'A wedding? Is someone in this country getting married?' Ikki wondered. 'And Cobra is in charge?'
Ikki looked at Cobra and Chaka strangely. Although they had spoken quietly, it was hard for anything to escape Ikki's ears with his enhanced hearing. He had clearly heard their conversation.
Soon, Ikki's eyes fell on Vivi beside him. 'Is it going to be Vivi's wedding? The original story never mentioned this. Could it be that he knows Vivi is about to sail with me on a long voyage, so he's planning to settle her marriage before she leaves?'
Ikki frowned slightly, then shook his head after thinking for a moment. 'Cobra would never let Vivi marry someone casually. Let's see what's going on.'
Unable to figure it out, Ikki simply followed Cobra's lead. Soon, they arrived at the banquet hall in the inner courtyard of the palace.
"The banquet is ready, Ikki, Miss Nojiko, and Miss Nami," Cobra said with a smile. "Please enjoy yourselves."
Chaka and Pell stepped forward and pushed open the doors to the banquet hall. The scene inside made Ikki and Vivi's eyes widen in shock.
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations to Mr. Ikki and Princess Vivi!"
"Today is such a happy day!"
"Yeah, Princess Vivi has grown up to the age of marriage."
"It's awesome that her partner is such an outstanding man."
In the banquet hall, a group of maids clapped their hands and approached with smiles on their faces.
"Princess Vivi, come with us," one said. "We've prepared the most beautiful wedding dress for you."
"And Mr. Ikki, we've also got traditional Alabastan clothing for you," another added.
The maids pulled Vivi and Ikki into the banquet hall without further explanation. By now, the stunned pair could see that the entire hall was decorated with messages congratulating Ikki and Vivi on their wedding.
"What's going on here?" Nami blinked, running quickly to Cobra. "I think there's been a mix-up."
"Yeah, King Cobra," Ikki said, raising his eyebrows. "Is it because I saved your country that you plan to marry Vivi to me? By the way, what's the age of adulthood in your country? Vivi isn't even eighteen yet, and you're so eager to marry her off? Though she is pretty cute."
Ikki glanced at Vivi, whose face had turned completely red, then looked back at Cobra. He finally understood who the wedding Cobra and Chaka had mentioned was for. Besides Vivi, the intended groom was himself!
"Eighteen? In our country, sixteen-year-olds are considered adults," Cobra replied with a laugh. "Ikki, Vivi, I know I didn't tell you beforehand. But since you're already expecting, it doesn't matter if you hold the wedding sooner or later. You might as well have the wedding while we're celebrating Baroque Works' defeat. It's like having two good things happen at once."
"Father, what are you doing?" Vivi finally grabbed Cobra's collar, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Why would I marry Captain Ikki!"
"Huh? But don't you already have a thing with Ikki?" Cobra asked, confused. "Wait, aren't you two planning to get married? What about the baby? What should we do about the baby?"
"Baby... what baby?" Vivi tilted her head, feeling completely lost.
"There seems to be some misunderstanding," Ikki said, rubbing his forehead. "King Cobra, can you tell me about this baby?"
"Nico Robin told me that you and Vivi are already expecting a child. Isn't that true?" Cobra asked. He was beginning to realize something was wrong.
"I knew it!" Ikki shook his head. "That sneaky woman did this to me."
In the original story, Nico Robin did have a rather mischievous side. Thinking about her behavior on the Explorer, Ikki wasn't too surprised.
"That woman!" Vivi exclaimed, looking at her father with a crimson face. "And you, Father! Why did you believe what she said so easily? The relationship between me and Captain Ikki is nothing like what she told you!"
"Ah..." Cobra's cheeks twitched as embarrassment washed over him. The people around looked at each other, their faces also showing discomfort.
"I... Vivi, I've been tricked," Cobra admitted. "I thought you and Captain Ikki were really... together. I'm sorry, Vivi, and you too, Captain Ikki. I should have been more careful and asked you directly."
Cobra clasped his hands and bowed his head in apology to Ikki and Vivi.
Nearby, Nami and Nojiko both sighed in relief before exchanging glances and breaking into laughter.
"Seriously, don't do stuff like this anymore to make everyone laugh," Vivi said, putting her hands on her hips and looking at her father helplessly. What could she do? After all, he was her father. Though it was a joke, she could only ask him not to be so gullible next time.
'That Nico Robin,' Vivi thought, clenching her fists. 'The next time I see her, I'll have a serious talk with her.'
"Well, Vivi, how about we just go ahead with the wedding anyway?" Cobra suggested. "I think Ikki is a pretty good guy. If you marry early, I can rest easy."
"What are you thinking, Father? Why are you still saying such things?" Vivi protested.
"But Vivi, tell me, do you like Ikki?" Cobra asked directly.
"Hey!" Vivi glanced at Ikki, who was smiling beside her. "Yeah... I like him, but it's the love between crewmates, not between lovers."
"That's still liking him. Vivi, I think Ikki is a good match. If you marry early, I'll feel better about you going to sea," Cobra persisted.
"Father! Seriously, why are you so set on me marrying Captain Ikki? If you say anything else, I'll ignore you," Vivi threatened.
