"You know what their current state is now?" Gojo asked, his tone unchanged. "The king is living like a wounded beast hiding his face, barely surviving within his own kingdom. He watches his granddaughter struggle right in front of him, and he can't even hug her."
He didn't stop there. "On top of that, there are people—especially men of that kingdom—who have been turned into toys. And the most terrifying part isn't even that." His voice lowered slightly. "The moment someone is turned into a toy—man or woman—their existence is erased from the world. No one remembers them. Not their family. Not their friends. They become nothing more than ordinary toys."
Gojo's words were sharp, but measured. "Even if they try to speak to their family, their family won't recognize them. They have to watch their wife live with another husband. A child might be forced to watch their parents suffer and die, unable to do anything. Things like that."
He straightened slightly. "I'm telling you all this so you keep one thing in mind—extreme benevolence leads to downfall. Your downfall. Your kingdom's downfall. Your people's downfall." He shrugged faintly. "The rest is up to you."
"You are the king. Your daughter is the princess. Maybe one day, she will be the queen of the Alabasta Kingdom." His eyes briefly met Vivi's before returning to Cobra. "So I suggest maintaining a balance—between benevolence and strength, and everything that comes with it. If you don't create that balance, then things like this will happen again… and again… and again."
He finished calmly. "This rebellion was nothing new. And it won't be the last. Another rebellion could occur for some other reason, sooner or later."
As soon as Gojo finished speaking, Pell entered the throne room carrying a large suitcase. It was obvious what it contained. On the other side, Chaka, Igaram, Cobra, and Vivi remained momentarily stunned by what they had just heard. They didn't know which kingdom Gojo was referring to, but the fate he described was pitiful—miserable in a way that lingered in the air. Both Cobra and Vivi felt a quiet heaviness settle in their chests.
But as Pell stepped forward with the suitcase, King Cobra—having faced countless crises as a ruler—quickly steadied his mind. He drew a breath and said to Gojo, "I will definitely keep your suggestions in mind, and I will do my best to follow them."
He took the suitcase from Pell and handed it to Gojo. "In this bag is fifty-five million Berries. For what you have done, I would have given you an even greater reward, but as you already know, our kingdom has just come out of a rebellion and many other hardships. At present, I do not have more money to spare."
Gojo accepted the suitcase without ceremony. "You don't need to worry about any extra reward," he said calmly. "I've already taken all the liquid assets I could from Crocodile. That's more than enough for me."
Cobra nodded in acknowledgment.
"Now that I've received my payment," Gojo continued, "my work here in Alabasta is finished. I'll be taking my leave." With that, he turned around and walked out of the throne room without hesitation, his footsteps fading down the corridor.
As soon as Gojo left, Vivi found herself staring at his retreating back. Cobra noticed the look in her eyes and said gently, "Aren't you going to say your goodbyes to Gojo? After all, he helped you a great deal."
Vivi responded immediately, her tone firm. "That was just a deal. He didn't help me for nothing." With those words, she turned and walked out of the throne room as well.
Watching her go, King Cobra smiled faintly and shook his head.
…
Gojo left the palace without delay and flew straight toward Rainbase Town. Thankfully, the heavy rains of the past few days had filled the Sandora River. With the river no longer dry, he was able to navigate his ship from the shore near where he had parked it around Yuba Town and bring it all the way to the Rainbase area.
Soon after, he returned to the Rain Dinners Casino and ordered the remaining servants to move every last asset onto his ship—gold, cash, everything without exception. The gold was packed into heavy treasure chests, while the money was gathered into bags and his suitcase. The servants moved quickly, but the distance was considerable, so proper transport was needed. Camels were brought in, loaded down with chests and sacks, dragging the weight steadily across the sand.
By evening, Crocodile's entire treasure had been transferred onto Gojo's ship. With the money finally in his possession, Gojo didn't bother staying any longer than necessary. He immediately prepared to depart.
As he stood at the helm, steering the ship away, he muttered to himself, "Well, it would've been convenient to have a few servants to take care of chores." A brief pause followed. "But that won't happen unless I form a group or something… and I don't want to carry baggage with me."
The ship slowly turned and began leaving the shore where it had been docked. Just then, on the opposite bank of the Sandora River, Vivi arrived riding on her pet Karoo. She leaned forward and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Don't forget about me! Keep me in your mind—I'll be waiting for you here!"
Hearing her voice, Gojo stopped. He reached up, removed his blindfold, and turned toward her.
Vivi stood there with tears filling her eyes. She would have loved nothing more than to board that ship and leave with him. But in the short time she had spent with Gojo, she had come to understand him. He preferred capable people around him—helpers who could pull their own weight—but he despised carrying burdens. Weakness, especially lingering weakness, had no place at his side. And she knew she didn't yet possess the strength needed to travel with him.
More than that, her kingdom needed her now. Alabasta was still wounded. People had been displaced, homes destroyed, lives uprooted. Someone had to help them rebuild, to guide them after they had finally been freed from the clutches of someone like Crocodile.
So she stayed where she was, watching as Gojo's ship moved farther away.
Gojo said, "Then work hard. I don't like weak women. If you want to be my woman, then at the very least, you have to show me that you are worthy." His voice carried clearly across the river, firm and unhesitating.
After saying this, Gojo looked away from Vivi, and his ship continued to sail forward.
To some, his words might have sounded harsh—perhaps even offensive. Others might think that he didn't care about women at all, or that he was needlessly cruel. But this was simply who Gojo was. He didn't give a damn about anyone else's opinion of him. And he would never allow a weak woman to stay by his side.
When Gojo spoke of strength, he didn't mean raw physical power—the kind needed to fight Emperors or dominate the seas through force alone. What he meant was conviction. Resolve. The ruthlessness required to stand firm in a cruel world. A strength of will strong enough to walk beside him without breaking. Only someone like that, in his eyes, could ever be worthy of becoming his wife and life partner.
Soon, Gojo's ship faded from Vivi's sight, disappearing into the distance. Vivi stood there for a long moment, her fists slowly clenching at her sides. Her tears dried, replaced by determination.
"I will definitely become strong," she said quietly.
It was a vow—to herself, and to the future she wanted.
----
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