Reiju kicked away Sanji as he lunged toward her. Sanji, undeterred, lunged back and hugged Reiju's leg: "Big sis, let me have it, this is my dream..."
Hera looked at Sanji with eyes full of disdain: "Tch, you only want to eat it so you can sneak into the women's bathhouse. Forget about your dream."
Sanji watched the Clear-Clear Fruit gradually sink into the City of Devouring Time, and the light in his eyes slowly faded, as if he had been struck by a Negative Ghosts.
Hera took the Clear-Clear Fruit back out and waved it in front of Sanji's eyes, watching his gaze follow her hand as she moved the devil fruit back and forth.
Hera tossed the Clear-Clear Fruit up and down while saying: "Oh my, I suddenly really want some dessert. It would be great if there was some pudding right now."
Sanji put on a determined expression: "Leave it to me, cute lady."
He ran into the kitchen at top speed and began making pudding.
After a while, Sanji rushed out holding a deluxe pudding. While moving extremely fast, his upper body remained perfectly still: "Lady, your deluxe pudding has arrived."
Hera took a bite and nodded in satisfaction: "Having food is one thing, but I'm a bit thirsty."
Sanji immediately brought out the juice he had already prepared: "Special blended juice, please taste it, and here is a prepared cake set."
To win the Clear-Clear Fruit, Sanji used everything he had learned at the Baratie to make a large amount of sweets and juices that girls would like.
Feeling the sweetness in her mouth, Hera narrowed her eyes comfortably and handed the Clear-Clear Fruit to Sanji: "Here you go. But if I find out you used this devil fruit ability to peep on me..."
The shadows of the City of Devouring Time coiled around Sanji: "...then I will take this fruit back."
After getting the Clear-Clear Fruit, Sanji couldn't wait to take several bites. With his dream coming true, he didn't even notice the terrible taste of the devil fruit, eating the whole thing in one go.
With a single thought, Sanji's entire body became transparent. Reiju shook her head speechlessly: "Doesn't the Raid Suit have a stealth system? Why did you need to eat the Clear-Clear Fruit?"
The invisible Sanji said: "You wouldn't understand. This is a man's romance!"
Then Sanji said to Hera: "Don't worry, I won't peep on you. Even for me, I'm not really interested in children."
Hearing this, a vein popped on Hera's forehead. She aimed 'forging sky' at the invisible Sanji and fired. The shot accurately hit Sanji on the head; the bullet, with its force intentionally controlled, raised a large bump on his head.
"Who are you calling a child?"
Reiju looked at the two of them with a headache, feeling mentally exhausted. Why did it feel like there were so many troublesome kids in this group?
On the other side, Vivi pulled Black Duck over, prepared more water and food for him, and instructed: "This letter contains Sir Crocodile's conspiracy. You must deliver it to my father."
Then she found Hera and handed her an identical letter: "This is the evidence I found while undercover in Baroque Works. The country has been without water for two years because of Sir Crocodile. Can't the Marine help us?"
Hera looked at Princess Vivi, who was looking at her with eyes full of hope. The words of refusal stuck in her throat; feeling a bit of pity, she could only say:
"Don't worry, I won't let the rebellion start. Also, I will summon the Marine to gather nearby clouds and mist to bring a heavy rain here."
Hearing Hera say this, Vivi was relieved: "Thank you for your help."
Hera said: "Alright, although I can't help you too much for now, I can still give you a lift. You're going to cross the desert to Yuba, right?"
With that, the City of Devouring Time swallowed the Going Merry. Hera's Observation Haki extended toward Yuba, and she slashed 'Saikū' forward.
The 'Taurus Sword' ignored distance, carving out a rift that led directly to the Erumalu Oasis.
Seeing the banquet end, Hera said to everyone: "Alright, this rift leads directly to your next stop. Once I've sent you there, we'll part ways."
With that, she was the first to walk through, placing the Going Merry onto the water. Luffy marveled: "So cool! We reached such a far distance in an instant!" he said as he also walked in.
Seeing their Captain pass through, the members of the Straw Hat crew followed Luffy's footsteps into the rift, where they saw the Going Merry next to Hera standing in the desert.
Hera then took out enough water and food for Luffy and the others from the City of Devouring Time: "Alright, I've brought you this far. I'll leave the rest to you."
Luffy beat his chest and said: "Don't worry, we'll avenge Vivi and defeat that Sir Crocodile!"
Hera turned around, waved her hand, and left coolly.
After returning to the argo, Ain walked up to Hera and asked: "Are we just leaving like this? Doing nothing doesn't seem like your style."
Hera shook her head and said: "Let's go. We're going straight to Rainbase to have a chat with Sir Crocodile. If he's sensible, he'll be locked in Impel Down. If not..."
A white clock face emerged from the shadows, and blue flames illuminated Hera's eyes: "I have plenty of ways to make him sensible."
Slightly earlier on the other side, 'Ms. All Sunday' Robin was reporting to the boss behind the scenes, Sir Crocodile.
Sir Crocodile held a cigar in his mouth, hands crossed on the table, listening to Robin's report: "Oh, Straw Hat and a group of Marines have arrived here? The Marine has already noticed this place."
Robin nodded and continued her report: "Although the Straw Hat crew is a newly formed Pirate Crew, they are very strong. The Marine who came is the one known as the youngest Vice Admiral, Hera."
Sir Crocodile said: "It seems we don't have time to act slowly anymore. But it's almost time anyway. Have the other members of Baroque Works assemble. Our time is running out."
Robin said: "Very well. If they find out their boss is actually a Shichibukai, they should be quite shocked."
Sir Crocodile stood up and spread his arms: "The plan of several years is finally coming to a close. The time to seize Alabasta is within these few days."
Robin stood by, watching Sir Crocodile's performance, perhaps already thinking about how to escape after reading the poneglyph.
Sir Crocodile asked Robin beside him: "Guhahaha, you will bring me news of the Ancient Weapon 'Pluton', right?"
Robin didn't answer, only nodded: "I've already had the Baroque Works members assemble."
Following Robin's orders, the people of Baroque Works began to gather. The chief officers of Baroque Works rode specialized water transport turtles, heading toward the headquarters, Spider Cafe."
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