Seeing Vivi's blushing but serious expression, Cobra didn't press the issue further. However, the look in his eyes as he glanced between Ikki and Vivi seemed somewhat guilty.
"King Cobra, about Vivi and me..." Ikki began, noticing Cobra's expression. "You've made other arrangements, haven't you?"
After hearing Ikki's question, Cobra's body trembled, and he let out a long sigh.
"Actually, before you arrived here," Koza stepped forward with a complicated expression, "His Majesty had already announced the marriage between Vivi and Mr. Ikki to the people of Alabasta through various ways like flyers and Den Den Mushi broadcasts."
"The stuff with Baroque Works and the mistakes that were made have caused too much suffering in this country," Koza continued. "So, the king's idea was to lift everyone's spirits through Vivi's marriage to Ikki."
Although Cobra had proposed the plan, Koza had approved it. Even the rebels who trusted him had helped distribute flyers and make calls. He never imagined that the whole thing would turn out to be one of Nico Robin's pranks.
"Flyers? Den Den Mushi broadcasts?" Vivi looked at her childhood friend, then at her father. "Koza, does that mean... everyone in Alabasta already knows about this?"
Koza pressed his lips together before answering, "It hasn't reached every single person yet, but it's close."
BOOM!
Vivi felt like a bomb had exploded in her mind. Her face turned bright red, and she seemed to be steaming.
"Everyone... all over the country knows," she murmured. "I'm... married? To Captain Ikki...?" She looked at Ikki shyly.
Cobra and Koza both gave Ikki and Vivi apologetic looks.
"There's nothing to worry about," Nami said, crossing her arms and pouting. "Since it's a misunderstanding, wouldn't it be enough to fix it? Hey, King! You need to tell the people now that Captain Ikki and Vivi's wedding was just a mistake. They're not actually getting married, let alone having a baby."
"Yeah, since it's a mix-up, it shouldn't be hard to explain to the people," Nojiko added.
For them, the sudden wedding of Ikki and Vivi was somewhat difficult to accept.
"Nami and Nojiko are right, Vivi, we—" Ikki put his hand on Vivi's shoulder, but was interrupted by an agitated Vivi before he could finish.
"No... no!" Vivi exclaimed. "A royal wedding cannot be treated as a joke. If my wedding is treated as a joke, the reputation of the royal family will be damaged. Although the civil war has calmed down, the drought problem hasn't been solved yet. If I tell the people now that my wedding is fake, they'll be super disappointed."
Vivi took Ikki's hand, lowering her head as her body trembled slightly.
"Then what should we do? We can't really get married, can we, Vivi?" Ikki asked.
Hearing his words, Vivi couldn't help but grip Ikki's hand tighter.
"Captain Ikki, let's get married!" Vivi raised her head, blushing, and stared directly into Ikki's eyes.
As soon as the words left her mouth, everyone in the room was shocked. Nami, Nojiko, Cobra, Koza, Chaka, and the others all jolted and quickly looked over.
"Great! Although it was a misunderstanding, the outcome is good," Cobra said with a smile, about to invite his daughter and Ikki to sit down.
After Vivi's statement, he had completely accepted Ikki as his future son-in-law. He'd even begun thinking about having Ikki and Vivi take over Alabasta after his abdication.
'This is awesome, given Ikki's abilities,' Cobra thought to himself. 'Alabasta will surely become a powerful country. And Ikki seems to have good connections with some people in the Marines. Things like Baroque Works will never happen again. The country might even become richer and more peaceful.'
Cobra sighed inwardly. Although he knew that Ikki and Vivi would go to sea later, with Ikki by her side, he wasn't too worried about Vivi's safety. And when they had enough adventure, Cobra believed that Ikki and Vivi would return to Alabasta. Then, he could hand over the country to them.
'I'm getting old, but I can hang in there for a couple more years,' he thought. 'When Ikki and Vivi come back, I can retire. Though it's a shame that Vivi isn't actually pregnant. I wonder when they'll really have their first kid.'
"Hold up! I object to this marriage!" After being stunned for a moment, Nami ran between Ikki and Vivi, making a large X with her arms.
"Huh? Why do you object?" Cobra raised his eyebrows and looked at Nami with confusion. But after noticing the blush on her face, he thought he understood.
"For a marriage to work, two people should truly love each other," Nami said. "How can they get married so suddenly? In this situation, neither Captain Ikki nor Vivi will be happy. This is moving way too fast."
Nami pursed her lips, speaking excitedly yet hesitantly. Even she didn't know exactly why she had jumped in. When she regained her composure, she realized what she'd said and saw Cobra, Koza, and the others staring at her thoughtfully. She felt inexplicably flustered.
Beside her, Nojiko touched her forehead and stepped forward. "Nami's right. If Vivi's happiness is sacrificed just to keep the people of Alabasta happy, it's too unfair to her. And Captain Ikki might not be cool with it either."
After saying this, Nojiko glanced at Ikki. Having spent time with him, she had a decent understanding of his character. Though Ikki seemed casual and sometimes looked at them when they weren't paying attention, he never forced any of the female crew members to do anything inappropriate. More importantly, she understood Ikki's preferences—he seemed to like mature women like Nico Robin.
