Alubarna, late at night.
Chaos and searches continued throughout the Royal Palace. Torchlight flickered among the ancient palace buildings like restless fireflies. The Nationwide Wanted Notice and Royal Palace lockdown ordered by Cobra (Mr. 2) had shrouded this thousand-year-old Royal Capital in menace and unease. Guards loyal to the king, infiltrating members of Baroque Works, and ordinary guards who had been deceived were all mixed together, each suspicious of the others, making the situation increasingly chaotic.
Meanwhile, about ten kilometers northeast of Alubarna lay a seemingly barren stretch of sandstone hills. Jagged rocks filled the area, and wind erosion had formed countless natural caves and fissures. Desert bandits and smugglers occasionally hid here, but otherwise, people rarely ventured into the area.
At that moment, a campfire danced inside a cave cleverly concealed by a massive wind-eroded rock, illuminating several solemn faces.
Zhou Yu, Vivi, Pell, Sand Fox, and the trio of Shadow Shuriken, Heavy Axe, and Chain Sickle had taken temporary shelter here. Specially modified by the Wind-Listening Guard, the cave had a sizable interior stocked with fresh water, food, and basic medicine. It even contained a small device that jammed Den Den Mushi signals to keep the location secret.
The wound on Vivi's back had been treated again. Zhou Yu had used a tiny amount of Sacred Fire to heal it, though the mental strain on her had been considerable. But she had no mind to rest now, her gaze fixed on Zhou Yu and Pell as they conferred in low voices.
"...That is the situation." Pell quickly recounted the attack at Mirror Lake, the false Chaka, and the general state of the Royal Palace, his tone heavy. "The Royal Palace is certainly under lockdown by now. The Fake King must be scouring the entire city for us, especially