Setting Off for Little Garden

The moon shone brightly, casting a cool, clear light over the quiet town and its streets.

"What princess? I didn't say that." Igaram gritted his teeth, glaring unwillingly at Reiner and the others.

"You two jerks!"

A loud shout suddenly erupted from a distance. The group looked over to see an enraged Luffy. "They were going to treat us to a meal, and you guys knocked them all out!"

"Sanji and Zoro just joined, so fine, but Reiner, why didn't you stop them!"

Reiner's face instantly darkened: "..."

He's so clueless! Igaram lay on the ground, speechless as he looked at the captain with a 30 million Beli bounty.

Even outsiders couldn't stand it.

"You jerks! Today I'm going to teach you the rules of this ship!" Luffy, his face full of anger, clenched his fists and shuffled forward in his slippers.

"The rules of this ship, huh?" Reiner looked helplessly at Luffy, who was oblivious to the danger. "Who's really the one who doesn't understand the rules?"

Duang! Duang!

"You idiot!" Nami, looking fierce, landed two punches on Luffy, and he immediately quieted down.

Seeing Luffy huddled on the ground, clutching his head, Reiner and the others could only offer an awkward smile.

The rule of this ship was Nami, that cruel woman!

She was a tyrant on the ship, meek and mild to outsiders, but delivering powerful blows internally.

"Alright, let's get back to business." Reiner lit a cigarette, then squatted down to Igaram. "The princess you just mentioned, was it her?"

Reiner pointed to Vivi, who was knocked out and lying on the ground not far away, then added, "Explain clearly, or we'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish right now."

"Wait a minute!" Igaram frantically shouted, "Killing us won't do you any good! I want to commission you for a task. If you can complete it, you'll definitely get a generous reward!"

"Oh really~" Nami's eyes lit up. She pulled up her shorts and squatted down, looking at him with interest. "Tell me more."

Igaram gritted his teeth, and after some thought, began to explain the details of the commission.

Reiner and the others listened quietly.

Pirates were, by nature, often involved in arson, murder, and plunder, but most pirates also took on various commissioned tasks, much like mercenaries.

There were both legal and illegal commissions, which were a significant source of income for many pirates. Sometimes, commissions from royalty and nobles brought in money much faster than robbery. After all, which noble family didn't have some unspeakable secrets?

"The Princess of Alabasta!?"

After hearing Igaram's words, everyone except Reiner was clearly a bit shocked.

"Hey! That's a huge country!"

"And, I remember that country is in the midst of war, right?"

Nami spoke up; she usually had a habit of reading newspapers. "Why would the princess of a big country be in a place like this?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Knowing too much will only harm you..."

"So, our task is just to get you to Alabasta, right?"

Reiner walked over to Vivi, who was lying on the street. "How long will it take for the Log Pose here to set?"

"One day is enough," Igaram replied.

"What do you say, Luffy, should we take this commission?" Nami rubbed her hands.

"She's the princess of a super-powerful country! Let's set the commission fee at a billion Beli!"

"Nani!" Igaram exclaimed, "Wait a minute! I can't authorize such a large sum of money. We'll have to wait until you deliver the princess back, then we can discuss it in detail with the royal family."

Reiner, standing next to Vivi, knew about the Sand Kingdom's financial situation. Cobra had already sold off all valuables to provide aid to his people.

The king himself was living a simple, austere life; how could he possibly come up with a billion Beli?

"Alright!" Luffy inexplicably shouted, a grin spreading across his face. "We'll take this commission!"

Reiner squatted down and grabbed Vivi's sky-blue hair, lifting her head and patting her face. "Hey, wake up, little punk."

Vivi slowly opened her eyes. She still didn't know what was happening and glared angrily at Reiner. "You scoundrel!"

"Alright, don't look so indignant."

Reiner and the others briefly explained the situation to Vivi, and soon the group dispersed.

The Straw Hat Crew went back to the Going Merry to continue sleeping, leaving only Vivi and Igaram behind.

