Standing at the bow of the ship, Vivi watched the harbor draw closer and closer.
The excitement she had felt at returning home quickly turned into confusion as she noticed the chaos spreading across the port.
She could not sense things as clearly as Yuuki could, but even she could tell something was wrong.
"Everyone…"
Vivi's face turned pale as a terrible thought crossed her mind.
Had the royal army and the rebel army already started fighting?
Yuuki noticed the change in her expression and found it somewhat amusing.
"I'm honestly curious," he said lightly. "How did a kingdom like yours manage to raise a princess with a personality like yours?"
He had met royalty before.
Most nobles and royals he had encountered possessed rather unpleasant personalities.
A princess like Vivi—reckless in her own way, yet sincerely worried about ordinary people—was rare.
Even Noelle Silva from the Black Clover world would fall slightly short compared to her.
"Huh?"
Vivi blinked in confusion, not immediately understanding what he meant.
Yuuki did not continue the topic. Instead, he asked calmly,
"Have you decided how you're going to solve your country's problem?"
"As long as Crocodile's conspiracy is exposed," Vivi said firmly, her dark eyes shining with determination, "everyone will understand each other again."
Yuuki said nothing in response.
His white robe fluttered gently in the sea breeze, his expression relaxed and indifferent.
"Dock the ship, Buggy."
Thud.
With a dull sound, the Magic Eye Pirates' ship pulled alongside the harbor.
At that moment, every faction present turned their attention toward the vessel.
Colonel Adette tightened his grip on Robin's neck while turning toward the ship.
His face was cold and ruthless.
Robin had already lost the ability to resist.
"All Marines, prepare!"
Adette snapped a pair of Seastone handcuffs onto Robin's wrists and casually threw her to the ground.
On the other side, Chaka of the royal guard no longer had time to argue with Adette.
The strength the Marine colonel had just displayed made him deeply wary.
No matter what—
Princess Vivi must not be harmed.
"Are you all welcoming me?"
A faint chuckle came from the pirate ship.
The next moment—
Yuuki grabbed Vivi by the shoulder and leapt down from the bow, landing lightly on the ground.
Seeing this, Adette narrowed his eyes.
Soon after, Conrad, Buggy, Mohji, Cabaji, Igaram, and the others jumped down as well.
Chaka's eyes widened when he saw Vivi.
"Princess Vivi!"
"Captain Chaka? Why are you here?" Vivi asked in surprise, noticing both him and the soldiers disguised as dockworkers behind him.
"Princess, news of your kidnapping reached the kingdom. His Majesty the king was extremely worried—"
Chaka stopped mid-sentence.
Only now did he realize that Vivi showed no signs of injury.
Relief flooded his chest.
His gaze then shifted toward Yuuki.
"Whatever you want—money or anything else—name your price."
His body remained tense.
First, he had to secure the princess's release.
"Captain Chaka, you misunderstand!" Vivi said quickly.
She instinctively glanced at Yuuki before nervously continuing.
"We weren't kidnapped."
Igaram stepped forward and added,
"Chaka, the Magic Eye Pirates did not abduct us. They came to help us."
"Igaram?"
Only now did Chaka notice him.
Help from pirates?
If Vivi had said that alone, he might not have believed it.
But if Igaram confirmed it too…
Chaka's eyelid twitched slightly.
"Hmph!"
A heavy snort echoed across the harbor.
"So, the Alabasta Kingdom intends to cooperate with pirates now?"
Colonel Adette spoke coldly.
Chaka's expression changed.
"All pirates deserve to die!"
Adette tore off the Justice cloak from his back.
BOOM!
He slammed his foot against the ground and charged directly at Yuuki.
Chaka had no time to stop him.
But—
Before Adette could even reach Yuuki—
Cabaji, now wielding wind magic, stepped forward to block him.
Adette's eyes turned icy.
In his view, only two members of the Magic Eye Pirates were worth noting:
"Magician" Yuuki"Black Robe" Conrad
Everyone else was insignificant.
"Get out of my way!"
Adette clenched his fist and threw a powerful punch.
The air burst with a loud explosion from the sheer force.
Cabaji laughed mockingly.
"You want to fight our captain? Get past me first."
He thrust both hands forward.
A powerful gust of wind instantly formed a wall of air.
Adette's punch shattered the wind wall—but the impact halted his momentum.
Both men landed on the ground.
Surprise flickered in both their eyes.
Devil Fruit ability? Adette wondered.
Cabaji quickly drew his sword.
Wind magic wrapped around the blade.
"Wind Magic — Wind Blade Strike!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several sharp wind blades shot toward Adette.
"Shave!"
Adette vanished.
The battle between the two immediately erupted into full intensity.
Yuuki showed no interest in their fight.
Instead, his gaze shifted toward a familiar figure surrounded by Marine soldiers.
Nico Robin.
She looked battered and exhausted, Seastone cuffs still on her wrists.
