One Piece : Wild Hunt

Though Thomas had a decent impression of Bon Kurei from the anime and manga, his presence indicated that Vivi's father had been abducted. Time was of the essence, so his expression and tone were severe as he said, "I don't want to kill you. I know, deep down, you're someone who cherishes friendship above all else. Just tell me where Vivi's father is, and I'll let you go..."
Having recovered from his forced tumble, Chaka exclaimed, "That isn't your decision to make! This man-"
Before Chaka could finish, Vivi silenced both him and the Royal Guards clamoring into the room, shouting, "This matter is already outside the Royal Guards' ability to control! Commence searching for my father and leave things here to myself and Thomas...!"
"..."
Taken aback by Vivi's outburst, Chaka fell silent and looked around the room, his fierce gaze focusing on Bon Kurei before shifting to Thomas as he said, "The Princess trusts you. Do not disappoint her."
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Chaka ordered his men to begin searching the palace before storming out alongside them.
While the Royal Guards cleared out, Thomas kept his gaze firmly fixed on Bon Clay. Once they were gone, he said, "King Cobra is a good man who has treated his citizens fairly. I'm not sure what relationship you have with Crocodile, but he doesn't deserve your loyalty..."
Pushing himself to his feet, Bon Kurei seemingly ignored the hole running through his body as he lunged toward Thomas like a professional danseur leaping across a stage. The tips of his toes impacted Thomas's chest like a spear but ultimately failed to deal any damage as a thick magical barrier protected him.
Grabbing Bon Kurei's ankle like a vice, Thomas's expression became even more severe as he lifted the man like a gavel before slamming him to the ground. He wasn't lying when he said he didn't want to hurt him but now was neither the time nor the place for sentiments.
While Thomas's raw power couldn't compare to either Lucy or Zoro, Bon Kurei's 110kgs was nothing to him. His grip was also like an iron manacle, so he could fling the man around like the Hulk thrashing Loki if he really wanted to.
Despite having his face and upper body smashed into the marble floor, Bon Kurei managed to bounce back and pepper Thomas with a series of sharp kicks as he shouted, "A true Okama never betrays his allies...!"
Though Bon Kurei's kicks weren't able to damage him, having someone kick him in the face, throat, chest, and abdomen wasn't a very pleasant experience for Thomas. Thus, after seeing Bon Kurei take being slammed into the ground like a champ, he flung him toward the nearest wall before following up with a palm thrust that shot out a massive hand, pinning the man in place like Naruto utilizing Kurama's chakra.
While gradually increasing the force he was exerting on both Bon and the wall, Thomas shifted his attention to Vivi, saying, "He's not going to tell us where your father is. We'll need to find him ourselves."
As she could also tell that Bon wasn't the type to betray his allies, Vivi responded with a curt nod, asking, "Then what will we do with this one? Are you going to let him go...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "This is the path he has chosen. Your father can decide his fate once we rescue him."
With Bon eventually passing out, the result of Thomas converting the air he was breathing into carbon dioxide, Benienma quickly tied him up while Astolfo focused on trying to sense Cobra's location. Thomas suspected he was being kept in the Tomb of Kings, but he trusted Astolfo's intuition more than his own.
Fortunately, or perhaps not, Astolfo only hesitated for a short while before stating, "He's somewhere nearby. Maybe underground...?"
As the Tom of the Kings should be a fair distance away from the palace, Thomas's expression soured as he turned to Vivi and asked, "Does the palace have something like an underground dungeon or catacombs...?"
Unsurprisingly, Vivi replied, "There is an ancient waterway that connects to an underground water reservoir, but it fell into disrepair long before even my father was born. There have been several attempts to reclaim it over the years, but it has become a nest for Bananwani and other fierce predators..."
Imagining fighting Crocodile in an underground waterway, Thomas fell into a contemplative silence. Even a blind man could see this was a trap, and their enemies held most of the cards. However, so long as there was water present, Caenis could probably sweep through anything that came their way...
Though the notion of handling things himself crossed his mind, Thomas wasn't so self-obsessed that he would permit Vivi's father to remain in jeopardy just to 'prove' how strong he had become. He could wait until Crocodile appeared before summoning Caenis, but he imagined it would be pretty disorienting to be pulled through space and expected to fight without a proper understanding of the situation.
Having made his decision, Thomas balled his hand into a fist, focusing on Caenis as he said, "Come to me." in a faint yet assertive tone.
