In stark contrast to Nami's despair, the reactions of the other men couldn't have been more different.
"A Warlord?"
Luffy's eyes, dulled moments ago from overeating, suddenly lit up like they'd been plugged into electricity.
"That sounds awesome! Feels super exciting!"
"Crocodile, huh…"
Zoro's fingers slowly brushed the hilt of his sword, a bloodthirsty grin spreading across his face.
"Getting to meet someone on that level so soon… guess we're pretty lucky."
Sanji, meanwhile, dropped to one knee beside Nami and comforted her with a look of heartfelt devotion.
"Nami-swan, please don't worry! Even if he's a Warlord, I won't let him lay a single finger on you! I'll kick him straight to the moon with the power of love!"
Ronan stood off to the side, watching Luffy and the others brimming with confidence.
"They've already mastered both Observation and Armament Haki," he thought.
"If Crocodile runs into us now, that's his bad luck."
"Shut up! All of you!!"
Nami bared her fangs at the group of idiots who clearly had zero sense of danger, seething with rage.
Just as everything descended into chaos, an odd voice came from nearby.
"Ahem… don't worry, everyone."
The group turned—and immediately felt like their brains had been struck by lightning.
The burly Igaram was standing there… dressed in a tight pink dress.
He wore a wig, his face slathered with thick makeup, and he was doing his best to strike a "ladylike" pose.
"PFFFT—!"
Zoro and Sanji sprayed at the same time.
"Igaram?!" Vivi gasped. "Why are you dressed like that?!"
"Princess Vivi, please listen carefully."
Igaram's expression was grave. Despite the ridiculous outfit, his eyes held a resolve that bordered on death itself.
"Once Baroque Works' intelligence network spreads the word, assassins will swarm here like locusts."
"Those of us who know the boss's secret have already become prime targets."
"There will be nearly a thousand killers coming for us."
His voice dropped.
"That's why I'll disguise myself as the princess and act as bait, drawing their fire."
Ronan nodded. "Luring the tiger away from the mountain. A solid plan… but it also means you're going to your death."
Igaram didn't argue. He simply smiled faintly.
"This is the duty of a guard captain. While I draw the assassins away, please take the normal route and escort the princess home."
"Wait! Who said anything about escorting her home?!"
Nami instantly jumped up.
"The contract isn't signed yet! No money, no deal!"
Luffy tilted his head. "Escort the princess? What do you mean?"
Zoro pointed at the cross-dressing middle-aged man.
"This perverted uncle wants us to send Princess Vivi home."
"Oh! I get it now!"
Luffy clapped his hands, breaking into a huge grin without thinking for even a second.
"Sure! Let's do it!"
"LUFFY!!" Nami screamed. "That's a Warlord we're talking about!!"
Ignoring Nami's meltdown, Luffy turned to Igaram, his eyes shining with pure curiosity and battle lust.
"So… is that Warlord really that strong?"
Igaram adjusted his skirt and answered solemnly.
"Very strong. He's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a pirate officially sanctioned by the World Government."
"Even before becoming a Warlord, his bounty had already reached eighty-one million Beli."
"Eighty million…"
Luffy tugged his straw hat down, shadowing his eyes—yet the smile on his lips only grew wider.
...
Morning came, wrapped in thick sea fog.
At the harbor, Igaram boarded the small decoy ship alone.
"Everyone… I leave the princess in your care."
He bowed deeply, then resolutely untied the ropes.
The small boat slowly left the harbor, heading toward the open sea.
Vivi stood on the shore, hands clenched tight, tears brimming as she watched the elder who had raised her sail away.
But less than two minutes later—
BOOOOOOM——!!!
A blinding flash erupted across the sea, violently tearing apart the morning calm.
The explosion thundered over the water—several times more terrifying than even Mr. 5's blasts.
Igaram's boat was obliterated in an instant, shattered into countless burning fragments. Flames shot skyward, staining the sea fog blood-red.
"IGARAM!!!" Vivi screamed until her voice tore.
Nami cried out in shock, "How is that possible?! They're already here?! Was that… a trap?!"
"No," Sanji said grimly, staring at the burning wreckage.
"That was a warning."
"Baroque Works moves faster than we expected. This isn't just a pursuit—it's a show of force."
Luffy stared at the blazing sea. His playful grin was gone completely.
Firelight reflected off his face, making it look carved from steel as veins pulsed on his forehead.
"Crocodile…"
He growled low, fury boiling over.
"Nice move!!"
Ronan watched Luffy's expression and knew one thing for certain.
The sand crocodile had officially pissed Luffy off.
...
In the end, the Going Merry set sail.
The Straw Hat Pirates, along with Vivi and Karoo, headed for their next destination—the prehistoric island, Little Garden.
And as the Merry's silhouette slowly vanished into the fog—
At the highest point of Whisky Peak, atop a cactus-shaped rock jutting up like a finger—
A tall, graceful figure sat elegantly at the edge.
The sea wind lifted her black hair, revealing a wide-brimmed cowboy hat filled with exotic flair.
Nico Robin closed the book in her hands. Her eyes, deep as the night sky, followed the Merry's departing direction as a mysterious smile curved her lips.
"Such good fortune, Princess Vivi."
Her voice was soft, yet carried the weight of one who had seen everything.
"According to the boss's orders, I should have erased all of you right here. But…"
In her mind, she saw the man from the night before—the one wielding a long staff.
The casual strike that had blown Mr. 5's head apart.
Robin's fingers tapped lightly against the book's spine, a deep wariness flickering in her eyes.
"That kind of pure physical power… it's like an ancient tyrannosaurus wearing human skin."
"And in that pirate crew, there's more than one monster like that."
"To think such a crew would emerge from the weakest sea—the East Blue."
She rose to her feet, long legs briefly visible beneath her coat, and vanished into the shadows of the rock.
"Hehehe… things are getting interesting now. Crocodile—your proud little plan seems to have run into some very troublesome interlopers."
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