"Chopper!!! It's so good you're alright!"
Just as Zhong Chen and the two others arrived at Luffy's hiding spot, Luffy rushed out and excitedly shouted at Chopper.
"Luffy!!!"
Seeing Luffy, Chopper also quickly scurried over on his short legs.
As the group happily reunited, Zoro and Sanji kept their eyes fixed on Zhong Chen, a hint of seriousness flashing in their eyes.
"Hey! Luffy, stop messing around. There are still two other people here!"
Zoro, seeing them still bickering, quickly spoke up to remind them.
"Right, right! I almost forgot! Um, may I ask who you are?"
Hearing this, Chopper also snapped back to reality and quickly introduced them:
"Um, let me introduce you. This is Tina, and this is Zhong Chen. As for what they do, I haven't had a chance to ask yet!"
Zhong Chen's forehead twitched with a black line as he listened to Chopper's introduction. So, you only introduced their names, huh?
"Hello! I am the owner of the camp up ahead! This is my younger sister, Tina!"
Nami and Vivi stared at the adorable Tina, their eyes sparkling.
"Kawaii (So cute)!!! Come here and let your big sister hug you!"
With that, Nami rushed forward and pulled Tina into her embrace, rubbing her face against Tina's cheek repeatedly.
"Mmm mmm... Chen Gege, save me!"
Zhong Chen, who had been squeezed to the side by Nami, looked at Nami with a speechless expression.
"I say, woman, aren't you going to let go of my sister!"
"Oh, oh, oh! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, she's just too cute!"
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Nami finally reluctantly released Tina.
"Alright, let's get back to business. What brings the two of you here?"
Sanji asked Zhong Chen with a serious expression.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that? Chopper must have been sent by you, right!"
Hearing Zhong Chen's counter-question, the Straw Hat Pirates immediately fell into an awkward silence.
Yes, they were the ones who sent Chopper to scout. Now that the other party had come knocking, this...
"Alright, everyone, I bear no ill will towards you. If you don't mind, you're welcome to stay at our camp for a night!"
Seeing the awkwardness of the group, Zhong Chen spoke with a gentle expression.
"Really! That's great, you're such a good person!"
Luffy, hearing Zhong Chen agree to let them stay, thanked Zhong Chen with an excited expression.
Zhong Chen, having been given a 'good person card,' waved his hand lightly and said:
"Alright, no need for more thanks. Come with me!"
Then Zhong Chen turned and walked towards the camp, while Vivi stared intently at Zhong Chen's back, as if contemplating something.
"Lord Chen! You've returned!"
The Security Force member on duty, seeing Zhong Chen return, quickly appeared and saluted him.
"Hm, continue your watch!"
"Yes!"
Although it was just a small interlude, Luffy and Zoro's pupils couldn't help but shrink.
How did this person appear? They hadn't noticed him at all, which meant this person could easily kill any of them.
Thinking of this, Luffy and the others lost their initial composure.
"What's wrong, everyone?"
Zhong Chen, seeing their rapidly changing expressions, suppressed a smile and asked.
"N-nothing!"
Nami quickly covered Luffy's mouth to stop him from asking questions and said to Zhong Chen with an embarrassed smile.
"Heh heh, that's good then!"
As they went deeper, they couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at the place.
"Wow!!! This is amazing, there are even streetlights! How did they do that!"
"Luffy, you idiot, keep your voice down, everyone's sleeping!"
Especially Vivi, as the princess of Alabasta, felt that all of this was simply a miracle.
It was already difficult to survive in the desert, let alone build a small town.
Especially since this small town even had many green plants planted along the roads.
"Alright, come in. You can rest here tonight!"
Zhong Chen led the Straw Hat Pirates to a spare villa and said to them.
"Wow!!! What a beautiful house!"
"Oh, stop marveling, let's get inside. All I want right now is a drink of water!"
As they entered the house, they saw the brightly lit, luxuriously decorated hall and once again exclaimed in admiration.
As time passed, everyone, having sorted out their rooms, returned to the hall.
Upon arriving in the hall, their attention was immediately drawn to a figure.
What caught everyone's attention was not Zhong Chen, who was sitting on the sofa, but Izayoi Sakuya, who stood behind him in a maid uniform.
"Wow! Beautiful lady, may I have the pleasure of making your acquaintance!"
Sanji, with hearts in his eyes, tried to approach Sakuya, but Nami, knowing his personality, quickly pulled him back.
"Sanji! You're being rude! I'm sorry, Mr. Zhong Chen! He's just like that, he means no harm!"
With that, Nami pressed Sanji's head down and bowed to Zhong Chen in apology.
"Hm, I accept your apology, but I don't want this to happen a second time!"
Although Zhong Chen knew Sanji didn't mean it, he still warned him.
"I'm truly sorry, I made a mistake. Please, can you forgive me this once!"
Sanji, having come to his senses, also knew he had committed a major taboo and quickly apologized.
Zhong Chen casually waved his hand and continued:
"Alright! That's enough about that. Let's talk about the main topic!"
He then turned his gaze to Vivi, who had blue hair.
"You must be Nefertari Vivi, the princess of the Alabasta Kingdom, right!"
"What!"
"How did you know!"
Hearing Vivi's identity revealed, everyone present was shocked and instantly stood up.
Vivi, however, calmly admitted:
"That's right, I am Nefertari Vivi. I assume you are not from Alabasta, are you?"
"Clap, clap, clap!"
Zhong Chen clapped his hands and said to Vivi with an appreciative look:
"That's right, I am indeed not from Alabasta. I actually came here for a vacation!"
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, everyone looked at him in surprise.
They had considered many reasons, but they truly hadn't expected Zhong Chen and his group to be here for a vacation.
"A vacation? Mr. Zhong Chen, don't you know that our country is already embroiled in war?"
Hearing Vivi's words, Zhong Chen calmly replied:
"I know! So what? As long as it doesn't affect us, what does it matter how fiercely you fight?"
At this point, Zhong Chen showed a playful smile and said to Vivi:
"Princess Vivi, are you interested in making a deal with me?"
Hearing the word 'deal,' all the Straw Hat crew members present nervously looked at Zhong Chen and Vivi.
"What kind of deal do you wish to make with me, Mr. Zhong Chen?"
Vivi stared at Zhong Chen intently and asked.
"I want you..."