"It is pretty sudden," Ikki agreed, touching his chin.
"It doesn't matter if it's sudden. As long as you like each other, moving quickly is fine," Cobra said. "Don't you have any feelings for my daughter, Ikki?"
"I like her, but as Vivi said earlier, it's the bond between crewmates," Ikki replied. "Of course, I appreciate beautiful women. But as for the 'love' part of marriage..."
Ikki smiled, placing his hand on Vivi's shoulder as he continued, "Love is complicated, and sometimes pushing too hard isn't good. Where I'm from, you're not considered an adult until you're 18. It's still too early for Vivi and me to get married, no matter how you look at it. We should think about other options. Vivi, what do you think?"
By now, Vivi's face had turned bright red. Hearing the words of Ikki, Nami, and the others, she lowered her head and said in a trembling voice, "Everyone... got it wrong. I don't mean to actually get married and then... do... have children or anything like that. Just hold a wedding ceremony first to lift the people's spirits."
It was going to be a fake marriage!
After Vivi's explanation, Nami and Nojiko both let out strange sighs of relief. As for Cobra, the joy on his face instantly changed to disappointment.
"A fake marriage?" Ikki rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Captain Ikki, please," Vivi pleaded. "Like Father said, this country needs something positive right now."
"I don't mind, but what about you, Vivi? After all, you're the princess of this country. Have you thought about how you'll explain this to the people later? You can't keep pretending to be married forever."
"I... I hadn't thought that far ahead," Vivi admitted, lowering her head.
"Ahem, anyway, let's have the wedding first," Cobra cut in, walking up to place his hands on Ikki and Vivi's shoulders. "We can figure out the rest later."
For a while now, Cobra had felt that the more he watched Ikki, the more he liked him. He was powerful, willing to fight a Shichibukai for Vivi, and clearly cared about her. Such a man was the perfect son-in-law, and Cobra didn't want to let him slip away.
Fake marriage? Fine! Let's have the wedding first, and maybe reality will follow the show, he decided secretly.
"Well... okay," Ikki conceded. "Since you two are fine with it, I'll go along. Marrying a princess is definitely a unique experience. Do you have any special customs? Anything I should know about?"
Ikki had no better solution for Alabasta's morale problem and decided to go with the plan for now. (T/N: Yeah Right)
"Haha, we can talk about this over the banquet," Cobra said happily, taking Ikki's hand and leading him to the dining table. He looked eager to chat with his future son-in-law.
"Um... I'm sorry, Nami, Nojiko," Vivi whispered after Ikki and Cobra left. In her view, both Nami and Nojiko had feelings for Ikki, and her behavior was stepping on their toes.
"It's fine. Captain Ikki has agreed, so what can I say?" Nami pouted. "But since there's gonna be a wedding, the king must provide some treasure as a dowry. As Captain Ikki's crewmate, could I ask for a little extra?"
"Yeah, of course," Vivi agreed awkwardly.
"Come on, Nami, it's just a fake marriage, don't get too worked up," Nojiko said, patting Nami's shoulder before turning to Vivi. "Vivi, don't forget your promise to Captain Ikki."
After smiling at Vivi, Nojiko led Nami toward where Ikki was sitting.
"Right, the promise!" A light flashed in Vivi's eyes as she looked over at Chaka and Pell, who happened to be looking back at her.
"Vivi, you've really grown up," Pell said, emotion filling his voice as he looked at the blue-haired young woman before him. "I never expected that the little girl who used to ride on my back would reach the age of marriage."
"Yeah, and she's become so powerful," Koza added, joining Pell and Chaka. "Although I didn't see the actual battle, to fight against Crocodile... I'm really curious about what kind of power you have now, Vivi."
"That's right! I'm curious too," Chaka smiled. "I always feel that Princess Vivi has become much stronger than Pell and me."
"Since everyone is so curious, let's have a friendly match, Chaka, Pell," Vivi suggested, responding to Chaka's words.
"Huh? Fight both of us?" Pell's eyes widened in surprise.
Not far away, Cobra, who was having a pleasant conversation with Ikki, heard Vivi's challenge and looked over with the same curiosity.
"Yep! And if you two lose, would you give me your swords?" Vivi asked playfully, closing one eye and clasping her hands together.
"Our swords? What do you want them for, Vivi? Your weapon is already pretty good," Chaka said, placing his hand on his sword in confusion.
"I accept," Pell smiled, turning to look at Chaka. "Chaka, have you forgotten what that mysterious woman who left earlier said? Ikki is a famous sword hunter."
"Ah, now I remember! Well, in that case, how can we say no?" Chaka nodded firmly and drew his sword. "Although this sword has been with me for many years, I'd be quite happy if it could serve as a wedding gift for Princess Vivi."
At these words, Vivi's face, which had just returned to normal, reddened again.
"Seriously, I keep saying it—Captain Ikki and I are just pretending to get married!"
Chaka and Pell laughed cheerfully at Vivi's embarrassment. Though Vivi insisted it was a fake marriage, they believed that if she didn't have some feelings for Ikki, she wouldn't have agreed to even a fake wedding with him. Even if it was pretend now, it might not stay that way in the future. How could they object to dedicating their swords to Alabasta's potential future king?
