Repeatedly backflipping, still showing no signs of fatigue, Mr. 9 flew.
As a result of the desert heat and intense combat, Mr. 10, clad in heavy, thick armor, was sweating profusely, and dehydration was imminent. He could no longer evade.
Mr. 9, flying with light movements, slammed a metal bat into his face without any reservation.
"Hot-Blooded Nine! Gutsy Bat!"
"Bugh!?"
The moment of impact, Mr. 10 lost consciousness, his nose gushing blood.
He hit the back of his head hard on the ground and became motionless.
The defeat so close by startled Miss Tuesday, his partner.
She too was clad in heavy armor, and neither of them excelled in desert combat.
They were already exhausted, and her partner's defeat was the final blow. Visibly shaken, she was completely off guard, and Miss Monday, who was confronting her, moved swiftly.
She changed the direction of her face, diverting her gaze, and Miss Monday got behind her.
Since she wore armor, direct blows were difficult to inflict damage. But because of that, her movements were slow.
Miss Monday wrapped her arm around Miss Tuesday's neck, attempting to choke her out.
"No, Mr. 10—ugh!?"
"Let's put an end to this already."
The brief opening decided the outcome.
Miss Monday's powerful arm deprived Miss Tuesday of breath, and in her oxygen-deprived state, she lost consciousness without being able to resist. After all strength left her body, she was left to fall to the ground.
With this, the battle was finally decided.
It had taken a little effort, but they had defeated the Frontier Agents without significant injury.
Mr. 9 immediately rushed over.
Together with Miss Monday, he surveyed the surrounding battle situation.
As expected, the Royal Army was being pushed back. Many armored soldiers could be easily seen fallen, suggesting a considerable number had been defeated. Some continued to resist, but unlike individual brawls, war had momentum. They lacked the power to stop Baroque Works' momentum.
They understood the situation. But what should they do?
Unfortunately, they too were originally members of Baroque Works. And they were from a land far from Alabasta.
They lacked the trust of the Royal Army, and even if they were to lead a unit, they probably didn't have the capability to turn this situation around.
Looking around, they were left confused.
"What do we do? We're seriously getting pushed back."
"Complaining won't help. Just punch anyone you see and shut them up."
"Is that all we can do…? I guess no matter what we say, they wouldn't listen anyway."
"If you have time for idle chatter, let's go."
Miss Monday took a bold step forward. Mr. 9 sighed and started to follow.
Then, a familiar voice reached them.
It seemed to be from behind.
"Mr. 9! Miss Monday!"
"Hm? Miss Wednesday?"
The moment Mr. 9 turned around, a powerful kick struck his stomach, sending him flying with comical ease.
He didn't even have time to be cautious. When Miss Monday looked, Mr. 9 had taken the attack and, passing right by her, rolled vigorously across the ground. He didn't seem to have lost consciousness, but the damage was considerable.
Unable to look in his direction, Miss Monday turned to the person who had kicked him.
Mr. 2, already poised, caught her gaze with a smile.
She herself had never seen Mr. 2, but just by his kick to Mr. 9, she could gauge his strength.
She probably couldn't win even if she faced him head-on.
"Did you really think Zero-chan wouldn't know about your betrayal, darling? You weren't undetected; you were deliberately overlooked. You were probably just being used by Straw Hat-chan, weren't you?"
"Ugh, guh…!"
"It seems Mr. 10 and his partner weren't useful after all. Well, never mind, darling~. You two are also relieved of your duties."
Without further ado, Mr. 2 dashed forward.
He advanced straight, without feints, and Miss Monday stood frozen, unable to react.
He lightly leaped and swung his leg up. Any hit location would do. Just a hit would be enough to defeat her. And she, paralyzed by intimidation, couldn't avoid it.
Mr. 2 was already confident of victory.
"Die!"
Just before hitting Miss Monday, however, Sanji suddenly jumped in from the side. He took Mr. 2's kick with his own foot, a considerable sharp pain ran through him, but he stopped it without a flicker of emotion.
They confronted each other again at close range.
Mr. 2 exuded confidence, while Sanji, strangely, was remarkably quiet.
"Oh, you finally caught up? Though whether you can stop me is questionable."
"What are you up to…?"
"Aah?"
"Whether you're a man or a queer, it doesn't matter to me. But I'm asking what kind of twisted idea you have, trying to kick a woman."
"Hmph. What's wrong with that? Once you step onto a battlefield, man, woman, or queer, gender is—"
Suddenly, Mr. 2's cheek was kicked.
