Vivi was taken aback upon seeing Luo Chen. She asked warily, "Are you their companion?"
"More or less," Luo Chen said, calmly drinking his tea.
Alabasta was currently experiencing civil unrest. One of the Seven Warlords, Crocodile, was attempting to seize power in Alabasta to find clues about the Ancient Weapon Pluton. Therefore, the royal family of Alabasta did not have much wealth at this time.
Luo Chen had no interest in helping Princess Vivi. He just wanted to get his hands on a few hundred million. Since Vivi couldn't produce the money, he would just let Luffy help her as in the original story.
Vivi was silent. She slowly stood up and looked around the cabin. But she didn't dare say much and stood quietly to the side.
Luo Chen paid her no mind, quietly drinking his tea and recalling the development of the plot.
Next, the Straw Hat crew should head to Whiskey Peak. There, they would learn about Vivi's identity and the civil unrest in Alabasta. Then they would decide to go to Alabasta to help Vivi defeat Crocodile.
Not long after leaving Whiskey Peak, Nico Robin would make her first appearance, showing up on the Straw Hat crew's ship.
Recalling this, Luo Chen lightly blew on his tea and began to think.
At this point in time, Nico Robin was in a cooperative relationship with Crocodile. She was the second-in-command of Baroque Works. Nico Robin should know very well where the organization's wealth was kept.
'With my current strength, it would probably be difficult to deal with Crocodile.'
'It's best to let Luffy deal with him. I just need to get my hands on the money from Baroque Works.'
Luo Chen's purpose in going to Alabasta was not to fight, but to obtain the wealth that Crocodile had accumulated over many years. This Warlord had been entrenched in Alabasta and had even opened the kingdom's largest casino. His wealth was bound to be substantial.
'I'll start with Nico Robin,' Luo Chen decided.
A moment later, the cabin door was pushed open.
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and the others filed in.
"We're finally out of the whale's stomach."
"Where are we going next? According to the old man in the whale's stomach, we have to choose one of seven routes."
Carina asked Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the others.
Nami, on the other hand, returned to Luo Chen's side and excitedly recounted what had just happened.
At that moment, the man named Mr. 9 on the floor also woke up.
Mr. 9 and Vivi immediately knelt on the floor, begging the Straw Hat crew to take them back to their hometown, Whiskey Peak.
Although Carina and Usopp disagreed, not trusting the two, Luffy agreed. "Alright, let's go to Whiskey Peak."
With the captain's word, Carina had no choice but to agree.
And so, the Going Merry set off on the course from the original story.
Luo Chen leisurely drank tea and ate dessert, listening to everyone recount their exciting experiences.
Before long, the ship began to rock violently.
Carina exclaimed, "The weather's changed! Furl the sails, quick!"
Sanji hurried out.
Not long after, Carina shouted urgently, "Usopp, the bottom of the ship is leaking! Go fix it!"
"Zoro, get up to the crow's nest and see if there are any icebergs ahead."
In a short time, the Straw Hat crew was busy again.
Princess Vivi sat across from Luo Chen and Nami, explaining, "The weather in the Grand Line is extremely harsh and unpredictable."
"If your navigation skills aren't up to par, you won't be able to sail in these seas."
"Of course, the most important thing is the Log Pose. As long as you follow the Log Pose, you won't get lost."
Nami glanced at the Log Pose on Carina's wrist. It was encased in a glass cover and resembled a compass.
On the Going Merry, after a long period of busyness, things finally quieted down.
Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, and the others were exhausted and collapsed on the deck outside.
But soon, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and the temperature instantly turned cold.
Nami quickly ran back to her bedroom, found two overcoats for herself and Luo Chen, and looked out the window.
"It's snowing outside."
Princess Vivi and Mr. 9's faces lit up. "We should be close to Whiskey Peak."
After sailing for a while longer, the outline of an island in the distance became clear.
Princess Vivi and Mr. 9 jumped off the ship and swam toward the island.
Luo Chen, sitting in the cabin, reminded Nami, "This place probably isn't very safe. You and I should stay on the ship."
Nami's expression changed slightly. 'Not safe?'
She asked worriedly, "Should we warn Carina and the others?"
"No need. With Luffy's and the others' strength, they can handle it," Luo Chen said.
Nami nodded. She trusted Luo Chen's words completely.
The Going Merry entered the channel of Whiskey Peak and slowly docked at the shore.
Luo Chen and Nami declined Luffy's and the others' invitation to go ashore.
"Alright, we'll come back after we've eaten," Luffy said with a grin, and walked off the ship with the others.
Luo Chen yawned, bored.
Whiskey Peak, on the surface, was a town of hospitable residents. In reality, they were all disguised members of Baroque Works, who had set up a trap specifically to hunt pirates.
The key was that these Baroque Works members were also very poor, which didn't interest him.
After chatting with Luo Chen for a while, Nami went back to her room to draw nautical charts.
Luo Chen prepared to go to sleep. It would probably be almost a full night before they left this place.
...
In a daze, the ship began to rock.
Luo Chen, half-asleep, sat up from his hammock, walked out of his bedroom, and went onto the deck.
Luffy's group had already returned.
However, compared to before, both Luffy and Zoro were bruised and swollen.
Nami was already outside and explained with a smile, "Those two had a misunderstanding in town and got into a fight."
Luo Chen nodded.
Looking around the ship, besides the Straw Hat crew, Vivi was also there.
At this moment, Vivi's high ponytail was undone, and her long, wavy, light-blue hair was draped over her shoulders. Her previously capable air had softened considerably. A trace of sadness could still be seen on her pretty face.
Nami said in a low voice, "Luo Chen, she's actually a princess of a kingdom. She infiltrated Baroque Works to find the mastermind who is persecuting her country."
"Guess who the bad guy persecuting Vivi's country is? You'll never guess this person," Nami's tone was full of mystery.
Luo Chen smiled. "From the way you say it, it must be a well-known, major figure, and most likely a hero and a good person in the eyes of the world."
Seeing the surprise on Nami's face, Luo Chen smiled.
"On this route from Whiskey Peak, the closest kingdom is Alabasta. There's only one person there who fits the description: one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile."
"You could even guess that?!" Nami exclaimed in astonishment.
Seeing everyone look over curiously, Nami waved her hand to signal that everything was fine.
Luo Chen shrugged. "It's a logical deduction."
Nami was extremely suspicious.
"What a clever deduction," a mature and sexy female voice said from behind her.
Nami subconsciously nodded. "See? Even Carina is praising you for being smart."
Not far behind her, Carina said, puzzled, "I didn't say anything."
Nami was taken aback, then realized that the voice just now was indeed not Carina's.
'Which other woman is on the ship?'
'Princess Vivi of Alabasta?'
Luo Chen had already turned around and was looking up at the second deck. "The person who spoke is over there."
Nami whipped around.
The Straw Hat crew also sensed that something was wrong and looked toward the second deck.
At the edge of the deck, a woman sat elegantly on the railing, her long legs crossed. She wore a denim vest and denim shorts that revealed a large amount of sexy skin, and her leather boots swung lightly.
Her features were sharp and defined, and her deep blue eyes held a hint of a smile as she looked at Luo Chen.
"As expected of the man with an 80-million-Berry bounty from the Marines."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow.
From Loguetown to Whiskey Peak, the Straw Hat Pirates' journey had only taken about two days.
It seemed the reports of him killing a Rear Admiral in Loguetown had not yet spread.
Nico Robin's words also confirmed this. Luo Chen's bounty and crime information had not yet been updated by the Marines.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]