After bidding farewell to Crocus, the going merry quickly ascended and flew towards Whiskey Peak.
In a certain empty room, Vivi despairingly faced Reno and The girls' judgment.
After Makino's explanation, Kaya and Nami also understood the whole story.
"You've got some nerve, daring to steal from the going merry!"
"Quick, tell us, do you have any accomplices?!"
Nami stood with her hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at Vivi.
Terrified, Vivi pointed at Reno and stammered, "He… he threw him into the sea."
The girls were stunned. No need to guess, it must have been a man!
"He was an agent of Baroque Works; he deserved to die." Reno waved his hand indifferently.
Those guys, following Crocodile, committed all sorts of evil deeds and were utterly wicked. They deserved to die. (Revised the outline, decided to kill Crocodile.)
"Who are you?! Are you also an agent of Baroque Works?!" Nami continued to interrogate Vivi.
Vivi shook her head like a rattle-drum, immediately denying, "No, I'm not."
"My name is Vivi, and I am the Princess of Alabasta. Please don't kill me."
Her trembling voice already carried a hint of a sob.
"Princess?! You're the King's daughter?!"
"Then you must be very rich?!"
Nami's thoughts quickly branched out, her high-pitched voice gradually softening as Vivi's identity was revealed.
If there's money, everything is negotiable!
It was just attempted theft, not a big deal.
A simple compensation of ten million Berries, and the matter would be settled.
Vivi understood Nami's implication and nodded like a pounding garlic: "I can compensate you for your losses."
No, they didn't have any losses.
She was caught just as she was about to steal.
"Anyway… as long as you let me go, I can give you money."
Nami's face immediately broke into a sweet smile, and she rubbed her hands together as she sidled over, drawing out her words, "My dear Princess Vivi, how much do you think your life is worth?!"
"How about a million Berries?!" Vivi tentatively whispered.
"One million?!" Nami's face instantly turned cold. "A king's daughter is only worth one million?!"
Is she trying to brush off a beggar here?!
"But I... I only have one million left."
Vivi's eyes were already welling up with tears of grievance.
If it were the Alabasta of old, she could easily produce even ten million Berries, but now...
"Nami, don't scare her. Vivi seems very timid," Tashigi, who had been watching the show, finally couldn't help but intervene.
But then she looked confused, "Since you have a million, why are you even stealing food?!"
Vivi bit her lower lip, her gaze fixed on Reno.
She knew that Reno was the Captain of the Pirate Crew, the one who could truly decide her fate.
"Captain, I truly will compensate you. If you think one million Berries is too little, two million, I will give you two million Berries."
"I only ask that you don't harm me."
When she mentioned two million Berries, Vivi almost gritted her teeth as she spoke.
For the current Alabasta, after necessary expenses, producing another two million Berries would already be extremely difficult.
Reno smiled and shook his head:
"Princess Vivi, the current Alabasta is plagued by internal and external troubles. Are you sure you can produce two million?!"
"And I don't think I've agreed to only two million, have I?!"
"At least five million Berries."
"Five million Berries?!" Vivi's heart sank.
If she really had to produce five million, Alabasta would be finished.
"Captain, if Vivi can't come up with five million, how should we deal with her?!" Nami chimed in at the opportune moment.
Reno stroked his chin, sizing up Vivi from head to toe, feigning contemplation: "Sell her. I hear kingdom princesses are very popular at slave auctions."
"Someone as beautiful as Princess Vivi would surely fetch a good price."
"Five million Berries, easily."
"I think that's a good idea," Nami clapped her hands in approval.
Kaya and the other girls watched the two of them, singing and harmonizing, and all shook their heads helplessly.
What a twisted sense of humor.
What if such a beautiful girl gets scared out of her wits?
The truly terrified Vivi was already imagining herself locked in a cage, curled up helplessly, covered in scars, while wealthy merchants of various races raised their paddles to bid for her.
"No... please don't," Vivi shook her head, her voice trembling.
Reno also felt it was enough; otherwise, Vivi's mental state would truly collapse.
"Vivi, I can forgo the five million Berries, but from now on, you must join my Pirate Crew."
"As long as you become a member of the Reno Pirates, we'll be family. Money and such, it's too vulgar."
"Join your Pirate Crew?!" Vivi stared at Reno, but quickly shook her head with determination.
"No, I still have things I haven't finished. I can't leave here."
"How about I join after I've completed my tasks?!"
Vivi didn't dare to directly refuse Reno, so she could only seek a compromise.
"You mean investigating the Baroque Works' conspiracy, right? No need to investigate, it's Crocodile. As long as you join my Pirate Crew, your business is my business, and I'll deal with Crocodile for you."
Seeing Reno state the truth so casually, Vivi's delicate body trembled, and she asked in disbelief, "How did you know these things?!"
"I have an informant planted in Baroque Works. You should know her, it's Vice President Miss Allsunday," Reno casually fabricated an excuse.
"It was her!" Vivi's mouth dropped open in surprise.
A mature and intelligent beauty's figure instantly appeared in her mind.
"Wait... who is Crocodile?!"
"When did you have someone in Baroque Works?!" Nami's face was full of question marks.
She was a participant just now, how did she become an observer?
Reno selectively replied, "Crocodile, like Mihawk, is also one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"But he's much more despicable than Mihawk."
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