"…Why the hell do I have to come along?"
"Hahaha! Isn't this a perfect chance to put the Alabasta Royal Family in your debt?"
Krieg ignored Crocodile's grumbling, ushering the reluctant Warlord along as they hurried toward the capital city, Alubarna.
The sudden departure was triggered by a frantic call over the Den Den Mushi: "We've lost sight of Princess Nefertari Vivi!"
Since Krieg had been staying at the palace, he had assigned a portion of the "Red Seagulls" to act as the Princess's security detail.
However, because he had taken the majority of his elite men with him to Rainbase for the meeting with Crocodile, only a single guard had been left on duty.
To make matters worse, the young Princess Vivi had recently befriended a group of local children known as the "Sand Sand Clan."
She had taken to slipping out of the palace to play in the lower town. Despite her royal upbringing, Vivi was a tomboy with agility and athletic nerves that would put most adults to shame.
Normally, the security net would have caught her, but with only one guard on the trail, she had vanished into the crowds. Fearing the worst, the guard had called for immediate backup.
Krieg had essentially "conscripted" Crocodile into the search party right in the middle of their spar. While the Warlord complained, the logic of earning royal favor eventually won him over.
Arriving at the outskirts where she was last seen, Krieg immediately closed his eyes, extending his Observation Haki to sweep the area.
"…She's running. No, she's being pursued! Hey, Crocodile! This way!"
"Tch. What is it now? You close your eyes for a second and start barking orders..."
"Just move! Princess Vivi is being chased by someone!"
"…Heh? Well, if that's the case, this trip might actually be worth the effort. Lead the way."
Calculating the trajectory of the presence he detected, Krieg and Crocodile sprinted toward the ruins outside the city.
They arrived just in time to witness a scene of violence: a young boy with a gash near his eye was swinging a wooden club with all his might, striking a large man who was trying to grab a cowering blue-haired girl.
Several other thugs were closing in on the pair.
Krieg didn't hesitate. "Hostiles confirmed!"
"Sables (Sandstorm)!!" Crocodile unleashed a localized vortex, sweeping one man high into the air.
"Modified Long-Range Fist Cannon... Flying Fist Cannon!!" Krieg threw a punch into the empty air, the sheer pressure of the strike manifesting as a physical shockwave that sent another thug flying backward.
"Gorilla-san! And... Sir Crocodile!?"
Vivi shouted the nickname that had apparently stuck for Krieg, but her eyes widened in shock at the sight of the famous Warlord standing beside him.
"Vivi-chan, let me see that boy! Crocodile! Check the perimeter for any others hiding in the shadows!!"
Krieg knelt beside the boy—Kohza—to check his wounds. The boy had fainted from the shock of the pain, but Krieg determined the injury wasn't life-threatening.
He quickly applied emergency first aid to stop the bleeding.
Moments later, King Cobra and Igaram, the Captain of the Guard, arrived on the scene, likely having followed the trail of the missing Princess. Seeing the situation, Cobra's face went pale before turning to Krieg.
"I cannot thank you enough, Lord Krieg! You have my deepest gratitude!"
"Don't mention it. I'm just glad Princess Vivi is safe," Krieg replied.
"Hmph. You heard him, King Cobra," a voice drawled.
Crocodile emerged from the shadows, his massive golden hook glinting, with his left hand crushing the face of another thug he had caught trying to flee. "Watch your daughter more closely."
"Sir Crocodile! You helped save her as well? Thank you!"
"Your Majesty, a King should not bow his head so easily..." Chaka and Pell, the Vice-Captains who had arrived with the King, muttered in disapproval, but Cobra ignored them.
In that moment, he wasn't a King; he was simply a father whose child had been returned to him.
Krieg watched the scene, a bit conflicted. Being a good person is fine, Cobra, but you're far too trusting... He couldn't help but wonder if he had inadvertently helped Crocodile cement the very trust that would lead to the kingdom's near-downfall in the future.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/Master_Studios677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.