Following a harsh 'whooping' sound, Caenis manifested next to Thomas in an instant, spear in hand and eyes glowing red as she looked around for a target.
Holding up his hands, Thomas said, "Calm down. I called you a little early so you could help us search."
Retracting her bloodlust, Caenis brandished her spear and rested it on her shoulder as she clicked her tongue and retorted, "Do I look like a hound to you? Sniffing people out isn't exactly my specialty."
Shaking his head, Thomas clarified, "Our enemies have captured Vivi's father and holed themselves up in an abandoned waterway populated by dangerous creatures. They've likely set traps and other obstacles in the way, so I'd rather have you close by."
Adopting a wolfish grin, Caenis questioned, "So, you want me to protect you? And here I thought you were a man. What happened to your pride, hmm~?"
Catching nearly everyone by surprise, Thomas questioned, "What use is pride if it hurts the people I care about? Vivi's father wouldn't even be in this situation if we rushed over. Now, let's hurry. Every moment we waste is another moment Cobra is forced to pay for our mistakes..."
Furrowing her brows, Caenis replied, "I was just joking..." before looking away with a slight pout. She was tempted to point out that it wasn't her fault they were late but managed to restrain herself out of consideration for the circumstances.
Resisting the urge to apologize, Thomas maintained his intensity as he looked to Astolfo and instructed her to lead the way. Chaka and the Royal Guards intercepted and attempted to accompany them, but it only took a few seconds for Caenis to completely body them. Their heart was in the right place, but against a foe like Crocodile, a large group would only slow them down and get in the way...
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After traversing a hidden stairway that led deep underground, Thomas and company found themselves in a vast chamber with massive steel doors barring what he assumed to be the entrance to the underground waterway. Vivi quickly confirmed this, saying, "I hope Astolfo's ability to locate things holds up. The underground waterway is like a labyrinth that runs beneath the entirety of Alubarna. If we get lost, it would be difficult to find our way back..."
Snorting through her nose, Caenis said, "If that happens, I'll just blast a hole through the ceiling."
Recalling the massive explosion that accompanied Caenis taking out the Island Eater, a panicked expression marred Vivi's face. Before she could appeal to Caenis not to do anything rash, she and the other Heroic Spirits became tense, Benienma stating, "Someone is here..." while gripping the hilt of her sword.
Following Benienma's warning, the face of a woman materialized from the surface of the massive steel doors. It was one of the most uncanny things Thomas had ever seen, but he immediately recognized the face as Robin, commenting, "Long time no see, Miss All Sunday..." while gesturing for the others to remain calm.
Adopting a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, Robin remarked, "I was kind of hoping for a bigger reaction..." before materializing the rest of her body, fully clothed, from the door's surface.
"You and your friends should turn back," said Robin. "I understand your desire to save the King, but attempting to fight Crocodile on his terms is suicide."
Before Thomas could respond, Caenis interjected to say, "Eat a dick. We came here to beat Crocodile's ass. Get in our way, and I'll shove my fist so far up yours you'll be able to lick my fingers."
With everyone at least a little taken aback by Caenis's words, an awkward silence descended upon the chamber. Somewhat surprisingly, the first to break it was Robin, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh before cupping her cheek as she remarked, "What a curious choice of words. It's been a long time since I heard such a crude yet humorous rejoinder..."
Intervening before Caenis could make good on her promise, Thomas stepped forward to state, "We're going inside. If you could show us the way, we'd appreciate it greatly..."
Seemingly exasperated by Thomas's words, Robin exhaled a tired sigh before looking him in the eyes and revealing, "Even if you manage to rescue the King, Crocodile is a vindictive man. If he can't have Alabasta for himself, he's willing to bury it completely."
"What do you mean?" asked Vivi.
Shifting her gaze to Vivi, Robin casually revealed, "Baroque Works has spent the past week spreading high-yield explosive charges throughout the underground waterway. If that wasn't enough, there is an even larger bomb scheduled to be set off in the city's center. The moment Crocodile feels as though he might lose the battle, the entire city and its people will go up in smoke..."
Overwhelmed by what she was hearing, Vivi fell to her knees and covered her mouth in horror. Thomas also felt a bit cowed by Robin's words, but he forced himself to appear calm as he asked, "What triggers the explosives underground?"
Raising her brows, Robin questioned, "Do you seriously intend to charge in after everything I've just revealed? I thought you were smarter than that..."
