As the Vice-Captains of the Royal Guard, Chaka and Pell were drowning in self-reproach for allowing such a lapse in security regarding Princess Vivi.
Rowan, standing to the side, understood the situation perfectly. He offered a thin smile and stepped toward Cobra. "King Cobra, if you trust this old man, you can leave the matter of Princess Vivi to me. I guarantee I will bring her back to you safe and sound."
"Mr. Rowan, you mean..." Cobra looked confused.
Leave finding Vivi to Rowan? While Rowan's strength was undisputed, he had never set foot in Alabasta before, nor had he ever even laid eyes on Vivi. How could he possibly track her down in this vast desert?
"Rest easy, King Cobra. You need only trust me."
As a man who knew the script of this world, Rowan knew exactly where Vivi had gone. Seeing the absolute confidence radiating from Rowan, Cobra hesitated for a moment before nodding heavily.
"Very well. I shall leave Vivi in your hands, Mr. Rowan... please, ensure her safety above all else."
"Dammit..."
Igaram's face was grim as he stared at the circle of ferocious pirates surrounding him and Princess Vivi. Vivi herself looked as though she were on the verge of tears.
It was her fault. If she hadn't been so eager to prove herself and targeted the Vice-Captain of the "Mad Shark" Pirates—a man with a 12-million Berry bounty—they wouldn't have fallen into this trap.
"Igaram... I'm sorry... I..." Vivi sobbed quietly.
"Quiet, Little Vivi. Don't speak of that now," Igaram whispered, shielding her completely as he backed toward a nearby building. "Go inside. Find a way to pry open the boarded-up windows and escape. I'll handle things here."
To the Captain of the Guard, Vivi's life was worth infinitely more than his own.
"But Igaram—"
Igaram cut her off with a forced smile. "Don't worry. I'm not a soft persimmon anyone can squeeze. The Captain of these 'Mad Sharks' is just a 16-million Berry piece of trash."
Though the Mad Shark Pirates were known for their cruelty, Igaram was a veteran guardian of a superpower. He wouldn't go down without a fight.
"Gahahaha!"
The Captain, "Mad Shark" Orcas, cackled maliciously. "How touching... truly. But do you really think you're escaping?"
His face suddenly contorted into a mask of brutality. "Men! Hack this old man to pieces! Just make sure you don't scratch the girl. Tonight, I'm going to teach her some very important lessons about life..."
"Vivi! Run!" Igaram shoved the princess into the house and leveled his weapon, prepared to die to protect her.
But at that exact moment, a green blur plummeted from the sky. With a heavy thud, a figure landed directly in front of Igaram like a descending god of war.
The Mad Shark Pirates skidded to a halt, startled by the abrupt intrusion. Over eighty hardened pirates found themselves momentarily paralyzed by the sheer, suffocating pressure radiating from the young man.
Even Igaram froze. Is this... help? But the green-haired youth was a complete stranger. He had never seen this man in his life.
It was Roronoa Zoro.
"You... who the hell are you?!" Orcas barked. Zoro's killing intent was so thick it was visible, making the pirates hesitate to strike first.
"Me?" Zoro slowly looked up, his face twisted into an expression of raw excitement. He drew Wado Ichimonji and clamped it between his teeth. His eyes were terrifying as he grinned.
"I'm the one who's going to kill you all..."
Before they set out, Rowan had given him a simple instruction: Leave none of them alive.
Igaram was dazed. Who was this frightening young man? An enemy of the Mad Sharks? Inside the house, Vivi poked her head out, her large eyes widening. Seeing Zoro's back—standing like an unmovable fortress against a hundred men—her despair was instantly replaced by awe. To her, he looked like a legend come to life.
Just as she peered out, a flash of pink and purple landed softly beside Igaram.
"Wow... what a beautiful big sister..." Vivi whispered, mesmerized by the elegant, long-legged woman who had appeared out of nowhere.
"Heh..." Momousagi (Gion) clearly heard the murmur and offered Vivi a dazzling smile. The sheer beauty of it made Vivi's face flush a deep crimson.
"Princess Vivi is quite adorable herself. I'm sure you'll grow up to be a world-class beauty," Gion teased.
Vivi turned beet-red, fidgeting shyly. But Igaram's reaction was the opposite. He snapped into a combat stance, glaring at Gion with intense suspicion. "You! Who are you?!"
She had stated Vivi's identity instantly. If she was an enemy of Alabasta... the consequences were unthinkable.
Vivi, realizing the danger, ducked back into the house. Dammit... she's so pretty I forgot to be careful! Facing Igaram's interrogation, Gion remained unruffled. "I am Marine Vice Admiral Momousagi. Mr. Rowan sent me to fetch you and the Princess."
"Marine Vice Admiral? Mr. Rowan?" Igaram didn't lower his guard. They had left the palace in secret, without even telling Pell or Chaka. How could the Navy know? Could she be trusted?
"Kid... you're talking big for someone standing alone," Orcas growled from the other side. He was a 16-million Berry man; he wasn't going to be scared off by a brat.
"Whether it's big talk... you'll find out in a second." Zoro drew his other two blades, his eyes gleaming like a hunter who had finally found his prey.