As soon as Vivi heard this, she immediately said, "No. You promised me that you would follow the route I say. For that, I am paying you. We need to return to Nanohana Town, and from there we will go to Katorea Town. I need to meet Koza and stop the rebellion."
Her voice was firm, though the wind tugged at her hair and clothes.
Gojo looked at her with visible annoyance. "What are you even talking about?" he said flatly. "Let's just assume you successfully convince Koza. Then what? You'll take them to fight Crocodile and his army?"
He let out a faint scoff.
"I assure you, Crocodile alone is enough to destroy that rabble of an army formed from your pathetic, weak civilians who barely have enough food to eat. How much do you think they can fight?"
His words were harsh, cutting. He didn't soften them, nor did he care about how they landed. He simply continued.
"What I'm offering you is far greater than anything you're suggesting. I'm willing to take you to Rainbase Town. There, you'll be the bait. The perfect bait."
His eyes gleamed slightly.
"The Baroque Works members will come after you. Crocodile himself will come to eliminate you. And when they do, I can deal with them easily and finish it. I can take the riches he has accumulated from this kingdom—and others."
For a moment, silence lingered.
Vivi took a deep breath, steadying herself. The air felt dry in her lungs.
"You know," she said slowly, "the way you speak… if I had the strength, I would scratch your face completely."
Gojo rolled his eyes, clearly unbothered.
But after saying that, Vivi fell into deep thought. She replayed his words carefully. It was true that although the rebel army outnumbered Baroque Works, their condition was far worse. They were civilians—hungry, tired, desperate. Baroque Works, though smaller in number, was organized and well-trained.
And most importantly… Crocodile.
With his strength, he could hold off a large army by himself. The rebel army would not be able to endure for long against him. If Gojo could truly defeat Crocodile, then that would bring the best possible outcome for Alabasta.
She would have doubted him—she should have doubted him.
But she had seen him defeat another Warlord of the Sea, Jinbe, with her own eyes. That memory lingered in her mind. The confidence. The overwhelming power. He might actually be able to do it.
And this plan aligned perfectly with her deepest wish—not letting her people get hurt.
Many times she had thought that dream was nothing but a pipe dream. War always demanded sacrifice. But if Crocodile fell before the armies clashed… then perhaps no one would have to die.
Vivi exhaled slowly and looked at Gojo.
"I am ready to do as you say," she said. "I will go with you to Rainbase Town."
A smile appeared on Gojo's face almost instantly.
"Very well then. Let's get going."
But Vivi shook her head.
"No. We can't go now," she said calmly. "You fought Mr. 4 and other Baroque Works members in Nanohana Town. You've been using your Devil Fruit ability continuously to carry us from Erumalu Town to here in Yuba Town. You are definitely exhausted."
She glanced at the sky. The sun was already beginning to lower, casting longer shadows across the ruined town.
"And in about an hour, it will be evening. It's best that we stay here and take proper rest. After that, we'll head to Rainbase Town."
Gojo looked at her for a moment, considering her words.
After a brief pause, he nodded.
What she said was true. Although he was confident that he could defeat Crocodile, confidence did not mean carelessness. Crocodile was not someone to underestimate—especially with the other members of Baroque Works backing him.
The desert wind passed between them.
After Gojo agreed with her, Vivi nodded, a small sense of satisfaction rising within her. For once, he had listened to her without brushing her aside.
Toto, who had been observing quietly, leaned slightly toward Igaram and asked in a low voice, "Who is that young man? Princess and that young man looks like a perfect match for being a couple, right?"
As soon as Igaram heard this, he felt a slight shudder run down his spine. His life was still, technically, hanging on the whim of that very young man. He cleared his throat awkwardly.
Still… he had to admit something.
If someone were worthy of standing beside Princess Vivi—someone as beautiful and noble as her—it would have to be someone equally striking. And Gojo was undeniably handsome. Not to mention frighteningly strong.
Evening soon descended upon Yuba Town. The sky shifted from burning gold to a deep orange, then slowly into shades of purple. The desert wind grew cooler.
Igaram prepared a small fire, carefully arranging the wood he could find among the ruins. The flames crackled softly, casting flickering light against broken walls.
Toto returned with what little he could gather—some simple porridge and a few cups of water. His hands were rough, movements slightly tired, but his eyes held sincerity.
He looked at Gojo, Vivi, and Igaram and said, "Although this is not much and perhaps not something you are used to eating… this is all that I can offer."
He first handed a bowl full of porridge and a cup of water to Gojo.
Vivi and Igaram instinctively moved as if to stop him.
They both knew that Gojo did not usually eat such simple food. He preferred luxury—fine meals, refined tastes. His clothes, his attitude, his very presence all screamed indulgence and superiority. He would definitely refuse something this plain.
But to their surprise, Gojo simply took the bowl and the cup without hesitation.
He sat down and began eating the porridge calmly.
The firelight flickered against his face.
He glanced at Vivi and Igaram, who were still standing there frozen.
"What are you both doing?" he said casually. "Go ahead and eat your food."
Both Vivi and Igaram stood there, mouths slightly agape.
From everything they had seen so far, Gojo was ruthless—not only in action but in words. He was blunt to the point of cruelty. He didn't care about feelings. Just hours ago, he had spoken harshly about the people of Alabasta and their weakness without the slightest hesitation.
Yet that same man was now eating this simple porridge without complaint.
It was… unexpected.
But it was also a good thing.
They quietly accepted their portions and began eating. The porridge was plain, thin, and barely seasoned, but in the quiet desert night, with the fire crackling softly, it felt warm enough.
After dinner, Toto stood up again, picked up his tools, and returned to the pit.
Vivi and Igaram tried to stop him.
"Please, Uncle, you should rest—"
But Toto shook his head firmly. He would not stop. He had promised King Cobra that he would find water in Yuba Town. That promise had become his purpose. As long as he could still move, he would keep digging.
The steady sound of metal striking sand resumed in the distance.
While Toto continued his digging, Vivi turned toward Gojo.
"I didn't expect you to eat ordinary porridge," she said honestly. "I really thought you would bluntly refuse it and ask me to prepare something else."
Gojo, who was now wearing his blindfold again, responded lazily, "Although I don't give a damn about anyone else's feelings or whatever… that doesn't mean I'm heartless."
The night breeze brushed against his clothes.
"That porridge contained all his hard work. Everything he could gather is in that bowl. That sincerity… I, Gojo Satoru, cannot ignore or ridicule."
There was no arrogance in his tone this time—just a simple statement.
After saying this, he turned and began walking away from the firelight.
"I'm going to sleep," he said over his shoulder. "Be ready. Tomorrow morning, we move to Rainbase Town early."
The flames continued to flicker behind him as the desert night grew deeper.
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