It wasn't that his concentration was broken mid-sentence or anything like that. He simply didn't see it. Sanji's kick was apparently too fast to even perceive.
Mr. 2 slid across the ground with such force that he raised a cloud of dust.
Even Miss Monday, who was protected, didn't understand what had happened. By the time she realized, Mr. 2 was flying through the air like an object, spitting up blood, seemingly struggling to even get up.
While her confusion lingered, Sanji, who had been in front of her, strode out with confidence.
He was clearly different. Like a completely different person from before.
Mr. 2, still sprawled on the ground, turned back to him.
"Gasp, cough…!?"
"You got information on me too, didn't you? Then you should have known this."
"Hah, hah… you…"
"I'm the type who heats up with anger."
An aura of anger that made his spine shiver. Miss Monday, who didn't know what had happened, involuntarily felt afraid.
She was genuinely relieved that he was an ally.
Conversely, Mr. 2, who had him as an enemy, seemed to accept something, his smile deepening. Wiping his mouth, he stood up, not bracing himself, but straightening his back.
"Ga ha ha… I see. Sometimes you get types like that. But my life is precious too. I'm not in a position to choose my methods."
He touched his cheek with his right hand, and this time, it became Silk's face. As a double precaution, perhaps. A woman, and also a precious comrade; he surmised Sanji wouldn't be able to kick her, no matter his resolve.
Sanji remained calm even looking at that face.
"My ability's true value is to deceive and mislead people. Even if your mind understands, your heart and body will react, darling~. I will dominate this battlefield with just this."
"You can say that for now. The next time you return to your own form, you won't be able to impersonate anyone again. Unless you're faster than me, that is."
"Shall we test that? I will charge you head-on and unleash my techniques. With my own face and body, of course. You might have a chance to stop me, if only for a fleeting moment."
"Yeah. That's enough."
"You're quite a fine man, but I can't be stopped by anyone~!"
With Silk's appearance, Mr. 2 dashed forward.
As declared, he charged Sanji head-on.
The moment he attacked, he would surely touch his cheek with his left hand and return to his original body. When that happened, Sanji would not hesitate to attack.
Therefore, Sanji waited.
He stood perfectly still, showing no movement, staring intently at Mr. 2.
"This isn't a world where words alone can get things done! I won't lose!"
Mr. 2's hand touched his cheek, his form returned to normal, and the moment his right hand chop extended—
"Anti-Manner Kick Course!"
Sanji's kick caught Mr. 2's right arm.
Mr. 2 had reverted his transformation at a distance where an attack was certain to hit. He should not have been able to react. Yet, in reality, his right arm was kicked, and a terrifying shock ran through it. That alone would be bad enough, but although it took him a few seconds to realize due to his immense surprise, it seemed his bone was broken.
Launched into the air, using his right arm as a pivot, Mr. 2 spun in confusion, his vision whirling.
He didn't know what had happened.
He realized his body was in the air, his right arm was immobile, and he no longer felt even pain.
Without even a scream, perhaps a side effect of being too surprised, he fell.
The moment he dropped in front of Sanji, he was kicked in the cheek again.
He flew through the air at an unprecedented speed compared to before.
"Bleh!? Kah… GYAAAAAH!?"
He didn't know how many meters he flew. But his body seemed to stop when he crashed into a Baroque Works agent. He fell to the ground, taking several of them with him.
At this point, Mr. 2 still couldn't comprehend what had happened.
His subordinates, who had been crashed into, were also confused, not understanding what was going on.
Then, Sanji appeared, leaping with light movements.
"Sautéed Escalope!"
"Ugoh!?"
"Gyaah!?"
Without waiting for him to land, Mr. 2 was kicked horizontally, along with the subordinates around him.
Mr. 2's body flew away again, rapidly distancing itself from Sanji.
Sanji glanced in the direction Mr. 2 had flown. But for some reason, he didn't pursue. After confirming the direction, he immediately looked in another.
The Royal Army was struggling.
In other words, Baroque Works was dominant, walking around the battlefield as if they owned it.
He made up his mind and started running.
His destination was not Mr. 2, but Baroque Works agents whose names he didn't know.
He approached a man who was triumphantly raising his weapon and, without even allowing him to turn, kicked him squarely in the face.
"Hm? Bwo-pah!?"
The kicked man flew like a ball, hitting another agent and tumbling with him.
