Luo Xing did not sail directly from Wano.
Instead, he first used the Anywhere Door to arrive in Alabasta.
The reason was simple.
At present, the Beasts Pirates were known as the strongest Yonko crew. Their reputation had grown too great.
Countless eyes were fixed on Wano.
The skies, the seas, even the underground—World Government agents, Marine spies, and watchers from other factions were hidden everywhere.
It could be said that any movement made by the Beasts Pirates was no longer easy to conceal.
Fortunately, Luo Xing had already created the Anywhere Door.
He could travel without ever passing through Wano's surrounding waters.
Another reason for choosing Alabasta was geography.
Compared to Dressrosa or Punk Hazard, Alabasta lay much closer to Sabaody Archipelago.
And, naturally—
Luo Xing also wanted to see Nico Robin, the composed and intelligent beauty, and Vivi, the lively and kindhearted princess he hadn't seen in some time.
Alabasta Royal Palace
King Cobra still ruled the nation.
With Crocodile gone, rain once again fell naturally upon Alabasta.
Combined with the torrential storm Luo Xing had once summoned using his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, the kingdom's long-standing drought had largely been resolved.
Life for the people improved by the day.
Compared to the past, it was the difference between heaven and hell.
All of it—
Thanks to Luo Xing.
Cobra sighed inwardly.
Telling that man about the Poneglyph recording Pluton no longer felt like a mistake.
Better for Alabasta's benefactor to hold such power than for it to fall into the hands of scheming pirates or the hypocritical World Government.
Just then—
A clear, bell-like laugh rang out from outside the palace.
Cobra smiled warmly.
That laughter belonged to his daughter.
Vivi had finally returned to the carefree happiness she'd known as a child.
Outside the Palace
Vivi was laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.
"That tickles! Robin, stop it!"
The reason was simple—
Two hands had appeared under her arms, tickling her mercilessly.
Nico Robin reclined calmly on a sun chair, wearing sunglasses, a thick book resting against her chest.
She withdrew her Hana Hana powers and said elegantly,
"Vivi, don't sneak up on me while I'm reading next time."
"Okay, okay!" Vivi replied, sticking out her tongue.
It turned out Vivi had started it first.
Interestingly enough, Vivi used to dislike Robin.
After all, Robin had once been Crocodile's partner—one of the figures tied to Alabasta's suffering.
But after spending time together and learning about Robin's past, Vivi's view changed completely.
Robin had only wanted to learn history.
Because of that, her homeland was destroyed, her family killed, and she was forced into a life of endless flight and exploitation.
When Vivi learned this, her eyes had turned red.
Robin's life had been far harsher than her own.
Once the misunderstanding faded, the two grew close like sisters, sharing almost everything.
Suddenly, Vivi's sapphire-blue eyes darted sideways.
She moved behind Robin, cheeks faintly flushed, and asked in a hushed, curious voice,
"Robin… um… when Luo Xing left last time, were you two together that night?"
Robin paused, then gently tapped Vivi's forehead.
"What are you imagining?"
Vivi puffed out her cheeks.
"I saw you both leaving the same room!"
Robin realized there was no point dodging the topic, but she didn't seem embarrassed.
She was a mature woman, after all.
Instead, she looked straight at Vivi—making the princess grow flustered instead.
Robin smiled knowingly.
"Vivi… you wouldn't be developing feelings for him, would you?"
"W-What?!"
Vivi panicked instantly, waving her hands.
"No! No! Don't say things like that!"
But her reaction only confirmed Robin's suspicion.
Robin chuckled softly.
"Silly girl. I won't deny it—he is very captivating."
"He saved you. He saved your country."
"For a young girl just beginning to understand her heart, admiring someone like that is perfectly natural."
Vivi's face burned red.
She turned away, fidgeting with her fingers.
"I—I'm not talking anymore!"
Robin nearly added—
That even if Vivi hadn't felt this way, Luo Xing had always been drawn to beautiful women.
But before she could speak, the air in front of them suddenly split open.
A door appeared where none should exist.
Robin swallowed her words instantly, eyes sharpening.
"What is that?!"
Click.
The door opened.
Both Robin and Vivi's hearts skipped.
The scene was beyond anything they had experienced before.
Robin instinctively grabbed Vivi's wrist, ready to pull her back if danger appeared.
But instead—
A familiar figure emerged.
"Brother!"
Vivi's eyes lit up like gemstones.
Without thinking, she rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
Luo Xing caught her easily.
The fresh, bright scent of the girl made him smile unconsciously.
He stepped fully through the door, Vivi still in his arms.
Behind him followed Zoro, Enel, and five towering Cybertron units.
Robin, though composed, couldn't hide her astonishment.
"That door… is another invention of yours? One that crosses space?"
Luo Xing nodded.
"It's called the Anywhere Door. As long as I have the coordinates, distance means nothing."
Robin exhaled in amazement.
"Is there anything you can't invent?"
Luo Xing laughed.
Vivi, meanwhile, finally realized what she'd done.
Her face turned crimson.
Remembering what Robin had said earlier, she buried her face shyly against Luo Xing's chest.
Luo Xing found it odd—but amusing.
She hadn't been this clingy before.
Still, a cheerful girl in his arms was hardly a problem.
The Purpose of the Visit
Luo Xing handed Robin a sheet of paper.
"This is the Road Poneglyph rubbing from Big Mom."
Robin accepted it eagerly.
After reading, she looked up.
"Thank you. I owe you again."
Luo Xing smiled.
"I'll wait until you choose to repay it willingly."
Robin rolled her eyes lightly.
She had once made it clear—she wanted respect, not coercion.
That night long ago, Luo Xing had done nothing more than hold her.
After a pause, Robin asked,
"You didn't come all this way just to visit, did you? Are you planning to join the war at Marineford?"
She was sharp—as always.
But this time, she was wrong.
"No," Luo Xing replied calmly.
"I have no interest in saving Ace."
"I intend to use the war as cover to ignite another conflict."
"The world is about to become very chaotic."
He continued,
"I'll leave two Cybertron units here to protect Alabasta—just in case."
With that settled, he didn't stay long.
Under Vivi's reluctant gaze and Robin's thoughtful silence, Luo Xing departed with Zoro and Enel atop the remaining Cybertron units.
They vanished into the sky.
Luo Xing's True Objective
As he rode, Luo Xing's eyes grew deep.
Hancock should already be at Impel Down.
If he didn't care about saving Ace, then her mission certainly wasn't about Ace either.
His target—
Was Impel Down itself.
More precisely, the prisoners inside.
That prison held tens of thousands of criminals.
A formidable force.
If subdued, the Beasts Pirates' numbers would swell dramatically.
Especially Level Six — the Eternal Hell.
Monsters such as:
Douglas Bullet
Redfield, the "Red Count"
Magellan
Shiryu
And possibly interference from Blackbeard himself
This operation—
Was destined to be explosive.
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