"Life is unpredictable." Crocas sighed with the same sentiment.
"Reno, this old man has one more—"
"You want me to tell Brook when I meet him that Laboon has been waiting here for him, right?"
"Don't worry, I'll just bring Brook back directly when the time comes." Reno cut off Crocas's words.
He had already left a Location Coordinate at Twin Cape.
When he reached Thriller Bark, he could just Teleportation straight over with Brook.
A matter of one second.
"Wouldn't that delay your voyage?!!"
Crocas knew very well that few Pirates ever turned back before their journey ended.
"I have my ways." Reno waved a hand, offering no further explanation.
"In that case, this old man thanks you in advance." Crocas spoke with a serious expression.
"By the way, I'm heading to Whiskey Peak next. You should have a Permanent Pointer for there, right?!!"
Having settled Laboon's issue, Reno shifted the topic to his own Serious Matter.
"I do. I'll get it right away." Crocas turned and walked into the small hut, emerging with a pointer in hand.
"This is the Permanent Pointer to Whiskey Peak. Keep it safe—without it, you'll lose your way."
Reno pocketed the pointer without a hint of guilt, then Looked towards All the Women: "I'll go help Kaya first. Once Laboon's injuries are healed, we'll set off."
All the Women nodded in unison. That was their thought as well.
"Hm?!!"
Suddenly, Reno let out a soft exclamation, his gaze fixed on where the Merry was docked.
A Thief!!!
Dear readers, Request Flowers, evaluation tickets, monthly tickets.
Chapter 40: Desperate Princess Vivi, Laboon Back to Full Health! (Request Data)
A Small Boat crept up to the Merry, and two agile figures quickly vaulted onto the deck.
"Miss Wednesday, looks like our luck is good today."
A man wearing a crown and a frog costume muttered to his partner beside him.
"Yeah, Mr.9. Stealing food from these Pirates is way easier than hunting that Whale."
The responder was a woman with a pretty face and a Ponytail, but she carried herself like a full-blown villainess.
They'd been scrounging for food everywhere these past few days. If they didn't find anything soon, the people at Whiskey Peak would starve.
The two kept an eye on their surroundings as they crept stealthily into the cabin.
Miss Wednesday, her stomach growling with hunger, seemed to have a built-in locator and found the storeroom in no time.
Opening the door, she saw all kinds of vegetables and meat inside.
Overjoyed, Miss Wednesday was about to call Mr.9 to pack up all the food and Take Away.
But before the words left her mouth, she froze in terror. A tall man stood not far away, arms crossed, watching her with keen interest.
"Ah!!!" Miss Wednesday screamed instinctively.
"Keep it down, Miss Wednesday. Don't let them find us."
Hearing the noise, Mr.9 poked his head out from the next room and whispered a warning.
"Looking for death!!"
Recognizing Mr.9, Reno's face darkened. No other man was allowed to set foot on the Merry except him.
Without a word, Reno hurled Mr.9 out. Before he hit the sea, a bolt of Lightning as thick as a bowl struck Mr.9, Killed him dead on the spot.
"You—you Killed Mr.9?!!" Watching Mr.9 drift away with the current, Princess Vivi panicked.
Her Whole Person trembled with fear.
Reno's expression instantly cleared: "Relax, Princess Vivi. I only kill people from Baroque Works."
"Once I heal Laboon, we'll have a good talk."
Her identity exposed, Princess Vivi was terrified.
This man not only knew her true identity but was also this strong.
"Don't—don't kill me." Princess Vivi shook like a frightened little rabbit.
Ignoring Vivi's Begging for Mercy, Reno grabbed her shoulder and Teleportationed instantly!!
With a sharp shriek from Vivi, the two reappeared before All the Women.
"Captain, who is this?!" Makino's face was a Question Mark.
"What a pretty little sister, Captain—where'd you snatch her from?!" Carmen stared curiously at the pale-faced Princess Vivi.
These pirates kidnap people too?!
Vivi grew even more frightened.
Reno laughed. "From now on, she's a crewmate of the Reno Pirates. Keep an eye on her and don't let her run off."
With that, he rode the Island Cloud toward Laboon.
Leaving the stunned All the Women and Princess Vivi staring at each other in bewilderment.
