A Sudden Encounter

After sending off that Marine admiral who loved watching trouble unfold, all that remained was to arrange the upcoming work on the Conomi Islands and at Marine Branch 16 before they could set out.

Of course~

There was not really much to arrange.

The Conomi Islands had always been managed by Nojiko, and everything was already on track. They only needed to continue following the development plan he had laid out.

Nothing would happen even if he was gone for a few days.

As for the newly arrived civilians... there was even less to worry about. This had happened so many times already; Cocoyasi Village could surely handle it on its own.

As for Marine Branch 16... he increased the Marines' training workload and had them stay put and train properly. As for everything else, Udo could handle it.

As the chief steward of Marine Branch 16, Udo handled all branch affairs whenever Xia Che and Robin were away.

Though he had no particular standout qualities, Udo was quite reassuring when it came to holding down the fort.

On the contrary, they needed to remind everyone to keep a close watch on the pirates they had captured not long ago. They could not let their guard down and trigger a riot.

Nami would be coming along this time.

Taking Nami along made it more convenient to go out and make money.

As for Guina... she had come to the Marine branch to hone her swordsmanship and broaden her horizons, so she would be coming along this time to see more of the world.

Robin, as usual, would follow him.

Xia Che had already gotten used to it.

So, aside from Nami, every capable person in Marine Branch 16 would be going with him. At this moment, the branch's defensive strength was indeed severely depleted.

Worried that something unexpected might happen, he also took Kuro with them.

Though that guy had been fairly well-behaved lately, Xia Che did not believe that, upon seeing such a perfect opportunity, a pirate like him would truly remain unmoved.

It was still more reassuring to keep him close and watch him.

After all, Captain Kuro was quite capable. If he secretly escaped, Marine Branch 16 probably would not even notice.

Of course~

When all was said and done... Marine Branch 16 simply lacked too many talented people!

Once everything had been arranged, Xia Che led everyone aboard the Fearless Battleship Saber, which they had seized from Krieg's pirate ship, and set sail for Reverse Mountain.

There were three main routes from the Four Seas into the Grand Line. The first, and safest, was to use the elevators the World Government had built on the Red Line.

This was how Marines, nobles, and ordinary people traveled to the main seas of the Four Seas. It was safe and convenient, though the fees were rather high.

Of course, if you were in the Marines, headquarters could reimburse the expense.

But...

They would not be taking that route this time.

Come on, they were currently aboard a Moke Pirates ship. Taking the elevator would be walking right into a trap, would it not?

The second route was through the Calm Belt. But there was neither wind nor current there, and the sea was completely still. Without paddle wheels, a sailing ship would lose all power the moment it entered and become trapped, unable to move.

At the same time, vast numbers of gigantic Sea Kings lived there. Once ordinary people encountered one, they could not even flee.

Though he had a way to cross the Calm Belt with his strength, it would be too exhausting, so he decided against it.

If they had been sailing a Marine warship, they could have taken either of those two routes.

The third route, which was also the main route used by pirates, was to enter through Reverse Mountain on the Red Line.

However, that route was extremely dangerous. Not only were the currents swift, but storms raged there year-round. Without an excellent navigator and a sturdy pirate ship, it was easy to crash into the mountain walls and die before reaching the summit.

Of course~

They had an excellent navigator and a sturdy ship!

Reverse Mountain was perfect for them!

As for coating their ship and passing beneath the sea, or flying through the sky, they could not manage either for the time being.

Lying on a beach chair with his hands behind his head, Xia Che let out a long sigh. "We still need our own technology!"

Then he reached out with his right hand and took the freshly squeezed orange juice Robin had placed beside him.

Sure enough, a massive sailing ship with three decks was truly spacious!

Comfortable!

"Loguetown is ahead. Should we stop there for a while?"

"No need." Hearing Nami call out, Xia Che waved his hand. "Let's not disturb Smoker right now. We'll go quietly, and visit him when we come back."

"..."

That guy probably did not want to see you again anyway!

Nami looked at Xia Che, who was leisurely enjoying afternoon tea, with a strange glint in her eyes. But since he had said so, she followed his wishes, did not sail toward Loguetown, and headed directly for Reverse Mountain.

Then, as though she had noticed something, she raised her head and looked at Vivi, who had been tense and somewhat lost all this time. With a soft, sympathetic sigh, she said, "You don't need to worry. Since Xia Che has decided to step in, that means he has confidence! Just like back then with me... believe in Xia Che."

"I know~, and I'm truly grateful for his help." Hearing Nami's words, Vivi came back to herself. Nami's comfort seemed to ease some of her anxiety. She lifted her head and curiously looked at Xia Che, lounging leisurely nearby, then at the burly Moke standing beside him. After hesitating, she finally asked, "The Moke Pirates..."

