was inconceivable that Darian and his crew would simply bypass the island just to rush to the desert kingdom.
The weather in the Grand Line is notoriously fickle and deadly; violent, ship-breaking winds and torrential rains are a common occurrence, making it crucial to find a safe harbor to dock at come nightfall.
The Kingdom of Akiba—also known as the Island of Autumn—was the second island Darian's crew had encountered on their journey. The island's climate remained perpetually locked in autumn throughout the year, much like Drum Island, where the season remains frozen in winter.
Compared to the bustling resort town of Summer Solstice Island, the Kingdom of Akiba was not quite as prosperous or packed with tourists. However, the island boasted a highly developed agricultural and livestock industry, making it the perfect place to restock.
Once they left the Island of Autumn behind, they would follow the Eternal Pose off the standard route. Consequently, Darian and his crew wouldn't encounter another civilized island for several days, making this the perfect, and final, opportunity to go ashore and load up on supplies before reaching Alabasta.
The island's climate was ideal—crisp, cool, and neither too cold nor too hot. The trees were painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. As an island dedicated to the export of agricultural products, it featured a large, well-equipped harbor.
Steering their ship, Darian and his crew sailed right into the main harbor with a swaggering, nonchalant air.
Yes—at least, that was the case right up until the moment they arrived and realized they were getting strange looks from the dockworkers.
Darian and his crew still hadn't even designed their own pirate flag yet. They were sailing on a generic, unmarked sloop—a fact that served as ample proof of just how utterly laid-back and unconcerned Darian truly was about the traditional pirate aesthetic.
Sailing without a Jolly Roger had its distinct advantages—namely, the ability to openly and legitimately enter various civilian ports to buy groceries without causing an immediate panic, with the obvious exception of islands where the Navy maintained a heavy garrison.
After dropping anchor and stocking up on fresh meat, vegetables, and fruit, Darian decided to celebrate their victory over the Navy blockade. He treated the entire crew to a lavish, expensive feast at a grand, rustic tavern down by the docks.
Although the local tavern chef's culinary skills couldn't quite measure up to Carmen's masterful technique, the island's unique local delicacies were nonetheless quite hearty and warming—particularly the dark, spiced ale brewed from the island's native autumn grains.
By the time they finished eating and returned to the ship, night had completely fallen.
Entertainment is a scarce commodity on the open sea. Once darkness descends, if you aren't drinking or reading, there really isn't much left to do but go to sleep.
"Ahhh..."
Yawning deeply and rubbing his slightly distended belly, Darian lay back in the captain's chair near the helm, gazing up with boredom at the vast, star-filled firmament.
Now that he was surrounded by so many beautiful women, Darian actually found himself feeling somewhat restless.
Back when it was just the two of them—him and Nami—he could constantly be at her side, teasing her or pulling her into the cabin. But now that there were five other women around, the social dynamics were stifling. He couldn't just grab Nami without an audience, and he was currently playing a delicate game of patience with Robin. He felt almost superfluous.
Just as Darian was idly gazing at the stars, he heard the soft sound of approaching footsteps on the wooden deck. He quickly sat upright.
Spotting Darian leaning back in the oversized chair, Princess Vivi—who had originally come out just to get some fresh air away from the crowded cabins—paused.
"Mr. Darian," Vivi asked curiously, wrapping a shawl around her shoulders against the autumn chill. "Why are you sitting out here all by yourself?"
At her question, Darian replied with a lazy smile. "I've been resting right here the whole time. It's quiet."
Hearing this, Vivi hurriedly waved her hands in explanation. "That's not what I meant! I was just wondering why you didn't go downstairs to chat with everyone else in the galley."
"Oh, that? Well, you ladies are mostly talking about things like clothes, cosmetics, and judging my fashion sense," Darian chuckled. "What would a guy like me have to contribute to that conversation?"
At only sixteen years old, Vivi appeared far more innocent and naive than Nami or Robin; yet, etched deeply between her brows was a look of lingering, heavy sorrow. She carried the weight of millions of lives on her slender shoulders.
Gazing at her, Darian couldn't help but ask, "What brings you up here, Princess?"
"I'd been sitting inside for quite a while. I just came out to get some fresh air," Vivi replied with a polite, strained smile.
"Oh."
Darian could only offer a simple acknowledgment. He knew exactly what was weighing on Vivi's mind—the impending civil war in Alabasta—but he had no desire to bring the heavy subject up himself.
To be completely honest with himself, the sole reason Darian had agreed to bring Vivi aboard in the first place was that he found her incredibly attractive.
However, the thought of using the pretext of "saving her country" to extort or manipulate Vivi into offering herself to him... well, what little moral compass Darian had left made him feel too conflicted to actually go through with it. She was desperate. Taking advantage of that desperation felt too vile, even for him.
What a pathetic man I am, Darian thought self-deprecatingly. Lecherous, greedy, yet not quite ruthless enough to be truly wicked.
A comfortable silence fell over the deck.
Darian sprawled out in his seat like a feudal lord, arms and legs spread wide, entirely at ease. With his thick skin, he felt no awkwardness whatsoever. It was Vivi, standing there in the moonlight, who began to feel a blush of embarrassment rising to her cheeks under his casual gaze.
After a long moment, Vivi finally spoke up, her voice quiet. "Mr. Darian... what did you do for a living before you became a pirate?"
With Igaram's fate unknown, her country hanging in the balance, and a formidable, Warlord-level fighter sitting right before her eyes, Vivi felt compelled to make an attempt to truly win his loyalty.