"What an unexpected reunion," Yuuki said calmly.
Things clearly had not unfolded this way in the original timeline.
His presence had already changed events.
Robin had been discovered by the Marines much earlier.
Conrad suddenly rushed forward.
"That's Black Robe Conrad!"
"Open fire!"
Marine rifles rose simultaneously.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A storm of bullets shot toward Conrad.
But he did not move.
A green spatial gate appeared in front of him.
Every bullet vanished into the portal.
Before the Marines could even react—
The bullets came flying back out.
"AHH!"
"Get down—!"
"SAVE ME!"
Screams filled the harbor.
Adette's eyes turned red with rage.
"You bastard!"
He tried to rush back to rescue his men.
But Cabaji immediately pinned him down again.
Meanwhile—
Conrad walked through the fallen Marines, grabbed Robin, and returned to Yuuki.
"You look rather miserable, Miss Robin," Yuuki said calmly.
Robin steadied herself, coughing slightly.
"…Thank you."
She cautiously studied Yuuki.
He looked even younger than the wanted poster suggested.
Yet Conrad's terrifying display of power still lingered in her mind.
If the vice-captain was this strong…
How powerful was the captain?
But could he truly defeat Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords?
Once again—
She was forced to choose.
Or perhaps she had never truly had a choice.
"Do you know where Crocodile is?" Yuuki asked directly.
"I can take you to him."
Robin's eyes dimmed briefly before returning to calm.
"Crocodile is a Warlord of the Sea. The user of the Sand-Sand Fruit."
"In the desert… his strength becomes even greater."
She looked at the young man seriously.
Yuuki remained silent.
Robin swayed slightly, weakened by injury and Seastone restraints.
"I also have evidence of all Crocodile's crimes in Alabasta," she added weakly.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"You're a smart woman."
"Come."
"Let's go witness the end of this farce."
Then—
Yuuki raised two fingers.
A green magic blade formed at his fingertips.
With two casual flicks—
CLANG.
The Seastone cuffs shattered.
Robin's pupils shook.
Seastone was supposed to be nearly indestructible.
Yet Yuuki cut through it effortlessly.
Before the broken cuffs could fall, they vanished into Yuuki's spatial storage.
Seastone was far too valuable to waste.
Then—
Yuuki placed a finger on Robin's forehead.
Robin froze in terror.
She had no idea what he intended to do.
But if he could cut Seastone so easily…
Killing her would be effortless.
Suddenly—
Flames erupted around her.
"Flame Recovery Magic — Phoenix Feather Robe!"
Scarlet fire engulfed Robin.
Vivi, Buggy, and the others jumped in shock.
Robin herself nearly screamed.
But…
There was no burning pain.
Instead, warmth spread through her body.
Within seconds, the flames vanished.
Robin looked down.
Every wound on her body had healed.
Her exhaustion disappeared.
"…What incredible power," she murmured in disbelief.
Yuuki glanced toward a nearby rooftop.
"Mohji."
"Take care of that one over there."
Mohji turned his head.
Hidden in the shadows—
Mr.1 was retreating.
Without hesitation, Mohji charged.
Mr.1 halted.
"…So he noticed."
Originally, he had planned to assassinate Robin while she was captured.
But the Magic Eye Pirates' sudden arrival ruined everything.
Especially that young black-haired captain.
Despite standing there casually—
He radiated extreme danger.
The moment Yuuki cut the Seastone cuffs, Mr.1 had already decided to retreat.
But Mohji had already reached him.
Their battle erupted immediately.
Yet Mr.1 kept most of his attention on Yuuki while slowly withdrawing.
Yuuki glanced briefly at both battles.
Cabaji vs Adette.
Mohji vs Mr.1.
Neither of his subordinates was performing particularly well.
Both opponents held the advantage.
Yuuki spoke calmly.
"If you can't defeat opponents at this level…"
"…there's no reason for you to continue sailing with me."
Both Mohji and Cabaji stiffened for a moment.
Their opponents instantly seized the opening.
Yuuki no longer paid them any attention.
"Buggy. Stay here and guard the ship."
Then he waved his hand.
A whirlwind formed beneath him, Robin, Vivi, and Conrad.
"Wind Creation Magic — Ark of the Heavenly Wind."
A vessel made entirely of wind formed beneath their feet.
It lifted them into the sky.
"Princess!!" Chaka shouted in alarm.
Vivi leaned over the edge of the wind ark.
"Captain Chaka!"
"The kingdom's chaos will end!"
"Wait for me to come back!"
Below them, Chaka stared anxiously.
Beside him, Igaram and Mr.9 arrived.
"Don't worry," Igaram said calmly.
At the edge of the harbor—
Koza watched Vivi fly away.
He pushed up his glasses silently.
"So, you chose to trust pirates…"
"Just like when we were children."
"But this isn't a game anymore."
"You can't just say it's over and make it so."
Koza glanced once more at the battles raging in the harbor.
Then he turned and walked away.
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