Report

The instant she saw the colonel of Marine Branch 16, Princess Vivi was so moved that tears nearly streamed down her face.

Did anyone know what she had gone through yesterday?

She had barely been ashore for long when she encountered a terrifying cold snap.

Before she and Quick Run Duck could react, the cold snap descended without warning. The previously warm temperature plummeted in an instant, and heavy snow began to fall.

When she wanted to find an inn to rest in, she discovered that she had been so excited about carrying out this mission that she had rushed to the East Blue without bringing any money.

In the end, under the suddenly freezing weather, she was so cold that she could only cling tightly to Quick Run Duck.

As they walked, she kept searching for somewhere kind enough to take them in, or at least a corner where they could temporarily shelter from the cold.

But she never expected...

The people on this island were incredibly wary. Once they heard that she was not from the Conomi Islands, they immediately locked their doors and refused to open them for her.

She had even finally found what looked like a luxurious hotel—Red Romance—yet it would not open its doors either.

They said that at a time like this, the Conomi Islands did not accept outsiders, especially someone like her, who had just come ashore and had not had time to apply at the public security office for some... Conomi Islands entry and exit permit.

She had heard that during emergencies, a Conomi Islands entry and exit permit was mandatory.

Usually, it was not necessary, but anyone intending to stay here for a long time still needed one.

However.

Neither she nor Quick Run Duck had one, and they did not even know where to apply for it.

In the end, they could only find a wind-sheltered corner and rest there together.

And then, snow had fallen all night... an entire night of snow.

She and Quick Run Duck had both been frozen stiff. Just as she was about to see her mother...

Dawn came!

Then, a very lazy-looking fellow arrived at Red Romance and discovered them.

When he heard that they had come to find the colonel of Branch 16, his eyes immediately narrowed. He said he knew the Branch 16 colonel well and could bring them over.

And then.

That was how things had become what they were now.

Quick Run Duck had been arranged to rest, while she had been brought here by that fellow.

It was just that the colonel of Marine Branch 16 was rather lazy. It was nearly noon before he finally got up, and he had even emerged from his room with a beautiful woman.

What a fallen Marine Colonel!

Princess Vivi looked at Colonel Xia Che before her. She understood that he was the fallen colonel from the East Blue, rumored within Baroque Works to have met the president and worked with him.

Remembering her mission and her plan, she did not dare delay. She quickly bowed. "Colonel Xia Che, I am an intern at Baroque Works. I have come under the president's orders to seek Colonel Xia Che's assistance!"

As soon as she finished speaking.

Before the president's business partner across from her could say anything, the fellow who had brought her here—Kuzan, who had somehow already sprawled lazily across the sofa—whistled and said in a languid tone, "Baroque Works? I think I've heard of it. A highly renowned secret criminal organization on the Grand Line."

"..."

Hearing the meaningful look in his eyes and his lazy voice, Xia Che sighed helplessly. Before Vivi, who wanted to speak again, could open her mouth, he turned to Kuzan with a stern expression and said, "I want to report Shichibukai—Crocodile—for violating the Shichibukai regulations established by the World Government and privately targeting the World Government member state, the Alabasta Kingdom!"

He did have dealings with Baroque Works, but that was only because he had asked them several years ago to purchase Seastone for him on the black market in the New World.

As for Crocodile... he did not know him well!

They had only met a few years ago when Xia Che had gone to the Grand Line seeking business opportunities and passed through Alabasta to sightsee. After Crocodile saw his strength and Marine status, he had wanted to cooperate with him, only to be sternly rejected by this righteous Marine.

Come to think of it, Baroque Works had collected quite a bit of Seastone for him over the years. Yet he had always taken the goods without paying, and Crocodile, hoping to win him over, had said nothing and simply let him buy on credit.

He had originally planned to default on the debt after Crocodile fell from power, then make another big score.

But now... why had this fellow come looking for him?

Could he be here to collect the debt?

So after thinking it over, Xia Che could only reel in the net now!

Although he felt that, given his importance to Crocodile, he could probably continue buying on credit, he could only regretfully give that up now.

"According to intelligence obtained by Marine Branch 16, the mysterious president of Baroque Works is the hero of the Alabasta Kingdom, Shichibukai—Crocodile. But this man has betrayed the World Government's trust. He has infiltrated the Alabasta Kingdom with the intention of inciting civil war there, thereby achieving his goal of usurping the Alabasta Kingdom!"

The moment his words fell.

"..."

The entire room immediately sank into silence.

Kuzan, who had been prepared to watch Xia Che make a fool of himself, instantly darkened. He did not believe a word of this guy's nonsense.

No connection to Baroque Works?

What a joke!

This guy even raised pirates and had screwed over the pirates of the East Blue. The East Blue pirates probably would not recover for years.

