After their encounter with Xiao Feng, the Going Merry continued sailing steadily across the vast sea. Gradually, its speed began to slow as the waters ahead shimmered unnaturally—rippling as though boiling from beneath.
Suddenly, with a tremendous splash, a massive creature burst from the ocean's depths and landed just behind the Merry.
"A sea cat!!" Vivi shouted, pointing at the enormous feline-like beast.
The creature was colossal, with fur that glistened with ocean water and eyes as wide as saucers. It growled lowly, but not in a threatening way. Despite its intimidating size, there was an almost majestic aura about it.
Luffy's eyes lit up, but not with awe—instead, hunger. To him, this wasn't a mystical sea beast—it was a giant, walking barbecue feast.
Despite Leo's generous provisioning in recent days, nothing could truly tame Luffy's appetite for meat. His stomach let out an audible growl as he clenched his fists, ready to leap.
"I'm gonna roast it!" he declared.
"Stop! You can't eat it!!"
Before he could pounce, Vivi sprang forward and delivered a swift kick to Luffy's face, slamming him into the deck.
"In Alabasta, sea cats are sacred animals!" she scolded, arms crossed. "Their appearance means we're close—very close—to my homeland."
Luffy lay flat on the floor, groaning in disappointment. He bit the ship's railing with exaggerated regret.
"Oh… I see," he mumbled, still eyeing the sea cat longingly.
Chopper, standing beside him, was wide-eyed with amazement. "The sea is incredible! I've never seen anything like this before. It really is magical!"
"Everyone! Get ready to land!" Nami called out, rushing to the front of the ship. "We can see land over there!"
Everyone turned toward the bow. There, rising from the golden coastline, was a bustling port city glittering under the sunlight. Fishing boats and even a few warships were docked at the harbor, and the air was rich with the sounds of commerce, laughter, and waves crashing on the beach.
"We're finally here—the port city of Alabasta: Nahana!" Vivi announced, her eyes glimmering with emotion.
She gazed longingly at the land in the distance. It had been so long since she'd been home. The moment felt surreal.
"How strange... When did all those ships get behind us?" Usopp asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Everyone turned to look. A dozen ships had quietly trailed them, flying flags marked with the symbol of Baroque Works.
"There's no mistaking it," Vivi said, her expression growing serious. "Those are ships belonging to the Billionaire Elder's forces. They're probably senior agents or their subordinates."
"Are they enemies?" Usopp asked, reaching nervously for his sling.
"Now's the time to test out my new cannon!" he added, already imagining a heroic bombardment.
"You idiot, ignore them. They're just small fry," Zoro replied coolly.
Having slain over a hundred foes on the Venetian Mountain, Zoro wasn't fazed by a few tailing ships.
"Yeah," Sanji agreed, lazily perched on the railing with a cigarette in his mouth. "Even though Miss Velis has halted the rebel attack for now, we should stay sharp. We're still outnumbered."
Leo, who had been reviewing a map drawn by Vivi, pointed to a marked spot.
"Let's restock supplies first," he said calmly, "then head straight to meet Velis. She's here in Nahana."
Vivi turned to him in surprise. "Where exactly?"
Leo tapped the map. "Here—Yuba."
Her pupils trembled at the name. "Yuba?" she echoed in disbelief.
Leo nodded. "Velis is currently hiding out at the rebel base."
After the last confrontation with Crocodile, Velis realized she couldn't defeat him head-on. So, she disappeared from public view, letting the world know that Vivi was still alive while she herself changed her identity and blended into the rebel ranks. She had been waiting patiently for their arrival ever since.
"In that case," Luffy shouted, fists pumping in the air, "let's head to the restaurant!"
"And to Alabasta!!"
As energetic as ever, Luffy seemed more excited about the promise of food than the seriousness of their mission.
Vivi smiled at her friends, her hand gently touching the magic pattern carved into her arm. "Everyone... I know it might sound awkward, but—thank you."
Nami rolled her eyes and grinned. "Come on, Vivi. We're your friends. Don't go getting all sentimental on us."
She grabbed Vivi by the shoulders and playfully pinched her cheeks. "If you really want to thank me, wait until Alabasta is safe and peaceful again. I mean, if your country's destroyed, we won't even get paid for delivering you!"
Her voice turned mockingly sinister at the end.
"That's right!" Usopp chimed in while checking the ammunition pouch on his belt. "No need to get so emotional now."
Sanji puffed his cigarette, striking a suave pose. "Don't worry, Miss Vivi. As your loyal knight, I will protect you no matter what."
Vivi looked around at her companions, overwhelmed with quiet gratitude. Despite the jokes and banter, she knew they all cared deeply.
A short while later, the Going Merry docked at a secluded pier away from the bustling main harbor.
"It's time to eat!!" Luffy yelled, leaping off the ship before it even came to a complete stop.
Within seconds, he vanished into the crowd.
"Why is he always in such a rush to eat?" Nami grumbled. "He had five meals a day on this trip—each bigger than the last!"
Leo chuckled and followed Luffy without a word.
Nami watched the two disappear and slapped her forehead. "Great. The two most troublesome ones just ran off."
"What do we do now?" Zoro asked flatly.
"Simple," Nami replied. "Just head to the noisiest part of town. Luffy always finds trouble, and Leo... well, he loves watching it unfold."
"And if that doesn't work," she added, "we can always ask Qing Ling to help track them."
"Fine, but let's eat first," Zoro muttered, rubbing his stomach. "We can handle everything else after that."
Due to Mr. 3 getting obliterated by a falling meteor earlier, the group didn't need to dress in disguises this time. They walked through the port city casually.
Nami, however, was buzzing with excitement. She had dragged Vivi along to explore the local fashion shops. Colorful fabrics, exotic jewelry, and intricate accessories—it was paradise for anyone with a taste for the finer things.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town...
Leo, who had been tailing Luffy, suddenly spotted a familiar face amidst the bustling streets—Smoker.
The Marine officer was infamous for crushing early-stage pirates with ease, yet somehow always ended up losing against the real threats later on.
Leo narrowed his eyes as Smoker entered a shady-looking pub on the corner of the street.
With a sly grin, Leo vanished from sight.
Inside the noisy bar, laughter and shouting filled the air. The smell of grilled meat and spiced ale wafted through the room.
In a dimly lit corner, Leo appeared quietly, almost like a ghost. He picked up a nearby bottle and poured red wine into a long-stemmed glass.
He swirled it gently and sipped.
Across the pub, near the center of the chaos, a figure lay slumped over a table, surrounded by empty plates and dishes stacked high.
The man had one hand raised into the air dramatically, as if asking for more food, yet he hadn't moved an inch.
Leo leaned back against the wall and smirked. "Luffy," he muttered to himself, "of course you'd be here."
The rest of the crew was surely on their way.
And so, their journey into the heart of Alabasta was about to begin—with rebels waiting in the sand, enemies lurking in the shadows, and the fate of a kingdom hanging in the balance.
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