Chapter 391 - 230

Chapter 230: Garden Evening Breeze · An Old Friend Returns!The Garden of the Alabasta PalaceThe gurgling of the fountain mingled with the rustling of palm leaves in the evening breeze, yet it could not dispel the melancholy solidified in the air.Vivi stood amidst a patch of blooming Desert Lilies, her blue and white palace gown trailing on the ground, its tailored fit outlining smooth and dignified lines.The afterglow of the setting sun lingered, tracing her silhouette.From the soft blue hair on her forehead to her slender, slightly furrowed brows, and finally to those lake-blue eyes that always held resilience and tenderness.At this moment, however, those eyes shimmered with a hint of moisture, reflecting the darkening sky and swaying flower branches—stunningly beautiful, yet breath-takingly lonely.She leaned slightly, her fingertips brushing against the unfolded petals of a lily."Perhaps...""Luffy and I... are destined to have no fate together."That figure barged into her mind without hesitation.The wide grin that always stretched to his ears, the carefree shouts that were enough to illuminate the gloom, and that straw hat which would never fade in any desperate situation.The corners of her lips unconsciously curled into a faint, bitter arc.Her heart could travel thousands of miles, but her body was pinned in place.One was the queen of Alabasta, destined to shoulder the burden of millions of subjects, with eight hundred years of promises and a heavy crown flowing through her bloodline.The other was the "Emperor" who stirred the seas and challenged the authority of the entire world with the most free posture.The evening breeze grew cooler, lifting the strands of hair by her temples and causing her to instinctively wrap her arms around herself.Just at the moment when the tail end of that sigh was about to dissolve into the twilight!!A strong arm suddenly wrapped around from behind, resting naturally on her left shoulder.Immediately after, a weight naturally leaned in, and a chin affectionately rested against her right shoulder.A few stiff strands of hair brushed against the side of her neck, sending a slight shiver through her."Hee hee!"The laughter sounded right against her ear, crisp and bright."Long time no see, Vivi!"Time seemed to have been pressed to a halt.The sound of the fountain, the rustling of leaves in the wind, the faint human voices from the distant palace... all background noises receded like a tide.Vivi's body stiffened suddenly, her sky-blue eyes widening in disbelief, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings in the wind.It was not an auditory hallucination.That temperature, that touch, that unique voice carrying the scent of the sea breeze and freedom... every detail scorched her perception.The long-accumulated, complex, and indescribable emotions, in this instant, were like a burst dam, collapsing all the dikes of reason.Tears surged into her eyes, turning into a crystalline shimmer, rippling violently in her stunningly beautiful eyes.She used almost all her strength to turn around, both incredibly slowly and incredibly quickly.The wide mouth, the white teeth, and the eyes that curved like crescent moons when smiling reflected her tear-streaked face.She could no longer hold back; her lips trembled, and with all her strength and longing, she called out the name that had turned over in her heart a thousand times:"——Luffy!!"High in the sky, on the deck of the sunny.Nami leaned against the ship's railing, her gaze sweeping over the empty lion-head figurehead in front.Not long ago, a carefree figure had been sitting cross-legged there.She pursed her lips slightly, her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of orange hair, her voice carrying a faint, imperceptible, and sour drawn-out tone:"So hurried, couldn't even wait to say a word... who is he going to find? It's really hard to guess."Not far away, Robin gently closed the newspaper in her hands, its edges making a faint "rustling" sound."It can't be helped,""That's just how he is; whatever he thinks of, he does it immediately. Like a wind that cannot be caught."She tilted her head slightly, looking at the still pouting Nami, and switched the topic at the right moment, a hint of mischief flashing in her eyes:"Speaking of which, the royal market of Alabastaseems famous for its exquisite handicrafts and rare spices.""Should we take this opportunity to go shopping?"Nami's eyes lit up almost instantly, the small bit of displeasure from just now instantly replaced by the anticipation of shopping."Of course!""I heard the silk and jewelry designs here are very unique, just right for restocking our sailing supplies!!"On the other side of the deck, in the training area.Zoro stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his three swords silently resting at his waist.His brows were tightly furrowed, his bronze skin taut under the sunlight, revealing a look of focused confusion and defiance."Tch,"He spat, his gaze sharply cast in the direction where Luffy had disappeared,"How the hell did that idiot