There were still a few more nearby.
Sanji meticulously kicked each one away, sending them into other agents to neutralize them. These accurate and merciless actions astonished his allies and instilled fear in his enemies.
His methodical way of selecting and kicking only the agents was utterly terrifying.
"H-hey, wait a minute…!?"
"Ora!"
"Gya-hoh!?"
When there were no more enemies around, he approached another group and kicked them away with full force. He was too fast; even if they were terrified, they couldn't escape his speed.
In less than a minute, Sanji, all by himself, kicked away numerous enemies.
His appearance was like a demon god. The impact was significant, and Baroque Works' momentum vanished in an instant.
Every time Sanji moved, Baroque Works agents screamed, and those fleeing gradually increased.
Conversely, smiles returned to the Royal Army, and the will to win came back.
For approximately three minutes. Sanji ran across the battlefield without stopping once.
He found enemies and kicked them away, sent them into other enemies, and even kicked those again to send them into yet more enemies. This was his routine. Without any mercy, without any carelessness, meticulously, coldly, he attacked, letting no one escape.
It was sheer madness.
He was trying to dominate the battlefield with his own body.
He no longer knew how many he had kicked. Yet he continued to move.
He didn't even let those who showed their backs and fled escape.
Sanji, charging with shouts, was nothing but a demon to the enemies, and no one had the will to confront him. Most of them were even trying to leave the plaza.
His continuous running had an effect, and Sanji was exhausted, but the situation had indeed changed.
"W-what is he…!?"
"Where is Mr. 2 Bon Clay-sama! He would…!"
"OOOOOHHHH!"
"Hii!? He's here!"
"Get out of the way!"
He kicked two of them together, and they, suffering immense damage to their stomachs, easily passed out.
He finally stopped and checked the surrounding situation.
Many enemies were fleeing, but their sheer numbers were still large. The battle hadn't ended; the Royal Army was still fighting everywhere. This couldn't be called stabilization.
Did he still have to move? That's what he was thinking.
Perhaps there was a moment of carelessness.
As he was trying to catch his ragged breath, he reacted late to a presence approaching from behind.
Sanji instinctively turned around and tried to defend, but a sharp kick pierced his stomach.
"Bombardier Swan!"
What hit him was the swan.
Despite its silly appearance, it had a steel beak. Its flexible neck increased the power of the kick.
Sanji's body flew effortlessly, and the bone-grinding force stole his ability to brace for impact. He hit the ground hard on his back and finally stopped. At that moment, unable to endure, he spat blood. Sanji, hastily turning from supine to prone, looked at the person who attacked him as he got up.
His form was still Mr. 2's. However, the swans that should have been on his shoulders were now attached to both his feet.
It seemed he had been kicked by that just now.
It was a strange technique, but undoubtedly powerful. He had just experienced it firsthand.
Mr. 2 stood proudly, chest out.
Seeing his clearly changed appearance, Sanji, as he got up, spat out blood.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, darling… This is it. This is where I get serious. This is the Prima of my techniques."
"I'm not in the mood for your silly games. Have you given up on disguises?"
"Fufun. It seems I'm in a state where I can't, even if I wanted to."
His right arm hung limply. The complete lack of strength meant he couldn't move it.
The sensation of breaking a bone from that anger-infused kick had not been mistaken.
He seemed to have reduced his combat effectiveness a bit. But he wasn't so careless an opponent that he could be easily defeated just by that. As he said, this was where he truly got serious as a martial artist.
His appearance was utterly foolish. But precisely because of that, it was easy to understand.
Kili had told him about the characteristics of that technique beforehand.
A secret art where a flexible neck never misses its target, and a steel beak doubles the power, enhancing Mr. 2's kicks. He had felt firsthand how troublesome it was, but if he could overcome this, he could defeat him.
Finally, he had reached this point.
For now, he would forget about the surrounding battle.
It was time to focus again.
He knew it from the start. If he just defeated the enemy in front of him, he could take control of this battlefield.
Now, once again, they arrived at that thought, directing their hostility only at the enemy before them.
"I'll tell you this much. The one on your right is the male, and the one on your left is the female, darling."
"I don't care. That kind of talk is irrelevant."
They glared at each other with intense eyes, motionless.
Their concentration, for a moment, even erased the surrounding sounds.
As if by design, they moved simultaneously.
The tension required paying attention to every single foot movement. One mistake would lead to defeat. A battle between opponents whose skill levels were that close.