"Don't worry. Moke may look a little dull, but he isn't a bad pirate!"

"A fallen Marine..."

"Though that guy really is outrageous in some ways, he doesn't deserve to be called a fallen Marine."

"But he's greedy and lustful..."

"No, not that bad! Probably... not that bad, right~?" Nami gave an awkward laugh and shifted her gaze away. But then her eyes drifted as though she were recalling something, and the corners of her lips curled upward. "Actually, everyone became companions with him by accident because they were grateful to him. It was all just a misunderstanding."

"Grateful?" Vivi looked curiously at Nami, especially at those eyes that carried a trace of sorrow before suddenly putting on a smile. That only made her more curious.

While on the Conomi Islands, she had learned a little about him and understood that he was a colonel deeply respected by everyone there.

Especially this morning, although it had indeed been easy to misunderstand, she also knew that the Moke Pirates had not intended to capture everyone and turn them into pirates.

After hesitating, she looked at Nami. "Can you tell me about yourself?"

"Why do you want to know that? Forget it, it's pretty boring right now anyway." At Vivi's pleading look, Nami thought for a moment, pursed her lips, and said, "There's nothing that can't be said."

Looking at Vivi, her eyes fell into memories once more. "Do you know about the Conomi Islands? Back then, the Conomi Islands were not as prosperous as they are now, nor were there so many people."

Guina had found her goal again because of that guy. Robin had found a home because of him. And she... had also been saved by him.

Time passed little by little.

As Nami told her story, Princess Vivi became immersed in this unusual tale.

A Marine had saved an island, then led a group of poor people who could barely afford to eat, step by step, into prosperity, all the way to the present.

An unbelievable yet admirable fallen Marine.

Vivi stared blankly at Xia Che lying on the deck. As Nami spoke, her once-anxious heart gradually calmed, as though her confused heart had found something to rely on. The burden she carried seemed to lighten, and she felt much more at ease.

However.

As Nami reminisced and spoke, she noticed Vivi's expression. Her eyelid twitched, and an ominous feeling suddenly rose in her heart. "Hey, hey, hey, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing. I-I was just thinking about how I should repay all of you!"

"Really?" Nami eyed Vivi suspiciously, but still waved her hand. "Forget it. We're demanding payment this time, remember? Don't forget to give us one billion Beli!"

"I-I know." Under Nami's suspicious gaze, Vivi, who had not been thinking about anything and had merely felt grateful toward Xia Che, could not help recalling the deal she had made back then.

Her entire body suddenly felt hot, and even her head grew dizzy.

What was wrong with her?

She hurriedly said in a fluster, "Once Alabasta has money, I'll definitely pay you! And I'll properly repay all of you too!"

"As long as you pay us, that's enough. No need to repay us." Nami's eyelid twitched as she looked at Vivi suspiciously. When her gaze fell upon Vivi's face, she asked in confusion, "Why is your face so red?"

"I-I, I just suddenly feel a little hot! No, don't worry!"

"Why do you look like you're about to collapse?"

"I'm just a little... hot. Maybe I'm too excited!"

"You don't look excited!" Nami stared blankly at Vivi, who looked ready to fall over, and hurriedly supported her. As though she had thought of something, she reached out and pressed a hand to Vivi's forehead.

Sure enough.

"You're sick! You're burning up! This won't do, we need to find a doctor right now. We can't enter the Grand Line like this. Should we go back to East Blue? But we've already passed Reverse Mountain! What should we do now?"

"I-I'm fine! Don't worry." Feeling Nami's anxiety as well, Vivi pleaded, "Please, don't go back. We have to go to Alabasta. Everyone, everyone... is still waiting for me!"

"Why are you still talking about that? Don't move around." Nami anxiously supported Vivi, then turned toward Xia Che, who was lounging outside, and shouted, "Xia Che, Vivi has a fever!"

The moment her words fell.

Before Vivi could say anything, Xia Che, who had been lying on the beach chair, raised his head in confusion.

Who had a fever?

Just as he was about to say something.

Suddenly.

At that very moment.

"Boss, there's a pirate ship ahead!" Moke suddenly shouted. "It's moving really fast!"

Just as Moke's voice fell, and just as Xia Che turned his head to look at Nami in confusion.

Sure enough.

At that moment.

Bang!

A ship slammed into them as though it had been fitted with nitrous boosters.

And standing on its rail was an enormous figure.

A wooden box was tightly strapped to his back, as though it held some precious treasure. He wore a somewhat adorable bear-eared hat and rimless glasses. Frowning as he looked at them, he said, "East Blue Overlord? The Moke Pirates?"