Shaking her head, Robin added, "The smartest thing you could do is flee the capital and enact your plan to restore Alabasta's rain. Crocodile only intends to destroy the city as a last resort, so dragging things out forces him to come to you."
Though he could see the reasoning behind Robin's argument, Thomas still wanted to know how the explosives worked, stating, "I'll come up with a plan after you tell me how the explosives are triggered..."
Exhaling a faint sigh, Robin seemed more exasperated than ever. In spite of this, she replied, "There are two ways. The first is a manual trigger that will set the explosives to detonate precisely thirty minutes after the initial press. Crocodile intends to teach you a lesson, so he made sure he would have time to play with you beforehand..."
Adopting a wry smile, Robin allowed her words to settle for a bit before revealing, "The second trigger is a deadman switch linked to a Den Den Mushi in Crocodile's left breast pocket. If it breaks, all the explosives will detonate within a minute..."
Though Vivi felt even more helpless after hearing Robin's words, a fiery light emanated from Thomas's eyes. One of the distinctive properties of Mana was that it interfered with things like electricity and radio signals. He even had a method of dealing with the Den Den Mushi tucked away in his pocket, so even though the tips of his fingers were trembling, the look on his face expressed conviction as he helped Vivi to her feet and offered his usual, "Just leave everything to me..."
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(A/N: You know what they say. Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face xD...)

With Robin agreeing to show them the way, Thomas installed the EMIYA card and entered the underground waterway alongside Caenis, Astolfo, and Vivi. Benienma sank into the shadows to scout ahead, so the group proceeded in relative silence until Robin remarked, "I see you've acquired an Install Card of your own..."
Feeling a mixture of confidence and apathy as a result of equipping the EMIYA card, Thomas calmly replied, "After learning about the existence of Install Cards, I immediately set out to acquire one. Not just to counteract Crocodile's, but to uncover the truth behind their origin."
Raising her brows, Robin asked, "And did you? Uncover the truth, I mean."
Nodding his head, Thomas offered a curt, "Indeed," without going into further detail. He believed he could trust Robin, but she had yet to join him or the Straw Hats. Until they were 'officially' allied, he had no plans of disclosing even more information to her.
Seeing through Thomas's thoughts, Robin narrowed her eyes slightly, her perennial smile becoming marginally more prominent as she remarked, "It appears you've wisened up since our previous encounter..."
"Not really," replied Thomas, adding, "I've just figured out the path I want to walk. Once this is over, I'll tell you the specifics."
With an expression that looked as though she was restraining a chuckle, Robin asked, "Does it have anything to do with the Prism Pirates? It was quite a surprise to learn such big-name Pirates were traveling with you...."
Shaking his head, Thomas answered, "I won't deny there is a connection, but my aspirations are my own. I'm even considering pawning them off on the Straw Hats for a while..."
Since Crocodile and Baroque Works had already cleared out most of the dangerous animals occupying the waterway, Caenis had little to do. As a result, she decided to insert herself into the conversation, grinning as she remarked, "I guess they would get in the way of you collecting women for your little imperial suite, huh?"
"Imperial suite...?" parroted Robin, unaware of the existence of the Enma-tei.
Narrowing his eyes, Thomas stated, "As I said before, we'll discuss the specifics once we've wrapped things up with Crocodile. But, to make a very long story short, I'm planning to conduct business and expand an information network throughout the Grand Line."
"I see..." muttered Robin. Then, after several seconds of contemplative silence, she postulated, "I take it this is your effort to ensure the events you are familiar with transpire as intended?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "I've already given up on that. Now, I just want to experience a journey of my own. One that doesn't interfere with the growth of Lucy and the Straw Hats..."
Adopting a teasing expression and tone, Robin asked, "By 'collecting' women...?"
Exhaling through his nose, Thomas retorted, "By doing as I please and helping those in need..."
Nodding her head in approval, Vivi asserted, "Thomas may not be perfect, but he is a very considerate person. He didn't force me into a relationship. Rather, he tried talking me out of offering myself as a reward. I'm certain that any women who join him in the future will do so of their own volition."
Maintaining her usual smile, Robin asked, "Does that include me...?" while staring up at Thomas.
Though he felt somewhat exasperated, Thomas's expression and tone were calm as he replied, "That's up to you. I may be an opportunistic pervert, but I'm fairly content with the company I keep. I'm not going to force anyone to sleep with me."
