It took several dozen seconds for Vivi to descend fully into the middle of the street.
Not far away, Crocodile's horror had reached an unimaginable peak.
He desperately rolled his eyes, trying to move even a little, but all his efforts were futile.
The problem was that something was very wrong.
Never mind why he could not move—why could those members of the Straw Hat Crew move, and even talk freely?
Was it because the World Government's crown prince was standing beside them, granting them immunity?
But after spending these past ten days with him, Crocodile simply could not connect that ordinary cook with the identity of the World Government's crown prince, no matter how he looked at it.
Compared to Vivi descending from the sky, that cook who knew nothing but cooking was leagues behind.
Tap.
Vivi's exquisite leather shoe made a crisp sound as it lightly touched the bloodstained paving stones.
Her calm eyes swept indifferently over the bald man pointing his gun at a guard, as though she were looking at a couple of ants.
"You are guilty."
Vivi's ethereal voice, utterly untouched by worldly concerns, slowly rang out above the silent royal city, yet every word struck the hearts of those present like thunder.
"Under Article 519 of Alabasta's Criminal Code, any civilian who bears arms and threatens violence against royal guards performing their duties shall be executed immediately, without trial. An attempted offense carries the same penalty."
The instant her words fell.
No one saw Vivi make any additional movement.
Hum!
Without warning, a beam of light a hundred times more dazzling than the sun thundered down, enveloping the armed civilian with unerring precision.
There was no scream.
No struggle.
Not even a trace of resistance or the smell of burning flesh.
Before everyone's eyes,