"Hey, hey, hey, hold on a second. It wasn't me who defeated Crocodile, it was the Straw Hat crew! Listen to me carefully!"
Smoker huffed and puffed, fuming. The other person's voice remained calm and cold, saying:
"Captain Smoker, please calm down. This is the World Government's highest commendation for you. You must come to Marine Headquarters."
The calmer the other person was, the angrier Smoker became. He snapped the two cigars he was holding in his mouth in half.
"Are you kidding me? Do you think the Marines' honor is won by pirates?!"
As if sensing the problem in Smoker's words, Tina's voice on the other end said anxiously:
"Hey, Smoker, watch your words. Hurry up and accept this honor. You deserve it!"
Smoker ignored her and stared wide-eyed at the Den Den Mushi, speaking fiercely:
"Tell the five old men upstairs to go to hell!"
With that, Smoker hung up the phone without waiting for a reply.
Hearing Smoker's words, a look of shock appeared in Tina's eyes.
"Hey, are you crazy, Smoker? Why are you provoking those old men!"
"Don't you know they are the highest authority in the World Government today? They have the power to decide your life or death!"
Hearing this, Smoker picked up Tina's Den Den Mushi again.
Black lines covered his forehead.
"If you're afraid of getting involved, just hang up the phone yourself. I'm sure the Five Elders will be able to investigate."
Hearing this, Tina gasped, as if a pair of eyes were watching her.
Tina bit her lower lip, then her lips curled into a smile, and she said:
"I'm here to talk about cooperation with you. Don't think you can get rid of me with these words."
"Alabasta border, East Port. If you're coming, flank from the south, Smokehorn."
Hearing this, Smoker frowned, then hung up the phone, lit two more cigars, and took a puff.
Smoke instantly billowed around him.
"Just like that brat, what a rude girl."
With that, Smoker stood up and instructed Tashigi next to him:
"Lead all the Marines on the ship towards the East Port!"
Hearing this, Tashigi saluted and went to make arrangements.
At this moment, Smoker looked into the distance with a cold glint in his eyes.
...
Alabasta Royal Palace.
Igaram went to the Straw Hat crew's room, wanting to see if they had done anything to Vivi.
If they dared to bully Vivi, he would make them pay.
But when Igaram entered, he only saw Vivi sitting by the bed, looking sad.
The Straw Hat crew had already disappeared.
Seeing this, Igaram became furious and said:
"Hey, did those guys do something to you? Tell me, and I'll kill them!"
Vivi shook her head.
"They left last night. You don't have to worry about the Marines coming to ask for me anymore."
Hearing this, Igaram breathed a sigh of relief. He then turned around and saw Cobra standing behind him.
Igaram was startled.
He then wiped the cold sweat from his face.
Looking at Cobra, who showed no surprise, he knew Cobra must have known all along that the Straw Hat crew would escape at night.
But Cobra was the king, and he couldn't do anything about it.
Igaram then withdrew.
Vivi, however, always remembered Nami's words before she left.
If she wanted to follow them, she should go to the East Port at 3 PM today.
But could she really abandon this country?
This country had just been rescued from conflict.
And she, as an intermediary, had indirectly played the role of a hero.
If she left, the foundation of the people would surely be shaken, and they might even doubt the truth behind this reconciliation.
But if she didn't go, this friendship might disappear in an instant.
After much thought, Vivi decided to go to the East Port to see Luffy and the others.
However, her coming-of-age speech was about to begin.
If she couldn't start the speech as scheduled, it would surely cause chaos among the people of Alabasta.
But now, the only one who could replace her on stage to give the speech was Igaram.
Igaram was a Devil Fruit user with the power to disguise himself.
He could temporarily disguise himself as anyone.
Disguising himself as her should be no problem.
At that time, she could travel while giving her speech through a Den Den Mushi connected to a loudspeaker.
In a short period, the crowd below probably wouldn't notice anything unusual.
However, judging by Igaram's expression just now, he probably wouldn't agree to such an unreasonable request.
Thinking of this, Vivi looked at her father, Cobra.
Hoping to seek his help, Cobra's face showed a grave expression.
"Don't worry about Igaram. I'll talk to him. If you want to go, then go!"
Hearing this, Vivi threw herself into Cobra's arms.
After a brief farewell to Cobra, she got on a Galloping Duck and sped towards the East Port.
After Vivi left, Cobra could no longer hold back his tears, crying like a child.
Vivi was rushing, and she was still about fifty miles away from the East Port.
But there were only two hours left until the appointed time.
If she couldn't reach the East Port within two hours, she would miss the Straw Hat crew and lose the last chance to see them.
With that in mind, Blue sped up.
Along the way, he was unstoppable, leaving all the monsters so far behind that they couldn't even see Vivi's shadow before Blue sped past.
...
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew was surprised to discover a Marine fleet approaching them from the north.
Luffy stretched his eyes and looked forward, then exclaimed in shock.
"Oh no, oh no, it's Smoke-man!"
Hearing this, the Straw Hat crew was all shocked.
Smoke-man was one of the few Logia-type Devil Fruits they had encountered since the East Blue.
For those who couldn't use Haki, Logia-type Devil Fruits, in any form, were a threat.
Luffy shouted in a panic:
"Men, set sail! Set sail!"
Hearing this, Nami punched Luffy on the head and said fiercely:
"We can't set sail yet. Vivi hasn't arrived!"
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