Everyone else: "..."
Well, the hero isn't too late!
That line's a bit much!
We're not putting on a play!
What do you mean, you want another take?!
A flood of objections swept through everyone's minds. For a moment, they forgot their hatred and started shouting at Loa.
Standing on the patch of Ice Loa had made, Robin doubled over laughing. If it had been large enough for anything more than a firm foothold, she might have pounded the Ice three times for good measure.
Loa ignored the shouts below and waved his hand again. Sharp Ice spears appeared in neat ranks behind him. Bitter cold radiated from them, dropping the temperature of the air.
The crowd that had been heckling him fell silent and stared at him in terror.
"A D-Devil Fruit!"
"He's a Devil Fruit User!"
Alabasta might have had two Devil Fruit Users of its own, but such people were truly rare on these seas. Most people knew little about Devil Fruits and regarded them with a vague, instinctive fear.
The Ice spears appearing out of thin air made a far greater impression than the cannonballs Loa had thrown earlier. Even the scales on his body took on an air of mystery in ordinary people's eyes.
It wasn't only the Rebel Army below who were frightened. Alubarna's defenders gripped their weapons nervously and watched Loa with equal wariness.
Loa's face darkened. He no longer knew what to say.
That's the third time!
There's definitely something wrong with Alabasta!
He pulled his cloak around to the front, ignoring Robin's disgruntled muttering when it mussed her hair. Then he pointed at the two large black characters on it and stared at the people below.
"Come on. Say it with me."
"Jus—"
"—tice."
"Justice" the crowd repeated blankly. Then the