As their morning exercise came to an end...
Ryuuto stepped outside with a blushing Nami, just in time to see Foxy installing the main doors for the auction house.
Foxy had chosen a vibrant, orange-colored wood, giving the entrance a lively feel. Carved into the wood above were the words "Cosmic Auction House."
After waiting a while, Ryuuto saw no sign of Rayleigh. He had probably run off to gamble somewhere again.
"Wait, that's not right! How could he go play a game of probability without bringing Nami along?" Ryuuto suddenly realized a critical oversight.
Unfortunately, he had no idea where Rayleigh had gone. Otherwise, he would have taken Nami with him one way or another to check it out.
Meanwhile, at the shore of Grove 18...
Crocus and Vivi stood on the deck of the Soaring Dragon, holding Ryuuto's Vivre Card and scanning the Sabaody Archipelago before them.
"Crocus, it looks like the captain's Vivre Card is pointing here!" Vivi said, a little uncertain.
Vivi's entire aura had changed considerably. The regal air of a princess she once carried in Alabasta was gone. Now, she wore a crop-top halter and a pair of loose-fitting cargo pants.
Her clothes were one thing, but perhaps due to the influence of her Devil Fruit, her cheeks were perpetually flushed with a faint blush, as if she were slightly drunk.
"Alright, Momoo, let's go!" Crocus said, gazing at the archipelago. A wave of old memories washed over him.
"It's been a long time," he sighed.
Momoo picked up speed, swimming toward the shore.
"What is that? A Sea King?"
"No, get away!"
"It's coming right for us!"
"Run!"
The few pirate grunts left to guard the Sexy Foxy stared in horror as Momoo charged them. The sea cow's 500-meter-long body was an overwhelming sight.
Fear completely eclipsed their reason. Porche's orders to protect the ship were utterly forgotten. The grunts leaped off the deck and scrambled desperately for the shore. Only solid ground could offer them a sense of security.
Other pirates on the shore also spotted Momoo and began to flee in a frenzy. As Momoo's colossal form drew closer, even the pirates at the neighboring Grove 17 port caught sight of him, triggering an even greater panic. None of them had ever seen a Sea King this massive. Intimidated by his sheer presence, they scattered in every direction.
BOOM!
Momoo came to an abrupt halt, sending a tremendous wave crashing against the shore. The water drenched the Sexy Foxy. With the Soaring Dragon safely in tow, Momoo stopped. He flicked the tow rope off and dove deep beneath the waves.
"Moo!" A joyful cry echoed from the depths.
The journey had been arduous for Momoo. First, he had to take Hancock to Amazon Lily, then return to Sake Island to pick up Crocus and Vivi. To make up for lost time, he had swum at full speed without a single break, exhausting his stamina. He was now ravenously hungry.
Time to feast!
A bloody frenzy began to churn beneath the surface.
"We're here, Crocus!" Vivi slung the backpack at her feet over her shoulder, spoke to Crocus, and then leaped off the Soaring Dragon.
Inside the backpack was Monkey Wine. It was only natural for the user of the Sake-Sake Fruit to carry a cask of alcohol with her at all times.
"Sabaody Archipelago, I'm back," Crocus said softly. He stroked his beard, donned his Supreme Grade clogs, and jumped down after her.
The fleeing pirate grunts looked back and saw that the giant Sea King had vanished. In its place, a pirate ship with a black dragon flag had appeared out of nowhere.
"Phew... we're saved!" one of the grunts gasped, collapsing to the ground and panting.
"Where did the Sea King go?"
"Just a false alarm!"
"Hey, when did that pirate ship get here?"
The other grunts also stopped, chattering amongst themselves. They then noticed a young woman and an old man walking up the path from the shore. They guessed the two might be connected to the Sea King's appearance and immediately gave them a wide berth.
"Crocus, this island is amazing!" Vivi remarked, her feet on the hard ground. She watched as soap bubbles constantly formed on the giant mangrove trees, drifting up toward the canopy before eventually disappearing. Every so often, she would hear the soft *pop* of a bubble bursting. The air was thick with their soapy scent.
"Hahahaha, that's a specialty of the Sabaody Archipelago!" Crocus chuckled, explaining the unique properties of the bubbles to Vivi. She was fascinated to learn of their many powerful uses.
The two chatted as they walked toward the Cosmic Auction House. The closer they got, the fewer pirates they saw on the road.
Ryuuto and Nami were busy making a display board. They had divided the labor: Ryuuto used Yubashiri to cut the wooden planks, while Nami handled the painting and writing.
The massive, three-meter-tall board was nearly complete. Nami had painted a large image of a Devil Fruit on it, next to which she had written: *Want to make it yours? Then don't be stingy with your Berries!*
Bzzz...
Ryuuto was admiring their handiwork when he felt a persistent vibration from his pocket. He pulled out his Vivre Card. The small square of paper was now missing two corners. One piece had been given to Crocus, the other to Hancock.
Seeing his own card vibrating, Ryuuto knew what it meant.
"Nami, Old Man Crocus and Vivi are here!" Ryuuto said, showing her the trembling card in his hand.
"Ah... They're really back!" Nami's eyes lit up as she confirmed it was his card. She jumped into the air with a cheer.
A minute or two later, Ryuuto and Nami spotted Crocus and Vivi walking toward them in the distance.
"Vivi!" Nami shouted, breaking into a run. She threw her arms around Vivi, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Nami..." Vivi could barely speak, caught in Nami's breathtaking hug. "I think... it's only been two months," she mumbled, before wrapping her arms tightly around Nami in return.
"Old Man Crocus, long time no see!" Ryuuto walked over with a smile. "You've worked hard."
As he spoke, Ryuuto extended his right hand toward Crocus.
*Crackle...*
His hand instantly turned a glossy black, and arcs of black-and-red lightning began to erupt from his fist.