Everyone else present was also stunned.
Usopp's mouth was wide open, big enough to fit an ostrich egg: "A… a Log Pose that points directly to Alabasta?! Then… then haven't we been taking the long way?!"
Amidst the clamor, Zoro finally opened his eyes. Hearing what Vivi said, he furrowed his brows, looked at Vivi, and then glanced outside the door, understanding why Sanji hadn't said a word back then.
Standing at the door, Tomioka's heart was similarly stirred. His gaze fell on the small Log Pose in Vivi's hand, then on her face, which was trying to hold back tears.
It turned out… the shortcut to Alabasta was already in their hands. But for the past few days, their course had not changed, and she had never mentioned it.
Sanji had returned outside the door at some point, leaning against the doorframe, silently lighting a cigarette. The swirling smoke obscured his expression at that moment.
He didn't come in, just listened quietly.
"Everyone…"
Vivi's voice rose slightly, interrupting everyone's surprise and confusion.
She looked around at each of her companions, and tears finally streamed down her face, but her eyes were filled with an unprecedented determination, "You all have allowed me to board this ship, and I… I am truly, truly grateful!"
She took a deep breath and vigorously wiped away her tears.
"I don't want you to be forced into the painful choice of who to save first because of my country's crisis… So, as the princess of Alabasta, I made this decision on my own!"
Her gaze swept over the sickly Nami and the injured Tomioka, finally looking at everyone.
"I believe we must first go to an island with a doctor! To completely cure our most important navigator, Nami! And to allow Mr. Tomioka, who was injured protecting us, to fully recover! Only then can we proceed to Alabasta at full speed, in our most complete state! This is… this is the fastest! The best method!"
She practically shouted the last few sentences, her chest heaving violently, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, yet an even heavier responsibility had been taken on.
After a brief silence.
"Shishishishishi…" Luffy was the first to laugh, a particularly cheerful laugh. He adjusted his Mugiwara, revealing his signature bright smile, "Vivi! Well said!"
Watching Vivi make her decision, Usopp looked shocked, muttering to himself, "A million people are waiting, as expected of a princess."
Outside the door, Sanji exhaled a long smoke ring, his voice filled with genuine admiration, "Well said, Miss Vivi! It's decided then! After we visit the next island and cure Miss Nami and Tomioka, we'll set off immediately for Alabasta and kick those troublemakers' butts!"
After he finished, the sound of him turning and slowly walking back to the kitchen was heard.
Tears welled up in Nami's eyes as she lay in bed. She reached out her weak arm and hugged Vivi tightly, her voice choked, "You idiot… Vivi, you big idiot…"
"When the time comes… I will definitely! Take you back to Alabasta at the fastest speed! Definitely!"
Tomioka stood at the door, silent for a long time.
He watched the two girls embracing and crying, watched Luffy grinning foolishly beside them with determined eyes, and watched the emotional Usopp and the understanding Zoro.
Is this… a princess's responsibility?
On one side were shipmates he had only recently met, and on the other, millions of his own people in his country who were suffering.
Even so… she still chose to prioritize the safety of her companions, bearing the weight of this choice and the potential risks alone.
He remained silent, then spoke slowly in an unusually steady and certain tone. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears:
"Alabasta… will not be that fragile."
Everyone's gaze turned to him.
In Tomioka's blue eyes, there was a belief tempered by battles and despair. He continued, "The people there, their will, will absolutely not be easily broken. You won't be fighting alone; your people will also be bravely protecting their country."
His gaze fell on Vivi.
"They will hold on. They definitely will, until the moment you return."
Vivi turned her head and looked at Tomioka, drawing a strength called confidence from his firm words. She nodded vigorously, a smile like sunshine after rain appearing on her face:
"Mm! I believe in them too! I believe in everyone!"
"Alright!" Luffy suddenly jumped up, full of fighting spirit.
"Then let's go! First, let's go to the island to find a doctor!" He said, about to rush to the deck, still only wearing his thin red vest.
Seeing this, Tomioka instinctively reminded him with concern, "It's very cold outside. Don't you need to put on more clothes?"
Stopping, Luffy tilted his big head, looked at Tomioka, then touched his own arms, realizing, "Is that so? It seems it is! Alright!"
He immediately rummaged through a chest and found a thick yellow and white checkered long-sleeved jacket to put on, even though he wore it askew.
Then, except for Nami, who still needed to stay in bed, everyone else followed onto the deck.
In just that short time, the island had become incredibly clear, right before their eyes. It was an island covered in thick white snow, with several towering peaks like giant white barrels.
Zoro looked at the approaching island and asked, "So, when we dock, who wants to go ashore?"
"Me!" Luffy immediately raised his hand, excitedly jumping up and down.
"I'll go too!" Sanji's voice came from the side, "I must protect Miss Nami's safety!"
Tomioka also raised his hand, "I'll go up and take a look too." Usopp, watching the snow-covered, seemingly dangerous island from the side, began to shiver, "Ah ah… Th… there won't be any giant snow monsters hiding in there, will there?! Vivi! For safety's sake, you should stay…"
Vivi's tone was unusually firm, without the slightest hesitation, she said, "I'm going up too."
Only Usopp was left on the ground, clutching his head and screaming, "Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah! No way! Everyone's going up?!"
Zoro picked at his ear, saying with a look of disgust, "You're so noisy. I'm not going up, I'm staying on the Going Merry to guard it." Dash beside him squawked in agreement.
"Then I guess I'll go up too…"
The Going Merry slowly sailed into a seemingly port-like body of water by the island's shore. Tomioka stood at the ship's rail, his gaze sharply scanning the scene on the shore. His brows gradually furrowed.
This feeling… on the docks of both sides, at some point, dense crowds had gathered! Most of them wore thick winter clothes, and in their hands were old long rifles!
Countless dark muzzles were now uniformly and hostilely aimed at the slowly approaching Going Merry!
…Is it like this again? Why does he always end up being aimed at with guns… Tomioka's hand instinctively rose slightly, beginning to approach the hilt of the sword at his waist. This scene, being targeted by countless weapons, was so familiar yet so annoying.
Just then, a deep, full roar erupted from the front of the crowd on shore, breaking the eerie silence:
"Pirates!! Don't move!!"
"Get out of here!! Get out of here immediately!