Koza pushed his sunglasses up and, seeing that Chaka, Pell, and Vivi had already drawn their swords, quietly stepped aside.
At that moment, the entire banquet hall fell silent. Everyone waited quietly for the battle to begin.
'How strong has Vivi become?' The same question flashed through the minds of Cobra and the others simultaneously.
Although Vivi's opponents were Alabasta's two guardian warriors, Chaka and Pell, neither Cobra nor the warriors themselves were worried about Vivi's safety. From Nico Robin's account, they already knew Vivi's general strength level. The fact that she could fight against Crocodile was enough to show how powerful she had become.
If Robin hadn't mentioned that Ikki collected famous swords either personally or by having his crewmates defeat the sword owners, Chaka and Pell would have simply given their swords directly. After all, this could be seen as their blessing for Ikki and Vivi's wedding.
"Princess Vivi, be careful," Chaka said, standing with his sword in both hands, his expression growing serious.
"Chaka, Pell, give it your all," Vivi replied. "Don't go easy on me just because I'm a princess."
The corners of Vivi's mouth lifted slightly as she drew her Zanpakutō, Sode no Shirayuki, in a semicircle before her. Under the influence of Water Breathing, the blade left a trail of water in the air. At the same time, an intense sword aura radiated from Vivi and pressed down on Chaka and Pell.
The two warriors were shocked, both looking at the seemingly fragile Vivi with surprise. Although they knew she was powerful, when they actually felt her strong aura, they were quite stunned.
"If that's the case, I'll use my full power," Chaka said, seeing more water gathering around Vivi's sword. He took a deep breath and used his Devil Fruit ability to transform into his jackal form.
Beside him, Pell also activated his Devil Fruit ability and rushed toward Vivi. Their swords attacked from different angles.
Faced with the dual assault, Vivi's eyes narrowed, becoming extremely calm. "Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm!"
With a soft utterance, a large amount of water suddenly appeared around Vivi, wrapping around her in waves. But in an instant, all the water became perfectly still. Vivi appeared to be standing on an incredibly calm lake.
"Water?" Chaka glanced curiously at the real water beneath his feet but continued his attack alongside Pell.
What he didn't notice was that the movements caused by their attacks were being transmitted to Vivi through the water beneath their feet. Vivi seemed to anticipate Chaka and Pell's strikes in advance. She closed her eyes, took a few casual steps, and effortlessly avoided all their attacks.
This sight made Koza, Cobra, and the other onlookers widen their eyes in astonishment. From their outside perspective, Cobra could tell that Vivi was toying with Chaka and Pell. Koza was even more impressed—watching Vivi fight Chaka reminded him of how Chaka used to easily outmaneuver him with swordsmanship.
"Captain Ikki, is this the Water Breathing swordsmanship you taught Vivi?" Cobra asked excitedly, grabbing Ikki's hand. Seeing his daughter's power with his own eyes, he was naturally thrilled.
"The Eleventh Form of Water Breathing is considered a secret technique," Ikki explained with a smile. "When using this sword form, the user enters a state of tranquil water. When an enemy attack comes close, the user can easily dodge or even neutralize it. The water beneath Vivi's feet makes this effect even stronger."
Even Ikki himself was quite satisfied with the Eleventh Form of Water Breathing. Attacks from warriors of Chaka and Pell's caliber were no challenge. Ikki believed that Vivi could even deal with some powerful Paramecia Devil Fruit attacks using this technique. In fact, he thought that if Vivi were a bit stronger, she could have used just this move to defeat Crocodile.
As Ikki finished speaking, Vivi suddenly opened her eyes. She walked casually past Pell and Chaka, swinging her sword twice with lightning speed. Then she sheathed Sode no Shirayuki, and the surrounding water instantly vanished.
[Ding! Host's crew member Vivi has defeated Chaka and can now claim his famous sword 'Jackal'!]
[Ding! Host's crew member Vivi has defeated Pell, and you can now claim the famous sword 'Falcon'!]
"It's over," Ikki thought, his lips curving into a smile as he heard the system notifications in his mind.
Rip!
The sound of cloth tearing could be heard as Chaka and Pell looked down to find that the collars around their necks had split open.
"That's... amazing," Chaka said. "Princess Vivi's power is now way beyond us."
Chaka sheathed his sword and handed both weapon and scabbard to Vivi. Pell did the same.
"Thanks, Chaka and Pell," Vivi said with an apologetic smile as she accepted their swords. "But I've convinced Captain Ikki to teach you both swordsmanship later. Maybe you can also learn the same Water Breathing technique as me."
Hearing this, Pell and Chaka's eyes lit up, and they both looked at Ikki with excitement. Naturally, Ikki nodded in agreement with Vivi's statement.
"Haha, looks like Alabasta will have two more powerful swordsmen in the future," Cobra laughed. "Today is truly a happy day. Come, Vivi, Chaka, and Pell. Everyone, gather round! The banquet should officially begin now. After we eat, we still have wedding preparations to take care of."
