Igaram froze, caught off guard.
Why were they… laughing?!
Before he could make sense of the reaction, Reno walked up and clapped a hand on his shoulder, leaning in with a knowing smirk.
"Igaram, drop the act. We're starving. Go cook something up, will you?"
Igaram: ???
It was like being struck by lightning. His body locked up as his brain tried to process what just happened.
Had… his cover been blown?!
Vivi gave him a sheepish smile, then quickly led Reno and the rest of the crew toward their temporary base.
Still stunned, Igaram shot her a loaded glance before quietly falling in behind them.
In the Temporary Base
Soon enough, Igaram had whipped up a hearty meal for Reno and the girls—a full table of dishes.
Notably, none of it was drugged.
Though his cooking couldn't hold a candle to Karumen's, the variety was welcome. The crew happily dug in, chatting and laughing as they ate.
Meanwhile, Igaram pulled Vivi aside.
"Your Highness," he whispered, "weren't they the ones you lured here as prey? How do they know my real identity?!"
When Reno casually called him out earlier, his heart had nearly stopped.
Vivi fidgeted, fingers wringing together.
"I told them..." she admitted awkwardly.
"But they're not bad people, and they're not with Baroque Works either."
Then she gave him a quick rundown of everything that had happened.
"WHAT?!"
Igaram's eyes bulged.
"Your Highness, you're the Princess of Alabasta! How could you—how could you join a pirate crew?!"
"It's the only way Captain Reno agreed to help us defeat Crocodile."
Her tone turned firm.
Igaram's jaw dropped.
Then he sighed in defeat.
As Vivi's guardian and the head of her royal guard, he admired her bravery—giving up her royal identity, infiltrating Baroque Works, risking her life.
But still... she was too young, too trusting.
You can't just believe someone because they sound convincing!
Crocodile wasn't just any villain—he was one of the Seven Warlords, strong enough to control an entire sea in the New World.
And Reno? He was an unknown name, surrounded by women who looked more like models than warriors.
Could these girls even punch through a wall?!
"Your Highness… I know you mean well. But things aren't as simple as you think."
Igaram looked pained.
"They may seem strong in the East Blue, but this is the Grand Line. Do you really believe they can take down Crocodile?"
"But they already have bounties!" Vivi argued, her tone rising in defense.
"Captain Reno is worth 30 million. Nami—our navigator—is worth 50 million."
"They're really strong."
Igaram: "..."
Okay. For a rookie crew in the Grand Line, those were actually impressive numbers.
Wait. Did she say it backward?
The navigator has the higher bounty?!
"You have to trust Captain Reno," Vivi said earnestly.
"He even has someone on the inside—Miss AllSunday!"
"What?!"
Igaram's expression shifted again.
Miss AllSunday was Crocodile's most trusted subordinate—his right hand. Her skills and discretion were unmatched.
"That's impossible. She's his closest ally!"
"Captain Reno described her appearance, her powers, even her... um... measurements..."
Vivi trailed off, cheeks pink.
Igaram: "..."
That level of detail... maybe he was telling the truth.
"If that's true… then with Reno and Miss AllSunday working together, we actually have a chance."
Vivi blinked.
That was fast.
His tone did a full 180 in seconds.
Still, she nodded gratefully.
"I believe in him."
Igaram turned to glance at Reno—who was now laughing and joking with a group of beautiful women.
His brow furrowed.
He leaned closer to Vivi, voice low.
"Your Highness, since joining... has he... done anything to you?"
Vivi tilted her head, puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"You know… things between a man and a woman… that kind of improper thing..."
Igaram blushed furiously, eyes darting away.
Before they'd left the capital, King Cobra had stressed that Vivi's safety and honor were his top priority.
But here she was—surrounded by women, the only man being Reno.
On one ship.
With that kind of man...
How could anyone believe he was a saint?
"Igaram!" Vivi snapped, face turning red.
"How could you say something like that?! Captain Reno is a good person! He'd never do that to me!"
"Besides… he even gave me two Devil Fruits."
She puffed out her cheeks.
"I'm way stronger than before."
Good guy Reno, huh?
To be continued...
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