A sweet smile immediately bloomed across Nami's face. Rubbing her hands together, she leaned in and drew out her words. "Dear Princess Vivi, how much do you think your life is worth?!"
"How about one million Belly?!" Vivi tested cautiously in a low voice.
"One million?!!!" Nami's face instantly turned cold. "The daughter of a king is only worth one million?!"
Was she trying to fob off a beggar here?!
"But I... I only have one million."
Tears had already begun to well up in Vivi's eyes.
If it had been the Alabasta of old, she could have easily taken out even Ten Million Beli, but now...
"Nami, stop scaring her. Vivi looks really timid." Tashigi, who had been watching the show, finally could not help stepping in.
But she was also puzzled. "Since you have one million, why did you even have to steal food?!"
Vivi bit her lower lip and looked toward Reno.
She knew Reno was the captain of the pirate crew, the one who could truly decide whether she lived or died.
"Captain, I really will compensate you. If one million Belly is too little, then two million. I'll give you two million Belly."
"I only ask that you don't hurt me."
When she mentioned two million Belly, Vivi practically forced the words through gritted teeth.
For the current Alabasta, after deducting essential expenses, coming up with another two million Belly would already be an enormous strain.
Reno smiled and shook his head.
"Princess Vivi, Alabasta is currently plagued by troubles both within and without. Are you sure you can come up with two million?!"
"And I don't think I ever agreed to settle for just two million, did I?!"
"At least five million Belly."
"Five million Belly?!!" Vivi's heart skipped a beat.
If she really had to come up with five million, Alabasta would be finished too.
"Captain, what should we do with Vivi if she can't produce five million Belly?!!" Nami chimed in at just the right moment.
Reno rubbed his chin and looked Vivi up and down, putting on a thoughtful expression. "Sell her. I hear kingdom princesses are very popular at slave auctions."
"A princess as beautiful as Princess Vivi would definitely fetch a good price."
"Five million Belly would be easy."
"I think that works." Nami clapped in approval.
Kaya and the other girls watched the two play off each other and helplessly shook their heads.
What terrible taste.
What if they scared such a beautiful girl half to death?
Vivi had already begun imagining herself locked in a cage, curled up helplessly and covered in wounds, while wealthy merchants of every race raised placards and bid on her.
"No... please, don't." Vivi shook her head, her voice trembling.
Reno felt that was enough. Otherwise, Vivi's mentality really would collapse.
"Vivi, I can forgo the five million Belly, but from now on, you have to join my pirate crew."
"As long as you become a member of the Reno Pirates, we'll be family. Money and all that is too vulgar."
"Join your pirate crew?!!" Vivi stared at Reno, but soon shook her head firmly.
"No, I still have things I haven't finished. I can't leave this place."
"How about I join after I finish what I need to do?!!"
Vivi did not dare refuse Reno outright, so she could only settle for a compromise.
"You mean investigating Baroque Works' conspiracy, right?! No need to investigate anymore. Crocodile is behind it. As long as you join my pirate crew, your business becomes my business. I'll deal with Crocodile for you."
Hearing Reno state the truth so casually, Vivi's delicate body trembled. She asked in disbelief, "How did you know all this?!"
"I planted an informant in Baroque Works. You probably know her too—the Vice President, Miss All Sunday." Reno casually made up an excuse.
"So it was her." Vivi opened her mouth in surprise.
The image of a mature, intelligent beauty immediately surfaced in her mind.
"Wait... who is Crocodile?!"
"Since when did you have someone in Baroque Works?!" Nami's face was full of question marks.
She had been involved just moments ago, so how had she suddenly become a spectator?!
Reno selectively answered, "Crocodile is one of the Shichibukai, just like Hawk Eyes."
"But he's far more despicable than Hawk Eyes."
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Crocodile was also one of the Shichibukai?!
Then there was nothing to worry about.
Even Hawk Eyes was no match for Reno. Crocodile was probably only around Hawk Eyes' level at best.
That was the shared thought of all the girls at that moment.
Crocodile would like to say: Thanks for thinking so highly of me.
"Captain, can you really help me get rid of Crocodile?!" As if she had seized a lifeline, Vivi's voice was urgent.