"Seriously, Father, how eager are you for this wedding?" Vivi blushed as she walked over to sit beside Ikki, handing him the two swords from Chaka and Pell.
"Thanks, Vivi," Ikki smiled and immediately chose to upload the two swords to his system.
[Ding! Host uploaded the grade sword 'Jackal'. Congratulations on receiving one lottery chance.]
[Ding! Host uploaded the grade sword 'Falcon'. Congratulations on receiving one lottery chance. You now have 2 lottery chances in total.]
Ikki didn't hesitate and mentally issued a command to the system.
[Starting lottery... Congratulations to Host for winning: 'Mountain-Cutting Swordsman Challenge Permission' x1, 'A-Level Nutritional Potion' x5]
[Note: 'A-Level Nutritional Potion' lasts for 2 hours and can only be used once per day.]
'Hmm? I only got five bottles of A-level nutritional potions this time. Plus, the exercise duration has been extended, and the daily usage limit has been reduced,' Ikki thought. 'Is it because A-level nutritional medicine is more powerful? I hope this stuff can increase my life force to the next level.'
Ikki quickly shifted his focus to the other prize he had won.
'A permission to challenge a swordsman in the Mountain-Cutting Realm. If I succeed in the challenge... My swordsmanship has also reached the Mountain-Cutting level. This might allow Zangetsu to transform into Tensa Zangetsu.'
The corners of Ikki's mouth turned up involuntarily at the thought. With a mental command, information about his potential challenge target appeared in his mind.
[Name: Yoriichi Tsugikuni]
[Life Force: 20000, Level A]
[Weapon: Nichirin Sword]
[Sword Realm: Mountain-Cutting Realm]
[Swordsmanship School: Breath of the Sun]
[Special Abilities: Demon Slayer Mark, Transparent World]
'Yoriichi Tsugikuni, so it's him!' Ikki thought. 'Twenty thousand life force points and Mountain-Cutting swordsmanship level. When comparing to Demon Slayer's Yoriichi, I wonder if this is an enhanced version. He has the Demon Slayer Mark and Transparent World abilities too. This challenge target seems a bit troublesome. It would be safer to train first before challenging him.'
Ikki hadn't mastered the 'Demon Slayer Mark' or 'Transparent World,' and his swordsmanship realm hadn't officially reached the 'Mountain-Cutting Realm.' He had no way to guess how strong Yoriichi would be with these powers.
Even though Ikki had abilities that Yoriichi didn't, and wielded the better weapon Zangetsu, he decided to wait until his life force increased before taking on the challenge. He didn't want to waste the "Mountain-Cutting Swordsman Challenge Permission" he had just won.
'If I beat him, I wonder if I can get the 'Demon Slayer Mark' and 'Transparent World' abilities,' Ikki mused. 'The Transparent World would be pretty useful. But if I defeat him and get the Demon Slayer Mark, will it force me to activate it?'
Ikki frowned slightly. He knew that people with the Demon Slayer Mark could imitate other breathing style users, but those who developed the mark would not live past 25. Those who developed it after 25 would die even sooner.
Ikki didn't want himself or his crew members to activate the Demon Slayer Mark just for power. Otherwise, with his strength and knowledge of how to awaken it, he could have done so already.
"Ikki? What's wrong?" Vivi's voice reached his ears, bringing him back to the present.
"It's nothing, just thinking about something," Ikki replied, shaking his head and setting aside thoughts of challenging Yoriichi. He looked up at everyone gathered around the dinner table. "Don't mind me. Let's eat."
Cobra nodded, raising his glass with a smile. "Then, let's toast! To the rebirth of Alabasta, and to Vivi and Ikki's wedding!"
Meanwhile, at the coast of Alabasta, while the banquet was taking place at the palace, a figure that Ikki would recognize all too well jumped aboard the Explorer.
"Who's there?!" Igaram, who was guarding the ship, immediately looked over when he heard the noise.
"It's you, Nico Robin?!"
"Yeah, it's me," Robin nodded slightly, smiling. "Igaram, everything's finished. Crocodile is dead. You can go back now. Leave the job of guarding the ship to me."
Hearing this, Igaram was initially happy—after all, Crocodile's death meant Alabasta was saved. But soon, he frowned.
"Let you guard the ship? You don't seem to be Captain Ikki's crew member."
"Though it wasn't the case before, doesn't mean it won't be in the future," Nico Robin said with a smile. "If you don't believe me, you can contact the Alabasta royal family. I'm sure His Majesty the King will give you the answer we both want."
By this time, Ikki, Vivi, and the others would have already reached the royal city of Alabasta. Thinking about what she had told Cobra regarding Ikki and Vivi before leaving, Robin felt amused and wondered what their faces looked like now.
Igaram glanced at Robin suspiciously. Considering Ikki's attitude toward her during their voyage, he finally nodded, pulled out his Den Den Mushi and made a call.
"Your Majesty the King, it's me, Igaram!"
"Oh, Igaram! Where are you now?" Cobra's voice came through.
"I'm still aboard Captain Ikki's ship, the Explorer, watching over it for him."
"Well, then you might miss Vivi's wedding."
