"Ah, I'm so sorry… I was running too fast and didn't watch where I was going," the blue-haired girl said with a smile as Kozuki Rin helped her up.
"My name is Nefertari Vivi. It's nice to meet you all."
"Nefertari? You're the princess from Alabasta?" Kozuki Rin suddenly realized—no wonder she wore a pendant made from an angel's feather.
She'd heard that her grandfather Michael was quite close to King Cobra of Alabasta... It made sense he'd give gifts to the king's only daughter.
"Hm? You know me?"
"No, no, I just know of you."
Kozuki Rin waved her hand dismissively.
Honestly, there was no way Kozuki Hiyori, the love-struck airhead, or Zoro, the muscle-brained directionally-challenged swordsman, would recognize Vivi.
"After all, you're quite the famous diplomat across the entire sea."
"Oh my, am I really that well-known?" Vivi blushed slightly. "I don't believe I've caught your names yet?"
"I'm Kozuki Rin, and this is my younger sister, Kozuki Hiyori." Rin gestured to the two behind her.
"As for this green-haired idiot... his name is Roronoa Zoro."
"So you're the two princesses of the Kozuki family!" As a diplomat, Vivi had never met Rin or Hiyori in person, but their names were certainly familiar.
"This is... quite the coincidence. Did you two sneak away from your guards too?"
"Uh..." Rin scratched her cheek awkwardly before nodding firmly. "Yeah, exactly."
"What a coincidence! Me too!" Vivi said cheerfully. "Well, this is Angel Alliance territory—even if I'm alone, nothing too bad could happen... Pell and Chaka are just a bit overprotective."
Vivi wasn't so careless as to reveal personal details to just anyone, but after confirming Rin and Hiyori's identities, she felt at ease.
After all, Wano and Alabasta were close allies who supported each other... and she had once accompanied her father to meet Kozuki Toki, the shogun's wife of Wano.
One glance was enough to tell—these two were undoubtedly Kozuki Toki's daughters.
"Well, that may be true... but you should still be careful," Rin shrugged. "Even though Sabaody is Angel Alliance territory, it's also the most lawless place in the world... If you run into desperate pirates looking to drag someone down with them, things could get ugly."
"Uh, sis... aren't we technically pirates right now?" Hiyori whispered into Rin's ear. "We should probably escort this royal highness back... If something does happen, it'll be a huge mess."
Though Hiyori had a habit of trolling her sister, this time Rin wholeheartedly agreed.
"Princess Vivi... I think it'd be best if we escorted you back."
Vivi looked at Rin and finally nodded.
After Rin's words, she realized she had been a bit reckless.
No matter what, ditching her guards was dangerous.
"Alright..." Vivi sighed. Sometimes, she wished she were just an ordinary girl, free from political burdens.
"Thank you... Rin."
Rin nodded.
Princess Vivi might be a bit naive, but surprisingly, she actually listens to reason.
At this thought, Kozuki Rin subconsciously shot a disdainful glance at Zoro.
Unexpectedly, Zoro's expression suddenly turned serious as he drew three swords—one clenched between his teeth and two gripped in his hands.
The three renowned blades gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.
The Ryo Wazamono-grade sword Wado Ichimonji, the Sandai Kitetsu, and the Nidai Kitetsu.
The Nidai Kitetsu had been a gift from Kozuki Sukiyaki... Aside from Zoro being a descendant of the Shimotsuki family, Kozuki Hiyori had probably put in a good word for him with their grandfather as well.
Kozuki Rin froze in shock!
This guy who never listens to reason—she'd merely glared at him, and he was already preparing to fight?!
They were supposed to be teammates, after all!
Just as Kozuki Rin braced herself to defend, Zoro didn't attack her as expected.
Instead, he positioned himself protectively in front of both Kozuki Rin and Vivi.
"You'd better come out now... I won't mind cutting down every house in this neighborhood."
His sudden declaration left both Kozuki sisters and Vivi utterly bewildered.
Weren't they the only ones in this alley?
But the next moment, footsteps echoed from around the corner ahead.
A figure clad in a black military uniform beneath a dark cloak emerged from the turn in the alley ahead.
Red hair.
A rapier.
Though his expression wasn't serious, Kozuki Rin could see undisguised contempt in the man's eyes as he looked at their group.
After this man stepped forward, three more figures wearing identical military uniforms emerged from their surroundings.
A woman stood atop the second-floor roof, the lower half of her face wrapped in something resembling bandages.
The other two—a scruffy middle-aged man and a dragon maintaining his hybrid zoan form—blocked their escape routes.
"Roronoa Zoro, former member of the Junior Cadets, now combatant of the Old Geezers Pirates, bounty 49 million Berries..." The red-haired man spoke calmly.
"Though I'm curious why a promising Junior Cadet would leave the Angel Alliance to become a pirate... that's irrelevant now. Hand over the blue-haired woman behind you, and I might spare the others. Think carefully about your lives."
"Tch."
Zoro scoffed around Snow Stride's hilt.
In the next instant, his blades flashed.
"Three-Sword Style: Demon's Dance—Sleepless Night Slash!"
The crossed slash of three swords, infused with raging Armament Haki, tore toward the red-haired man.
Yet the man showed no intention of retreating or even drawing his sword to defend.
He simply watched Zoro's charge with detached calm.
"Arrow-Seal Fate!"
At the soft command, Zoro suddenly found several materialized arrows pointing in different directions appearing around him.
His sword arms moved against his will, slashing along their guided paths.
The technique shattered completely, nearly throwing Zoro off balance from the wasted momentum.
This bizarre power sent a shock through him...
'This might... become a brutal fight.'
"Who... are you people?"
"We... are gods."