The day after sending off the officers of the Krieg Pirates, Duddy quietly came to meet Vivi.
He had agreed to the Neferutari family's invitation and, within days, planned to escort his daughter to Albasta's capital, Alubarna, to meet the king—Vivi's unremarkable father.
Considering Duddy's capabilities, reputation, and connections, there was no chance he'd be appointed Commander-in-Chief of Alabasta's 600,000-strong military. Instead, Vivi's father verbally promised him the post of Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard.
Modernizing firearms across the entire nation was impractical, but at least reforming the palace guard was achievable. Those oversized spears and swords needed to be tossed!
Skills like Haki, martial arts, and advanced swordsmanship were only within reach of a few elites. From a practical standpoint, the future belonged to firearms. As a marksman formally trained by the Marines, Duddy was well-qualified to instruct the Royal Guard. He was quite content with this role, feeling a sense of purpose return to his life. When he saw Vivi, her expressions had noticeably brightened compared to before.
He deliberately avoided Mr. 9 because he had something important to share. "Your Highness Princess, I reached out to a few of my old comrades and relayed your message to Instructor Zephyr…"
Vivi's interest sparked instantly. "Oh? That's wonderful! Mr. Duddy, I truly appreciate it. Thank you."
She first expressed her sincere gratitude, then asked with seriousness, "What did General Zephyr say?"
Duddy replied with caution, "Instructor Zephyr would like to meet in person."
Afraid she'd misunderstand, he quickly clarified. In the upper crust of this world, schemers were common while sincerity was rare. He didn't want any confusion, so he explained:
"Four years ago, Zephyr was 65. That year, the training vessel he commanded was attacked by pirates. Nearly all elite Marine cadets aboard were killed, and he lost his right arm in the incident. Since then, he's been recovering at the G2 Marine Base in the New World and hasn't returned to HQ."
Duddy's meaning was clear: if Vivi wanted to meet Zephyr, she'd have to go to the New World. He'd passed the message, but expecting a wounded veteran to travel across the seas? Even an Admiral might not have that privilege. Vivi? She didn't carry that much weight.
She felt a twinge of embarrassment—she wasn't important enough yet.
The first half of the Grand Line is called Paradise. The second half is the New World, territory dominated by the Four Emperors. Even the Marines struggled to maintain order there. For a small-time figure like Vivi, venturing there was incredibly dangerous.
Zephyr, nearly 70, had lost everything—his family, his future. Gravely injured, he was living in seclusion. While he might not care for his own safety, Vivi couldn't afford to be reckless.
"The G2 Base—is that the one near the Lulusia Kingdom?" she asked.
"Yes," Duddy confirmed.
Vivi had no choice but to figure out a way into the New World. Duddy's past as a bounty hunter, along with his unremarkable service record, meant his influence was limited. Relaying her message was already above expectations.
"Thank you, Mr. Duddy. Please let General Zephyr know—I will get there as soon as I can."
Though "soon" was relative. The journey was long and full of obstacles. Vivi had to plan her moves carefully. She would contact her homeland and arrange for Bell, the deputy captain of the palace guard, to come. Bell had the Falcon-Falcon Fruit and could fly with passengers.
The downside? Bell's mobility drew attention. As one of the few known flying Zoan users, his profile was registered in the intelligence databases of many world governments. If he flew openly, Vivi's presence would likely be exposed as well.
A heavy sigh.
...
Vivi left Loguetown and returned to the misty slopes of Whiskey Peak.
She found herself enjoying the light drizzle more and more. Though Loguetown had clear skies, Whiskey Peak felt cozier, more familiar.
After three days of rest, once she'd recovered, she accepted a mission from Ms. All Sunday—Nicole Robin. The task was to scout Little Garden. Robin provided her a permanent log pose for the route, and Vivi set sail with three ships full of supplies, bringing along Karoo, a few pups, and over thirty bounty hunters stationed at their local branch.
The sea route from Whiskey Peak to Little Garden was mostly uncharted—a known death trap. No pirates had ever returned from the island alive. Understandably, the bounty hunters were on edge. As they neared their destination, dread settled in. Many were visibly pale.
Vivi felt some unease herself. But after surviving the East Blue and her many encounters, her confidence had grown.
She now wielded "Shave" from the Six Powers, carried a named blade, and had awakened both Armament and Conqueror's Haki. With such skills, even giants didn't terrify her as they once had.
Blue Ogre Dorry and Red Ogre Brogy once held bounties of 100 million berries each—over a century ago. Adjusted for inflation and the increasing capabilities of the Giant race, they were certainly stronger than ever.
Their age, however, brought experience and honed instincts. Vivi respected their strength—unquestionably.
But they weren't the Golden Lion.
Having exchanged blows with Shiki himself, her courage had been tempered. Even if she had to face the giants in combat, she wasn't powerless.
From a distance, the silhouette of Little Garden came into view—wild, primal, and untouched by time. Volcanic eruptions and tremors echoed across the land. Dinosaurs roamed freely, and colossal birds with hundred-meter wingspans circled the skies.
Vivi activated her Observation Haki, "listening" carefully to her surroundings. But the bounty hunters behind her were losing it.
"Mom! Help me! I don't want to die!"
"Aren't there cannibals here? Why are we even doing this?!"
"If we just… If we just throw her out… we can go back…"
At first, Vivi dismissed their fear as normal. She needed them to sail the ships, after all. But their tone shifted—this wasn't panic. It was a coup.
The bounty hunter system had high turnover. Headquarters frequently rotated personnel to prevent branch leaders from gaining too much power. These men barely knew Vivi. Most were strangers to her.
Seeing their hostile stares, she understood—talking was pointless.
"You're afraid of the island's danger? But not of me? Heh… Idiots."
"Chopping!" she declared.
Her mastery of this move had improved dramatically. From a five-second charge to four. Now she charged it mid-sentence. The moment she turned back, her sword released a fiery-red slash that cut across ten meters, cleaving the instigator cleanly in two.
The rebellion was over before it began.