Amidst the ruins of Alubarna, the rain had just ceased. the air was thick with the scent of wet earth and the faint, metallic tang of blood.
Smoker stood with two soaked cigars clamped between his teeth, unlit. He watched as the once-invincible Warlord, Crocodile, was dragged away like a dead dog, eyes rolled back and limbs shattered, bound in heavy Sea Prism Stone shackles.
"We won... but..." Tashigi, standing beside him, gripped her sword Shigure tightly. Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto the scarred earth. "It's because we were too weak... uuu..."
She sobbed, her voice thick with frustration. "We were right here... we wanted to protect this place too... but in the end, we had to let pirates save this country!"
Smoker remained silent, his expression grim. His grip on his jitte creaked under the strain.
"Colonel Smoker! A call from Headquarters!" A soldier ran up, clutching a ringing Den Den Mushi.
Smoker took the receiver coldly. "Moshi moshi. Smoker here."
"Colonel Smoker? Excellent work!" The voice of a high-ranking government official crackled through. "We've heard about Crocodile's suppression.
To cover up the scandal of a Warlord being defeated by pirates and to save face for the Government, it has been decided: the credit for 'Suppressing Crocodile' will be attributed entirely to you. Congratulations on your promotion. It's all for Justice, please—"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Smoker roared, veins bulging in his forehead. The nearby soldiers flinched. "It was those Straw Hat brats who fought to the death! If they hadn't taken down that crocodile, we'd be dead, and this country would be gone!!"
"Attributing the credit to me? You blind fools!" Smoker delivered the line that would shock the entire Navy: "Tell those old geezers at the top... TO EAT SHIT!!!"
Slam! He crushed the receiver. "I don't give a damn about your face-saving lies!"
The Royal Banquet
Inside the palace, after sleeping like a mummy for three full days.
"MEAT!!!! I WANT MEAT!!!!"
A roar of pure vitality echoed through the halls. Luffy had woken up, his stomach protesting before his brain had even fully engaged.
To honor the heroes who saved his nation, King Cobra ordered the most magnificent banquet Alabasta had ever seen.
The hall was filled with laughter, music, and mountains of food.
"CHEERS!!!" Luffy stuffed his face until his cheeks looked like a hamster's.
In a quiet corner, Viktor sat beside Nami, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
"Honestly, don't be so reckless next time. That poison hook..." Nami complained, but her eyes were soft enough to melt. She carefully wiped a wine stain from Viktor's chin.
Viktor looked at her exquisite face and, feeling bold, reached out.
Slap. Nami, blushing, swatted his hand away. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching before leaning in, her breath warm against his ear. "Idiot... there are too many people here. Just wait... until tonight..."
Viktor's eyebrows shot up. The wine in his cup suddenly tasted like nectar.
"Crunch-crunch!" Nearby, Klay the Crow ignored the pink bubbles. He had his head buried in a tray of roast meat, eating until his beak was oily.
Elsewhere, Usopp was standing on a chair, waving a chicken leg as he bragged to the palace guards and maids. "You don't know how close it was! One second left! But with the coolness of a warrior of the sea—snip!—a victory for technique! Even I admire myself!"
"Woof! Woof!" At his feet, Lassoo the gun-dog wagged its tail, looking at its new master with pure adoration. The crew had accepted the addition of a gun-dog; after a reindeer and a ninja crow, a zoo was only natural.
The Uninvited Guest
Midnight. The moonlight shimmered on the river as the Straw Hats quietly boarded the Going Merry to avoid causing trouble for Vivi.
"Who's there?!" Zoro and Viktor snapped into high alert simultaneously.
Sitting elegantly on a chair on the deck was a tall woman in a purple cowboy outfit, reading a book by the moonlight. Hearing them, she closed the book and looked up.
"YOU!!!" Everyone fell into battle stances. "The Vice-President of Baroque Works! Miss All Sunday! Robin!"
"Why are you here?!" Zoro's hand was on his hilt, radiating killing intent.
Robin ignored the hostility. She stood up, her gaze landing on Luffy with a slight smile. "Monkey D. Luffy, long time no see."
Then, she turned her eyes to the black-haired youth. Her expression shifted, her tone carrying a strange weight.
"Your Vice-Captain forced me to live in the subterranean mausoleum. Since he made me live... I have nowhere else to go. So... you have to take responsibility for the rest of my life."
"EH?!" The crew froze.
Luffy tilted his head, thought for a second, and grinned. "Hmm... okay!"
"WHAT?!!!" Everyone's jaws hit the deck—except for Viktor and Sanji.
"HOORAY!!!" Sanji's eyes turned into hearts as he twirled toward her. "Robin-chan! Welcome aboard! I'll prepare a midnight snack of love immediately!!"
"Wait! Luffy! This woman is dangerous!" Usopp shrieked.
Viktor stood to the side, watching the "Black-Bellied Big Sister" join the crew. Well, things just got a lot noisier...
"Hiss!" A sharp pain erupted from his side.
Viktor looked down. Nami was standing next to him, wearing an extremely "gentle" smile. However, her fingers were clamped onto his waist, performing a slow, 360-degree rotation.
"Hey, Viktor," Nami's voice was so sweet it made his spine tingle. "What does 'forced her to live' mean? And 'take responsibility for her life'? Care to explain... my dear Vice-Captain?"
Viktor: "..."
Navy Headquarters, Marineford
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stared at the report from Alabasta, feeling his head was about to explode.
"Crocodile defeated, Baroque Works dismantled... Monkey D. Luffy, Garp's grandson, actually took down a Warlord." He rubbed his temples, his gaze dropping to a grainy photo.
It was a blurred shot of Viktor summoning a water dragon at Loguetown and using various ninjutsu in Alubarna.
"And this Vice-Captain, 'Guren' (Crimson Lotus) Viktor. According to Smoker and the agents, this man possesses the bizarre ability to manipulate fire, water, and even lightning. His physical prowess is staggering."
Sengoku slammed the report on his desk. "What kind of monster is this? This crew's potential is immeasurable! If we don't suppress them now, they will become a catastrophe!"
He turned to his secretary. "Issue the order! Re-evaluate their threat level! Raise their bounties immediately!"