In the dimly lit meeting room, a dozen or so people sat around a round table. Kuzan and Vivi sat opposite each other. The Straw Hats and several of Lina's undead hadn't taken seats; they stood behind Vivi.
Bang!
A man sprang to his feet and slammed both hands down on the table, his face full of astonishment as he cried out,
"What did you say?!"
"Hey, is that true?"
"I knew it! The king could never have done such a thing!"
Several other rebel officers chimed in. The people around the table wore different expressions, but all showed a hint of surprise.
A few of them had been members of the Sand-Sand Group who'd played with Vivi as children, so they trusted her more than most. But not everyone felt the same way.
"Why should we believe you?"
"What if this is a scheme your royal family came up with because the war isn't going well, to frame someone else?"
"Exactly! Do you have any proof, Princess Vivi?!"
Several people began voicing their opinions.
Lina wasn't surprised. Some of them had even listened to Vivi's account from beginning to end, and that was already thanks to the rain.
"Proof? I don't have any at the moment—"
"...You don't need to say more." Kuzan cut Vivi off.
"Wait, Kuzan! You have to believe me. Father King would never—"
"No. I believe you." Kuzan spoke calmly, but his words immediately riled up the others.
"Chief, you can't just believe her because she's Princess Vivi!"
"Wait! This is way too rash!"
"Exactly! Our dead brothers—"
"Quiet! Listen to me..." Kuzan shouted over the uproar. He rubbed his temples, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes before speaking.
"It's not because of Vivi. Calm down and think carefully. If you had