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'Could it be that Nami and Nojiko both like Captain Ikki?' Vivi wondered. 'But because they're sisters, they don't dare to get closer to him? I heard that Captain Ikki also helped Nami and Nojiko save their hometown. In other words, Captain Ikki is their hero.'
Vivi watched as Nami and Nojiko admired themselves and each other in dancer costumes in front of the mirror, and the image of a hero saving two princesses gradually formed in her mind. The two sisters had fallen in love with their hero, but worried about their sisterly bond and hurting each other, they dared not confess their feelings.
At this moment, Vivi didn't realize that she was the actual princess compared to Nami and Nojiko, and that she too was in a situation where a "hero" was saving her homeland.
"Vivi, what are you thinking about?" Nojiko asked, walking up to her with a blue dancer's outfit similar to her own. "Come over here, I also chose a dancer's costume for you. Go try it on."
"Um, um... I just need to wear regular clothes," Vivi said quickly, waving her hand.
"Hehe, let's try it, Vivi," Nami insisted. "Your beauty would suit dancer's clothes perfectly. And wearing this might change Captain Ikki's impression of you, inspiring him to draw a new picture. You don't want his album to only contain that painting of you doing the 'Perfume Dance,' do you?"
Nami smiled playfully and took Vivi's arm, pulling her toward the dressing room.
Vivi's face instantly turned red as she thought of the painting of herself swaying her hips and smiling seductively that sat on Ikki's bedside table. She allowed Nami to lead her into the dressing room to change.
Nojiko smiled, walked aside, picked up three robes suitable for desert travel, and approached the store owner at the counter.
"Ma'am, we'll take these three dancer outfits and these three desert cloaks," Nojiko said.
"How many Berries in total?"
The shop owner smiled, rubbing her hands. "That's 3,000 Berries total, but I'll give you a discount. Only 2,800 Berries. Would you like them wrapped?"
"No, we'll wear them now," Nojiko replied, taking out the Berries from her pocket and handing them to the woman. She then picked up the cloaks and walked toward Vivi and Nami, who were emerging from the dressing room.
After putting on the desert cloaks that covered their dancer outfits completely, they quickly left the store, continuing their journey toward Katorea where the rebel army was stationed.
The shop owner walked to the door of her store and confirmed that Nami and the others had left. She quickly ran to the counter and pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
"Hello, sir, it's me!" she said urgently. "I just saw someone who looked like Princess Vivi. She may not be dead!"
The shop owner took out a portrait of Vivi from beneath the counter and examined it carefully.
"What?! That little princess is alive? Are you certain?" Crocodile's deep voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"I'm sure, sir! That woman matches the princess's portrait almost exactly. They seem to be heading toward Katorea, where the rebels are gathered."
The shop owner nodded firmly, then described the appearance of Vivi, Nami, and Nojiko, including their current attire.
"What about Miss All Sunday? Did you see her in the vicinity?" Crocodile asked.
"Sorry, sir, I didn't see Miss All Sunday nearby."
"I understand. Continue your work. I'll handle this matter myself," Crocodile said, his voice darkening.
"Understood, sir!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Crocodile hung up the Den Den Mushi.
"Princess Vivi is still alive. What is that woman Nico Robin doing?" Crocodile muttered, crushing the cigar in his hand, his face gradually darkening.
After thinking for a few seconds, he took out another small Den Den Mushi from a nearby cabinet and made a call. But there was no answer.
Crocodile frowned deeper and made several more calls in succession, but none connected.
"I can't even reach the senior agents... Did she really betray me and attack them?"
In his anger, he couldn't help activating his Devil Fruit ability, turning part of the tabletop in front of him into sand.
"Sure enough, no one can be trusted. In the end, I still need to act myself."
Crocodile stood up from his chair and dialed a new number. This time, the call was answered quickly.
"Hello, what is it, sir?" In Katorea, a man wearing a rebel uniform moved quietly to a corner to answer.
