After the War

In the end, Alabasta—or rather, the Straw Hat Pirates—had won. Alabasta had been saved, while Sand Crocodile Crocodile had been arrested by the Marines.

"Just thinking about everyone's expressions makes me laugh." Li Ziming said with a smile, holding a wineglass.

"Your sick sense of humor really is beyond saving." Robin sat in a nearby chair, holding an ancient book she had taken from Alabasta's royal palace.

"You were the one who was almost beyond saving." Li Ziming said irritably. "When Straw Hat and Crocodile started fighting, you could've run away. But no, you insisted on staying there and got stabbed through by a hook. Are you proud of that?"

"Sorry, sorry. That was indeed my mistake." Robin said it, yet there was not the slightest trace of embarrassment on her face. "Still, if I hadn't stayed, I wouldn't have gotten to witness such an incredible battle."

"So, what do you think? Luffy's not bad, right?" Li Ziming wore the expression of someone pleased with his own choice. "Sticking with that kid is bound to be interesting."

"Interesting?" Robin looked at Li Ziming with amused eyes. "I have no idea what your true motives are, but I'll take that as your reason for now."

"Can't you just not expose me?" Li Ziming shrugged.

"Excuse me." Vivi approached somewhat awkwardly and bowed to Li Ziming and Robin. "I'm sorry. My father told me everything. I misunderstood you."

Li Ziming walked over to Vivi and lifted her chin. "Did you misunderstand, or didn't you? That is the question." Seeing her confused, startled expression, he smiled smugly and left.

"Don't mind him." Robin said helplessly. "He's just like that. Sometimes he acts like an idiot."

"Uh..." Vivi paused, not knowing how to respond. Then she sat beside Robin. "Robin, why did you insist on seeing the Poneglyph?" Vivi had heard from her father that Robin had stayed by Crocodile's side for the Poneglyph, and had later pretended to be captured by Crocodile again for the same reason.

"Everyone has their own story. So do I." Robin said only that, then fell silent and turned her full attention to her book.

Meanwhile, Li Ziming strolled over to where the Straw Hat Pirates were resting. After defeating Sand Crocodile, their injuries had been severe enough that Li Ziming had brought them into the palace.

"Ziming!" Chopper was preparing medicine. The moment he saw Li Ziming, he happily called out.

"Shh." Li Ziming then laughed. "Forget it. Even if someone set off cannons beside their ears right now, they probably wouldn't wake up. We really have you to thank for this war."

"We're not that amazing." Chopper swayed happily from side to side. "By the way, how is Robin's injury?"

"She's fine. The penetrating wound was fairly serious, but she can sit and read now, so it's nothing major. The antidote Doctor Kureha gave her was very effective, and Doctor Chopper's treatment was excellent too." Li Ziming did not hold back his praise.

"Even if you praise me, I won't be happy!" Chopper said joyfully as he twisted about.

"How about it? Want to take a bath?" Li Ziming invited Chopper.

"Mm, can I bring the duck in?" Chopper actually asked.

"Of course." Li Ziming then carried Chopper to the bathhouse.

"Your Majesty?" Li Ziming looked in surprise at Cobra, who was sitting in the bath.

"Your injuries haven't healed yet!" Chopper hurried anxiously to Cobra's side. "Your wounds will split open if you keep this up!"

"It's fine, it's fine. Doctor, your bandaging skills are excellent, and I'm not that fragile." Cobra proudly flexed his muscles. "Even if I'm not as strong as you, I'm still quite sturdy!"

"Avoiding treatment isn't a good habit." Li Ziming found a floating tray and placed a flask of sake on it. "Oof." He entered the water helplessly. Even though bathwater was not seawater, once three-quarters of his body was submerged, he felt weak all over.

Cobra looked at Li Ziming with a strange expression. "Sorry, I didn't realize..."

"Don't get any strange ideas." Li Ziming waved weakly. "I'm a Devil Fruit user. I just lose my strength in water."

"Hahaha, I thought you were like that guy who could turn into anyone he wanted." Cobra showed no embarrassment at all.

Li Ziming thought of that impersonator, and Mr. 2's face appeared in his mind. Annoyed, he flicked a spray of water at Cobra.

"Are you and Miss Robin a couple?" Cobra asked gossipily.

"I'm pursuing her." Li Ziming narrowed his eyes. "But I advise you not to get any ideas. Vivi and I are impossible. I'm a pirate, and you don't want your son-in-law to be a thief, do you?"

