"Damn it! Who do you think you are, interfering like this?" Ellie snapped, her eyes blazing with fury as she pointed accusingly at the surrounding soldiers.But no matter how arrogantly she spoke, it made no difference. The soldiers remained unfazed, their weapons still trained on them."Don't make any sudden moves, you damn intruders! If you don't want to be cut down on the spot, stay put and behave!" one of the soldiers growled.Akira understood that these troops weren't evil; they were merely doing their duty to protect their kingdom."Finally deciding to behave? Good. Take them back—the king will decide their fate!" the army captain ordered.With that, the soldiers raised their weapons and marched Akira and his companions toward the capital of Alabasta."Brother, this is really embarrassing," Ace sighed. "I didn't expect we'd end up arriving in Alabasta like this."Akira remained unfazed. He had anticipated something like this might happen.The city loomed before them, unchanged from the last time he had seen it. The desert kingdom still held its signature golden sands and bustling streets."Why does this place feel so different from how I remembered it?" Akira muttered, puzzled."Shut up!" the army captain snapped. "You're a prisoner now! You have no right to speak. Accept your judgment in silence!"Akira sighed and decided not to argue further. There was no point.After nearly an hour of marching, they were finally brought to the grand palace of Alabasta.Inside, seated on the throne, was the King of Alabasta. Beside him stood Princess Vivi, watching the proceedings with quiet curiosity.The leader of the soldiers stepped forward and saluted. "Your Majesty, these individuals were found within our borders. We suspect they are dangerous pirates intending to invade our kingdom."Akira frowned at the false accusation. He had done nothing wrong, yet here he was, treated like a criminal.The King of Alabasta fixed them with a stern gaze. "Speak. What is your purpose here?"Ace let out a nervous chuckle. "Honestly, we just ended up here by accident. We weren't planning on getting caught."The king's expression darkened. "You expect me to believe that? Do you take me for a fool?" His voice echoed through the throne room. "To enter my kingdom so carelessly and then offer such a flimsy excuse... you clearly do not respect the authority of the King of Alabasta!"Akira smirked. "I thought Alabasta was a civilized nation, but it seems your way of handling things is quite ridiculous. If we were truly criminals, do you think we'd have ended up stranded on a deserted shore?"His defiant tone only seemed to enrage the king further. He clenched his fists, but instead of lashing out, he spoke coldly. "As king, I decide what happens here. You are in no position to question my authority."Akira merely snorted. He didn't bother arguing anymore. Instead, he met the king's glare with unwavering confidence."Enough!" the king declared. "Throw them in the dungeon! They can rot there until I decide their fate."The guards immediately sprang into action, restraining Akira and his companions before they could react."Stop, you fools!" Ellie shouted, struggling against the soldiers, but it was no use.One by one, they were dragged away and thrown into the cold, dark depths of the palace dungeon.The stone walls of the prison were damp and unforgiving. The air was thick with the scent of dust and decay.Ellie slammed her fists against the iron bars. "This is insane! We don't belong in here!"Ace sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Just accept it. There's nothing we can do now."Ellie shot him an accusatory glare. "This is your fault! If it weren't for you, none of this would've happened!"Ace raised his hands in surrender and turned to Akira with an apologetic smile. "Brother, I'm really sorry. I didn't think things would turn out like this."Meanwhile, elsewhere in the palace…Princess Vivi stood by the window, gazing out over the city with thoughtful eyes.She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this whole situation."Father…"She turned to face the king's chamber door, her voice carrying through the halls.The king looked up in surprise as his daughter entered. "Vivi? What is it, my dear?""Father…" she hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Why are you imprisoning those people? Did they really commit any crimes?"The king's expression faltered. He hadn't truly considered the consequences of his actions."They…" he started, but he found himself at a loss for words.Vivi blinked at him, her innocent gaze unwavering. "Are they really criminals, or are we just treating them like ones without reason?"The king hesitated, uncertain of how to respond. In the end, he could only nod, though doubt lingered in his heart."Perhaps, given time, we will learn whether these people are truly criminals."Vivi remained silent, clearly dissatisfied with her father's words. Despite her young age, she possessed a sharp understanding of the world."Father, they don't seem like bad people to me. Can't you choose to let them go?"
Her question hung in the air. The king fell into silence, unable to find an answer.
.... hello readers, been sick last week, spent a lot of time in the hospital that's why I haven't been dropping chapters , thought I'd give a bonus for today , anyway, go to my patreon Seasay for more advanced chapters at only a subscription of 5 dollars or if you are generous enough you can pledge to your liking.Kindly support me. Thank you and have a lovely week. I'll get to answer any questions and engage readers.