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Back at Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Sengoku's brow was furrowed. He'd just received intel that one of the Seven Warlords, Crocodile, was dead.
When the report first came in, Sengoku was stunned. Sure, Crocodile's bounty was less than 100 million, but a wanted poster isn't the whole story.
His bounty had been frozen the moment he joined the Warlords. At his current strength, he was easily worth over 300 million.
That might put him in danger in the New World, but Crocodile was operating in the first half of the Grand Line. He should have been safe—getting killed was the last thing anyone expected.
At first, Sengoku thought it had to be a joke. But then a second, more reliable report confirmed it: Crocodile was really dead.
"Shin Uzumaki's Kuja Pirates took him out? What the hell does that mean? Did Crocodile piss Shin off, or is this part of some other scheme?"
Sengoku's mind started racing.
From what he knew, it was highly likely Crocodile had done something to provoke Shin. As for whether Shin was plotting something bigger... Sengoku couldn't rule it out.
If Shin could hear Sengoku's paranoid ramblings, he'd probably just laugh.
A guy with his power doesn't need schemes. Only the weak rely on conspiracies. If Shin really wanted to do something, who in the world could stop him?
"This is a big deal. We need to call a meeting."
Sengoku decided.
Meetings weren't called for just anything, but when it came to Shin Uzumaki, it was mandatory.
Anything involving him was a major incident.
————
Meanwhile, in the Alabasta Kingdom, the civil war was over.
The internal conflict had been quelled.
Putting down the rebellion had been surprisingly easy—all it took was a decisive strike against the leaders. Of course, the Kuja Pirates had a hand in that.
Vivi had pleaded with Shin for help.
Naturally, Shin himself didn't lift a finger—those guys weren't worthy of his time. Olvia alone was enough. Using her Rumble-Rumble Fruit—she summoned a storm cloud and obliterated the rebel leaders with a bolt of lightning.
Bon Clay—the user of the Clone-Clone Fruit—hadn't been killed in the initial strike, but he was now locked away.
And Cobra, Vivi's father, had been rescued.
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"Shin-sama, thank you for your help. I am eternally grateful," Cobra said, bowing deeply. He truly meant it. If it weren't for Shin, his kingdom would have fallen into Crocodile's hands.
"Cobra, do you know the secret of Pluton?"
Shin stared at him, his question direct and sharp.
"..." Cobra's face changed instantly. He stared back at Shin, trying desperately to read his intentions. Had they just escaped one nightmare only to stumble into something worse?
"You don't want to say? Fine. I'm not really interested anyway."
Honestly, Shin couldn't care less about some legendary weapon. He already had Pluton—there wasn't much difference between the two anyway.
"But Cobra, how exactly do you plan on thanking me?"
Shin hadn't forgotten Cobra's earlier promise of gratitude.
Words were cheap...
Even though it was Shirahoshi who had asked him to help Vivi, Shin wasn't about to do it for free.
A troubled look crossed Cobra's face. The truth was, the Alabasta Kingdom had nothing to offer. The country was so poor it was almost unbelievable.
If their national finances were made public, no one would believe a kingdom could be so broke.
They were worse off than some smaller nations.
"Shin-sama, please don't misunderstand—I'm incredibly grateful, but the Alabasta Kingdom... have no money."
Cobra's voice was heavy with regret.
As for other treasures—famous swords, Devil Fruits—they had nothing. Devil Fruits were impossibly rare, and even if they'd possessed one, it would've gone to someone crucial for national defense.
"Shin-sama, I will repay you," Vivi said, stepping forward.
"VIVI!" Cobra's face paled as he looked at his daughter.
"From now on... I am no longer the princess of Alabasta. I will serve on the Kuja pirate ship as Shin-sama's maid," Vivi said, her voice firm.
It was a decision she had made long ago. It was the only way she could truly repay him.
"I think she'll do—" Hancock said, looking Vivi over. Her eyes lit up. Vivi was pretty enough to be Shin's maid. Hancock approved.
"Alright. But from now on, the Alabasta Kingdom belongs to the Kuja Pirates," Shin said, glancing at Cobra.
Cobra's face went pale, but all he could manage was a bitter smile. He didn't protest. One wrong word would doom his kingdom.
His nation now served under a pirate flag, his daughter was lost to him, and the weight of his failures was suffocating.
"Fine. I agree on my father's behalf," Vivi said with grim determination. She had agreed because, in her time with them, she had come to understand Shin.
She knew he wasn't a bad person.
Even if Alabasta belonged to the Kuja Pirates, they wouldn't suffer.
It was common for kingdoms in the New World to seek the protection of the Four Emperors. Without it, they'd be devoured by other, more ruthless pirates.
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Afterward, Cobra arranged for his men to host Shin and his crew while he and Vivi had a private talk.
"Vivi, are you sure about this??" Cobra asked his daughter.
"Yes. From now on, the Alabasta Kingdom has a protector, right? And I know... Captain Shin isn't a bad person," she said, her resolve unshaken.
"Sigh... alright. If you've made up your mind."
Cobra looked at her, seeing no reluctance in her eyes. He sighed again, his voice filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, Vivi. It's because your father is useless. I've failed you."
Vivi just smiled and shook her head. She didn't feel wronged at all. Many people would kill for a chance to board the Kuja Pirates' ship.
In a way, this might even be a stroke of luck.
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