"And that's it? It's over?"
Half a million people—handled just like that?
Even though they had been informed in advance, everyone was still so stunned in that moment that they were left speechless.
Vivi leaned against the wall, gazing at the scene below.
In front of the palace square, countless rebel soldiers lay sprawled out, eyes rolled back and foaming at the mouth.
These had been the vanguard troops, riding warhorses adapted to desert terrain.
Even the horses had fainted!
The capital was now eerily quiet. Compared to the thunderous roar of thousands of galloping horses earlier, the silence was deafening—you could hear a pin drop.
Pell panted heavily.
*\[A/N: I think I misspelled his name in the previous chapter. I'm out of time and too lazy to fix it, so just ignore it.]*
**"That's the Conqueror's Haki? The power said to be possessed by only one in a million?!"**
**"I've heard of it before, but this is my first time seeing it in person…!"** Chaka was equally shaken.
Luffy could only shake his head at their reactions.
He had just awakened his Conqueror's Haki—it wasn't that powerful.
At first, he had used it unconsciously, triggered by a burst of emotion.
But with training, one could learn to control its range, its targets, and its intensity.
To take down half a million people in an instant like that… only a handful of people could manage such a feat.
After all, his Conqueror's Haki had already reached level IV4, and the next level would allow him to use the Conqueror's Coat.
**"I didn't fully control it—my attacks were mostly indiscriminate. Some civilians might've been affected. The rest is up to you."**
Luffy had no interest in dealing with the aftermath. He turned and walked away.
Handling what came next was far more troublesome.
Gathering weapons and equipment from half a million unconscious rebel soldiers, expelling them, relocating them, explaining the truth, and calming their fears afterward—
That wasn't something that could be handled in a day or two.
Fortunately, Luffy didn't need to worry about that. His mission was complete. Vivi had wanted to help, but her father, Cobra, had gently refused and asked her to accompany their hero instead.
With someone by his side, Luffy had no reason to refuse. The two wandered around the palace, and the afternoon quietly slipped away.
No one came to bother them. The kingdom of Alabasta was busy operating behind the scenes.
Night fell.
At the highest point of the palace, atop a towering spire—
Luffy gazed up at the star-filled sky.
The stars glittered in the deep blue, like countless pairs of blinking eyes.
**"When I was little, I used to sneak up here a lot. Every time I did, my father would scold me."**
Now that the country's crisis had passed, Vivi's mood was completely relaxed. Following Luffy's lead, she looked up at the sky and smiled brightly as she shared her childhood memories.
As a princess—especially as the only princess—she had always been closely protected.
Until a few years ago, when the country fell into turmoil and Crocodile appeared as a so-called hero.
The following year, not a single drop of rain fell across Alabasta, leading to a massive food crisis in many regions.
Oases dried up into desert.
Countless people died of starvation.
At the time, she had been only fourteen.
But she'd cast aside her royal status and chosen to infiltrate a criminal organization in search of the truth behind the disaster.
**"Looking back, I didn't really think it through,"** Vivi sighed softly.
**"I just knew I had to do something. I didn't know the best way, but I knew I couldn't sit still."**
*No—you were already amazing.*
Among all the princesses in the original story, Vivi had always been the one Luffy admired the most.
**"Thank you, Luffy\~"** Vivi turned to him, a genuine smile lighting up her delicate face.
It was a radiant smile.
**"As for the reward... Alabasta really doesn't have any money left, so I can't pay you 1.2 billion Berries."**
She pouted and made a playful, spoiled expression.
Luffy laughed and shook his head.
He wasn't a demon, after all—he wasn't about to demand payment when he knew they couldn't afford it.
**"Don't worry about it. Consider it a debt. When Alabasta regains its prosperity someday, just remember to pay me back."**
**"Yes! I promise!"** Vivi smiled sweetly.
The atmosphere grew quiet.
**"Your crew is arriving tomorrow, right?"** she whispered.
Luffy nodded. It had been two days. He missed that rowdy bunch of idiots.
**"After that… you'll leave?"** Vivi's voice grew softer.
**"Of course. We won't stop until we reach the final island."**
**"Mr. Luffy…"**
Suddenly, Vivi's tone grew more serious, her bright eyes locking onto his.
Luffy turned—and Vivi threw herself into his arms, the warm breeze brushing past.
**"I like you\~"**
The girl leaned in and gently kissed him.
**"You know you don't have to do this, right?"** Luffy said as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
**"I know… but I *want* to,"** Vivi replied, her face flushed red as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
**"I want to be one with you, Luffy…"** she whispered, kissing him again.
Luffy scooped her up and carried her to her room.
The nights in Alabasta were always hot, like any desert kingdom—
But tonight promised to be much warmer…
(End of Chapter)
I literally forgot to update here yesterday🌚
Give me some power stones there you go~😉