Even though Smoker looked as if he was ready to chew someone alive, his loyal subordinate, Sergeant Tashigi, still couldn't offer much information. Her mind was reeling, and even managing a coherent conversation required every ounce of willpower.
She struggled to recall further details but ultimately could only confirm one thing—it was a woman.
"A woman? A woman with that kind of Conqueror's Haki in Loguetown?" Smoker narrowed his eyes in disbelief. In his knowledge, only two women in the world possessed such overwhelming Haki: one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin—and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress.
Big Mom was immediately ruled out. As crazy as the man in Loguetown might be, there's no way he would take interest in a woman nearly nine meters tall, weighing several tons, with a maw full of fangs. Smoker had a clear sense of that man's preferences—he was bold, not suicidal.
That left only one candidate: Boa Hancock, the Empress of the Kuja Pirates and Warlord of the Sea.
As for any man using a disguise, dressing as a woman and causing this much ruckus with such Haki? Unlikely. Pride alone would prevent those with true Haoshoku Haki from such antics.
…
As the Marines scoured Loguetown for this mysterious woman—whose name, age, or appearance remained unknown—Vivi had already run through half the town before finally summoning her pet duck. Thanks to Karoo's navigation instincts, she returned to Baroque Works' temporary base in Loguetown.
She devoured a full meal, then collapsed into sleep.
It wasn't until the morning of the third day that Vivi stirred and finally began studying her newly awakened power:
Conqueror's Haki.
She didn't buy into Don Chinjao's old boast, "In the New World, people with Conqueror's Haki are as common as trees by the river." Based on his generation's experience, sure—several prominent figures had Haoshoku Haki: Gol D. Roger, Silvers Rayleigh, Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, Sengoku, Kozuki Oden, even Don Chinjao himself. It might seem like a lot, but all those names were titans of their time. The number wasn't so high—it's just that the ones who had it were unforgettable.
Nowadays, with most of the old giants dead or retired, Conqueror's Haki had become a rare force on the seas.
Vivi was ecstatic at her awakening—the will of a king! Just the sound of it felt powerful.
There was no doubt in her heart about returning to claim her rightful place in Alabasta. Legally and by bloodline, she was next in line for the throne.
Now, her Conqueror's Haki only further affirmed her worthiness. Her confidence surged.
"…A pity it can't be upgraded," she sighed. After hours of inspecting her ability panel, she hadn't discovered any way to increase the level of her Haoshoku Haki.
Her other skills—swordplay, coordination, dance—showed progress through sheer effort. They gained slight improvements even without attribute pickups. But this Conqueror's Haki… there were no levels, no experience bars. It baffled her.
And she didn't dare to test it recklessly. The last time she triggered it, she fainted on the spot. Better not to risk losing consciousness in public.
"Come on, Karoo, let's go have some fun!"
"Quack!"
Duck Karoo leapt three meters high at the suggestion, ecstatic.
Mr. 9 was still busy trying to recruit for their "adventuring company." Vivi claimed illness, leaving him to handle the work solo. He charged out with bravado.
"What a passionate guy… Let him be. First, let's buy some hats!"
"Gah!"
Vivi had recently become obsessed with knitting accessories for Karoo. Today, she took him to a hat shop to choose something stylish.
After browsing, they settled on a tall top hat resembling the one worn by Sabo.
Karoo struck a proud pose in the mirror, wagging his tail feathers in delight.
Vivi strolled through the streets with her companion, buying milk, goggles, a new backpack, and a vibrant costume. At first, Karoo was thrilled, nuzzling her cheek affectionately each time. But midway through shopping, he began to feel… uneasy. Was the master being too kind today? The word "danger" blinked in his mind like a warning sign.
Having recently watched the projection of Gol D. Roger's execution, Vivi noticed her ability to "hear the voice of all things" had subtly improved. It remained elusive—no entry on her skill panel—but she could feel the change.
It took only a little concentration to understand Karoo's worried muttering.
"Relax. Just a small experiment—nothing dangerous, I swear!"
The more she smiled, the more anxious Karoo became. He turned pale with dread.
Vivi led him to Loguetown's central plaza. The execution platform still stood proudly at the square's heart.
Bounty Hunter organizations, much like thief guilds in western fantasy tales, were known for intelligence gathering. With such chaos breaking out days ago, the Navy was now casting a wide net.
But for Vivi, the most dangerous place was the safest. While the Marines sealed off the ports, none would expect the culprit to return to the execution platform!
"Quack?" Karoo blinked. No one was fighting here. Was the master planning a game?
Vivi silently measured the distance between her and the platform, then opened her status panel and set "Entrust Command" to last one minute.
Karoo's body stiffened—entranced. His colorful outfit flashed as he sprinted, and the few Marines present didn't even grasp what zoomed past them. In a blink, he had reached the execution platform.
"Bingo! Something's definitely there!" Vivi whispered excitedly, watching him circle the structure before darting away without alerting the Marines.
Feigning innocence, she bought two cotton candies and a pair of chocolate-beef skewers from a nearby vendor, then whistled. Karoo emerged from the bushes like a spy duck.
As he gnawed a skewer, Vivi checked the glowing orb she'd picked up—an achievement notification.
"Karoo visited one of the most legendary locations in the One Piece world: the execution platform of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King. He absorbed the unique, indomitable spirit of the Pirate King and resolved to walk the path of the Sea Duck King (this phrase is crossed out)… As the first step on the road to glory, Karoo has gained a companion: a loyal pet dog! Let's congratulate him!"