With the corners of her smile curling up slightly, Robin mused, "I'll keep that in mind." She truthfully had no desire to sleep with 'anyone,' but she wasn't against skinship and using her feminine wiles to get her way. Not if it meant realizing the dream she had nearly given up on...
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While Thomas's group slowly and cautiously made their way through the underground waterway, a massive complex of cavernous aqueducts that seemed large enough to facilitate ships, Benienma bypassed most of the physical obstacles by passing through the 'boundary' between reality and imagination. Shadows served as a gateway to this sub-dimensional plane, a monochromatic representation of the world it existed beneath.
Though she would ordinarily need to be wary of phantoms and other beings trapped within the boundary, Benienma was able to make good progress as the world of One Piece functioned on different principles than the reality she originated. There were 'echoes' of entities passing through the boundary, but the only creatures capable of inhabiting it were herself and those summoned to work in the Enma-tei.
With nothing to bar her passage, it only took a few minutes for Benienma to locate Crocodile and the captive Cobra. When she did, her usually stoic expression turned grim as, rather than being held in chains or imprisoned, Cobra had been nailed to a stone column. He was being kept alive by an old man and a team of nurses, but Benienma could sense that his life was nearing its end. Yokai were especially sensitive to the essence of humans, and Cobra's had just about run out.
Having witnessed people being flayed, turned inside out, boiled alive, and even eaten, Benienma wasn't particularly bothered by Cobra's crucifixion. What concerned her was how her Master and his bride-to-be would react. Both were empathetic by nature and restrained by mortal sensitivities, so the sight of Cobra being strung up was bound to upset them...
Caught between her desire to protect her Master and allowing him the opportunity to grow, Benienma failed to notice a distortion in the space behind her. When she did, she spun around, eyes briefly widening as a very familiar figure appeared before her.
Staring down at Benienma with her snake-like eyes, Datsue-ba remarked, "You useless girl. This is an excellent opportunity to groom that boy into a proper Demon King. Why are you hesitating?"
Though she would ordinarily never talk back to her adoptive mother, Benienma's expression became firm as she asserted, "Master is a good man. He should not be wrapped up in the politics of Hell..."
Rolling her eyes, Datsue-ba lazily retorted, "There is no good or evil, only opportunity and intent. Your Master may be a good man, but humans are among the most fallible of all creatures. Without discipline and consistent guidance, every last one of them submits to temptation and desire..."
Shifting her gaze to Crocodile, who was currently frozen in time, Datsue-ba remarked, "Just look at this one. Pretending to be something she's not in a vain attempt to 'overwrite' her trauma. She believes she can create a peaceful utopia where all people live in harmony but actively perpetuates the suffering of millions, all to spite a single person."
Returning her gaze to Benienma, Datsue-ba added, "You've found yourself in an extraordinary set of circumstances, my fool of a daughter. The Gods of this world are either dead or sealed away. The essence and resources of this world are ripe for harvest. All you have to do is give your Master a push in the right direction..."
Catching her adoptive mother a little off guard, Benienma didn't hesitate to respond, "I refuse! Benienma's duty is to protect and serve her Master, not manipulate him! I will continue to send gold and essence through the Enma-tei, but I will not facilitate Hell gaining a foothold in this world...!"
Recovering from her shock, Datsue-ba's expression darkened, an intense and malicious aura exuding from her body as she asked, "You dare to defy me...?"
Puffing out her chest, Benienma replied, "You have no authority over this world, so my actions within cannot be seen as defiance."
Narrowing her eyes, Dotsue-ba hissed, "You ungrateful wretch...is this how you thank your Ou-sama and me for adopting you? You have the opportunity to spread our influence to an entirely new world and choose loyalty to your Master over piety to your family?"
Maintaining her resolution, Benienma asserted, "Benienma's gratitude towards Hahaue and Ou-sama is as vast as the sky. However, betraying one's Master is the penultimate shame, second only to betraying oneself. Benienma could not call herself a proud daughter of Enma-o if she lacked proper morals and integrity."
Unable to refute Benienma's words, Datsue-ba clicked her tongue in frustration. The Laws of Hell were pretty strict, so there was only so much she could say or do before incurring a penalty. Just manifesting without a contract was already toeing a dangerous line. If not for the absence of an 'overseer,' she would be in a lot of trouble.
Suppressing her anger, Datsue-ba's expression and tone softened as she said, "You've passed my test. Continue to serve your Master, and be sure to send funds and resources back to Hell. Your Ou-sama and I have high expectations for you..."
