16
Upon seeing Luo Chen, Vivi was startled and asked cautiously, “Are you their companion?”
“More or less.” Luo Chen calmly drank his tea.
Alabasta was in the midst of a civil war.
Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, attempted to seize power in Alabasta in order to find clues about the ancient weapon Pluton.
Therefore, the Alabasta royal family had little wealth during this period.
Luo Chen was not interested in helping Princess Vivi.
He just wanted to make a lot of money.
Since Vivi couldn't pay, he decided to let Luffy help her as per the original plot.
Vivi remained silent, slowly stood up, and looked around the cabin.
But she didn't dare to say anything more, just stood silently to the side.
Luo Chen also ignored her, quietly drinking tea and recalling the plot's development.
Next, the Straw Hat Pirates should head to Whiskey Peak.
There, they would learn about Vivi's identity and Alabasta's civil unrest.
Thus, they would decide to go to Alabasta and help Vivi defeat Crocodile.
Shortly after leaving Whiskey Peak, Nico Robin made her first appearance, showing up on the Straw Hat Pirates's ship.
Recalling this, Luo Chen gently blew on his tea and began to ponder.
Nico Robin was in a cooperative relationship with Crocodile at this time.
She was the second-in-command of Baroque Works.
Nico Robin should be very clear about where Baroque Works' wealth was kept.
“My current strength might make it difficult to deal with Crocodile.”
“It's best to let Luffy handle him; I just need to get the money from Baroque Works.”
Luo Chen's purpose in going to Alabasta was not to fight.
Instead, it was to acquire the wealth Crocodile had accumulated over the years.
This Seven Warlords of the Sea, entrenched in Alabasta, even opened the kingdom's largest casino, so his wealth was bound to be substantial.
“I'll start with Nico Robin,” Luo Chen decided.
A moment later, the cabin door opened.
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and others entered in single file.
“We finally left the whale's belly.”
“Where do we go next? According to the old man in the whale's belly, we have to choose one of the seven routes.”
Carina asked Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the others.
Nami, meanwhile, returned to Luo Chen's side, excitedly recounting what had just happened.
At this moment, the man on the floor named Mr.9 also woke up.
Mr.9 and Vivi immediately knelt on the ground, begging the Straw Hat Pirates to take them back to their town, Whiskey Peak.
Although Carina and Usopp disagreed and didn't trust the two.
But Luffy agreed, “Alright, we'll go to Whiskey Peak.”
With the Captain's word, Carina could only agree.
Thus, the Merry set sail on the original plot's route.
Luo Chen leisurely drank tea and ate desserts, listening to everyone recount their exciting experiences.
Not long after, the ship began to shake violently.
Carina exclaimed, “The weather has changed, quickly furl the sails!”
Sanji rushed out.
Soon after, Carina hastily shouted, “Usopp, the bottom of the ship is leaking, go fix it!”
“Zoro, quickly go up to the crow's nest and check for icebergs ahead.”
In a short time, the Straw Hat Pirates was busy again.
Princess Vivi sat opposite 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 waters.”
“Of course, the most important thing is the Log Pose; as long as you sail according to the Log Pose, you won't get lost.”
Nami glanced at the Log Pose on Carina's wrist.
Enclosed in a glass shield, it resembled a compass.
On the Merry, after a long period of busyness, things finally quieted down.
Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, and the others collapsed exhausted on the outer deck.
But soon, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and the temperature instantly turned cold.
Nami quickly ran back to the bedroom, found two coats for herself and Luo Chen, and looked out the window.
“It's snowing outside.”
Princess Vivi and Mr.9 showed joy on their faces: “We should be arriving at Whiskey Peak soon.”
After sailing for a while longer, the outline of the distant island became clearly visible.
Princess Vivi and Mr.9 jumped off the ship and swam towards the island.
Luo Chen sat in the cabin and reminded Nami, “It shouldn't be very safe here; you and I should stay on the ship.”
Nami's expression changed slightly, unsafe?
She worried, “Should we warn Carina and the others?”
“No need; the strength of Luffy and the others is enough to handle it,” Luo Chen said.
Nami nodded.
She trusted Luo Chen's words implicitly.
The Merry entered the Whiskey Peak channel and slowly docked at the shore.
Luo Chen and Nami declined Luffy and the others' invitation to go ashore together.
“Alright then, we'll be back after we've eaten our fill.” Luffy grinned and walked off the ship with the others.
Luo Chen yawned boredly.
Whiskey Peak, on the surface, appeared to have warm and hospitable residents.
In reality, they were all Baroque Works members in disguise, specifically setting traps to hunt pirates.
Crucially, these Baroque members were also very poor, which made him lose interest.
Nami chatted with Luo Chen for a while, then went back to her room to draw navigation charts.
Luo Chen, meanwhile, prepared to sleep.
It would probably take almost a night before they left here... In a daze, the ship began to sway.
Luo Chen, still sleepy, sat up from his hammock, walked out of the bedroom, and came to the deck.
Luffy's group had already returned.
However, compared to before, both Luffy and Zoro were bruised and battered.
Nami had already come outside, explaining with a smile, “They had a misunderstanding in the town and fought each other.”
Luo Chen nodded.
Looking around the ship, besides the Straw Hat Pirates, Vivi was also present.
At this moment, Vivi's high ponytail was undone, her light blue wavy long hair draped over her shoulders, and her previously capable demeanor had become much softer.
Her beautiful face still showed traces of sadness.
Nami whispered, “Luo Chen, she's actually a princess of a kingdom, and she infiltrated Baroque Works to find the mastermind behind her country's persecution.”
“Guess who the villain persecuting Vivi's country is? You'd never guess this person.” Nami's tone was full of mystery.
Luo Chen chuckled, “From what you're saying, it must be a famous big shot, and very likely seen as a hero and good person in the eyes of the world.”
Seeing Nami's surprised face, Luo Chen smiled:
“On this route to Whiskey Peak, the closest kingdom is Alabasta, and there's only one person there who fits the description: the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile.”
“You guessed that?!” Nami exclaimed in astonishment.
Seeing everyone look over curiously, Nami waved her hand, indicating that it was nothing.
Luo Chen shrugged: “Just a logical deduction.”
Nami was full of suspicion.
“What a clever deduction.” A mature and sexy female voice sounded from behind.
Nami subconsciously nodded, “Did you hear that, Carina even said you're smart.”
Not far behind, Carina asked in confusion, “I didn't say anything.”
Nami was startled, then realized that it really wasn't Carina's voice just now.
Which other woman was on the ship?
Princess Vivi of Alabasta?
Luo Chen had already turned around, looking up at the second deck, “The person speaking is up there.”
Nami spun around abruptly.
The Straw Hat Pirates also noticed something was wrong and looked towards the second deck.
At the edge of the deck, a woman sat gracefully on the railing, her long legs crossed, wearing a denim vest and denim shorts that revealed a large expanse of sexy skin, her leather long boots gently swaying.
Her facial features were sharp and deep-set, her deep blue eyes held a slight smile, as she gazed at Luo Chen.
“As expected of a man with an 80 million bounty from the Marines.”
Luo Chen's eyebrows raised slightly.
The Straw Hat Pirates' voyage from Loguetown to Whiskey Peak was only about two days.
Reports of him killing a Rear Admiral in Loguetown seemed not to have spread yet.
Nico Robin's words also confirmed this.
Luo Chen's bounty and criminal information had not yet been updated by the Marines.