Chapter 135 – Meeting The Queen
We stepped into the palace without anyone blocking our path, all thanks to Princess Vivi leading the way. Even the guards stood at attention. They were even saluting us respectfully as we passed.
We made our way through the grand halls until we reached one of the private chambers belonging to Queen Titi.
As we approached the door, I suddenly sensed another familiar aura inside the room. I activated my Observation Haki to get a clearer look. Two people were there: Queen Titi and Nico Robin.
"So this is where Robin ended up," I thought.
"Girls, both Robin and Queen Titi are inside this room."
The moment the others heard Robin's name, they tensed up. Vivi looked especially worried—her mind clearly racing with the fear that something might have happened to her mother. Without hesitation, she pushed the door open and rushed in. The rest of us followed right behind her.
Robin turned at the sound of the door bursting open, her expression briefly annoyed at the lack of courtesy. But when her eyes landed on me, the irritation melted away, replaced by a small, knowing smile.
"So you really did defeat Crocodile. I didn't expect you to be that strong."
"Hey, we meet again, Nico Robin!" I said while grinning widely now that I could see she was perfectly fine. In fact she was looking more sexy.
Robin glanced over me and the group of girls behind me but didn't respond to my greeting.
Even though I had finger-fucked her in the ship like a lowly whore, she stayed silent, which wasn't surprising. After all, I had just taken down her former boss and dismantled his entire organization.
"We've already dealt with Crocodile," I continued. "We're here to free the kingdom. And yes—I've wiped out Baroque Works completely. Every last member is gone, including Crocodile. I killed him myself."
Robin's eyes widened slightly in genuine shock at the news.
"Mom!"
Vivi cried out suddenly. She dashed forward and threw her arms around a beautiful woman who immediately drew everyone's attention.
Queen Titi was in her thirties, with long, wavy light-blue hair that fell past her shoulders. Two distinct locks framed her face, held back by a simple clip.
She was wearing a long-sleeved blue dress accented with gold at the waist and arms. Her legs were showing in between the slit of the dress.
'Damn!! Her legs are so sexy. I need to do some kinky play with it.'
Her figure was strikingly mature: full breasts, wide hips, a slim waist, and curves that made her look almost like an older, more voluptuous version of Vivi after the time-skip.
Titi hugged her daughter back fiercely, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks as she reunited with Vivi after so many painful years apart. She was really afraid when Vivi went undercover in Baroque Works.
I watched the mother and daughter embrace—they looked so alike it was uncanny—and a strange, lewd thought crossed my mind as I remembered the personal "mission" I had set for myself.
'Mother and daughter… or maybe older sister and little sister in bed? Hehe… so many possibilities to explore.'
"Vivi, what's happening here?" Titi asked while looking around in confusion as she gently pulled back from the hug.
Before, she was somewhat held hostage by Nico Robin, but she was not clear about the situation. After seeing so many people with Vivi, she asked in confusion.
Vivi quickly explained everything: how she had met me, how we had fought and defeated Crocodile and all of Baroque Works, and how we had come to save the kingdom from ruin.
Titi turned her grateful gaze toward me and the girls. She stepped forward with regal poise and formally introduced herself.
"I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for protecting my daughter and saving Arabasta. When I read about you in the newspapers before, I never imagined pirates could become the saviors of a kingdom. It seems I was mistaken."
I walked up and gently shook her hand. "Please, don't thank me. I'm doing this because I want to."
"Now, let's wrap up the last loose ends before everything is settled," I said, meeting Titi's eyes. "Please summon the rebel army to gather in the large plaza in front of the palace. You can explain the truth to them. If they agree to peace, great. If not… I'll convince them the hard way until they do."
"I'll go with mother," Vivi said firmly. "It would be best if I spoke to the leader myself. I know him well."
"Alright, but I'm coming too—for your protection."
Robin, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "You should know that Crocodile planted a massive bomb somewhere in the city. If it detonates, the entire capital will be destroyed."
"What?! There's a bomb in the city?"
"Crocodile really is that evil—he was willing to slaughter countless innocents."
"Tell us where it is, quick!"
All the girls, including Vivi and Queen Titi, froze in alarm at the revelation. The thought of so many lives lost in an instant made their faces pale with worry.
Robin turned her gaze to me, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I'll tell you the location… but you'll owe me a favor."
I already knew the bomb was in the clock tower. I also knew that it was not going to explode any time soon but I decided to play along. Smiling back, I said, "Of course. A huge favor, no problem. I will personally repay you alone."
"The bomb is at the top of the clock tower."
I nodded.
"Alright, you all handle gathering the rebels and bringing them to the plaza for the meeting. I'll go take care of the bomb."
"Be careful," the girls said almost in unison.
"I'll make sure the rebel leader knows the meeting place," Vivi added.
I headed straight for the clock tower. At the very top, I found it—a massive, round bomb sitting there ominously. I scanned its interior with Observation Haki to understand its structure. Even if it exploded right in my face, I wouldn't be harmed, but I refused to let any civilians get caught in the blast.
When I looked closer, though, I realized the TNT inside was fake. If it went off, there would only be a harmless flash of light and some sparks—no real destruction.
"No wonder Pell survived carrying it away in the original story."
I started the timer anyway. When only ten seconds remained, I gripped the bomb tightly and hurled it skyward with all my strength.
BOOM!!
A brilliant fireball erupted high above the city. It was visible from every corner of Alubarna.
"What was that explosion?"
"Is it fireworks today?"
"Did the sun just blow up?"
The citizens gasped in shock. The rebel army panicked, thinking their positions had been targeted. Even my girls looked up at the sky in surprise.
"It looks like Alex handled the bomb perfectly," one of them said.
"Thank goodness he launched it into the air. Otherwise, so many innocent people would have died."
"Alex really is the best."
Vivi stared at the fading fireball in the sky, her heart swelling with gratitude.
Not only had I defeated Crocodile and freed the kingdom from his schemes, but I had also neutralized the bomb without a single casualty.
In that moment, she made up her mind.
Tonight, she would reward me properly. Determination burned in her eyes, her cheeks flushed red, her breathing grew uneven, and she unconsciously rubbed her thighs together in anticipation.
Queen Titi also gazed upward, a thoughtful expression on her face. She recalled how handsome I looked and how strong my body seemed. She also decided to repay the favor.
"I must properly reward the kingdom's hero," she thought with a small, secretive smile. "I wonder if he appreciates a mature woman…"
With the bomb crisis resolved, I made my way back to the palace.