Fuming with rage, Mr. 5 grinned wide, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth. His fury had reached its peak, yet instead of restraint, it only made him laugh maniacally.
The contrast of his white teeth against his dark skin made him appear even more sinister, like a demon spotting its prey, eyes glinting with greed.
"Hehehe, Your Highness! You really know how to play hide-and-seek!!!"
Teeth gritted, Miss Valentine also stepped forward, her eyes fixed viciously on the princess they had spent so long tracking, Nefertari Vivi, the sole heir of the Arabasta Kingdom.
Her heels clicked against the ground as she slowly approached, her malicious smile widening.
Mr. 5 exhaled, letting go of a slow breath.
Once their target was dead, the mission would be complete, and their safety secured.
"One kilogram!"
Seeing Vivi's eyes dim to a lifeless gray, Miss Valentine didn't hesitate. She reduced her body weight to the absolute minimum she could control.
A soft breeze brushed past, and she floated lightly into the air.
Hovering directly above Vivi, she revealed her sly, scheming grin and shouted with glee:
"10,000 Kilo Press!"
The Kilo Kilo Fruit's power activated instantly. The floating Miss Valentine plummeted toward the ground!
Gravity, velocity, mass, three forces combined into a terrifying strike, expanding rapidly in Vivi's trembling gaze.
BOOM!!!
A deafening crash kicked up a cloud of dust and debris.
Yet within the swirling smoke, there was not a drop of blood.
"Tch! She got away again!"
Miss Valentine roared from her seated position in the crater, but her eyes betrayed no regret.
Instead, they sparkled with mockery as she watched Vivi's fleeing figure grow smaller and smaller.
This was her usual game, tormenting her target like a cat playing with a Nezumi, breaking them physically, mentally, emotionally… until they perished in utter despair.
But Mr. 5, who had almost been humiliated by their near failure, was no longer interested in these sadistic games. He barked a command:
"Hey, Miss Valentine, stop playing. Complete the mission!"
Tch!
Though partners, Mr. 5 ranked slightly higher. When he issued a true order, Miss Valentine had no choice but to comply.
"I know!"
Her slender form lifted again, soaring high into the sky, keeping watch over Vivi as she desperately ran.
Even Miss Valentine herself didn't understand why she was pushing so hard.
From the earlier encounter, she knew there was no way Vivi could escape two top-ranking Baroque Works agents.
Yet as she descended, Vivi's body instinctively dodged, seizing the smoke as cover to sprint toward the sea.
She didn't know why she chose that direction.
Perhaps…
The ocean always offered hope, which was why countless people threw themselves into its depths, chasing dreams.
Only to discover, once immersed, the helpless, despairing reality.
…
Vivi's physical abilities were not weak.
After all, she had fought alongside Baroque Works' ninth-ranked agent.
Against common enemies, twenty or thirty adversaries were no match for her.
Soon, Vivi reached the coastal port, fueled by explosive leg strength and desperation.
But there, she faced true despair.
The massive port held no ships capable of sailing.
Only a few sunken vessels rose faintly beneath the water, some still releasing tiny bubbles.
She remembered…
Whenever top-ten Baroque Works agents embarked on an important mission, middle-tier agents Mr. 13 and Miss. Friday would accompany them.
Though not exceptionally strong, they were personally trained by the boss, with high-level intelligence access.
All communications and mission updates went through them.
As Crocodile's subordinate, Vivi knew they would have eyes on every movement here.
It seemed they had seen her heading toward the sea and preemptively cut off any chance of escape.
How… could it be like this?
Is it really over?
Will my kingdom… fall into the hands of pirates?
Father…
Who can tell me… what I should do…
Exhausted, Vivi sank to the sandy port, tears streaming silently down her cheeks and neck.
"Ahahaha!!!"
"What's wrong, Your Highness? Why stop running?"
From above, Miss Valentine floated down, mocking Vivi's despair with her sharp, teasing voice.
Vivi lifted her head, hopeless, eyes dull as if blinded by grief.
Facing Miss Valentine hovering directly overhead, she whispered, almost to herself:
"Please… please… someone…"
"Please… let me go."
"Waaahhhh!!!"
Tears became her final indulgence.
She abandoned her kingdom, her duties, her identity as a princess, crying freely like any ordinary girl.
Bowing her head to the ground, she could not accept such cruel reality.
The world, however, would not pause for her pity.
Mr. 5, arriving slightly behind Miss Valentine, moved in from the town side.
The two agents trapped the fallen princess between them.
Growing impatient, Mr. 5 shouted up:
"Kill her, Miss Valentine!"
"Hehehehe…"
Miss Valentine's eerie laughter rang out again.
"No problem."
"10,000 Kilo Press!!!"
Shhh!
Her weight skyrocketed as she plummeted from the sky.
Her sharp high heels sliced through the air like arrows, aimed straight at the princess's delicate body.
Thud…
A muffled sound of impact was followed by a voice full of innocence:
"Luffy, Luffy~ (o^^o)!"
"Come quick! I caught someone who can fly!!!"