"The plan has changed. Find a way to make the rebels march toward Alubarna immediately," Crocodile ordered. "Princess Vivi is heading your way. You must not let her make contact with Koza. I will also head to the rebel army..."
Crocodile walked out of his office while giving instructions.
Five minutes later, he stood at the entrance of Rain Dinners Casino, trying another number on his Den Den Mushi.
"Hello, what is it, Mr. 0?" Soon, Nico Robin's voice came through.
"Miss All Sunday, what's the situation there? Have you successfully contacted Mr. 1 and the others?"
"Don't worry, sir, I've arranged for them to go to Rain Dinners to meet you."
"Is that so? I understand!" Crocodile took a long drag from his cigar and hung up, a predatory look in his eyes.
The next moment, he activated his Suna Suna no Mi ability, transforming his body into a burst of sand that flew into the sky and disappeared into the distance.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the desert...
"Was that Crocodile?" Ikki asked as Robin put the Den Den Mushi back in her pocket.
"Yes, that was his number," Robin nodded, frowning slightly. "But his tone seemed unusually tense."
"Tense... Could it be that he's discovered your betrayal, Miss Robin?" Ikki shrugged and smiled.
"This isn't funny, Mr. Ikki! If Crocodile truly discovers my betrayal, it won't just be me in danger, but also Princess Vivi."
"You're right. It seems we need to reach Rain Dinners quickly to deal with him," Ikki agreed. "So, Robin, if you don't mind, may I carry you?"
"If I said I didn't mind, would that stop you, Mr. Ikki?" Robin shook her head, moved closer to Ikki, and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I've placed all my hopes on you. I don't want your plan to fail now."
Hearing Robin's words, the corner of Ikki's mouth curved into a slight smile. Without hesitation, he placed one hand on Robin's back and the other under her thighs, lifting her in a princess carry.
"Then, Robin, please hold on tight. I'm about to accelerate."
The cells in Ikki's body suddenly activated with the thunder and lightning power from his Thunder Breathing technique. In an instant, the sand beneath his feet scattered, and his body appeared ten meters away.
The sudden acceleration made Robin instinctively tighten her grip around Ikki's neck, her hat blowing away in the wind. Her smooth, straight black hair gently brushed against Ikki's cheek.
Seeing that Robin had stabilized herself, Ikki prepared to speed up again and rush toward Rain Dinners. With his mastered Total Concentration Breathing technique, his Thunder Breathing gave him speed and durability far superior to the average Marine Vice Admiral.
"Wait... what's that?"
Just as Ikki was about to increase his speed, he suddenly stopped, planting his feet firmly in the sand. His abrupt halt made Robin tense up reflexively.
"Mr. Ikki, don't we need to hurry to Rain Dinners?" she asked in confusion. "What's wrong?"
Ikki looked down at the sand beneath his feet, surprise flashing across his face.
'I've been searching for so long, and I find it now of all times,' he thought to himself before looking at Robin. "I think we may need to make a short detour."
"A detour? Why?" Robin frowned.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Ikki tightened his hold on Robin and jumped high into the air. Then he came down hard, stomping on the sand beneath his feet. The powerful force instantly shattered the sand, and under Robin's surprised gaze, they fell into a hidden cave.
"Where is this place?" Robin turned her head, looking around. The next moment, her eyes widened in shock.
Disregarding the sand falling on her, she broke free from Ikki's arms and ran toward what had caught her attention.
"It must be some ruins from Alabasta's ancient past," Ikki said, brushing sand from his clothes as he walked toward Robin. "So, Nico Robin, now I've fulfilled our agreement."
"There really is... there really is a Poneglyph here?!" Robin exclaimed. She turned to look at Ikki. "You knew it was here from the beginning, didn't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have mentioned fulfilling our agreement on the way to Rain Dinners."
Robin's eyes gleamed with intensity as she regarded Ikki. "Could it be that what you said when we first met—that you know the locations of many Poneglyphs—is also true?"