The moment tension snapped, everything happened at once.
Mr. 8—no, Igaram—reached up and yanked his bowtie loose.
With a sharp mechanical click, gun barrels burst from his hair.
Five shots rang out in rapid succession, muzzle flashes cutting through the night as bullets tore toward the two high-ranking Baroque Works agents.
"You won't lay a hand on the princess as long as the captain of Alabasta's royal guard still breathes!" Igaram roared, firing again without hesitation.
Luffy's eyes flicked to the girl with the blue hair.
"So that's it," he muttered. "Princess Vivi of Alabasta."
His gaze lingered on her disguise, then her stance—too disciplined for a civilian, too desperate for a criminal.
"I heard the princess went missing," Luffy continued calmly. "Didn't expect her to hide inside Baroque Works."
He tilted his head.
"Though honestly… don't princesses usually let other people do this kind of suicidal work?"
Vivi clenched her fists.
"Alabasta is in a civil war," she snapped. "I didn't have the luxury of staying safe."
Luffy shrugged. "Fair. Rebellions tend to eat loyalty first."
From behind him, Yosaku whispered, "So… what do we do?"
Luffy didn't take his eyes off the smoke.
"We watch," he said simply. "Nami's still looting. Let these idiots keep each other busy."
The smoke cleared.
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine stood completely unharmed.
Bullets hadn't even slowed them.
"Well," Luffy said lightly, "that confirms it."
"Devil Fruit users," Johnny muttered.
"If necessary, I'll handle them," Luffy replied, relaxed—but his presence sharpened. "For now, let's see how this plays out."
Igaram staggered forward.
"Princess—run!" he shouted. "Now!"
Vivi screamed his name—
—and an object flew out of the smoke.
It struck Igaram square in the chest.
BOOM.
The explosion threw him across the street. He hit the ground hard, unmoving.
"Igaram!" Vivi screamed.
Miss Valentine floated lazily above her, shadow stretching across the street.
"Don't bother," she said sweetly. "He's finished."
Mr. 5 picked his nose, unimpressed.
"Kill me if you want," Vivi shouted, stepping forward, weapons spinning around her fingers. "But I won't run!"
Mr. 9 dragged himself upright and planted himself in front of her, bat shaking in his hands.
"We've fought together too long for me to walk away now," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll buy you time."
Vivi's eyes trembled. "Mr. 9…"
He grinned. "Guess I finally get to look cool."
He charged.
Mr. 5 flicked something casually.
A tiny pellet.
It hit Mr. 9's face.
BOOM.
Silence followed.
"…Did that just come out of his nose?" Yosaku whispered.
"Yes," Luffy replied calmly. "And that's disgusting."
But his eyes were sharp now.
Igaram crawled forward, blood pooling beneath him.
"Pirate…" he rasped. "I have no right to ask… but you're strong."
Luffy hopped down from the roof and sat on a barrel beside him.
"Oh?" he said mildly. "This should be good."
"Please," Igaram begged. "Protect Princess Vivi."
Zoro stiffened.
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged looks.
Luffy's expression didn't change.
"You tried to murder my crew," he said evenly. "Now you want me to save your princess. Give me one reason I shouldn't let her die right here."
"A reward!" Igaram gasped. "Gold—anything Alabasta can offer—"
Luffy laughed.
"Alabasta's broke," he said flatly. "Civil wars aren't profitable."
Hope flickered… then almost died.
"However," Luffy continued.
Igaram's head snapped up.
"I'll protect the princess on one condition."
"Yes—anything!"
"When I return her," Luffy said calmly, "Alabasta becomes my territory."
The world froze.
Igaram stared in horror.
Zoro's eyes widened.
Nami—listening from the shadows—went completely still.
"I—I can't promise that," Igaram whispered. "Only royalty can—"
"Then I'll ask the princess myself," Luffy replied.
He turned.
"Zoro. Johnny. Yosaku. Get her out of here."
The three didn't question it. They moved instantly.
Luffy raised one hand.
"Raging Thunder."
The sky screamed.
Fifty bolts of lightning annihilated the remaining bounty hunters in a rain of fire and ozone.
The street fell silent.
"Nami," Luffy said calmly.
She stepped out, hands full. "They're poor," she sighed. "Embarrassingly poor."
Luffy laughed. "Figures."
He vanished in a flash of lightning.
He reappeared on a rooftop overlooking the final battle.
Zoro was scorched but standing. Johnny and Yosaku struggled against Miss Valentine.
Vivi watched from atop a massive duck, eyes wide.
"I'll take it from here," Luffy said, landing between them.
Mr. 5 charged, fist cocked.
Luffy caught it barehanded—Armament Haki humming.
"Impossible!" Mr. 5 screamed.
Lightning detonated.
Mr. 5 flew through four buildings.
Miss Valentine trembled.
"You're not human," she whispered.
Luffy appeared behind her.
"No," he said softly. "I'm worse."
A finger touched her neck.
Lightning pulsed.
She collapsed instantly.
Luffy turned toward Vivi.
"So," he said calmly, "Princess of Alabasta."
The Grand Line had officially stopped playing games.