After bidding farewell to Crocus, the Going Merry rose swiftly into the skies, heading toward their next destination—Whisky Peak.
Meanwhile, inside an empty cabin aboard the ship, Vivi sat in utter despair, surrounded by Reno and the other women, now acting as her interrogators.
After a quick explanation from Makino, both Kaya and Nami understood the situation clearly.
"You've got some nerve sneaking onto our ship to steal food!" Nami scolded, arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixated on Vivi.
"Well? Spit it out. Did you come alone?"
Terrified, Vivi pointed shakily at Reno and mumbled, "H-he… he threw him into the sea…"
The women paused.
No need to ask—it was a man.
Reno waved dismissively. "He was with Baroque Works. Died like he lived—pathetic. Good riddance."
(The story's outline has been adjusted: Crocodile's getting eliminated.)
Nami narrowed her eyes. "And what about you? Don't tell me you're part of Baroque Works too?"
Vivi's head shook frantically like a rattling maraca. "N-no! I swear I'm not!"
"My name is Vivi… I'm the princess of Alabasta! Please don't kill me!"
Her trembling voice cracked with panic, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Princess? You're the king's daughter?!" Kaya blinked in disbelief.
"…Wait, that means you're rich!" Nami's tone took an instant U-turn, her expression brightening.
If she's rich… we can talk.
Stealing food? Small potatoes. Just a slap on the wrist.
A simple little payment of… say, ten million beli? That ought to cover it nicely.
Vivi seemed to pick up on Nami's changing tone and quickly nodded. "I… I can pay you for the damages!"
Wait a minute.
They didn't even lose anything.
She hadn't stolen anything yet. She tried—but got caught.
"I'll pay whatever it takes, just please let me go!"
Nami's eyes sparkled. She rubbed her palms together and leaned forward with a sly smile. "Sweet Princess Vivi… tell me, how much do you think your life is worth?"
"Uh… one million beli… maybe?" Vivi offered meekly.
"One million?!" Nami's face darkened in an instant. "You think a princess is worth a measly million?! What are you trying to do—insult us?!"
"But that's all I have left…" Vivi's voice trembled as her eyes began to water again.
Once, as a princess of a wealthy kingdom, a million was nothing. Now, even scraping that together was a miracle.
"Come on, Nami, don't bully her," Tashigi finally stepped in, unable to watch any longer. "She seems really timid…"
But she still couldn't help but ask, "If you really have a million… why steal food?"
Vivi bit her lip and looked toward Reno.
He was the captain—the one who would ultimately decide her fate.
"Captain… if one million isn't enough… I can offer two million. Just… please don't hurt me."
She forced the words out like they were knives on her tongue. Two million beli—that was almost everything the kingdom could spare after bare necessities.
But Reno simply chuckled and shook his head.
"Princess Vivi, your kingdom is hanging by a thread. You really think you can hand over two million beli?"
"And besides… did I say I'd accept two million?"
"No less than five million."
"F-Five million?!" Vivi's heart nearly stopped.
If she handed over five million… Alabasta would collapse.
"Captain," Nami chimed in playfully, "if she can't pay up, what should we do with her?"
Reno tapped his chin thoughtfully, eyes running slowly over Vivi as if appraising her. "Hmm… I've heard princesses fetch high prices at slave auctions."
"A face like hers? Easily five million."
"I think that's a fair trade," Nami said, clapping her hands together.
Kaya and the others sighed in exasperation. So mean…
Did they have to scare the poor girl so badly?
Meanwhile, Vivi's mind spiraled into horror.
She imagined herself caged like an animal, bruised and helpless, surrounded by leering, lecherous nobles of every race, shouting bids like predators circling prey.
"Please no… I'm begging you, don't sell me…" she whispered, trembling uncontrollably.
Even Reno realized they might've taken the teasing too far.
Any more and her psyche might actually collapse.
"Alright, alright." He stepped forward with a smile. "I won't take your money—but only if you agree to join the Reno Pirates."
"From now on, we're family. No money required."
"Join your crew?!" Vivi's eyes widened.
Then she hesitated… and firmly shook her head.
"I can't. I have something I must do… I can't leave yet."
"Maybe… after I finish what I started?"
She was clearly terrified to reject him outright.
Reno shrugged. "You're talking about investigating Baroque Works, right?"
"No need for that. It's Crocodile."
"If you join my crew, your problem becomes my problem. I'll take care of him for you."
His tone was casual, like he was swatting a fly.
Vivi stared at him in disbelief.
"How… how do you know all this?!"
"I've got an informant inside Baroque Works," Reno replied with a smirk. "Vice President—Miss All-Sunday. You might've heard of her."
"Her?!" Vivi gasped, recalling the image of a mature, mysterious woman with an air of intelligence and danger.
"Hold on a minute—who's Crocodile?!" Nami suddenly interjected, baffled.
"And when did we get a spy inside Baroque Works?!"
She had been part of the earlier "interrogation," and now she was just another confused onlooker.
Reno calmly added, "Crocodile's like Mihawk—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"But way more despicable."
To be continued…
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