Fukurou and Kumadori, who risked their lives to rescue people from afar, were pinned to the ground by Gin, and they could not move at all, no matter how hard they struggled.
Only then did they realize.
What Six Styles, what CP9 elite, in the face of absolute power, there is no room for fighting back, and they are as weak as the enemies they have defeated before.
Only this time, the prey became themselves.
Igaram, who was far away, was frightened by the sudden changes before his eyes and could hardly move. Every cell in his body was telling of his inner fear, and all his thoughts converged into one will.
Escape! Escape! Escape!
Facing these inhuman monsters, he has no chance of winning!
But there are always some things that can overcome instinct.
He pushed Vivi behind him with his eyes already showing the determination to die: "Vivi-sama, go!"
After saying that, Igaram rushed towards Gawain regardless of everything but was kicked away by Lucci the next moment, making him smash through the stone slab in the distance and lose consciousness on the spot.
Lucci looked at the unconscious Jabra and others and realized that Gawain and Gin were holding back on purpose, making him feel a little warmer in his heart.
"Thanks."
"Hmm."
Gin responded calmly.
Gawain turned to look at Vivi and saw tears welling up in her eyes as if she had suffered a great injustice, and he felt helpless for a moment: "Why do I look like the villain here? You were the ones who attacked me first, weren't you?"
But what really gave Gawain a headache was how to deal with Vivi.
She is the princess of the Alabasta, after all.
Since Cobra, the current king of Alabasta, has no other heirs, it can almost be confirmed that Vivi is the future queen of Alabasta.
The status of Alabasta is very special, even among the member states of the World Government.
In the history of the World Government, Alabasta is one of the twenty kingdoms that created the World Government.
Nefertari is the only royal family that did not leave their country and enter Mary Geoise when the World Government was first established.
In other words, the blood flowing in Vivi's body is, in a sense, equivalent to that of the Celestial Dragons.
"Forget it, I'll just ask for a symbolic ransom."
Gawain murmured, but Vivi's stubborn voice came to his ears: "If you're looking for money, maybe we can make a deal!"
"Oh?"
Gawain turned around and looked at Vivi, who was about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a little surprise.
The last girl who was able to remain calm, assess the situation, and make the right judgment when facing a life-and-death crisis was Gaza from Raven Harbor, who is now the de facto steward of the White Knight Pirate.
Vivi took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down, then she raised her head and looked directly at Gawain's eyes.
Gawain immediately became interested: "Tell me about it."
"I want to hire you to expel Crocodile from Alabasta!"
"Although I don't know what that guy is planning, whether it's the Dance Powder that appeared in Alabasta or the rebellions that broke out everywhere, he's behind them."
"If we continue to let that guy do what he wants, it will cause great harm to the people of Alabasta."
"I refuse!"
When Vivi was halfway through her speech, Gawain lost his patience and shook his head to refuse.
Vivi suddenly became anxious: "But you haven't even heard my terms yet!"
"How many resources can there be in Alabasta, a remote and poor place covered with yellow sand?!"
Vivi's face flushed immediately; she pursed her lips tightly and couldn't say a word for a while.
Alabasta has a large standing army, and its military force is extremely abundant among the surrounding countries, but this cannot change the fact that almost the entire territory of Alabasta is covered by desert.
The endless yellow sand means extreme climate and very little arable land and water.
As part of the royal family, Vivi saw clearly how difficult it was to survive in such a land.
Every time she saw civilians struggling to survive, she felt heartbroken.
This was especially true when she saw her father, King Cobra, working tirelessly for the entire country, living frugally just to make life better for the common people.
However, even such a poor country cannot avoid being targeted by powerful pirates like Crocodile.
Although Crocodile is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea authorized by the World Government, he possesses the so-called legal power of plunder.
But as a member of the royal family, how could Vivi not know the danger of such a ruthless person?
Vivi raised her head and looked at Gawain.
Before today, the strongest pirate she had ever seen was Crocodile, who could make people shudder just by his eyes and aura.
So, from the first second, she saw Gawain, she clearly realized that the man in front of her had no murderous intentions in his body, but it still made Jabra and others unable to even raise the slightest intention of resistance; it is definitely an existence that can rival or even surpass Crocodile!
As long as they can get Gawain's help, she will be able to pull Alabasta out of the abyss!
How could Vivi, who realized this, be willing to give up?
"But you just said you wanted to ask your father for a ransom…"
"I also said it was symbolic."
Gawain sighed.
He doesn't consider himself to be a good person, but he does not mind helping those in need as long as it does not harm his own interests, just like Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue and the Drum Kingdom.
But Alabasta is different.
This is not only one of the affiliated countries of the World Government, but the royal family also has the blood of the world nobles flowing in its veins.
There is even an unclear relationship between them and Imu, the real ruler of this world, who is hidden behind the Five Elders.
The things involved in Alabasta are too complicated, Plus the historical text hidden in the underground of Alabasta. It can easily cause him trouble if he's not careful.
Gawain even knew the general content of the historical text.
The content recorded on it can be said to be the most ruthless mockery of Crocodile, who was determined to reach the top by relying on the power of Pluton in the early days.
Gawain no longer wanted to listen to Vivi's words and just said calmly: "Internal fighting is not allowed among the Warlords."
"Alabasta is not important enough to me to make a move to the point of costing me my status as a Warlord."
"So."
"I'm sorry, I'm not the destined one you're waiting for."
"Are you scared?!"
Vivi gritted her teeth.
All she could hear was Gawain's voice gradually fading away.
"What a boring way of provoking someone!"
Seeing this, Vivi wanted to say something; Kalifa walked towards them from a distance while holding Sea Prism Stone handcuffs.
For a moment, Vivi's eyes were red, and she felt indescribable unwillingness in her heart.
She knows.
Once she's sent back to Alabasta this time, even her father, who has been extremely indulgent towards her, will never allow her to act so recklessly again.
The tragedy she had witnessed in Erumalu reappeared before her eyes.
The city that was once an oasis has now been swallowed by drought and desert. The reason behind this is Crocodile's abuse of Dance Powder.
A large amount of rain was concentrated in the capital of Alabasta, causing the surrounding cities to not see a drop of rain for several years.
The number of people who died as a result was undoubtedly astronomical.
Is this the end of their country?
Vivi turned around and saw Jabra and others who were also under control.
For a moment, she felt hopeless.