Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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"So... so strong!" Vivi exclaimed, her eyes wide. She now fully understood Ikki's power. His speed was completely imperceptible, and his swordsmanship could produce flying slashes. Such abilities were beyond her imagination.
At this moment, Vivi felt fortunate that she had agreed to Ikki's terms. "With this man, he will definitely be able to bring me safely to Alabasta," she thought with relief.
In sharp contrast to her reaction, Igaram stood nearby, his entire body trembling as he looked at the unconscious "partners" surrounding him. But soon, as if remembering his duty, he rushed to Vivi's side and positioned himself protectively in front of her.
"Please step back, Princess! Leave this to me!" Igaram said, spreading his arms and facing Ikki with a serious expression. Though he didn't understand why Ikki hadn't attacked him yet, Igaram remained cautious.
"Igaram, don't worry. He's not an enemy," Vivi reassured him, patting his arm with a smile.
"Not an enemy?" Igaram asked doubtfully.
"Yes! I made an agreement with him. He promised to take us safely back to Alabasta."
"Take us safely back to Alabasta?" Igaram repeated, his eyes widening in surprise.
Seeing his confusion, Vivi quickly explained everything that had happened since she met Ikki and his crew.
...
"I understand now. You're here to help Princess Vivi?" Igaram's face brightened. "I'm so grateful to have the assistance of a powerful swordsman like yourself! Please allow me to sing a song for you!"
With a joyful expression, Igaram cleared his throat, preparing to serenade Ikki and the others.
"That won't be necessary," Ikki said, waving his hand. "Instead, you should pack whatever you need and leave with us as soon as possible."
"Huh?" Igaram tilted his head in confusion. "But Mr. Ikki, even if you're in a hurry, don't we need to wait for the Log Pose to record the magnetic field?"
"I have an Eternal Pose to Alabasta. We can go directly to your country," Ikki explained. "You don't need to worry about creating a diversion for Baroque Works assassins. Just come with us."
While in Loguetown, Ikki had already planned to head to Alabasta. Though the shops there didn't sell Eternal Poses to Alabasta, he had managed to obtain one from Captain Smoker thanks to his connection with Tashigi. Ikki had no desire to follow Luffy's original route through Little Garden, an island inhabited only by two giants.
"What are you waiting for? You want to return to your country as quickly as possible, right?" Ikki reminded him more forcefully, seeing Igaram still standing in a daze.
Hearing this, Igaram immediately snapped to attention. He gave Ikki a quick bow before rushing to the center of town to make preparations for departure.
About ten minutes later, the Explorer set sail again with two new additions: Igaram and Vivi's pet duck Karoo. They headed directly toward Alabasta.
About an hour after the Explorer departed, an intelligent woman wearing a cowboy hat, with healthy tanned skin, stood on the shore of Whiskey Peak.
"All the agents were defeated, but Princess Vivi and her guard are nowhere to be found," she observed. "Things are getting interesting."
After carefully investigating the situation, she took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.
"Miss All Sunday, what is it?" a deep voice answered.
"Crocodile, I have some bad news for you," she replied. "The members of the Baroque Works at Whiskey Peak have all been defeated. Additionally, the Alabasta princess and her guard aren't here. I believe they've escaped safely."
"Nico Robin, I told you to call me Mr. 0 on the phone!" the voice snapped.
"Alright, Mr. 0," Nico Robin replied with a shrug. "But how do you plan to handle the Whiskey Peak situation?"
On the other end, Crocodile thought for a moment before responding:
"The agents at Whiskey Peak are just pawns. They probably encountered some powerful pirates. If they're defeated, so be it. The key is that little princess—she must be found! Nico Robin, arrange for our Officer Agents to track her location and eliminate her. I don't care what methods they use, and I don't want to hear that they failed. And you! My plan here is complete, and I expect to see you in Alabasta as soon as possible."
"Understood," Nico Robin nodded, then hung up.
After glancing at the unconscious agents on the ground, she approached one of them and woke him up.
...
Meanwhile, aboard the Explorer:
[Host uploaded Skillful Grade sword 'Kashu'. Congratulations to Host for receiving 2 lottery opportunities.]
'Begin the lottery!' Ikki thought.
[Starting the lottery! Congratulations to Host for receiving 'C-grade nutritional potion' x10 and 'B-grade nutritional potion' x10!]
'Finally, I've obtained B-grade nutritional potions! Now I can stop being lazy and return to training properly,' Ikki thought, his eyes gleaming with excitement after hearing the system's notification.
Although he hadn't received another Zanpakutō this time, he already had the spare Zanpakutō Sode no Shirayuki. The arrival of the B-grade nutritional potions was satisfying enough.
"Mr. Ikki, what happened to the sword in your hand?" Vivi asked curiously from beside him.
"I put it where it belongs," Ikki smiled, then turned to Igaram. "Igaram, I'll leave steering the ship to you. I have something to do in the cabin."
Hearing this, Igaram, who was already controlling the Explorer while monitoring the Eternal Pose, nodded with a smile.
"As long as I'm here, don't worry, Mr. Ikki. The Explorer will sail steadily toward Alabasta."
In this short time, Igaram had developed considerable trust in Ikki and his crew. Now that they were heading to his homeland, he was happy to be the one steering the ship.
"Good. If anything happens, Nami and I will come right away," Ikki assured him. With that, he smiled at Igaram, then turned and walked toward the cabin.
Now that he had obtained the B-grade nutritional potions, Ikki was eager to return to training after his long break.
Vivi watched Ikki's departing figure, thought for a moment, then quickly followed after him.
"Wait for me, Mr. Ikki! Can I talk to you?"