Vivi stood still.
For a few seconds, she said nothing.
Then—
She exhaled.
Slowly.
Her hand rose to her hair.
And with a simple motion—
She pulled it free.
The strange, exaggerated hairstyle unraveled, falling smoothly down her back in soft waves.
Silence.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then—
(Amazing… Vivi with her hair down is even more beautiful.)
Vivi froze.
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
She looked down, avoiding everyone's gaze.
"Miss Wednesday?"
Mr. 9 blinked in confusion.
"What happened?"
"I-I am okay…"
But then—
She puffed her cheeks slightly and shot an annoyed glance at Kael.
Kael-san, stop distracting me!!
Kael blinked.
(What? Why is she looking at me like that?)
Behind him—
"Pfft—"
Nami covered her mouth, barely holding back laughter.
Kaya chuckled softly.
Even Tashigi turned away, adjusting her glasses to hide her smile.
Kael's expression darkened slightly.
(I almost forgot how much my crew enjoys seeing me in trouble.)
Vivi took another breath.
Calming herself.
Then—
She straightened.
Her gaze turned steady.
"My name is Nefertari Vivi."
Mr. 9 nodded absentmindedly.
"Vivi… that's a good name…"
A pause.
Then—
His eyes widened.
He blinked once.
Twice.
"W-Wait…"
His voice shook.
"N-Nefertari…?"
"As in—"
Vivi gave a small, helpless smile.
"Yeah."
"I'm King Nefertari Cobra's daughter."
Silence.
Mr. 9's jaw dropped.
"You're the Princess of Alabasta??"
Vivi nodded.
"That's right."
He staggered back a step.
"When… how… why did you join Baroque Works then?!"
"Are you betraying your father?! Your kingdom?!"
"Or…"
Kael spoke calmly.
"…she could be a spy."
He glanced at Vivi.
"Am I correct, Princess?"
Vivi's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"…Yes. That's the case."
What amazing acting skills, Kael-san…
Mr. 9 ran a hand through his hair, trying to process everything.
"…I see…"
"So that's how it is…"
Vivi nodded.
Then turned to Kael.
Her expression serious.
"Kael-san… may I ask you for a favor?"
Kael smiled faintly.
"Oh? Go ahead… my princess."
Vivi flinched.
You keep saying things like that… how am I supposed to stay serious?!
Behind him—
Nami's eyebrow twitched.
"This smooth bastard…"
Kaya and Tashigi nodded in silent agreement.
Vivi steadied herself.
Then bowed her head slightly.
"Please… help me save my kingdom."
"And my father."
Mr. 9 looked stunned.
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He turned his head slightly.
Looking at his crew.
Three gazes met his.
Calm.
Confident.
Supportive.
He nodded once.
Then looked back at Vivi.
"That was the plan all along."
Vivi blinked.
"…All along?"
Mr. 9 stared.
"You mean—"
Kael nodded.
"I've been planning to remove that tyrant since the start."
Behind him—
Nami frowned.
"Tyrant…?"
Kaya spoke quietly.
"I've been meaning to ask…"
"…who exactly are we dealing with, Kael-san?"
Tashigi stepped forward.
"Do we know him?"
Kael glanced at Vivi.
She gave a small, resigned smile.
Then he turned back to the others.
"Oh, you know him."
His gaze settled on Tashigi.
"And especially you."
Tashigi frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Kael's voice remained steady.
"The reason behind Alabasta's current situation…"
A brief pause.
"…is Crocodile."
Silence.
The name settled heavily.
Vivi looked down.
Her fists clenched tightly.
Kaya blinked.
"…You mean—"
Nami's eyes widened.
"That Crocodile?!"
Tashigi's grip tightened around her sword.
Her expression hardened instantly.
"One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea…"
"…Crocodile."
She looked at Kael.
"So he's using his position to manipulate things in Alabasta."
Kael nodded.
"Exactly."
Mr. 9's teeth clenched.
"So all this time…"
Kael continued without hesitation.
"Mr. 0…"
"…the one giving you orders…"
"…was Crocodile."
Silence.
Then—
"…Crocodile."
The name left Mr. 9's mouth like poison.
Kaya spoke slowly.
"But Alabasta is allied with the World Government…"
Kael glanced at her.
"Do you think he cares?"
No one answered.
They didn't need to.
Nami crossed her arms.
"But why?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Why would he go this far?"
Everyone looked at Kael.
Vivi too.
Yes… he must know.
Kael shrugged lightly.
"Who knows."
The casual answer caught them off guard.
But inside—
(It's not the right time yet.)
Behind him—
The three women exchanged looks.
So he does know.
Kael turned to Nami.
"How long until we reach Whiskey Peak?"
Nami glanced at the horizon.
"Less than twenty minutes."
Kael nodded.
Then looked back at Vivi and Mr. 9.
His gaze paused on Vivi for a second.
"Although…"
A faint smirk appeared.
"You look better with your hair down…"
Vivi stiffened.
"…but fix it."
"To avoid suspicion."
Her cheeks turned red again.
"…Right."
She quickly adjusted her hair back into its earlier exaggerated style.
Kael nodded.
"Good."
Then his expression sharpened once more.
"Now listen carefully."
His gaze moved between the two.
"I'll explain again what you need to do once we dock."
Vivi and Mr. 9 straightened instantly.
"Yes!!"
The Sovereign Gale slowed as it approached the harbor.
Waves softened.
Wind calmed.
