An hour later, Vegapunk slowly woke up.
He stared at the three people before him in confusion, his brow furrowed from the stabbing pain in the back of his head.
"My head hurts. What happened to me?"
"Nothing. You just fell."
Werther looked perfectly at ease, without the slightest hint that he was lying.
"No, you punched me. And you knocked me out several times."
Vegapunk glared at Werther in anger. Werther looked toward Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Vice Admiral Tsuru smiled.
"Cleansing the mind doesn't erase memories."
Anita looked Vegapunk up and down.
"Well? Are you back to normal?"
Vegapunk avoided her gaze for a moment, but finally nodded.
"Looking back at what I did, I lost my way. My head still hurts, but thank you for bringing me here."
Werther waved a hand and headed out of the room.
"It was nothing. I'm going to sleep."
Anita hesitated for a moment.
"I'm tired too. I'm going to bed."
Having just tasted forbidden fruit for the first time, Anita followed Werther, glancing around guiltily as though afraid someone might notice.
Four days later, in the courtyard of the temporary residence.
Laughter and angry shouting mingled, lending the place an utterly strange atmosphere.
A girl with long, sea-blue hair gazed at the crowd in wonder. She had fair skin, a pale pink dress, and bright, expressive eyes.
"Father, are these the kings from around the world? They seem..."
The blue-haired girl was Nefertari Vivi, the princess of the desert kingdom of Alabasta.
Nefertari Cobra gave a dry cough. As a fellow king under the World Government, he found the scene rather embarrassing.
The kings catching up with old friends were one thing, but the ones arguing made his face burn.
In front of the World Government, their behavior reflected poorly