"Your Cobra is too kind. We are the ones who have disturbed you."
"Haha, Vice Admiral Momousagi, you're too kind. Since you two stopped in Alabasta, the pirates of the Eastern Continent have become much more obedient."
Cobra was hosting a banquet for Momousagi and Shiryu. Although the Navy didn't have much influence over Alabasta — Alabasta was Affiliated Nation of the World Government, or even one of its founding states, while the Navy was just a department of the World Government — Momousagi was, after all, a high-ranking member of the Navy. Cobra, who was always diligent and caring for his people, also hoped to build a good relationship with Momousagi to make Alabasta safer.
At this time, the Western Continent of Alabasta was thriving, and the Eastern Continent was free from Calamity of Drought. Although there was little rain, it was just the inherent lack of rain in the desert climate and was not considered a disaster. The people of Alabasta had long been used to it.
Clearly, with the advent of seawater desalination technology, Crocodile did not resort to the "old methods".
"Auntie Momousagi, Uncle Shiryu, would you like to come often in the future?" Twelve-year-old Vivi, who was also at the dining table, asked Momousagi and Shiryu with innocent, wide eyes.
However, for some reason, Momousagi always felt that the subtext of these words was a complaint about the Navy being incompetent and lazy...
But looking at the innocent little Princess before her, Momousagi felt that her thoughts were too filthy.
Before Momousagi could speak, Shiryu interjected, "First of all..."
Upon hearing those two words, Momousagi wanted to cover her face, thinking that Shiryu would even correct little girls to "call me Shiryu Vice Admiral Shiryu."
"... Call me Brother Shiryu," Shiryu said indifferently.
Momousagi:...
Is that your line? Look at your long face, think it over carefully. -- Momousagi's features couldn't help but scrunch up.
"Brother Shiryu!" Princess Vivi was very brave; she didn't seem afraid at all, even with such a fierce face.
Shiryu smiled upon hearing this and even patted her head, but... his smile became even fiercer.
"Vivi Highness Vivi, your brother... has many other things that require my attention, and I haven't been idle at all. Just like Her Highness the Princess, she has to attend etiquette classes, math classes, geography classes every day... She can't just mingle with the people as she pleases. This isn't because I don't care about the people, but because I want to better serve them in the future," Shiryu said slowly and deliberately.
Vivi was completely confused. "Etiquette class? Math class? Geography class? No, there isn't one..."
"Hmm? No? Along the way in other countries, I saw their princes and Princess... cough cough, it's nothing, it's good for kids to play around, hahaha..." Shiryu chuckled dryly.
Cobra paused for a moment upon hearing this, glanced at his only daughter, and seemed to be pondering something.
Are all the other princes and Princess secretly "catching up on their studies"? Well... the Nefertari Royal Family can't afford to fall behind from the start!
Vivi instinctively shuddered, turned to look at her father, and then looked at Shiryu with a resentful expression, feeling that his long face was doing it on purpose!
After psychologically pushing Cobra to start "tiger parenting," Shiryu enjoyed his food with peace of mind, while Vivi glared angrily at her "older brother."
Momousagi mentions to Cobra that they will be going on an inspection tour of the Western Continent, implying that their target is Crocodile. After all, Momousagi doesn't want to cause a misunderstanding with the Nefertari Royal Family, who might think that the Navy wants to interfere in Alabasta's internal affairs.
Cobra's reaction seemed rather conflicted to Sig. He appeared somewhat troubled, but wasn't really that troubled inside. In the end, he also subtly hinted to Momousagi that some "minor matters" shouldn't be taken too seriously, behaving like a riddle teller.
Sig was also able to grasp his complex psychology...
On one hand, Cobra never fully trusted Crocodile from the beginning, and was happy for Momousagi to want to test the limits of this Shichibukai;
However, there was a reason why Igaram previously believed that "His Cobra was completely deceived." After witnessing the development of the Western Continent, Cobra deliberately suppressed some doubts and even... prepared for the division of his power in exchange for a more prosperous Alabasta.
Cobra was worried about Crocodile's ambitions, which went beyond just becoming the "Governor of the Western Continent"; he feared that Crocodile might bring an even more serious crisis to Alabasta, hence his sense of unease.
Therefore, Cobra is now conflicted and conflicted about Momousagi's actions.
Of course, Sig was well aware that Cobra's concerns were valid. Half of Alabasta wouldn't suffice; he and Crocodile had agreed to take the entire Alabasta!
Momousagi understood Cobra's implication. While feeling admiration for this king, she also decided to expose Crocodile's true colors.
In Cobra's view, if Crocodile only wanted power, then he could satisfy him; it was all negotiable, provided that Alabasta was not put in danger!
However, in Momousagi's opinion, Crocodile would definitely not do anything good...
Momousagi also knew about the Nefertari Royal Family. She sighed inwardly, wondering how the difference in character between two descendants of the same Twenty Nations families could be so vast over seven hundred years.
After leaving the banquet, Momousagi, at Cobra's enthusiastic invitation, also decided to rest for a day in Alubarna.
"If only the Celestial Dragons, the World Government, and all the royal families were like the Nefertari Royal Family!" Shiryu suddenly asked.
Momousagi looked at him with surprise—from the tone of his question, Momousagi could tell that Shiryu wasn't expressing his own opinion, but rather trying to guess her thoughts!
"Don't talk nonsense." Momousagi looked around nervously to make sure no one else had heard.
If this gets back to Mary Geoise, it won't be good news for Shiryu, Momousagi, or even the Nefertari Royal Family.
"Heh." Shiryu sneered.
Momousagi felt a lump in her throat, unsure whether Shiryu was mocking her cautiousness or her thoughts, but either way, it made Momousagi feel uneasy.
The former mocks the Navy and the current state of the World Government, while the latter mocks the Navy and the World Government's "Justice."
A few months ago, Momousagi would either have launched into a tirade or subtly probe Shiryu with seemingly gentle words, asking him what exactly he was unhappy about.
However, Momousagi has already been severely damaged, and her opinion of Shiryu has been completely overturned. Now, when she is ridiculed, she simply remains silent and reflects on her actions.
Finally, Shiryu broke the silence. "Tomorrow you will travel by sea and land at the port of Aimar."
"And what about you?" Momousagi looked at Shiryu with surprise.
"I'll secretly travel by land directly to the Rain Dinners and meet that Shichibukai!"