Once Reno was gone, Princess Vivi had a flash of inspiration. She put on a pitiful look and begged, "Sisters, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have stolen your food. Please let me off just this once."
The women exchanged glances, then realization dawned.
Good Guy, stealing from them of all people.
Most Importantly, Reno was out searching for beauties, and here you were, this gorgeous, walking right into their hands.
"Little Sister, you heard the Captain just now—he told us to watch you."
"But don't worry, I can promise he won't hurt you." Makino's voice was soft and soothing to Princess Vivi.
Since Reno had already declared Vivi part of the crew, she understood what that meant going forward.
Ghost believes you.
Vivi grumbled inwardly.
She'd just seen Reno toss Mr. 9 into the sea with her own eyes.
She'd probably end up the same way.
She couldn't just sit and wait for it.
Vivi glanced almost imperceptibly toward Reno—they seemed to be treating that whale.
Now's my chance—run!!
But just as she was about to move, Tashigi was faster.
Wado Ichimonji slid from its sheath in an instant, the blade gleaming coldly.
"Don't you move!"
The other women also closed in with hostile expressions, a Black Color creeping up their pale arms.
"They all know Armament Haki?!" Crocas was visibly startled.
"Little girl, you're no match for them. Don't ask for trouble—just stay put."
Feeling the pressure from All the Women, Vivi deflated and lowered her head in resignation.
Before long, the Island Cloud drifted over carrying Reno, Kaya, and Nami.
Thanks to their efforts, all the injuries Laboon had accumulated over the years on his Top of Head were fully healed.
He was back to full health again!
"ROAR!"
With the pain gone and learning that Brook was still alive, Laboon let out an excited, grateful bellow.
For him, today was the most unforgettable day.
"Reno, I really have to thank you for this." Watching Laboon radiate unprecedented joy, Crocas was genuinely happy.
"It was nothing." Reno waved a hand, brushing it off.
"Laboon, stay put here. Don't go ramming the Red Line again. Before long, I'll bring Brook back."
Reno made a promise to Laboon.
Another low roar answered him.
Reno and the Girls all smiled knowingly.
"Well then, Crocas, farewell. We need to keep moving."
Reno led the despairing Vivi and the women aboard the Merry one by one.
"Hahaha, Reno, I hope one day I'll hear your name on the Great Sea."
On the shore, Crocas kept waving as he watched the Merry rise into the sky.
"Laboon, what a happy day this is!"
"ROAR!"
Chapter 41: Vivi's Mental Breakdown! (Request Data)
After saying goodbye to Crocas, the Merry quickly ascended and flew toward Whiskey Peak.
In an empty room, Vivi sat in utter despair as Reno and All the Women held judgment over her.
After Makino explained everything, Kaya and Nami also learned the full Cause and Effect.
"You've got some nerve, stealing from the Merry!"
"Talk! Do you have any accomplices?!"
Nami planted her hands on her hips and glared fiercely at Vivi.
Terrified, Vivi pointed at Reno and stammered, "He... he threw him into the sea."
All the Women were startled—no need to guess, it had to be a man!
"He was an Agent of Baroque Works, not worth regretting." Reno waved his hand, Not Care.
Those Guys followed Crocodile in every kind of evil, steeped in sin, so dying was no more than they deserved. (I tweaked the outline and decided to kill off Crocodile.)
"And who are you?! Another Agent of Baroque Works?!" Nami continued interrogating Vivi.
Vivi shook her head like a Rattle Drum, immediately denying it: "No, I'm not."
"My name is Vivi. I'm the Princess of Alabasta. Please don't kill me."
Her trembling voice was already tinged with tears.
"Princess?! You're the King's daughter?!"
"Then you must be loaded!"
Nami's thoughts raced, her sharp tone softening as Vivi's identity came to light.
With money, anything was negotiable!
It was just a failed theft attempt—not a Big event.
A simple compensation of Ten Million Beli, and this whole thing would be water under the bridge.
Catching Nami's implication, Vivi nodded frantically: "I can compensate you for your losses."
Wait, what losses did they even have?
She'd been caught the moment she tried to steal.
"Anyway... if you just let me go, I can give you money."
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