The banquet lasted until evening, and Inuarashi had already drunk himself into a haze.
With blurry eyes and his tongue hanging out, he slurred, "Later… later have Wanda and the others take you… take you to see that damn cat…"
"At this hour? Wouldn't it be a bit inappropriate?" Robin glanced up at the darkening sky. It was almost nightfall. Maybe tomorrow would be better.
Beside her, Leno patted her shoulder, about to explain the peculiar arrangement between the cat and dog rulers of Zou.
Unexpectedly, the drunken dog waved a paw first. "It's fine, this is our—"
Thud.
Before he could finish, he fell straight backward onto the floor. Within seconds, loud snores filled the hall.
Robin and the others exchanged helpless looks. 'He fell asleep way too fast.'
Before they could finish reacting, several more thuds echoed around them.
Turning their heads, they saw members of the Musketeer Squad collapsing one after another, some still with bubbles forming at the corners of their mouths.
"Th-They all fell asleep just like that?!" Carmen's jaw nearly hit the floor. One fox Mink still had a chunk of meat in his mouth and had fallen asleep mid-bite.
Watching the Minks collapse into neat rows, Reiju covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Oh my, how adorable. Even their sleeping formation is so orderly…"
"Seriously, what incredible sleep quality. Out cold the moment the clock strikes," Leno joked as he cracked open a massive sunflower seed in his hand.
'I wish I could sleep like that. No matter what, just drop and sleep on schedule.'
Seeing everyone's curiosity, Wanda finally spoke up. "You may not know this, but this has become a habit for them…"
"That's right. It all started because of the two Kings!" Carrot chimed in energetically, clearly delighted to explain.
"Because the two Kings don't get along very well. They practically start fighting every time they meet!"
"So to reduce the damage to Zou—and to avoid seeing each other—they divided their respective duties."
"One country, two Kings? That's…" Vivi's tipsy expression cleared slightly. It was her first time hearing of such a thing.
If Alabasta had two rulers, she didn't even dare imagine the consequences.
Robin, who had been listening quietly, brushed her hair aside and looked at Carrot thoughtfully. "Divided? By territory? Like what the Duke mentioned earlier… the cat's domain?"
"Exactly! But not just territory—time as well!" Carrot smiled brightly and wagged a finger.
Leno couldn't help but chuckle. The girl clearly enjoyed showing off her knowledge.
Without waiting for questions, she continued, "Duke Inuarashi is in charge from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., mainly overseeing the city of Kurau. He's known as the King of Day."
"And Master Nekomamushi governs from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., primarily the forest region. He's called the King of Night."
"Th-This… you can do that?!" Vivi was stunned. The whole arrangement sounded almost absurd.
What if something major happened and the two Kings disagreed? Who would the citizens listen to?
As a former princess, she understood all too well the chaos that came from conflicting voices in a kingdom.
Watching her conflicted expression, Leno shook his head slightly, signaling her not to interfere.
He knew she meant well and wanted to offer advice. But this was Zou's internal affair.
Besides, this system had been in place for many years. If it truly had flaws, it wouldn't have lasted this long.
Nami glanced at the Minks sleeping on the floor and said thoughtfully, "So… they fell asleep because it's time?"
"Precisely. It's a habit formed over many years," Wanda replied gently.
She stood, slung her sword across her back, and headed toward the exit. "Come on. I'll take you to see Master Nekomamushi."
"Sister Wanda, I'm coming too!" Carrot sprang up and chased after her.
When they stepped outside, they were greeted by two enormous creatures standing silently ahead. Everyone gasped.
"Wh-What is that?"
"A crocodile? But its legs are way too long!"
"Now this is interesting! Hahaha!"
Seeing their astonishment, Carrot raised her chin proudly. "These are Zou's unique amphibious species—the Zou Crocodiles. Cool, right?"
The group was speechless.
'It really is a crocodile. And the name is way too straightforward,' they thought.
Still, the long-legged crocodiles did have a certain charm.
Wanda, seated atop one of them, shot Carrot a helpless glance before calling out, "Alright, everyone, climb on. It's much more convenient this way."
Grumbling aside, they mounted Zou's special transportation.
Under Wanda and Carrot's guidance, the two crocodiles dashed off at full speed.
With the ride underway, the adventurers finally had time to take in their surroundings.
The closely packed buildings and lush vegetation along the way made it hard to believe they were actually on the back of a colossal elephant.
The world was vast indeed—full of wonders beyond imagination.
The group chatted and laughed as they rode, and Carrot eagerly asked about their travels.
The girl had long yearned to see the outside world and bombarded them with questions.
The women happily shared stories of their adventures, drawing constant gasps of amazement.
Even Wanda, riding the other crocodile, couldn't help but glance over repeatedly.
For the two Minks who had rarely left home, Leno's crew's experiences were like opening the door to an entirely new world.
The long-dormant blood within them stirred once more.
Carrot unconsciously tightened her grip on the reins, her eyes flickering with restless light.
An immature idea quietly began to take shape in her heart…
As time passed and the sky grew darker, the group finally arrived at the Whale Forest.
But just as they entered, Leno, seated atop the crocodile, suddenly opened his eyes and turned toward the shadowy trees to the side.
His movement immediately caught attention.
"What's wrong, Leno?" Chopper asked in confusion.
"Oh, nothing much. There are a few people in the trees over there."
…
…