"Wedding? Princess Vivi is getting married?!" Igaram exclaimed in shock.
"Yeah, thanks to Robin, Ikki and Vivi are getting ready for their wedding now."
"Thanks to Nico Robin?!" Igaram looked at Robin with a totally confused expression.
"No way, I have to attend Princess Vivi's wedding!" he insisted. "Your Majesty, is Captain Ikki with you? Nico Robin is here with me—can I leave the Explorer in her care?"
Though unclear about exactly what had happened to make Vivi and Ikki hold a sudden wedding, Igaram's love and concern for Vivi made it impossible for him to stay quietly aboard the ship.
"Hold on, let me ask..." After a brief pause, Cobra continued, "Ikki says it's fine, and he also wants you to tell Robin that he'll have a good talk with her later."
"Got it, Your Majesty," Igaram replied. "I'll hand things over to Nico Robin right away."
After hanging up, Igaram quickly turned to Robin. "Nico Robin, Captain Ikki's okay with you watching the ship. You heard what he said—he wants to have a word with you later. Don't go anywhere. Also, don't let those Baroque Works agents locked up below deck escape. That's it—I'm outta here!"
Too anxious to wait for Robin's response, Igaram jumped off the boat and ran toward the royal city of Alubarna.
"How interesting," Robin mused, holding her chin with one hand. "Are Ikki and Vivi really going to have a wedding? Things seem to be going quite differently from what I expected."
Unable to figure it out, Robin shook her head and walked into the cabin, heading toward the storage room that Ikki had temporarily turned into a prison.
"Miss All Sunday, it's you!" Mr. 1 raised his head immediately when he heard footsteps approaching. The imprisoned agents hadn't expected to see their former colleague, now a traitor.
"How dare you show your face here, woman!" Mr. 2 Bon Clay struggled to stand up but was too tightly bound by chains to move. "Let Bon Clay go! Bon Clay challenges you to a duel!"
Though the other Devil Fruit users remained silent, they all looked at Robin with clear hostility.
"Miss All Sunday, you've come back alive," Miss Doublefinger remarked, taking a deep breath. "Should I take that to mean you've beaten the boss?"
"Sharp as ever, Miss Doublefinger," Robin smiled. "As you guessed, Mr. 0—or should we call him Shichibukai Crocodile—has been defeated by Ikki and his crew. Right now, Ikki and Princess Vivi are busy having a celebration in Alabasta."
Hearing this, all the senior agents, including Miss Doublefinger, widened their eyes in disbelief.
"Did you just say Mr. 0 was Shichibukai Crocodile?" Mr. 3 pushed up his glasses, surprise clear in his voice. "Miss All Sunday, you must be lying to us."
"Baroque Works is history now," Robin replied. "There's no harm in telling you this. Mr. 0 was indeed Crocodile. Besides, in this desert country, who else but Crocodile could have led us all?"
After Robin's revelation, everyone fell silent, deep in thought. Indeed, as she had pointed out, throughout Alabasta, the powerful Shichibukai Crocodile certainly had what it took to be their boss.
"So that's it," Mr. 3 finally said. "No wonder Mr. 0 needed to hide who he was. Even a Shichibukai would lose his position if the World Government found out about his plot to overthrow a kingdom. Speaking of which, Miss All Sunday, now that Baroque Works is done for, there's no point in keeping us locked up. Could you please let us go, for old times' sake?"
After he finished speaking, all the senior agents except Mr. 1 looked at Robin hopefully. They clearly wanted their freedom.
"Sorry, can't do that," Robin shook her head. "Though I'd like to release you, Captain Ikki would be mad if I did. To keep him from getting upset and kicking me out, I need to keep you here. But if you have any other requests, I can try to help, as long as they're reasonable."
Upon hearing this, Mr. 3 and the others immediately looked disappointed.
"But what does that guy want to keep us here for?" Miss Valentine asked worriedly. "Are we gonna be handed over to the Marines for bounty money?"
The thought of potentially ending up in a Marine prison made Miss Valentine feel super anxious.
"Probably not," Robin replied. "Captain Ikki likely has other plans for you. Unfortunately, he didn't share them with me, so I can't give you a clear answer."
Robin herself was curious about why Ikki had kept these people. She had asked him, but since she wasn't officially part of his crew, Ikki hadn't told her the reason.
"Then... are our lives in danger?" Mr. 5, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up.
Robin stayed quiet for a moment before responding, "Maybe. After all, Ikki killed Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas without thinking twice. As for the rest of you, perhaps it's not yet time for your elimination. You were all part of Baroque Works, and Princess Vivi has now become Ikki's crewmate—I've even heard they're currently having a wedding ceremony. From Vivi's point of view, your chances of survival don't look so good."
After Robin finished speaking, everyone in the cell except Mr. 1 visibly paled.
"No, I don't wanna die!" Miss Valentine cried out. "I'm still young and have dreams to fulfill! Miss All Sunday, can't you think of a way to at least save our lives? Tell that guy named Ikki that I'll do anything he wants if he spares me!"
"Really?" Robin held her chin and stared into Miss Valentine's eyes. "I'll pass your message to Captain Ikki. He seems to enjoy sketching beautiful women, particularly in revealing poses. Maybe that's why he kept you and Miss Doublefinger alive—though I can't say for sure."