So it was hardly surprising that he had dealings with a criminal organization from the Grand Line.

But he had never expected... this guy to sell out his own business partner without the slightest hesitation?!

Kuzan began to wonder whether this fellow was truly reliable, and whether handing Nico Robin over to him had been the right decision.

And Vivi, beside them...

"!!!"

Was completely dumbfounded.

What was going on?

The mysterious president's business partner had just sold them out?

Wait, no!

The mysterious president was the hero of the Alabasta Kingdom—Crocodile?!

And his goal was to usurp the Alabasta Kingdom?

Princess Vivi suddenly realized that her purpose in infiltrating Baroque Works had already been achieved, and she had even obtained deeper intelligence. The information had simply come so suddenly that she could barely process it.

And the Shichibukai... what was Alabasta supposed to do?

She blinked, staring blankly at Baroque Works' business partner before her. Her mouth hung open, but she had no idea what to say.

At that moment.

Seemingly seeing Vivi's conflict, Xia Che smiled calmly and gave this brave, resilient, responsible princess a reassuring smile.

Then.

Xia Che pointed righteously at Kuzan, who was still lying on the sofa. "This is an admiral from Marine Headquarters, a righteous Marine admiral who hates evil and always enjoys helping others. Crocodile and I really are not very familiar, of course. But if you need any help, you can ask him!"

As soon as he finished.

Sure enough.

Upon hearing Xia Che's words, Princess Vivi froze. Then, when she heard the words "Marine admiral," excitement immediately appeared on her face.

As the princess of a major nation on the Grand Line, she naturally understood what a Marine admiral represented.

She had never expected to be lucky enough to encounter a Marine admiral here!

After thanking Xia Che, she turned to look at Kuzan, who wore a baffled expression, and said, "Marine Admiral, please, you must save Alabasta!"

"???"

Wait, was she not here to find this guy?

Why was she coming to him instead?

And was this girl not an intern at Baroque Works?

Why was she asking him to save Alabasta?

Kuzan scratched his head with a pained look. He had a feeling this would definitely become a troublesome matter. He was supposed to be here to watch this brat make a fool of himself!

Just as he opened his mouth to say something.

"This is the princess of the Alabasta Kingdom, and the Alabasta Kingdom's sole heir!" Xia Che looked gleefully at Kuzan. Seeing the shocked and curious gazes around him—especially Princess Vivi's disbelieving eyes—he quickly coughed and said vaguely, "I have special intelligence sources."

As he spoke, he sat down on the soft sofa as well, picked up the steaming black tea Robin had poured for him, and began leisurely drinking. Looking at Kuzan, he smiled and said, "Admiral Kuzan, I trust you do not wish to see a World Government member state usurped by a pirate either."

Still trying to cause trouble for him?

Dream on!

Hurry up and go back to the Grand Line!

Kuzan: ...

However.

At this moment.

He had already listened to Princess Vivi's account and understood the situation in the Alabasta Kingdom.

Sure enough.

Just as he had thought, it was a troublesome matter!

Perhaps he should not have gone to Red Romance to rest. He should have returned directly to Marine Headquarters.

Looking at Princess Vivi's expectant eyes, Kuzan rubbed his forehead in frustration. Then he resumed his languid expression, slumped back onto the sofa, whistled, and said leisurely, "Sorry, Princess. According to the Shichibukai regulations, without orders, the Marines cannot enter a Shichibukai's territory without authorization unless you have evidence. But from what you have said, you have no evidence at all. So while I sympathize with your situation, I cannot help you."

As a Marine admiral, it would not really matter if he entered a Shichibukai's territory without authorization, but he already had a better solution.

Looking at Princess Vivi, who had once again become disappointed and despairing, Kuzan jerked his chin toward Xia Che. "Perhaps you could ask our Colonel Xia Che here, who has nothing to do with Shichibukai Crocodile. Considering how pretty you are, he will definitely be very eager to help."

As soon as he finished speaking.

"..."

What did he mean, pretty?

Was Xia Che that kind of person?

Xia Che looked speechlessly at Kuzan, who was dragging him into this. Then he looked at Vivi's hopeful eyes once more and sighed helplessly as well. "As a righteous Marine, I am very willing to help, but I am also a Marine. The Shichibukai's authority applies to me too, and I am the base commander of Branch 16. Under the requirements for a base commander, without orders from Marine Headquarters, I cannot enforce the law outside my jurisdiction, much less cross over to..."

However.

Before he could finish.

Just as Princess Vivi was about to be disappointed again, Kuzan's lazy voice rang out once more.

Whistling, he said leisurely, "It's fine. He doesn't understand the law! Violating Marine Headquarters regulations is a common occurrence for him."

"..."

This guy... was doing it on purpose, wasn't he?!