slip away? My Observation Haki didn't sense anything at all!"Sanji, who was nearby wiping down kitchenware, didn't even look up as he replied casually:"Don't know. That guy muttered something earlier, seemed to be some variant of'Shave'... sounds unreliable.""Shave?"Zoro laughed as if he had heard an absurd joke, sneering and glancing disdainfully at Sanji,"Perverted Cook, has your brain been fried by oil fumes?""Can that basic Marine technique have this kind of effect?"Sanji's plate-wiping motion paused, and a small cross-shaped vein bulged on his forehead.He slowly turned his head, his eyes becoming dangerous beneath his blonde bangs:"Mosshead, were you... talking to me just now?"Zoro lifted his chin without showing weakness, the corners of his mouth pulling into a provocative arc,"Are your ears not working, or is your brain not working either?""Ha!"Sanji crushed his cigarette butt with his foot and stood up straight,"I think you haven't been beaten in three days, and your skin is itching for it, right?""Just what I wanted!"Zoro's hand was already pressed on the hilt of his wado ichimonji; although it wasn't drawn, his fighting spirit was burning fiercely,"I've been wanting to cut something for a while. If I can't cut rubber, cutting a curly-brow is fine too.""Very well,"Sanji tugged at his suit tie, his eyes fierce,"Let's find a place without anyone around later, and I'll use my strength to make you swallow those words!""Who's afraid of who!"Their gazes collided fiercely in the air, almost sparking. The earlier discussion about Luffy's speed had long been thrown to the clouds, replaced by the never-ending, pre-storm confrontation between the swordsman and the cook.Meanwhile, on the balcony outside the main palace hall.King Cobra was discussing state affairs with his ministers when suddenly, a huge shadow cast from the sky enveloped the entire courtyard.Before cries of astonishment could escape, a pirate ship, as massive as a moving fortress with a bow resembling a majestic lion, was descending steadily and slowly toward the spacious plaza outside the palace under the influence of some strange power!The sails billowed, the masts towered, and the shock and pressure it brought made even the experienced guards lose their color instantly, unaware that the documents in Cobra's hands had slipped away."That, that is...!"Shouts of alarm and sirens could be faintly heard, but they failed to penetrate the invisible wall of vines and tranquility that surrounded the garden.In the corner that belonged only to the two of them, Vivi nestled beside Luffy.She was no longer that dignified and composed ruler, but seemed to have returned to those days and nights on the going merry, where she could lay down all burdens and pour out all her trivial worries."Luffy, do you know how much I've missed you?"She said softly, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt,"Sometimes when I look at the edge of the desert, I always feel that the next second, the going merrywill pop out from the horizon..."She paused, her voice tinged with a little fatigue, yet revealing determination:"There are so many things to do in Alabasta!""The irrigation systems need to be rebuilt, trade with neighboring countries needs to be renegotiated, and so many people displaced by Crocodile need to be resettled... Every day, there are endless documents to read and endless names to sign."Speaking of this, she turned her face to look at Luffy, her eyes flashing with a complex light.There was the heaviness brought by responsibility, the determination to fulfill her mission, and perhaps, a hint of hope to be understood."Luffy, let me tell you,""I... am about to become the Queen of Alabasta."Luffy just lay sprawled out on the soft lawn, his hands behind his head.He had a fluffy foxtail grass in his mouth, the tip swaying gently with his chewing.He stared with those clear, gloom-free eyes at the vast, deep blue sky of Alabasta, with white clouds drifting leisurely by."I see." He replied vaguely, his voice trailing off into the slightly bitter scent of the grass.One hour later, at an abandoned old port on the edge of the city."Come on, Mosshead!!"Sanji slowly took off his usual suit jacket, wearing only a crisp white shirt and black trousers.He lowered his center of gravity slightly, pivoting on his left foot, the muscles of his right leg already taut like a drawn bow."It seems... we have never had a truly satisfying duel!!"His voice was exceptionally clear in the sea breeze, his tone rising—it was a provocation, and even more, a heartfelt longing.He knew that the one standing opposite him now was a strong opponent he had to go all out against."Heh..."The response was a wild, savage sneer rolling from deep within the throat."Just what I wanted!"Zoro shifted his feet slightly, and the small gravel on the ground silently turned into powder.The dozen meters between them seemed non-existent. The wind seemed to have stopped at that moment.Only two continuously rising, fiercely colliding auras roared silently, completely igniting the twilight of the dilapidated port.