Two Armies Face Off, Arrival

The next morning, before the royal palace.

A large force of the Rebel Army had gathered before the palace, while the Royal Army inside remained on constant alert, ready to meet the enemy.

King Cobra stood atop the palace walls, shouting across the distance to Kohza, the leader of the Rebel Army.

"Kohza, must it really come to this?"

"Once the war begins, how many civilians will die?"

Cobra's expression was agitated.

He regarded the people as his own family and could not bear to see them slaughtering one another.

"Your Majesty, things have reached the point where I can no longer stop them."

Kohza showed none of the high spirits expected of a Rebel Army leader. His face was exceptionally grim.

Things had been fine just yesterday. When he learned that Crocodile's scheme had been exposed, he had been overjoyed and wanted to negotiate with the Royal Army.

Yet overnight, the Rebel Army's mid-ranking officers had seemingly gone mad, stirring up the emotions of the entire force.

No matter how much he tried to reason with them, those people still pinned all the blame on Cobra and demanded an assault on the palace.

Kohza was now being swept along by the will of the Rebel Army. He could not make the decisions himself at all.

"Chief, why waste words with him? Kill that tyrant!"

A mid-ranking Rebel Army officer shouted indignantly.

The emblem of Baroque Works was clearly displayed on his hat.

"Kill that tyrant!"

"Kill that tyrant!"

The entire Rebel Army immediately erupted, murderous and eager to make a move.

"Your Majesty, order a counterattack!"

Seeing that the Rebel Army was about to storm into the palace, Gaka urgently spoke to Cobra.

Things had already come this far. They could not afford to be softhearted any longer.

"No. I cannot harm them. Alabasta belongs to all its people!"

Cobra closed his eyes and spoke painfully.

Faced with his own people, he truly could not bring himself to act.

If his death could put an end to the war, then he would not hesitate to give his life.

"Heh, what a fine ruler you are."

Crocodile suddenly appeared behind Cobra with Robin and spoke mockingly.

He had nothing but contempt for Cobra's womanly compassion, but it was just what he needed to exploit.

At the sight of Crocodile's sudden appearance, Gaka transformed into a hunter and Bell into a birdman, both facing him like a deadly threat.

"King Cobra, take me to see that Poneglyph."

Ignoring Gaka and Bell, Crocodile spoke directly to Cobra.

"Kill me if you want, but don't even think about what's in there!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Cobra flatly refused.

The secret his family had guarded for generations—something so dangerous—could not be allowed to fall into the hands of an ambitious man like this.

"You do not care about your own life, but what about the people outside?"

Crocodile revealed a cruel smile and spoke lightly.

He merely made a call through a Transponder Snail, and the Rebel Army outside immediately grew agitated.

The Rebel Army kept pressing closer to the palace. Left with no choice, the Royal Army could only fight back.

At a glance, the battle between the two sides was on the verge of erupting.

Cobra closed his eyes, his cheeks trembling as he struggled fiercely.

On one side was the secret guarded by his family for generations; on the other were countless lives. The choice tore him apart.

"Fine. I will take you there!"

Cobra spoke helplessly. He truly could not bear to watch his people kill each other.

The moment he said those words, it was as though all strength had been drained from his body. He seemed to age several years at once.

"Your Majesty, you..."

Gaka and Bell were both extremely anxious and wanted to stop Cobra.

"Say no more. I have made my decision."

Cobra shook his head and stopped them. This was his own decision.

"Very good. Let us go."

Crocodile smiled and spoke with pleasure.

Cobra looked back at the battlefield below, then led Crocodile and Robin toward the Royal Tomb beneath the palace, where the Poneglyph was hidden.

After the three left, several people within the Rebel Army suddenly revealed faint smiles and began stirring up the crowd again.

The next moment, the Rebel Army launched an attack against the Royal Army, and the war finally broke out.

Gaka and Bell wanted to pursue Cobra, but the battlefield held them fast, leaving them unable to break away.

By the time Luo Wen and the others reached the palace, both sides had already gone bloodthirsty, soldiers fighting in pairs everywhere.

"How could this be? Everyone has already started fighting."

"No, I have to persuade them to stop."

Vivi looked at the fierce battlefield before her and spoke anxiously.

"It is useless. They have already lost themselves in the killing. Who could you possibly persuade?"

"When dealing with something like this, it is better to be direct."

Luo Wen reached out to stop Vivi and spoke calmly.

Vivi stared at Luo Wen in astonishment, unsure of what he meant.

The next moment, Conqueror's Haki surged forth from Luo Wen and covered the entire battlefield.

"Boom!"

Every soldier felt as if their heads had been struck by a hammer, their minds ringing.

It was as though they had been targeted by a ferocious tiger, cold sweat seeping down their backs.

The battlefield, where both sides had been fighting at full intensity, instantly fell silent. Weapons slipped from the soldiers' hands and clattered across the ground.

Every gaze turned toward Luo Wen.

After using it yesterday, Luo Wen had improved his control over Conqueror's Haki considerably and could now precisely regulate its power.

Luo Wen nodded in satisfaction and, beneath everyone's gaze, walked to the center of the battlefield with Vivi.

"It is Luo Wen, and Princess Vivi too! Everyone, stop fighting!"

Kohza, who had been sidelined within the Rebel Army and might as well have been invisible, shouted loudly. Luo Wen's overwhelming entrance gave him hope.

Under Luo Wen's Conqueror's Haki intimidation and their leader's command, the frenzied Rebel Army quieted down.

"It is Princess Vivi, and bounty hunter Luo Wen! We are stopping too!"

Gaka and Bell were overjoyed as they loudly ordered the Royal Army to stand down.

Seeing Luo Wen and Vivi arrive to save the day filled them with immense relief.

When the Royal Army saw Vivi, they all knelt in salute to show their loyalty.

"Explain it to them."

Luo Wen leaned close to Vivi and whispered.

Vivi nodded, stepped forward, and held her head high as she told everyone of Crocodile's scheme.

"Wonderful! King Cobra was framed!"

The Royal Army soldiers cheered jubilantly.

"What? How could this be?!"

The Rebel Army, on the other hand, looked as though their parents had died, their convictions collapsing in an instant.

At first, they had refused to believe it, but when their leader Kohza stepped forward, they had no choice but to accept the truth.

Under Luo Wen's Conqueror's Haki and Vivi's explanation, this final rebellion was completely extinguished.

"King Cobra was threatened by Crocodile in order to protect the people. He took him to see the secret hidden by the royal family."

Gaka and Bell came to Vivi and Luo Wen's side, speaking heavily.

"What? Father...!"

Tears flowed from the corners of Vivi's eyes, and she was overwhelmed with worry.

"Lead the way. We are going to find Crocodile."

"Your father is still safe for now, but that may not be the case later."

Luo Wen picked up Vivi and spoke steadily.

There was no time to walk slowly now. They had to move faster.

"Mm!"

Vivi nodded fiercely and pointed Luo Wen in the right direction.

Holding Vivi in his arms, Luo Wen sped toward the Royal Tomb.

As for Nami and Tashigi, he left them behind at the palace to wait.

In Luo Wen's arms, Vivi felt his heartbeat, and her restless heart slowly calmed down.

She believed in Luo Wen. Luo Wen had never let anyone down.