In a full-speed rush, Mr. 2 was the first to attack.
The swan footwear made his long legs even longer. When stretched straight, it quickly closed the distance to Sanji. However, the long reach also made it easier to avoid.
Sanji evaded by leaping upwards.
He got above Mr. 2's head, gaining a perfect position and timing. However, Mr. 2 seemed to have anticipated this move, as he showed no panic.
In what looked like an unusual movement, he folded his body from behind and placed both hands on the ground.
He swung both his legs up as if doing a handstand.
He was now in a position to exchange kicks with the falling Sanji, and he further rotated his body like a top using his arm strength.
Both put their full power into a single blow, aiming at their enemy.
"Collier!"
"Bombardier Swan!"
Their kicks collided. Mr. 2 gained the upper hand.
The swan, flexible like a whip, reached Sanji's side, inflicting shallow but definite damage. Though his posture was broken in mid-air, Sanji barely managed to land in a crouch.
A fleeting opening, discernible only to masters, was created.
Mr. 2 spun like a top and, still in a handstand, flew towards him.
Sanji was clutching his side from the previous damage. He hadn't even managed to stand up yet. Only his eyes confirmed Mr. 2's movement, but he wasn't in a position to dodge.
Mr. 2 deliberately pressed forward and thrust out a kick.
The straight-extended swan struck Sanji's left shoulder squarely, making a dull sound.
"Woah!?"
"Not yet!"
He pursued the heavily fallen Sanji further.
If he was going to finish this, it had to be now.
He immediately closed the distance to pierce his face with his other leg.
At that moment, Sanji, though clutching his left shoulder, never let his gaze leave Mr. 2.
"Kraah!"
Forcibly moving his aching shoulder, he pushed off the ground with both hands, leaping his upper body upwards. With his clear aim, the swan only pierced the ground, missing Sanji.
Because of its long reach, its next movement was slow.
Sanji crawled along the ground, approaching Mr. 2.
Even though he saw it, he couldn't react.
He rotated his body like a breakdancer, sweeping away Mr. 2's pivot leg.
Naturally, Mr. 2 fell to the ground, and conversely, Sanji kicked off the ground with both feet, leaping up.
"Nngh…!"
"Brochette!"
"Guh-heh!?"
He stretched one leg straight into the air and, while spinning, stomped on Mr. 2's stomach with the other.
The spinning stomp was incredibly powerful, but Mr. 2 wasn't going to take it lying down. He immediately grabbed the foot that stomped his stomach with his left hand and pulled it hard to the side. He dragged Sanji's body to the ground and, desperately getting up himself, tried to reset.
"Ugh!?"
"Still more to come, darling~!"
He immediately got up and attacked.
Mr. 2, who was slightly faster, unleashed a kick. However, Sanji, who had read it, elegantly dodged.
Then, when Sanji immediately counterattacked, Mr. 2 knocked him down with a left-hand chop.
"Nuoooo!"
"Doryaaah!"
The kick landed on the jaw. The hand chop caught the torso.
Both, having been hit, fell similarly, then immediately got up without giving up.
Both simultaneously raised their legs, and their attacks crossed.
Sanji, witnessing Mr. 2's kick, deflected it upwards, the impact sending the extended swan's neck towards the sky. The true force of the attack was diverted.
Their gazes clashed, and they instantly thought of their next move.
However, less than a second had passed in their perception, so by the time they realized, both were already moving.
Mr. 2 was flailing his legs, and Sanji was leaping to avoid them.
When Mr. 2's attack missed and his left leg was fully extended, Sanji brought his leg down from above.
"Bass Court!"
"Hogeh~!?"
This time, the swung leg finally hit Mr. 2's body.
He bounced once on the ground, then hastily stood up and looked for Sanji. He was no longer overhead, and as he tried to look around, he felt a presence behind him.
His speed was such that he was lost from sight for just a moment, and Sanji's right leg was already raised.
"Longe!"
"Goheh!?"
A powerful blow to the waist. An incredibly heavy impact ran through his body.
He endured the pain and turned around, and at that moment, a kick came.
"Tendron!"
A kick plunged into the base of his neck. He gritted his teeth and endured, but his breath escaped, and he desperately held back from falling, his feet sliding across the ground.
He didn't fall. Sanji felt tremendous willpower.
Recognizing his stance, Sanji unleashed further attacks. And this time, he wasn't silent; Mr. 2 also unleashed what was probably his best technique.
"Flanchet!"
