Vivi, Be My Ship's Doctor

Alabasta.

Eruma.

A city located downstream of the Sandora River.

After docking at the port, Ye Zhuo and the others came here.

He took out the map he had just bought.

The first place Ye Zhuo set his sights on was the royal stronghold, Alubarna.

This place was quite good.

He wondered whether Vivi had truly joined Baroque Works yet.

Going by the timeline, Robin should have only been working with Sand Crocodile for around a year.

After giving it some thought, Ye Zhuo quickly calculated it.

The Straw Hat crew would begin their adventure four years later, while Fire Fist Ace would set sail two years later.

By the time Vivi met the Straw Hat crew, she had already infiltrated Baroque Works for two years.

Therefore, she was most likely still in Alubarna.

"Set out for Alubarna!"

Ye Zhuo patted the camel.

This thing really made him anxious with how slowly it walked.

The problem was that he wanted to hire a few Super Spot-Billed Ducks that could run quickly, but they belonged to the royal family.

"Captain, Alabasta's scorching climate has been a longstanding issue. The art here is not as famous as its spices."

Kalifa believed that if they wanted to find a doctor, they still needed to go to Drum Kingdom, the Winter Island.

That was where medicine was truly advanced.

"How dare you defy the captain's decision!"

The Empress wanted nothing more than to give Kalifa a hard slap.

"I..."

Kalifa was left speechless. She finally understood that the Empress was completely devoted to Ye Zhuo.

Yet she did not dare argue back.

The Empress was not only the vice-captain; the combat crew of the Demon King Pirates had all been carefully selected from the Kuja Pirates.

"It's no big deal."

Ye Zhuo took out his waterskin and drank a mouthful.

Crocodile's efforts would end up being futile as well.

Who could have imagined that Alabasta recorded Pluton's method of activation and location?

Water 7, meanwhile, had preserved the blueprints and manufacturing techniques.

The real Pluton was instead hidden in Wano Country, where Kaido held sway.

At the port, the Empress and Kalifa had both bought spices they liked.

To protect themselves from the sun, they not only put on windbreakers but wrapped themselves up tightly.

Even the Empress had specifically changed into black stockings.

What left Ye Zhuo speechless was that the vice-captain used protecting the captain as an excuse to help steer the camel.

He did not mind it. The road was just a little bumpy, and the Empress could help block the wind and sand.

Along the way, there was also the faint fragrance drifting from her hair.

"We're here!"

Rows of camel caravans came to an abrupt halt.

Alubarna.

Built amid the desert from massive boulders, with a city constructed atop them.

By comparison, Alabasta's territory was enormous.

Traveling through it had to be measured in days.

In the Grand Line and the New World, such an area could definitely be called vast territory.

As he stepped into the capital.

Ye Zhuo felt the dry atmosphere emanating from the city.

Swish!

Throughout the city, hidden gazes had already been watching from every street and alley.

When they reached the actual royal palace, another long flight of stairs awaited them.

The moment Ye Zhuo took a step onto it, he heard footsteps.

"Stop!"

The king's guards had long since lined both sides of the path.

In fact.

The moment Ye Zhuo's pirate ship arrived in Alabasta, word had reached the capital.

Demon King Ye Zhuo had descended upon this place!

Above the stairs, Cobra and the others had been waiting for a long time.

"Even if you are a great pirate, don't think we will hand over the kingdom to you.

"This place is suffering from a drought not seen in a thousand years.

"But we believe the rain will come eventually!"

How could Cobra possibly fear Ye Zhuo?

He was the king of Alabasta.

"Shh!"

Ye Zhuo took a step forward, and Conqueror's Haki swept out.

In less than a moment of dizziness, every guard, including Pell and Chaka, was knocked unconscious.

Seeing this, Cobra was already alone.

"Father!"

Vivi emerged from the palace, the peacock slashers in her hands spinning as she stared fearlessly at Ye Zhuo.

"Princess!"

Igaram hurriedly tried to protect her behind him.

"Leave here quickly, Vivi!"

Even alone, Cobra would absolutely fight to the end.

"From this moment onward."

In a flash, Ye Zhuo appeared before King Cobra.

"I declare this island mine."

"Vivi!"

"Become the doctor aboard my ship!"

Huh???

Cobra and Igaram were both utterly confused.

He wanted Vivi to be his ship's doctor?

"Never! Don't even think about making me a pirate!"

Vivi leaped into the air.

The Empress and Kalifa casually blocked her attack.

[Chain Main Quest Completed: Crew Completion Plan I, Find a Ship's Doctor]

[Quest Reward: Shadowkhan · Blade Shadowkhan]

Ye Zhuo snapped his fingers.

Shadow Ninjas, Shadow Samurai, and Black-clad Blades appeared inside and outside the royal palace.

[Chain Main Quest Activated: Crew Completion Plan II: Occupy Alabasta and drive Sand Crocodile and Baroque Works out of Rainbase]

[Quest Reward: Water Demon Aura · Complete Version (Includes Water-Summoning Formation)]

Ye Zhuo remembered that the Water Demon Aura could transform one's body into water. It could be considered a Logia, perhaps.

It was truly in a class of its own in the Pirate World.

He could use the Water Demon Aura himself, but if he wanted to summon a massive amount of water, he needed to draw a formation.

The more water there was, the more terrifying the Water Demon Aura user's combat power became.

"I refuse!"

How could Vivi agree to become a pirate's ship's doctor?

Moreover, Alabasta had been suffering from drought for two consecutive years.

The climate was strange, and the royal family had to remain here to guard it.

"Suit yourself. See you later."

Ye Zhuo saw that the system quest did not require him to take Vivi away right now.

So he was not worried in the slightest.

Instead, he picked up the tourist map he had bought at the port.

"Rainbase is this way, right?"

With that, he turned and left.

Huh?

The Empress and Kalifa had no doubts. They would absolutely obey the captain's orders.

It was Cobra and Vivi who were stunned.

What happened to that fierce look he had just had, as though he wanted to kill them all and force Vivi aboard his ship?

Why did he suddenly not even seem willing to spare them a glance?

"Are you humiliating me?"

Vivi glared furiously at Ye Zhuo.

"No, I have something urgent to do. We'll meet again after I'm done.

"Oh, right. Those shadows are my subordinates. They're very nice.

"From now on, this palace will be my second residence outside Amazon Lily.

"You can live here, but I'm not paying those guards' wages.

"Goodbye, my ship's doctor Vivi!"

Ye Zhuo had no particular strengths, except that he was polite.

As he left, the Shadowkhan swiftly concealed themselves within the darkness.

Not only Alabasta, but Amazon Lily also had a large number of Shadowkhan stationed there.

They would act when necessary.

"I don't want to be your ship's doctor! Never!"

Vivi glared fiercely at Ye Zhuo's retreating back.

She did not understand what this man's true purpose was.

"Your Majesty, is Demon King Ye Zhuo trying to place you under house arrest?"

Igaram asked worriedly.

"I don't know, but judging from the Empress's demeanor, she does not seem to have submitted under coercion as the rumors claim."

Cobra was also doubtful.

Were they really under house arrest?

"Damn it!"

Furious, Vivi decisively summoned Karoo.

"Vivi!"

Cobra and Igaram looked deeply worried.

"I will never let him have his way!"

Vivi chased after him, forcing Cobra and Igaram to follow close behind.