Chapter 106 – The Princess Sells Her Future to Save Her Kingdom
"So it's a good plan!"
"But if I don't go to Alabasta, how will you deal with Crocodile?"
A voice suddenly dropped from above.
Vivi and Igaram jolted, faces draining of color.
On the roof eaves right above them, Aike sat casually, legs swinging, wearing the most shit-eating grin imaginable.
Hikari stood silently beside him. In the moonlight, her crimson eyes glowed with cold killing intent.
Anyone who tried to use Aike had to be removed.
Overwhelming Mangekyou chakra began to stir.
A pressure completely different from Conqueror's Haki crushed down on the two below.
It felt like Amaterasu was one blink away from igniting them.
"Ease up, Hikari. They're about to wet themselves."
Aike waved her off when the intimidation hit peak levels.
He was here to make a deal, not barbecue them.
(Though he really didn't like Igaram's little "use me as bait" scheme.)
"I'm not scaring them," Hikari replied frostily. But she reined in her ocular power anyway.
Aike just chuckled.
Then turned his full attention to Vivi.
"Nefertari D. Vivi."
"Princess of Alabasta. Infiltrated Baroque Works to uncover Crocodile's plot against your kingdom."
"Did I get that right, little princess?"
Every word struck like lightning.
Vivi's heart jumped into her throat.
"You… you heard everything?!"
"Nah. I knew from the start."
Aike shrugged.
"Otherwise, why do you think you two are still breathing after today?"
That was the question that had haunted them all day.
They were Baroque agents—yet they alone were spared.
Now they understood.
From the very beginning, everything on Whiskey Peak had been transparent to him.
Their identities. Baroque Works' deeper secrets. All of it.
"You kept us alive for a reason," Vivi said, forcing calm into her voice despite the terror.
"Correct. Your little 'use me' plan pissed me off…"
"But if you ask nicely, I might still help."
Vivi's panic flipped to desperate hope.
"What do you want?!"
"A trade."
Trade?
Both froze—then remembered the exact line on his wanted poster:
"Known as the Devil Merchant for tempting people into trading their very lives with devilish offers."
"Your Highness, let me do it!"
Igaram stepped forward.
"The plan was mine. I'll pay the price!"
"Mr. Aike, I offer my life in exchange for Alabasta's salvation!"
"No!" Vivi grabbed him. "I won't allow it!"
"Sorry, Princess. This is the only way to stop Crocodile."
Cue the dramatic tug-of-war.
Aike rubbed his temples.
"My reputation is ruined by the Marines, I swear…"
He only took lives when the client literally had nothing else. Beauty, power, treasures—those were his main currencies.
He interrupted the melodrama.
"Stop pulling. Your life isn't worth a Warlord, old man."
Flat rejection.
A captain-tier bodyguard with barely 5 combat power? Not even enough to buy Crocodile's pinky finger.
Then, in the most blatant double-standard move of the year, Aike slid a golden contract in front of Vivi.
The terms appeared directly in her mind.
"Sign it, and Alabasta's problems disappear."
Vivi bit her lip, stared at the glowing words…
…and pressed her handprint.
"Your Highness!"
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