Before long, Vivi arrived.
She climbed down from Karoo, travel-worn, with grains of sand still caught in her clothes and hat.
Behind her came a squad of guards riding camels, along with Mr. 3, Dino.
"Rubick, you're here!"
Vivi sounded excited. She no longer called him Uncle Rubick. Clearly, after naming him a prince, she had changed how she addressed him.
Dino greeted him, then tried to make himself inconspicuous. The pressure Rubick put on him was simply too much.
"Vivi, I can't be your prince."
"Why not?"
Vivi looked disappointed. Were her looks and a princedom in an entire kingdom still not enough to win Rubick over?
Rubick explained, "Because I'm now the King of Sky Country. I came to Alabasta this time to establish diplomatic relations with you."
"Sky Country?"
Rubick pointed upward. "Sky Country is up there, ten thousand meters above us."
The soldiers and nearby residents were stunned. This was the first they had heard of a kingdom so high in the sky.
Vivi asked, "Is Sky Country that country of yours?"
"No."
Rubick said, "I have something important to do first. Afterward, I'll bring my people down and formally establish relations with you."
"That's wonderful, Rubick. We've been waiting for this day."
Then Vivi changed tack. "But being King of Sky Country doesn't stop you from being a Prince of Alabasta. If you're a man, don't turn me down."
A princess had laid it out so plainly that Rubick found it hard to refuse. Still, he said, "Let's set that aside for now. I have urgent business to attend to."
Vivi said, "It's about Robin getting captured, isn't it? We can help you."
"Good," Rubick said at once. "Have your people take me to Enies Lobby."
"I can't do that."
Vivi said, "Ordinary ships can't