And ahead—
Whiskey Peak stood waiting.
Tall cacti-like rock formations pierced the sky, casting long shadows over the quiet town.
Too quiet.
Then—
As the ship docked and the crew stepped off—
The silence shattered.
Music erupted.
Drums.
Strings.
Laughter.
A crowd had already gathered.
Waiting.
Watching.
Welcoming.
At the front, a man stepped forward with open arms.
"Welcome, esteemed guests!!"
His smile was wide.
Too wide.
"We, the humble people of this beautiful town, are honored to have you here!"
His voice carried warmth.
Gratitude.
Respect.
But his eyes—
Kael noticed immediately.
Greedy.
Sharp.
Predatory.
Not just him.
Several others in the crowd stared the same way—
At the ship.
At them.
Like wolves sizing up prey.
Kael's gaze flickered slightly.
(As expected… easily manipulated idiots.)
Behind him—
Nami, Kaya, and Tashigi all caught on instantly.
Their expressions didn't change—
But their eyes did.
Cold.
Unimpressed.
They exchanged a brief glance.
Then—
Almost in sync—
They shook their heads.
Pathetic.
Meanwhile—
As planned—
Vivi and Mr. 9 stepped forward, subtly signaling Kael before moving ahead.
Blending in.
Playing their part.
The act had begun.
The music grew louder.
More exaggerated.
More forced.
Then—
Kael felt it.
A different kind of gaze.
Filthy.
Lingering.
Lust.
Kaya felt it too—
Her brows furrowed slightly.
Nami's lip curled in disgust.
Tashigi's hand hovered near her sword.
Behind the crowd—
A drunk man leaned lazily against his companions.
His eyes locked onto the women.
He grinned.
"Look at those women…"
His voice was low.
Slurred.
"Each one of them is—"
Before he could finish—
One of his sober friends immediately covered his mouth.
"Shut up, you idiot!"
His tone was sharp.
"If that guy hears you—"
Another added quickly—
"Yeah, look at him. He's carrying a sword."
The drunk scoffed, pushing the hand away.
"Don't tell me you're scared of some unknown brat."
He smirked, gaze still fixed.
"Once we're done with him… I'll take those wo—"
He never finished.
Kael's expression didn't change.
But his eyes—
Sharpened.
The air shifted.
Subtle.
Invisible.
But heavy.
The three women behind him felt it instantly.
Killing intent.
Cold.
Controlled.
Focused.
Kael didn't even look at the man speaking to him in front.
Instead—
His gaze locked onto the drunk.
And he muttered softly—
"Bold of you… to assume trash like you could stand before me."
A pause.
Then—
"Go to sleep."
A faint pulse—
Reddish-green.
Invisible to most.
But devastating.
The next moment—
The drunk collapsed.
Along with the two beside him.
Unconscious.
No warning.
No struggle.
Just—
Down.
A small commotion broke out in the back.
People gathered.
Confused.
Murmuring.
"What happened?"
"Victor passed out again?"
But the ones at the front—
Still acting—
Didn't notice.
Only three did.
Nami.
Tashigi.
Kaya.
Their eyes shifted toward Kael.
He simply sighed inwardly.
(Still can't control it perfectly…)
The three exchanged a glance.
So it was him.
Their expressions softened slightly.
Pride.
Amusement.
Something warmer.
Kael cut off the man still talking in front of him.
"You might want to check that."
The man paused.
Annoyed—
Then turned.
"What's going on back there?"
A voice responded—
"Victor seems to have passed out again!"
"What?"
The man clicked his tongue.
"That drunk bastard… now of all times?"
Another voice added—
"He took two others with him this time!"
The man groaned.
"These idiots… in front of our guests?!"
He quickly turned back to Kael, bowing slightly.
"My apologies, esteemed guests."
"Please ignore such disgraceful behavior."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Of course."
"We don't mind."
"Things happen."
The man's smile returned.
Louder.
More exaggerated.
"What a kind and forgiving young man!!"
"We are truly blessed to have you here!"
Behind him—
Others echoed similar praise.
Acting.
Overdoing it.
Kael's eyes narrowed just slightly.
(Cut the bullshit.)
(You'll learn soon enough how forgiving I am.)
Behind him—
"Pfft—"
The three women barely held it in.
The man frowned for a split second—
Then ignored it.
"Please, follow me!"
"We've prepared a grand feast for you!"
Kael glanced back to get their yes—
Only to see his crew struggling to contain their laughter.
(What's wrong with them…?)
He shook his head lightly.
Then turned forward again.
"A feast?"
A small smile formed.
"How could we refuse?"
"Lead the way."
The man grinned inwardly.
You'll pay for it tenfold.
But outwardly—
"Of course! Right this way!"
He began walking.
Kael and his crew followed.
They passed the earlier scene.
The three unconscious bodies already drawing attention.
The man gestured sharply to someone nearby.
"Take these fools away."
"They've embarrassed us enough."
"Yes, sir!"
The group moved on.
Disappearing into the town.
Leaving behind whispers.
Confusion.
And something far more unsettling.
As a few men lifted the unconscious trio—
One frowned.
"Victor's one thing…"
"But why are these two out cold?"
"They don't even drink."
Another paused.
Then leaned closer.
"…Wait."
His voice dropped.
"…is that blood?"
The others froze.
"What?"
"Look—same spot…"
"…all three of them…"
A chill ran through the group.
"…What the hell happened here?"
No one answered.
Because no one knew.