Chapter 27
Reverse mountain 4
Arthur did not know exactly what was happening.
Everyone was gathered together, discussing something that seemed important to them, but the moment their eyes fell on him, silence suddenly settled over the place.
Zoro smiled calmly, then looked at Luffy and Nami before turning his gaze toward Arthur.
"It's nothing important… we were just discussing the next adventure, and how we're going to get out of the whale's stomach."
A small smile appeared on Arthur's face.
"Ah, that? The old man already told me about the water passage inside the whale's stomach. All we have to do is follow Crocus, and he'll lead us outside… right?"
He finished speaking as he took a few steps forward, stopping directly in front of Sanji.
Sanji felt a slight tension, sweat forming on his forehead, but he remained standing in place.
"Yeah…" he replied briefly.
Arthur smiled calmly, then raised his hand in front of Sanji.
"I apologize for my previous behavior.
I got angry, and I almost hurt you… and that's not something I want.
Thank you for putting up with it."
His tone was sincere, and his outstretched hand carried no hostility.
It was true that Arthur did not hold affection or respect for Sanji, but he was still a crewmate.
And Arthur, despite his harshness, enjoyed living among them and did not wish to plant resentment because of his impulsiveness.
He knew very well that blind emotions brought nothing but division and fracture.
Arthur had no idea what discussions had taken place moments earlier, yet he apologized from the heart, without awareness or pretense.
Sanji and Usopp's expressions shifted into pure astonishment, mixed with suffocating embarrassment.
Just moments ago, they had been asking Luffy to kick Arthur out… and now he stood before them sincerely apologizing.
Sanji lowered his head, feeling ashamed of his earlier behavior and his irrational outburst.
Then he raised his hand and quickly shook Arthur's.
"There's no need to apologize."
He immediately turned away and headed toward the kitchen with hurried steps, fleeing the confrontation…
ashamed of himself, and of a childishness he could no longer justify.
Arthur stood there for a moment, not fully understanding what had happened.
Then he smiled quietly and looked at everyone.
"By the way, Crocus decided to let the girl go… and I won't interfere with his decision."
Relief appeared on everyone's faces.
They had not wanted to kill her, as it went against their nature,
but at the same time, they could not ignore Arthur's logic.
So when Crocus settled the matter, they all felt a clear sense of ease, since the decision was no longer on their shoulders.
The matter was settled.
Luffy decided they would set sail again.
They followed Crocus and exited Laboon's body through the water passage connected to a massive iron door within his enormous form.
The girl walked behind Nami, frightened, avoiding looking toward Arthur.
Arthur did not glance at her; instead, he fixed his gaze forward.
Before their final exit from Laboon's body, Nami spoke firmly:
"She's a girl… we can't leave her here."
She approached the girl and spoke to her quietly, then turned to the crew.
"It seems her destination is the same as ours.
We can drop her off at the next island."
Everyone agreed with Nami's decision and allowed the girl to board with them temporarily.
They left Laboon's body and later sat inside Crocus's house.
But something did not sit right with Arthur.
There's something bothering me about this girl… seriously.
That strange feeling lingered with him.
A sense that her identity was not ordinary, and that she belonged to a dangerous organization… or something similar.
He only learned her name when he heard Nami call out to her:
"Vivi."
Arthur looked at her as she stood behind Nami, eating quietly, though fear was still evident in her eyes.
Eye of the Sky
| Name: Princess Nefertari Vivi |
| Level: 28 |
"First of all… wow. Has the system evolved?
Now I can see titles too?"
Then he furrowed his brows.
Second… Princess?
Why the hell would a princess try to hunt Laboon?
And why does she belong to a dangerous organization? What is going on here?
Arthur sat away from the crew while they spoke with Crocus.
He sank into thought until a major idea flashed in his mind.
Could she be undercover?
Maybe she joined that organization to spy on it… or to bring it down?
He analyzed the situation calmly and precisely, but realized his information was insufficient.
He could not question her now; she was undercover and would not tell him anything…
especially with her growing fear of him.
Luffy's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Oi, Arthur! We're setting sail now!"
Arthur smiled, bid Crocus farewell, then boarded the ship.
They sailed once more…
toward Whiskey Peak — the Town of Welcome.
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