So young!
Igaram had imagined the man who could subdue the Buggy Pirates and annihilate over a hundred pirate hunters in an instant.
But when he saw Yuuki in person, that thought still surfaced uncontrollably.
Compared to the vicious-looking pirates he knew—
This boy resembled a young noble.
No—
There was something even more distinct about him.
For a fleeting moment, Igaram was reminded of King Cobra's invisible authority… though "authority" alone did not quite capture it.
Snap.
Yuuki set the Runic Array dictionary aside.
Seeing Igaram's swollen cheeks and bruised face, he lifted a brow slightly. His gaze swept past Buggy, Mohji, and Cabaji behind him.
The three immediately lowered their heads, barely daring to breathe.
The sight of over a hundred pirate hunters slain in a single instant had carved one truth into their bones—
Their new captain was terrifying.
Even Buggy's usual scheming thoughts had dimmed considerably.
"Igaram. Mayor of Cactus Island… and secretly a mid-level agent of Baroque Works. Correct?"
Yuuki sat up in his lounge chair, voice calm.
Igaram trembled.
His bruised face twisted in shock. He opened his mouth—yet, recalling the massacre outside, no words came.
"Of course, those are only your surface identities."
"I dislike wasting time. Hand over the Eternal Pose to Alabasta."
"Captain of the Alabasta Royal Guard… Mr. Igaram."
His tone remained indifferent.
If exposing his Baroque Works identity had shocked Igaram—
Then exposing his true role filled him with terror.
"You…!"
"You're with the organization too? No… who are you?!"
His mind raced.
Had Baroque Works sent this boy to eliminate him?
No.
The organization would not bother talking—especially not about the Eternal Pose.
Which meant—
He wasn't one of them.
That made it worse.
Only Princess Vivi knew his true identity.
Unless—
"What have you done to Princess Vivi?!"
His shout rang out.
Princess?
Buggy and the others exchanged bewildered looks.
Baroque Works. Alabasta. Princess.
They had stumbled into something far bigger than expected.
Yuuki shook his head faintly.
"I have no interest in your princess. My objective is the Eternal Pose to Alabasta."
"Though, while I'm there, I wouldn't mind removing Crocodile for you."
He said it as though discussing the weather.
Igaram's lips trembled.
This boy knew even that?
"That's impossible!"
Buggy blurted before clapping a hand over his mouth.
Mohji and Cabaji stared at him blankly.
Igaram staggered back.
"Don't joke with me!"
"You may have killed a hundred pirate hunters, but that's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! A monster of the Grand Line!"
"You have no idea how terrifying this sea truly is!"
Seven Warlords.
Even in the East Blue, the name carried weight.
Yuuki's expression did not change.
He waved a hand at Buggy's trio.
"Search the town. Bring me the Eternal Pose."
He already knew it wasn't on Igaram.
"Yes, Captain!"
They bolted toward town.
Igaram could only watch, helpless.
Princess Vivi… hide!
Alabasta had no time left.
The next island after Cactus Island was Little Garden—
And its Log Pose required an entire year to calibrate.
Alabasta did not have a year.
Yuuki's eyes turned distant.
If memory served…
"Yes. Little Garden should be next."
A faint glint passed through his gaze.
Soon, Buggy and the others returned.
With the Eternal Pose.
And two captives.
One was a blue-haired young woman with soft waves—
The other, her partner in Baroque Works.
Vivi.
And Mr. 9.
"Let us go! Do you even know who we are?!"
Mr. 9 was bleeding from numerous cuts, eyes darting for escape.
Vivi, by contrast, remained composed—
Until she saw Igaram alive.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"Run!"
Igaram's face paled.
Ignoring his injuries, he triggered a hidden mechanism.
From beneath his thick golden hair—
Machine gun barrels emerged.
Before he could fire—
A shadow flickered.
Conrad.
One punch.
Boom.
Igaram was sent crashing against the ship's railing.
"Igaram!"
Vivi broke free and rushed to him.
"Run…" he whispered weakly.
She exhaled in relief at his pulse—
Then turned, fury blazing.
"Who are you people?!"
The cut rope in Mohji's hand revealed clean blade marks.
She had freed herself.
Cabaji quickly seized her again—seeking favor.
Yuuki raised a hand.
"It's fine."
Cabaji released her.
"Allow me to introduce myself," Yuuki said lightly.
"I am Yuuki. A mage. And captain of the Magic Eye Pirates."
Mage?
The word startled her.
He continued gently:
"You've already investigated who stands behind Alabasta's unrest."
"Sir Crocodile."
"Former Warlord. Leader of Baroque Works."
"And my target."
Her breath hitched.
He knew everything.
She lowered her head, feigning calm—
Her eyes flicked toward the sea.
"Oh? Waiting for that?"
Yuuki extended a hand.
A spatial portal opened.
"Gah! Gah!"
A large yellow duck was yanked through.
"Karoo!"
Her composure shattered.
Yuuki tossed the trembling bird at her feet.
So much for escape.
She had no leverage left.
Taking a slow breath, she asked:
"…Was what you said true?"
Her hands trembled despite her effort at composure.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"I have no reason to lie."
Crocodile was indeed one of his objectives.
And Alabasta itself—
A useful chess piece in a world shaped by the World Government, pirates, and revolutionaries.
If the world awaited a distant "Joy Boy" to bring liberation—
Yuuki had no issue advancing the timeline.
They departed soon after securing supplies and Log Poses.
But as their ship vanished over the horizon—
Two figures descended upon the shore.
A vulture wearing a red-patterned hood.
A raccoon in a purple vest and sunglasses.
Mr. 13 and Miss Friday.
The "Unluckies."
Baroque Works' executioners and messengers.
Their presence meant the organization already knew.
The raccoon lifted a Den Den Mushi.
"Report."
The snail's face morphed into a cigar-smoking scowl.
Moments later, the pair took flight.
As dusk painted the sea gold—
"Ring~ Ring~"
A bicycle bell echoed impossibly across the ocean.
A tall, lean man in a white vest and green eye mask pedaled lazily over the water's surface.
Kuzan.
The Admiral known as Aokiji.
And he was heading straight for Cactus Island.
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