Of course, given Vivi's selfless character, she had no desire to drag innocent people into danger. However, seeing as Nico Robin was Crocodile's direct partner—and yet Darian had unhesitatingly and forcibly kept her by his side as a hostage—it gave Vivi a massive glimmer of hope. Darian clearly wasn't afraid of Crocodile.
If she wanted to enlist Darian's full aid to fight a Warlord, Vivi naturally needed to understand his past and the kind of person he truly was.
After Vivi posed the question, Darian paused to think. He looked up at the stars before finally replying.
"Me? To the people of this world, Vivi, I am a man with no past."
Hearing Darian's cryptic response, Vivi didn't quite know how to follow up. She had asked precisely to get to know him better; what on earth kind of answer was that?
A look of polite confusion crossed Vivi's face. "Mr. Darian, I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean."
Having tried to act cool and mysterious, only to end up sounding like a pretentious fool, Darian felt a bit awkward himself.
He let out a dry chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Never mind. All you need to know is this: I'm not exactly a 'good guy'."
At this, Vivi offered a strained smile and demurred, "Oh, surely not! After all, I owe my rescue entirely to you, Mr. Darian. You saved me from Mr. 5."
Regarding the matter of saving Vivi, Darian hadn't exactly harbored noble intentions to begin with. Dropping the pretense and the 'cool guy' act, he decided to be completely blunt.
"I'm a wanted criminal with a bounty of 66 million Berries, Princess," Darian stated flatly, sitting up. "Saving you was really just something I did on a whim because you're pretty. And I'm only agreeing to help you now for the money Nami negotiated. When you're out traveling in the Grand Line, you really shouldn't be so quick to trust strangers. I'm a pirate."
Darian laid it all out in plain, harsh terms, effectively cutting off any further praise Vivi might have had. For a moment, she was left completely at a loss for words, her face pale.
Seeing the look of profound disappointment and fear flash across Vivi's face, Darian's heart eventually softened. He sighed heavily.
Even if he couldn't win her body or her heart right now, how could he possibly bear to make such a brave, desperate young woman feel sad? And besides, even if he wasn't doing it for Vivi's sake, he was still going to Alabasta to steal Robin from Crocodile anyway.
"Look," Darian said, his voice softening. "Don't worry about pursuers or anything like that. We'll be setting sail for your home tomorrow morning. And once we arrive... I'll take care of Crocodile for you. I promise."
He offered a small, reassuring smile. "If you happen to have any money left in your treasury after the war, just give me a little bit as payment. That'll be enough."
Upon hearing Darian's sincere promise, Vivi's eyes instantly lit up. The crushing weight on her shoulders seemed to lighten just a fraction. She clasped her hands together, exclaiming joyfully, "Really?! Thank you so much, Mr. Darian! I promise, Alabasta will repay you!"
Inside the ship's galley, the bored women were chatting about cosmetics, island fashion, and passing the time by playing cards.
However, the women on this ship were absolutely no match for Nico Robin's intellect and keen observation skills. Even Nami had lost quite a bit of her own pocket money to the older woman. Seeing that she was on a losing streak, a disgruntled Nami vacated her seat at the table and handed her cards over to Carmen.
Needing some fresh air to cool her frustration, Nami stepped out of the galley and onto the deck.
The moment she stepped outside, Nami caught the tail end of Darian's remark floating on the breeze: "If you happen to have any money left... just give me a little bit as payment. That'll be enough."
Nami was a master thief, extremely sensitive to any mention of money or altered contracts. She picked up on those words instantly.
Here were Darian and Vivi, alone in the moonlight, discussing financial matters. The horrifying thought crossed Nami's mind that Darian might be renegotiating the billion-Berry contract she had struck, offering a massive discount just to impress a pretty princess. A surge of absolute, terrifying fury flared in Nami's eyes.
Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
Nami's footsteps, fueled by financial rage, were incredibly heavy. The very deck seemed to groan under the strain, creaking in protest as she marched toward the helm.
"Nami?"
Darian, who had been chatting amicably with Vivi just moments before, was startled by the sight of Nami stomping toward them, enveloped in a dark, demonic aura.
Nami ignored him completely. She walked over to Vivi's side, shot a displeased, murderous look at Darian, and asked sweetly, "Vivi, did this bastard threaten you?"
Seeing how angry Nami looked, Vivi was startled and hurriedly waved her hands. "N-No! It's not like that, Nami! Mr. Darian didn't threaten me. I asked him to promise to help us deal with Crocodile, and he simply said he'd do it for a little bit of compensation!"
Upon hearing this confirmation of a massive, unauthorized discount, Nami glared fiercely at Darian and demanded, "Is that true?! Did you alter my contract?!"
"Yes! Yes! I mean, no! I was just being polite!"
Seeing the sheer, unadulterated fury rising in Nami, Darian responded frantically, nodding his head so vigorously it looked like a bobblehead doll.
"Fine!" Nami snapped, shooting Darian a snide, warning glance that clearly said, 'I handle the finances.' Then, her angry expression instantly transformed into a beaming, angelic smile. Grinning from ear to ear, she turned back to the Princess and patted her shoulder.
"Vivi, there's no need to be so polite with him!" Nami chimed cheerfully. "If you want to show your gratitude and discuss the billion-Berry payment plan... just leave it entirely to me!"
Watching Nami's brown eyes literally turn into giant, glowing dollar signs right before their eyes, both Darian and Vivi were screaming their internal commentary in unison:
Hey! You're letting your true, greedy intentions show, you know!
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