"Has the war already begun?"
Vivi stared at the approaching coastline, a quiet sorrow rising in her chest.
She couldn't tell if her return was too late... whether civil war had already broken out.
Perhaps the kingdom had fallen to the Rebel Army and her father was lost...
Or maybe the Royal Army had crushed the rebellion—leaving countless innocent lives caught in the crossfire, staining her father's name with tyranny.
"Princess, you look troubled. Nervous to be returning home?"
A calm voice behind her cut through the anxious silence.
"Shirogai-san..."
Vivi turned and saw Shirogai standing beside her, his sudden appearance causing her thoughts to scatter.
She lowered her gaze, her voice soft.
"I'm just... worried. That all of your efforts might've been for nothing. That Crocodile's plan has already succeeded."
"Stop overthinking," Shirogai said plainly. "We'll handle it. That's what we're here for."
Before she could respond, Shirogai took her hands in his and suddenly clapped them together, hard.
"Ack—!"
Vivi flinched, a sharp sting shooting through her palms.
"Shirogai-san! That hurt!"
"Good. Now you're not overthinking, are you?"
He released her hands, wearing a smug grin like a rogue who'd just teased a noble girl.
Then he turned to the shore, now only a few nautical miles away.
"Right now, Princess... your job isn't to dwell on the worst-case scenario. It's to make sure this war doesn't happen at all."
Vivi opened her mouth, hesitating.
But Shirogai had already read her doubts.
"And don't worry. The war hasn't started—yet. In fact, because of you, Crocodile's plans were delayed. He's holding back, gathering strength."
His words soothed her like rainfall in a drought. Vivi smiled softly.
"Shirogai-san... thank you. You're not the best at comforting people, but I feel better now. I'll give it everything to stop this war!"
"Huh?"
When she turned around again, he was gone.
Vivi blinked, then laughed to herself.
"Shirogai-san really isn't good with girls."
The Going Merry docked gently by the shore.
Nami stepped forward, her tone sharp and commanding.
"Everyone, listen up! No wandering off or doing anything reckless!"
Shirogai smirked, glancing toward their missing Captain, who was already sprinting through the sand toward town.
"Nami, you're a little late. The one who fits that description is already chasing the scent of meat."
Far ahead, Luffy left a dust trail in his wake.
"MEAT! I'M COMING FOR YOU!"
Nami clenched the railing, furious.
"Luffy, you idiot! Come back!"
Shirogai landed lightly on the sand, his figure vanishing almost instantly as he covered hundreds of meters in a flash.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."
"Shirogai, you too?! Get back here!"
"Relax, I'm not causing trouble."
He waved without looking back—then disappeared from view entirely.
"Ugh! You two are hopeless!"
Nami groaned, rubbing her temples in frustration. They had agreed to stick together. Now the two least reliable people had broken away.
She turned around, catching Sanji and Zoro sharing a glance.
Their feet shifted slightly, as if ready to make a move.
Nami's voice dropped to a deceptively sweet tone.
"You two wouldn't happen to want to act alone too, would you?"
Zoro and Sanji instantly stiffened.
"...No, we don't."
"Good." Nami nodded. "Sanji, take Chopper and go buy some local clothes. We'll attract too much attention dressed like this."
Everyone agreed and split into smaller groups.
---
Meanwhile, in the city of Yuba...
Shirogai strolled casually through the streets, hands in his pockets, surveying the city with a smile.
"A place rich in culture and strange charm. Almost reminds me of an ancient kingdom on Earth..."
Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling…
Across from him, a group of dancers moved gracefully down the road. Their bells jingled with every step, worn around their waists, wrists, and ankles.
"Mwah~ Handsome stranger~"
One of them winked and blew a kiss. The others giggled, teasing her playfully as they passed.
Shirogai's smile widened.
"What an... interesting country."
His foreign attire stood out, drawing attention.
"Who's that guy?"
"Looks like a traveler. He doesn't have the face of a pirate…"
Then, suddenly, a group of children blocked his path.
"Sir, please buy our special dried earthworms!"
They held up clay pots filled with thin, black, shriveled strips of roasted meat.
It didn't look appetizing.
"Looks decent."
Shirogai grabbed a few and tossed them into his mouth. Then he pulled out several Berries and handed them over.
"Whoa! Thank you, Sir!"
They squealed and ran off happily, clutching the coins like treasure.
Witnessing this, nearby merchants swarmed him immediately.
"Sir, try my dried lizards! Way better than worms!"
"Respected traveler! How about my Blue Sea Fish Floss? A hundred times tastier!"
"These desert fruits are a delicacy—fit for a king!"
They shouted over one another, pushing products into his face.
But when they looked again... he was gone.
"Where'd he go?!"
Shirogai stood atop a tall building, observing the city with narrowed eyes.
"Hm... there you are."
His Observation Haki locked onto a familiar presence.
A wide grin stretched across his face.
"Found you, Fire Fist Ace."
He vanished in the blink of an eye.
---
In front of the Restaurant...
A large crowd had gathered, staring through the windows.
"That guy collapsed while eating! Must've been desert strawberry poison!"
"You mean the venomous spider that looks like a red berry? That one?"
"Yeah! He probably died instantly. Look, he's still holding his spoon!"
"Check his back! A skull tattoo... he's definitely a pirate!"
Shirogai calmly walked through the crowd and stepped inside, heading straight for the table.
He took a seat beside the so-called "dead body"—a man with a hat and a freckled face smashed into his food.
[Host observed: User of the Flame-Flame Fruit. Comprehended—Ability to control, manipulate and become fire.]
The onlookers panicked.
"That guy sat down next to the corpse!"
"Does he not know it's poisonous?!"
Shirogai tapped the table gently and looked at the restaurant owner.
"One of your specialties, please."
As his fingers tapped, the 'corpse' twitched slightly.
---