Reno's people had managed to infiltrate an organization as tightly guarded as Baroque Works and had even gone undercover beside Crocodile.
Didn't that mean Reno was even stronger?!
Compared to crushing Crocodile's conspiracy and saving countless people from misery, joining the Reno Pirates was nothing at all.
"He's just a little crocodile." Reno curled his lip.
Giving Crocodile some face by calling it an even match did not mean he was actually an even match.
If he did not beat the crocodile shit out of him, he could count himself lucky for shitting clean.
"If that's the case, then I'm willing to join your pirate crew." Vivi wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Her tear-stained pretty face was filled with determination.
When she was fourteen, she had hidden her identity as a princess and infiltrated the perilous Baroque Works to investigate the mastermind behind it all.
But even after learning who the mastermind was, she had no power to take revenge.
Now, the opportunity was right before her. As long as she could save Alabasta, she would not hesitate.
This was her responsibility as a princess.
"Alabasta is fortunate to have a princess like you." Makino stepped forward and gently embraced Vivi, comforting her softly. "Vivi, don't worry. When the captain brought you to Twin Cape, he had already planned to help you."
"Huh?!!" Vivi was clearly stunned.
Reno held his forehead and chuckled. "Don't make me sound like some savior. No matter what, Vivi still has to join the pirate crew."
"As for Crocodile, that guy really is a little too arrogant. This time, I'll just skin his crocodile hide while I'm at it."
"Vivi, we're family from now on. I'm Nami, the navigator of the Reno Pirates."
"I'm Kaya, the doctor of the Reno Pirates."
"I'm Tashigi, the swordswoman of the Reno Pirates."
"..."
The girls eagerly introduced themselves.
Vivi stared at them with a blank expression.
Were they all this friendly with strangers?!
Especially Nami. Just moments ago, she had looked so fierce.
Now she was acting like a sweet older sister.
"My name is Vivi. Please take care of me, sisters."
Though she grumbled inwardly, Vivi still responded politely.
"Carmen, make some food. Vivi should be very hungry right now."
Grrr...
Grrr...
As if to verify Reno's words, Vivi's stomach obediently growled, and the girl's face immediately reddened.
She really was hungry.
"Little sister, wait here. I'll go make something right away." Carmen affectionately patted Vivi's head, and sounds soon came from the kitchen.
"Kaya, take Vivi to wash up. Have her change into something else while you're at it."
To infiltrate Baroque Works, Vivi had put on heavy makeup, and her clothes were even more painful to look at.
"Okay, Brother Reno." Kaya obediently nodded, took Vivi's hand, and led her toward the bathroom.
Vivi remained dazed the entire time. Was this really the Reno Pirates?!
Why was it so different from the pirate crews she knew?!
But... it did not seem too bad.
Whiskey Peak.
A great number of bounty hunters gathered here, specializing in hunting passing pirates.
Over the years, countless unsuspecting pirates had been killed here and laid to rest forever.
Reno controlled Merry as it slowly descended, while people had already gathered on both sides.
When they saw the Island Cloud, everyone's expressions turned strange, but they quickly concealed it.
Then they enthusiastically waved at Reno and the others.
"Hahahahaha... everyone, you must be exhausted from your journey. Come rest here for a while."
"Everyone, this is a pirate's paradise. We have everything here, and we guarantee you'll have a good time!!"
"You'll have an unforgettable time here!!"
"This place can cure insomnia too."
"..."
Cheers rose one after another.
Uninformed pirates really would think this was a town welcoming them.
"Everyone, be careful. They specialize in killing passing pirates. We've already become their target."
Vivi, now free of her heavy makeup and dressed in different clothes, covered her mouth and quietly warned everyone.
But as she spoke, her face reddened, since she had once been one of them.
"These people really know how to put on an act." Nami watched the surrounding crowd with an amused expression.
But thinking about it, that made sense. This was how they made their living.
If they were not convincing, they would have starved to death long ago.
"Let's go take a look."
Merry docked by the shore, and Reno led the girls ashore one after another.
A barely noticeable glint flashed through everyone's eyes before they stepped forward to welcome Reno and the others.
"Warriors of the sea, congratulations on arriving here."
"Every pirate who comes to this town receives our warmest welcome. Applaud!!!"
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