Two days later, a massive warship was cutting swiftly through the waves, just a dozen nautical miles off the coast of Alabasta.
Vivi, Igaram, and the others looked back toward the large training chamber, where the two giants, drenched in sweat and bracing themselves against the deck in visible agony, were pale and exhausted.
Two days earlier, after being defeated by Admiral Luo Yu, the Glutton of the Navy, the two giants had agreed to board the warship—on the condition that Luo Yu fulfill his promise to help them master both Armament and Observation Haki in a short time.
Originally, Vivi and Igaram had believed that dual Haki mastery was extremely rare, even in the New World. To truly grasp it, one would need at least a year or more of rigorous training.
But to their utter disbelief, the two giants had entered a strange chamber on the ship and emerged with their Haki awakened—as easily as if they had sneezed. It was so smooth, it felt surreal.
Watching the jet-black Armament Haki fade from the giants' skin, they could hardly believe their eyes. Vivi, Igaram, and even Chaka felt a strange sense of envy.
Luo Yu took a swig of his earthen liquor and chuckled.
"Don't overthink it. Dorry and Brogy have over a century of battle experience. Their foundations were already solid. All they needed was a trigger. Without me, they'd have awakened Haki in a year or two anyway. I just gave them a little push—by dragging them to the edge of death."
"Of course," he added with a grin, "if any of you want to try it too, I can help you take a stroll through the underworld."
Vivi and the others quickly shook their heads like rattles.
Just thinking about what had happened on Little Garden still sent chills down their spines. If that was the price of mastering Haki, they'd rather take the long road.
At that moment, Vice Admiral Doll stepped forward.
"Admiral Luo Yu, HQ just sent word. The two special combatants Fleet Admiral Sengoku tried to recruit have both declined. He asked about our progress, but… I didn't report anything yet."
She wasn't sure why she'd said that. Before Little Garden, she would never have withheld information.
Maybe it was because she had witnessed the giants' power firsthand.
Just recalling the destructive force of their combined Hakoku Sovereignty made her shudder.
And if, as Luo Yu claimed, they could now infuse that technique with Flowing Sakura Haki…
She didn't even want to imagine the result.
If she had to take that hit head-on, she'd be lucky to survive at all.
"Both of them refused?" Luo Yu took another swig and smiled.
"Looks like this job still falls to me."
"Admiral Luo Yu, have you already decided on your next special combatant?"
Doll asked urgently.
Marine HQ had already issued a full mobilization order. All elite forces from the branches were being recalled. Only forty days remained until the public execution.
If they were only facing one Yonko, Marine HQ might have managed.
But two?
It was a desperate gamble.
And this wasn't a fight they could afford to lose.
If they did, the Navy would be finished.
Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku had failed to secure his targets.
Yet Luo Yu had already brought in two giants—something that defied all expectations.
Doll was more eager than ever to know who he would recruit next.
Luo Yu took another sip and looked toward the distant harbor of Yousaihua.
"Don't worry. I've already got my next target."
"And lucky us—this time, the bounty is walking right to our doorstep."
The bounty is coming to us?
Everyone blinked in confusion and followed his gaze.
All they saw was a chaotic harbor—nothing that looked like a "special combatant."
"Princess Vivi, Yousaihua Harbor is under pirate attack. Many travelers are trapped. Should we request Marine intervention?"
One of the guards asked anxiously.
He had witnessed the destruction of Little Garden firsthand.
To him, this seemingly unreliable new Admiral gave off an inexplicable sense of security.
If an Admiral stepped in, these pirates wouldn't stand a chance.
"Igaram, didn't we already request a Marine detachment for Yousaihua? Why are pirates still running wild?"
Vivi didn't immediately ask for help. Instead, she turned to Igaram.
As a royal, she understood that even if Luo Yu stepped in now, it would only be a temporary fix.
It wouldn't guarantee Alabasta's long-term safety.
That's why she had risked everything to recruit the two giants as guardians in the first place.
"Princess Vivi," Igaram said with a troubled expression,
"I just received a report from the kingdom's forces at the harbor. HQ has recalled all elite units to Marineford. The forces stationed at Yousaihua are severely depleted."
"And the pirates this time… they're not ordinary. They're members of the Donquixote Family—under Warlord Doflamingo."
"They claim someone at the harbor stole their cargo and are demanding to search everything."
"Another Warlord?"
Vivi's face darkened.
They had just dealt with one Warlord—and now another had arrived.
Facing these privileged pirates, Vivi felt helpless.
Especially now, with the Navy issuing both a full mobilization and a Warlord Summoning Order.
They needed every advantage for the coming war.
If the Navy interfered with a Warlord's affairs now…
Would that jeopardize the Summoning Order?
She turned to Luo Yu, her face filled with unspoken urgency.
She needed to know—what would he do?