Miss Valentine's eyes lit up. Although Robin's tone wasn't very encouraging, even the smallest hope of survival was reason to be happy.
"So that guy likes that kind of stuff?" Miss Doublefinger asked with interest. "Miss All Sunday, is that why he keeps you around? To be his model?"
Robin didn't answer directly, instead looking Miss Doublefinger up and down appraisingly. "A mature woman like you might appeal to Ikki even more. After all, he prefers women with a certain... experience. Want me to put in a good word for you too?"
"I'd really appreciate it," Miss Doublefinger smiled, a calculating look in her eyes. Though Ikki was an enemy, she understood that survival came first.
"What about us?" Mr. 5 asked nervously. "Could we also be models for his artwork?"
"I doubt Ikki has any use for male models," Robin chuckled, shaking her head.
Upon hearing this, Mr. 5 and the other men immediately showed expressions of despair.
Meanwhile, Ikki had no idea what Robin was doing aboard the Explorer, nor was he particularly worried she might sail it away. Even if she did, he could always move the gym and sword training room elsewhere. Due to Cobra's arrangements, he was currently busy with his "wedding" to Vivi.
"Princess Vivi is so gorgeous, and Captain Ikki looks just like a prince!" the citizens of Alabasta exclaimed. "They're perfect for each other! It's so touching!"
"Bless Princess Vivi, and bless our hero Captain Ikki!"
Throughout Alabasta, people who had heard news about Ikki and Vivi's wedding raised their hands and cheered loudly. Amid everyone's blessings, Ikki and Vivi gradually completed the wedding ceremony, after which Cobra and the others escorted them to Vivi's chambers.
"It's finally over," Ikki sighed, taking off his extremely tight coat and tossing it aside before throwing himself onto the sofa. "Royal weddings certainly have a lot of rules. These clothes are a bit too much."
"You can say that again! This wedding dress almost took my breath away," Vivi nodded in agreement, about to change out of her dress. Then she remembered she was in the same room as Ikki, immediately blushed, and stopped what she was doing.
"By the way, we're not staying here all night, are we, Vivi?" Ikki asked, putting his hands behind his head.
"Father said there are a lot of people outside," Vivi replied, walking to the sofa next to Ikki and sitting down, her face reddening further. "To make our act more realistic, we need to stay together tonight."
This wasn't the Explorer but her own chambers. Apart from her father, this was the first time a man had entered her personal space. Just thinking about it, Vivi felt certain this would be a sleepless night.
"I see... I remember we have to tour various cities in Alabasta over the next few days, right?" Ikki asked.
"Yes! According to Alabasta's traditions, after a royal wedding, the couple needs to visit different cities to receive everyone's blessings."
"Well, it seems we'll be quite busy these days," Ikki remarked. "Let's take advantage of this time to learn about Alabasta's customs. Vivi, I'll count on you to introduce them to me."
"Don't worry, Captain Ikki."
"Shouldn't you call me 'husband'?" he teased.
"Captain Ikki, we're just pretending to be married!" Vivi protested.
"Haha, how disappointing. I was hoping to try out a princess's bed, but I'd better sleep on the sofa. It's getting late—we'll talk more in the morning, Vivi."
Ikki smiled at her, then closed his eyes to rest. The complex ceremony had left him more exhausted than fighting or training. Now that he could relax, sleep was overtaking him quickly. Soon after he finished speaking, his breathing became steady.
"Are you asleep, Captain Ikki?" Vivi whispered, walking over to squat beside him.
"Thank you for everything, Captain Ikki," she said softly. She smiled slightly, pursed her lips, and left a gentle kiss on his forehead before blushing and running to her bed.
Outside the door, Nami pressed her ear against the wood. "Did you hear anything, Nojiko?" she whispered.
"Really, if you're so curious, why not just knock?" Nojiko shook her head, taking Nami's hand and pulling her away. "Let's go. What if someone sees us?"
"Hey! Wait, Nojiko, I want to listen more!" Nami protested.
Her voice finally reached Vivi's ears as she was preparing to rest. Vivi's face turned red again.
"Really! My father, and now Nami too. It's obviously just a fake marriage. Why is everyone so concerned?" Vivi shook her head and glanced at Ikki to make sure his eyes were closed. She slowly removed her dress and lay down on the bed, but instead of resting, she found herself watching Ikki.
'It's so heartless to make Captain Ikki sleep on the sofa after he's been so helpful, Vivi!' Suddenly, a tiny angel version of herself appeared in her mind, complete with white wings.
'This is ruthless from start to finish!' countered a devil Vivi with horns, appearing next. 'Captain Ikki is such a good man—you should take this opportunity to make your move! Vivi, get up, use your charms, turn Nico Robin's lies into reality and get pregnant with his child! Captain Ikki has so many beautiful women around him. If you don't act now, you'll regret it!'
Angel Vivi responded, 'No! Vivi is a pure-hearted girl. At most, she can invite Captain Ikki to sleep in the bed for comfort, but she mustn't try anything inappropriate!'