"Are you really sure about this, Igaram?" Vivi showed a hint of worry.

Igaram's expression had changed from before, having regained the calm composure expected of a captain of the guard. "You've seen their strength, Princess. More importantly..."

Looking at the people lying haphazardly on the ground, he paused, then added, "They haven't killed a single person throughout the fight. Even though they're our opponents, they still showed consideration for a meal. I trust their character."

"Is that so? I understand, Igaram. I trust you. Shall we depart together tomorrow?" Vivi slowly rose, propping herself up with her hands.

Igaram, however, calmly countered, "No, Princess, you just go with them. I will leave via another route."

"Why!"

"I just saw the Unlucky Messenger..."

Igaram said glumly, "News of what happened here will quickly reach the boss. I'll leave tonight, a step ahead, to draw fire away from the princess."

"Wait a minute! Iga—"

"Don't say another word, Princess!"

Igaram cut her off decisively, then slowly added, "The country's situation isn't looking good. You should know what the top priority is."

"I..."

Vivi pursed her lips, a hint of reluctance showing. "...I understand."

The next day at noon, the sun was high in a cloudless sky, and the Going Merry was docked in a calm harbor.

On board, several majestic Undead Hawks perched on the crow's nest. Reiner, as usual, was working out with Zoro behind the living quarters.

"Time to set sail, everyone!" Luffy was sprawled on the Going Merry's figurehead, hugging the sheep's head.

The Undead pulled up the anchor, and the Going Merry slowly departed from the harbor.

Everyone on board went about their usual business. The only difference was the addition of one person and one emergency food supply to the ship.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Vivi, with Karoo at her left, couldn't help but feel a bit odd.

It was as if no one on the ship cared that a princess had arrived. She was clearly the key figure in the requested mission, yet here she was, treated like she was invisible.

Except for Sanji.

"Dinner's ready, everyone!" Sanji called out, emerging from the kitchen, then immediately gravitated towards Vivi to flirt.

"Coming, coming!" Luffy quickly dashed to the second deck.

Reiner also put down his exercise equipment and went to the living room dining area with Zoro.

The group quickly gathered around a table. Compared to their hearty feasting, Vivi and Karoo, huddled in a corner of the table, seemed much more reserved.

"Nami, is our next stop Little Garden?" Reiner couldn't help but ask. He couldn't remember if they would go anywhere else before Little Garden.

After entering the Grand Line, Reiner's eagerness to find the Blue Ogre and Red Ogre grew even more urgent.

"Ah, yes, Little Garden it is." Nami had checked the navigation route before they set sail.

Luffy's eyes lit up. "Little Garden?! Sounds like a great place, hehe."

"It should be beautiful," Nami also began to look forward to it.

Reiner knew Nami's anticipation wouldn't last very long.

Elbaf is a famous country in the New World. It doesn't make sense that the leader of the Giant Warrior Pirates wouldn't have Haki, Reiner mused, a hint of doubt in his mind.

Meanwhile, in Rainbase, Alabasta.

Inside a luxurious, opulent room, a man with a cigar in his mouth stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window.

Tap... tap... The crisp sound of high heels echoed in the empty room.

"You're back, Miss All Sunday." The man's voice was low as he turned to look at the dark-haired woman entering.

"One of our strongholds at the Grand Line's starting point was destroyed. This is the information the Unlucky Messenger sent back."

The dark-haired woman said, placing two photos on the table. One depicted Vivi, and the other, Luffy.

"The person Mr.5 caught was Igaram in disguise. The real Princess Vivi has already left with the Straw Hat Crew."

"And then?" The man's low voice sounded again.

"Their next stop is Little Garden. Mr.5 and Mr.3, as a duo, have already gone ahead."

"What if they fail again this time?" The man's tone was clearly displeased.

"I sent Mr. 2 as well. He'll tie up loose ends and dispose of those useless idiots."

"As expected of Miss All Sunday. You're always so efficient," Crocodile said, a faint smile playing on his lips.