"Aah!"
At the same moment Sanji's kick directly hit his stomach, the swan propelled by Mr. 2's kick directly hit Sanji's stomach. Both were sent flying from the spot as if repelled, tumbling across the ground.
Both felt unimaginable pain. It didn't feel like mere kicks.
Spitting up blood, they stood up and ran forward without fear of counterattack.
"Cuisseau! Queue!"
"Aah! Doh!"
Sanji placed his hands on the ground and attacked, spinning like a top, and Mr. 2 responded in kind.
"Ugh…!"
"Gasp…!"
Still, both immediately got up and closed in.
"Cuisseau! Jarret!"
"Kraah! Ora!"
Even when kicking in a crouch, their bodies moved lightly and tumbled.
It wasn't much, but it created distance.
Both kicked the ground hard, seeing the time for a decisive blow.
A fleeting intersection. Their chosen flying kicks made contact in mid-air.
They definitely hit each other's bodies, and an impact far greater than before ran through their bodies.
"Veau Shot!"
"Bombardier Swan Arabesque!"
Both landed safely. But in a few seconds, Sanji spat a large amount of blood from his mouth.
His body's strength left him, and he dropped to his knees. The damage from his fight with Mr. 5 also played a part. From the kick to his abdomen, he seemed to be in a state where even standing up was difficult.
Mr. 2, on the other hand, stood firmly on both feet, trembling violently.
This was strange. He felt in his own body that it was an abnormal technique.
Sanji's kick didn't seem to cause pain only at the moment of contact; every time his constantly moving heart sent blood through his body, every time his muscles moved, pain was carried throughout his system.
Before he knew it, Mr. 2 had received the full force of that previous blow across his entire body.
When he finally realized it, there was nothing he could do.
The delayed impact sent Mr. 2, whose eyes were wide, flying at high speed.
"Ah, ah… AH!? GYAAAAAAAH!?"
As if he had just been kicked, Mr. 2's body flew through the air like a bullet.
From the center of the plaza to the building surrounding it. He traversed dozens of meters in an instant and crashed. Mr. 2's body was embedded in the wall as if crucified, and the immense impact sound drew the attention of everyone in the plaza.
His loud scream had also drawn attention.
Both allies and enemies knew of his defeat with their own eyes.
"H-hey, that…"
"It's Mr. 2 Bon Clay-sama! No way, has he been defeated…!?"
"That's impossible!? He's a top-ranking Officer Agent!"
Sanji looked up at the sky.
He sat there, eyes closed, quietly exhaling. Immediately after, he opened his eyes and looked around.
The enemy was clearly intimidated. Now, he had no intention of showing them mercy.
He somehow stood up with his exhausted body and, lowering his voice, asked,
"Who wants to end up like that next…?"
"Hii!?"
"D-damn it! Retreat! Bon Clay-sama has been defeated!"
It wasn't a particularly loud voice, but Mr. 2's defeat had brought a moment of silence. When he spoke threateningly, they surprisingly easily decided to retreat. Baroque Works began a temporary withdrawal.
Watching them go, Sanji pondered.
If Kili's explanation was correct, this wasn't the end yet.
Seeing the enemies turn their backs and leave, the Royal Army seemed to smile and feel relieved.
They probably thought it was over. To tell them it wasn't, Sanji started walking. He looked at a nearby soldier and said in a loud voice,
"Listen, you lot, it's not over yet! The enemy is still lurking in this country! We haven't defeated all the executives! They're waiting for us to let our guard down! The next wave will come soon… Don't think we've won yet! In fact, this is where the real fight begins!"
The consecutive battles with Mr. 5 and Mr. 2 had ravaged his body.
His condition was visibly bad, even to an untrained eye. Several ribs were probably broken, and he had taken many enemy kicks on his burned leg. The pain itself was numb now.
Any further fighting would likely push him beyond his limits.
Responding to Sanji's voice, a soldier stood before him.
He didn't seem like a commander. But he was probably a brave man.
It was clear to everyone that Sanji had sided with the Royal Army in the previous battle.
They didn't know if he was trustworthy. But he seemed harmless.
Before the man who had risked his life to save them, the soldier quietly bowed his head.
"Thank you for saving us. But, who are you, sir…?"
"The Princess's knight."
He stopped, took a cigarette from his pocket, and put it in his mouth. When he lit it, it tasted more of blood than smoke, but it was the best way to calm himself.
Sanji looked at the soldier before him again.