Devil Vivi argued, 'Why not? You're married anyway. Isn't it normal for something to happen?'
Angel Vivi retorted, 'It's just a fake marriage! There's no such relationship between Captain Ikki and Vivi.'
Devil Vivi pressed, 'Relationships can be developed later, but you need to get ahead of Nami, Nojiko, or even Nico Robin!'
"That's enough!" Vivi said aloud, patting her burning cheeks to dispel the fantasy of the angel and devil. "Really, what's wrong with my head?"
Vivi sighed and looked at Ikki again. After a slight hesitation, she finally got out of bed and walked over to him. She carefully lifted him and carried him to the bed. After turning down the sheets for him, Vivi bit her lip and, inexplicably, slipped under the covers herself.
'Just resting, doing nothing, nothing at all...' Vivi curled up and covered her face with her hands.
She didn't notice that Ikki had opened his eyes. Looking at her, he shook his head and closed his eyes again. Soon, his breathing became steady once more.
Meanwhile, Vivi, after hours of tension and the fatigue from fighting Crocodile earlier that day, gradually drifted off to sleep.
A few hours passed, and the first ray of sunlight streamed through the window. Vivi suddenly opened her eyes.
"Good morning, Vivi," Ikki said.
"Good morning, Captain Ikki..." Vivi responded automatically.
But soon, she realized she was hugging Ikki tightly, and the sheets were quite disheveled. Seeing this, Vivi's drowsiness instantly vanished, and her eyes widened to their fullest.
"It's okay, you can get up now," Ikki said calmly. "My clothes are still on, and I didn't do anything to you. It seems you have a habit of hugging something while you sleep."
Hearing his words, Vivi quickly looked at herself and Ikki. When she confirmed they were both still dressed, she couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh—before immediately ducking under the sheets in embarrassment.
"I'm getting up first," Ikki said. "Don't we need to start our tour of the cities soon? You should get ready too."
He rolled out of bed, patted the lump under the sheets that was Vivi, and smiled.
"Captain Ikki, please... turn around first," came her muffled voice.
"Of course, whatever makes you comfortable."
Ikki shrugged, turned around, and walked toward the sofa. Vivi took a deep breath and quickly got up to prepare herself.
Just then, a knock came from the door—it was Cobra.
Several days later, at the coast of Alabasta, three Marine warships approached rapidly.
On the deck of the Explorer, Nico Robin frowned as she looked through a telescope at the figures on the distant warships.
"So many Marines coming here," she murmured. "And that ship has Tashigi and Smoker, who know Ikki... I should leave the Explorer for a while."
Robin shook her head, turned around, jumped off the ship, and rushed toward the nearby town. As for the Baroque Works agents still imprisoned on the Explorer, she couldn't be bothered with them now.
Soon after, the three warships successfully docked at the port. Tashigi, Smoker, and Hina, all familiar with Ikki's ship, immediately recognized the Explorer.
"That's the Explorer!" Tashigi's eyes lit up as she jumped onto the deck. Smoker, Hina, and another Marine officer quickly followed.
"You are... Vice Admiral Gion?" Smoker said with surprise, looking at the tall, elegant woman. "I didn't expect someone of your rank to come to Alabasta."
"It's been a while, Smoker. You seem the same as ever," Gion replied with a smile. "As for this mission, we're here to deal with Shichibukai Crocodile. It shouldn't be surprising that I'm involved."
"A Marine Admiral candidate wouldn't come just for Shichibukai Crocodile," Smoker said meaningfully, glancing at the sword at Gion's waist.
He had heard from Hina that Marine Headquarters was very interested in Ikki's swordsmanship style, and Gion was one of the most powerful swordsmen in the Marines. Among all the Vice Admirals, they had sent one skilled with a sword—it was hard for Smoker not to suspect other motives.
"Haha, I admit I'm also curious about Ikki's swordsmanship," Gion said, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword and glancing at Tashigi. "I've heard it's quite unique."
Tashigi, noticing Gion's attention, immediately straightened her posture and nervously regarded the woman Smoker had called an Admiral candidate.
"We can chat later," Hina interjected, turning toward the cabin. "We're here to investigate Crocodile and visit Ikki."
"Hey, isn't it a bit rude to enter someone's cabin without permission?" Smoker frowned, following her.
"We're all acquaintances, so it's fine," Hina replied. "And Hina won't steal anything. Perhaps he's exercising in his gym or training room right now."
Hina continued walking. Like Tashigi, she had seen Ikki's gym before and thought that if he was exercising in that space, he might not have noticed their arrival.
"Let's follow, Lieutenant Tashigi," Gion said with a gentle smile, falling into step behind them.
Tashigi naturally stayed close behind.
However, when they reached Ikki's captain's cabin, there was no sign of him, nor could they find the doors to the gym or sword training room.
"How strange," Hina frowned, examining the wall of the captain's quarters. "Where's the entrance to the gym and training room?"
"Isn't that part of Ikki's ability?" Smoker suggested. "He must not be here now, so he's moved those rooms elsewhere. It is rather rude of us to barge in like this... Wait, do you hear something?"
Smoker turned his head toward the direction of the Explorer's holding cells.