Though she knew her mother was lying about her presence being some kind of test, Benienma cupped her hands together and bowed her as a sign of deference. By the time she straightened her back, Datsue-ba was already gone, leaving behind a single black feather that slowly dissolved as the flow of time returned to normal...
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After descending several levels, Thomas and co found themselves on a stone bridge in a vast circular chamber. Several other bridges connected to a massive pillar more than a hundred meters in diameter, rising from a pool of surprisingly luminescent water to support the ceiling far overhead. It was a remarkable feat of engineering, but what caught Thomas's attention were the dozens of TNT-like explosives encircling the towering support structure.
"I was wondering how they planned to destroy the city by setting bombs this far underground..." remarked Thomas. "They're going to collapse the pillars supporting the artificial plateau..."
Nodding her head, Robin revealed, "There are a total of sixty-three pillars similar to this one. By collapsing just a few of them, the entire city would capsize, sinking into the massive reservoir atop which Alubarna was built."
"We must remove them!" exclaimed Vivi.
Crossing her arms, Robin retorted, "You're free to try, but disconnecting any of the bombs would cause the others to explode. It would also cause the timers for the others to trigger, an action that could only be stopped if you had access to the primary control switch..."
Hearing Robin's retort, Vivi once again felt helpless. Before she could succumb to it, however, Thomas confidently stated, "That might have been the case in any other circumstance, but you forgot one thing..."
Adopting a smile, Thomas briefly met Robin's gaze before looking down at Vivi as he said, "I'm here."
Though it wasn't his own power, Thomas didn't hesitate to use the EMIYA card's unique Trace ability to analyze the structure of the bombs before converting the explosive material within to inert sand. Then, as an added precaution, he drained nearly his entire reserves to use Reinforcement on the pillar itself, strengthening it to the point normal explosives wouldn't be able to scratch it.
After explaining what he had done, Vivi leaped into Thomas's embrace, linking her arms around his neck to give him a deep and passionate kiss. This particular pillar supported the palace, so even if the rest of the city were destroyed, the castle would remain intact. If they reinforced the pillar supporting the central square, they could evacuate all the people in Alubarna to safety.
As it was a fairly good idea, Thomas permitted Astolfo to escort Vivi back to the castle so they could begin organizing the evacuation. There was a chance that Crocodile might set off the explosives in retaliation, but Robin had made it clear that destroying Alubarna was a last resort. Unless they went around trying to disable 'all' the explosives, he wouldn't go out of his way to set them off early. After all, his penultimate goal was to rule over Alabasta as its King, not destroy it outright...
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(A/N: EMIYA Card OP...)

After learning from Vivi that he had been out for the better part of three days, Thomas asked, "And Baroque Works didn't attack us? That...doesn't sound right..."
Though she also found it strange, Vivi did her best to sound optimistic, suggesting, "Maybe he realized the danger he was in and decided to flee the country?"
"That's...not impossible..." replied Thomas. He couldn't imagine Crocodile running away from a fight, but he didn't want to be pessimistic by voicing his thoughts aloud.
Standing nearby, polishing his swords, Zoro remarked, "We'll find out soon enough. Just try not to hog the spotlight this time. If that Mr. 1 guy shows up, he's mine."
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "It's not like I've been going out of my way to hog all the fights. Things just kind of happened that way..."
Holding up his sword to check its edge, Zoro reiterated, "Just remember what I said. Unless shit hits the fan and you have no choice but to fight, leave all the swordsmen to me..."
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Thomas returned his gaze to the ruins that dominated the shores of the Sandora River. Many of the towns that once ran its length had been wiped out by Pirates or members of Baroque Works pretending to be Pirates. As a result, Alabasta felt more like a post-apocalyptic wasteland than a prosperous Kingdom that had endured for more than 700 years...
Interrupting Thomas's silent contemplation, Vivi leaned her head against his bicep as she asked, "Do you truly believe it's possible to turn Alabasta into a Kingdom of green...?"
Though he was caught off guard by the sudden question, Thomas didn't hesitate to answer, "Of course. It might take a few years without the right Devil Fruit or Install Card, but there's no reason we can't change Alabasta for the better. I guarantee it."
Feeling more at ease, Vivi closed her eyes and allowed herself to envision a brighter future for her people. She was worried about her father, but she chose to believe that Karoo had been delayed or that Pell was simply too busy to come and find them...