"So you don't dislike Vivi?" Cobra's eyes lit up. "Actually, I could recommend you to become one of the Shichibukai. That way..."

"Forget it." Li Ziming's tone was filled with disdain. "I don't have any favorable impression of the Marines or the World Government. I have no interest in working under those people. Otherwise, when I first went out to sea, I would've joined the Marines directly instead of joining Baroque Works. Besides, Uncle, you look pretty healthy. You should be able to keep going for another two or three years. By then, Vivi will definitely be a qualified queen."

"A queen?" Cobra gave a bitter smile. "Vivi, she..."

"Vivi isn't as fragile as you imagine. Her will is far stronger than you think. Sometimes, you need to learn to trust your own child. An eagle needs the sky, not ropes and a birdcage." After saying that, Li Ziming closed his mouth, looking like he did not want to say anything more.

"Doctor, do you like Vivi?" Cobra's question made Li Ziming look at him strangely. Was this old man really so eager to marry Vivi off?

"I do!" Chopper nodded excitedly. "Miss Vivi is a really nice person!"

"Is that so?" Cobra's voice fell low, carrying some helplessness, some sorrow, and perhaps some pain.

"Mm, all of us really like Miss Vivi." Chopper said as he showed off the mark on his wrist to Cobra.

"Mm, I think you're right, Doctor." Cobra curled his lips into a smile.

"Mm?" Chopper looked at Cobra in confusion.

"That is, taking a bath really can make your wounds split open." After saying that, Cobra fainted, and the bathwater rapidly turned red.

"Oh no, Doctor, doctor! Ah, that's me!" Chopper scrambled to carry Cobra out.

"This old man really knows how to make trouble for people." Li Ziming said helplessly, then laboriously lifted himself from the water to help Chopper.

Before long, the Straw Hat Pirates woke up one after another, with the exception of Luffy, whose injuries were the worst.

"Please enjoy this, beautiful lady." Sanji showered Robin with attention. Since waking up, he had not stopped making all kinds of delicious food.

"We need to keep an eye on those two!" Usopp watched Li Ziming and Robin warily. As for Nami, Robin had bought her over with a bag of diamonds.

"Lord Usopp, I'd really like to hear about your heroic exploits." Li Ziming said with a smile.

"Is that so? Well, I suppose I have no choice. Let the great Captain Usopp tell you about my..." Usopp then began boasting at length.

"Idiots." Zoro shook his head and swung the sword in his hand, trying to recall the feeling he had experienced when he cut through steel.

"But why isn't Luffy awake yet?" Chopper's words made the Straw Hat Pirates fall silent.

"Nothing else for it. How about I give it a try?" Li Ziming volunteered.

"Ziming, you know medicine too?" Chopper looked at Li Ziming curiously.

"I have a feeling this won't be a good method." Robin had a bad feeling about it.

"Oh? I wonder if anyone would like to eat these hundred pieces of meat?" Li Ziming spoke softly, and it was equally speechless-inducing. Yet in the next second, everyone was stunned.

"Meat!" With a furious roar, Luffy sprang up despite still being wrapped in bandages. "Where's the meat?!"

Li Ziming wore an expression that said there was no need to thank him, while everyone else either looked as though they had expected it or as though they had seen a ghost.

"Did you just say there was meat?" Luffy looked at Li Ziming.

"Oh? I'm sure the people of the royal palace can afford to treat us to a meal, right?" Li Ziming looked toward Vivi.

"Don't worry. Since everyone is awake, let's have a banquet!" At Vivi's command, the entire palace sprang into action. Naturally, the kitchen was the busiest place of all.

Luffy was practically a tyrant at the dining table. The moment a dish was served, it could practically be cleared away again. Everyone else struggled to snatch food from under Luffy's nose. Seeing the ladies unable to get anything to eat, Sanji immediately got into a full-blown brawl with Luffy. Usopp retaliated against Luffy with Pepper Star, while several empty barrels had already piled up beside Zoro. Li Ziming was smarter. Whenever food was pushed over, he took some from it and shared it with the ladies, earning unanimous praise from them.

"Vivi looks very happy, Igaram." Cobra said with a sigh.

"Your Majesty?" Igaram seemed to understand what Cobra was thinking and looked at him worriedly.

"I'm fine. An eagle needs the sky, not ropes and a birdcage." Cobra's wistful tone plunged Igaram into silence.