He probably had many questions. For now, he was an ally. They had to cooperate for Vivi's sake. Though he was concerned about time, he intended to answer what he could.
"Is it truly not over yet?"
"Yeah. The enemy just retreated for now. There are others waiting for us to get exhausted. They'll be back soon, bringing those guys from before. This time, there might be even more of them."
"No way…"
"For now, get anyone injured patched up and take them away. But there's no safe place. Even if fighting is impossible, there are still things you can do."
"Are you saying you want us to accompany you?"
"Should I just leave them here? If the enemy finds them, they'll surely die."
"…Indeed."
The soldier, with a tense expression, nodded, unable to say much.
"Who exactly are our enemies…?"
"The secret crime organization 'Baroque Works.' They're the ones Vivi-chan has been investigating all this time."
"Princess Vivi? It's true she hasn't appeared in public for the past few years, but… she's been doing all that alone?"
"No, she was with an old man named Igaram. That old man is alive too."
"Captain Igaram. That's a relief."
He breathed a sigh of relief, his face showing comfort.
He must have been an earnest man. Even facing Sanji, a stranger, he seemed unable to lie.
He stood there, turning around, and called out to his nearby allies. They had to treat the wounded, confirm the dead, and gather equipment to prepare for what was next. After giving precise instructions, he turned back to Sanji. By this time, he even had trust in him.
He was an unfamiliar person, but that didn't matter. The Royal Army needed his strength to survive.
A savior who had run across the battlefield alone, defeating enemies and saving allies. He was the only one.
"There are still enemies, then. What should we do?"
"You're asking me that?"
"Unfortunately, I lack the ability. And you seem to know our enemies better. If possible, I'd like to ask for your continued assistance."
The soldier before him spoke with genuine seriousness.
As Sanji looked at his face, he felt a presence and instinctively turned his gaze to the right.
Mr. 9, looking exhausted but still standing, and Miss Monday, who still had some energy left, were there. It seemed they shared the same opinion.
"Without you, this army won't hold together. There are still Officer Agents left, aren't there?"
"Yeah. A particularly troublesome guy named Mr. 3."
"In that case, all the more reason for you to decide. We'll cooperate too."
Though he had only been running around in a frenzy, it seemed to have had a purpose.
Sanji, having earned their trust, exhaled deeply.
"First, you bastards need a commander. Not me, but someone with experience and a track record. Vivi-chan rushed ahead for that very reason. First, we head to the palace."
"Understood."
The soldier from earlier relayed instructions to his allies, and they began preparing to move. The plaza grew even more chaotic; the exhausted atmosphere didn't disappear, but everyone worked together to get moving.
Mr. 9 and Miss Monday came to Sanji's side. Their faces were somewhat anxious.
"Worst case, it's a siege battle at the palace. Depends on how they act…"
"If they come with more numbers than before, we won't last long."
"Out of the frying pan and into the fire, huh? Can we really win this battle…?"
"Stop it, Mr. 9. Don't even say that, even if you think it."
Listening to their voices, Sanji closed his eyes, focusing on the taste of his cigarette as he worked his mind.
He had heard all the information about the Officer Agents from Kili. But unlike members who excelled in direct combat, Mr. 3 was skilled in strategic battles. For example, if all the soldiers holed up in the vast palace, he could probably break through and pour into the palace interior.
He couldn't predict what tactics he would use or how he would attack.
In that sense, he was more troublesome than Mr. 2.
Reliable people were few. The Royal Army was exhausted, and his comrades were still scattered.
He found himself wondering if everyone was safe.
If only there was one more comrade from the crew, it would give him confidence.
(Vivi-chan, I'll be there soon, so please wait a little longer. Are Nami-san and Silk-chan safe…? I don't care about the others, but I at least want to know their situation.)
"I will guide you to the palace. This way."
The soldier from earlier returned and spoke to the three of them.
Sanji, opening his eyes, turned towards the voice. Then, behind that soldier, a few meters away, but distinctly visible, was a familiar silhouette.
"Hm? Hey, those guys…"
"Ah, they were running around searching for enemies and rescuing the wounded just a moment ago. The fastest in Alabasta, the Super Spot-Billed Duck Squad."
"Quack!"
There they were, a group of ducks, each unique but clearly of the same species as Karoo. Karoo, their captain, was with Vivi and thus absent, but six of them stood there.
Sanji's expression suddenly softened.
He had just thought of a way to check on the safety of his comrades.
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