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Despite Chopper's insistence that he takes it easy for a few days, Thomas was raring to go when the Merry dropped anchor near the remnants of a city called Erumalu, once known as Alabasta's 'Green City' due to its many types of flora. Now, however, most of the buildings were half-buried in the sand, the only observable plant life being a few desiccated trees.
With Rainbase located 118km from Erumalu, everyone was gearing up for a long trek through the desert when Lucy said, "We should split up."
"Split up? Do you mean we should leave someone to guard the ship?" asked Nami.
Shaking her head, Lucy stated, "Vivi is worried about her dad. She and Thomas should fly to Alubarna with Astolfo while the rest of us travel to Rainbase."
Before Vivi could protest, Zoro interrupted to ask, "And what if Crocodile and his goons happen to be in Alubarna?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Lucy casually replied, "This is ultimately Tom's and Vivi's adventure. If they encounter Crocodile before us, I'm sure they can handle it somehow. If not, we'll swoop in to save them."
Interrupting Vivi a second time, Zoro asserted, "Sounds good. We have too many powerhouses with us anyways. Even if we split up into three groups, we should be able to deal with anything Crocodile throws at us."
Understanding that Lucy and Zoro were giving her an excuse to check on her father, a warm smile blossomed across Vivi's face as she said, "Thank you...both of you..." in a faint tone.
Adopting a toothy grin, Lucy said, "Don't mention it," before directing her gaze to Thomas and teasing, "You better hope Crocodile is in Alubarna. If he isn't, you'll have to deal with Vivi's dad on your own."
Forcing a smile, Thomas exhaled a light chuckle before stating, "I'll have to face both sooner or later." Then, as Caenis had been staring at him with a half-lidded expression, he looked to her and asked, "There isn't a lot of room on Griff's back, but will you come us?"
Though she was tempted to answer in the affirmative, Caenis crossed her arms and replied, "Forget it. I'll stay here and make sure no one steals the ship. Just summon me if something happens. Understood?"
Holding up the hand containing his Command Spells, Thomas replied, "I'll do so the moment Crocodile rears his ugly mug."
Nodding her head, Caenis precluded herself from further discussion by promptly leaping back onto the Merry. Shortly after, Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo split off from the main group, flying over to Alubarna, while Lucy, Zoro, Usopp, Nami, Chloe, Illya, and Ruby made their way to Rainbase. This left Caenis and Atalanta to watch over the Merry while Benienma, as usual, lurked in the shadows...
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Though the Desert Island of Alabasta was one of the largest in the first half of the Grand Line, it only took a few minutes for Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo to reach their destination, a massive city built atop an artificial, perfectly circular plateau.
Situated on the northern edge of the plateau, towering above every other building, was the colossal Alubarna Palace. It vaguely resembled the Taj Mahal from Thomas's previous world, but the domes were constructed from solid gold while a rampart more than 50m tall elevated the structure above the rest of the city.
With Vivi's permission, Astolfo instructed Griff to land directly on the Palace's roof. The centermost dome contained a lush garden that served as King Cobra's rest area, so Vivi was confident they could find her father inside. If not, they would doubtlessly encounter one of the 100,000 Royal Guards that operated in and around the oversized structure.
Providing Vivi hope that everything was normal, well, as normal as they could be given the ongoing drought, guards began to gather the moment they landed. Better yet, they immediately recognized her, shouting things like, "Princess Vivi has returned!" and "Inform the King at once!"
Hearing the Royal Guards' exclamations, much of Vivi's worries dissipated. She was a little overwhelmed by the flurry of questions that followed, but the smile on her face made it clear she was happy to be home.
Interrupting the joyous atmosphere, a fairly tall, sword-wielding man with raven-black hair and brown skin emerged from the central dome. He had a naturally grim countenance, but it lightened when he saw Vivi, a rare smile adorning his face as he said, "Welcome back, Princess. I have been asked to escort you to your father."
Smiling even more radiantly than usual, Vivi exclaimed, "Chaka! It's so good to see you!" before calming herself and asking, "How have things been while I was away? Is my father okay?"
Nodding his head, Chaka adopted a serious expression as he replied, "His Majesty's health continues to deteriorate, but his will remains as strong as ever."
Hearing the first half of Chaka's response, Vivi's enthusiasm waned. Her father had been suffering from a debilitating illness most of her life. The drought and the subsequent rebellion had exacerbated his condition, so even though he was only 48 years old, Cobra was forced to remain in the Palace.
"Please, take me to my father," said Vivi, her expression and tone abruptly becoming resolute.
Lowering his head slightly, Chaka replied, "As you will, Princess..." before raising his gaze to scrutinize Thomas and Astolfo. The moment he did so, Vivi said, "These are my companions, Thomas Jensen and Astolfo. They have come to Alabasta to lend their support. I trust them with my life and would have them accompany me to meet my father."
Though it was a little unorthodox, Chaka didn't hesitate to reply, "Very well," before turning to lead the way. This was far from the first time Vivi had brought one of her 'friends' into the Palace, but even more than that, Chakra trusted in her judgment. If she believed that Thomas and Astolfo could aid them, he wouldn't question them...
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After wandering through spacious halls better suited to giants than ordinary people, Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo found themselves in a room that smelled of herbs and incense. There, a bedridden man with dark skin, sharp eyes, wavy black hair, and a three-pronged beard awaited them, his body garbed in a loose green robe.
Seeing the man, Vivi exclaimed, "Father!" before running over to embrace him. Her actions caused the man to grunt, but the smile never left his face as he gently caressed Vivi's back and replied, "My beloved daughter. You have finally returned to me..."
Releasing her father, Vivi began to tear up but managed to avoid crying as she revealed, "And I didn't come alone; I brought back someone who can save our Kingdom. He may even be able to treat your illness..."
Directing his gaze to Thomas and Astolfo, Cobra maintained his smile as he said, "Thank you for returning my daughter to me. I'll have the guards arrange you a place to stay. I'm sure you're tired after your travels, so we will discuss this matter once you've had the opportunity to rest. For now, please leave us. My daughter and I have much to catch up on..."
Following Cobra's words, Chaka said, "Follow me," before attempting to lead the way out of the room. Instead of following him, however, Thomas held Cobra's gaze and asked, "Are you truly the King of Alabasta?"
Not expecting Thomas's question, Chaka, Vivi, and Cobra himself found themselves at a loss for words. The first to recover was Chaka, shouting, "Even if you are the Princess's friend, you cannot disrespect the King in such a manner...!"
Waving his hand, Cobra said, "That's enough, Chaka. I'm sure our friend here has his reasons for asking such a question."
Bowing slightly, Chaka replied, "Your Majesty is too kind..." before raising his head and directing a 'warning' look at Thomas.
Ignoring the raven-haired swordsman, Thomas continued holding the King's gaze, asserting, "I do. Now, please answer my question..." with a serious expression on his face.
Recalling Thomas's explanation of Mr 2 and his abilities, Vivi promptly separated from her father, causing him to stare at her incredulously as he asked, "Vivi? Do you also suspect me of being an imposter...?"
Instead of answering her father's question, Vivi became serious as she said, "Please answer Tom's question..."
Furrowing his brows slightly, Cobra looked between Vivi, Thomas, and Chaka before stating, I am Nefertari Cobra, the King of Alabasta. Who else-"
Before Cobra could finish speaking, Benienma promptly emerged from Vivi's shadow, whisking her away as she exclaimed, "He's lying...!" in a certain, no-nonsense tone.
In response to Benienma appearing and snatching Vivi, Chaka attempted to draw his sword but was prevented from doing so as Astolfo shouted, "Trap of Argalia...!" before stabbing him in the thigh with her lance. The moment it pierced his flesh, he felt like the world had been flipped on its head, forcing him to stumble face-first into the ground.
While Chaka was temporarily out of commission, Thomas charged toward the man on the bed, shouting, "The jig is up, Bon Clay! Now, tell us, where is the 'real' King Cobra...!?"
Though he initially had an expression of shock on his face, Cobra became serious the moment he heard Thomas's words, flipping backward like an acrobat to evade the latter's charge.
Instead of answering Thomas's question, the false Cobra inhaled a deep breath before shouting, "Guards! Come quick! The Princess is an imposter, and her friends are assassins sent by the rebel army!"
"Oh, fuck no..." said Thomas, aiming his finger at the imposter and firing a laser through his abdomen. It was only around a third the actual speed of light, but that was far beyond the ability of most people to dodge.
Not expecting such a swift attack, the false Cobra's eyes widened as the thin beam pierced cleanly through his body. Then, as Chaka rose to his feet and several other guards rushed into the room, his body 'flickered' violently before his face turned into that of a grimacing man wearing very heavy makeup...
...
..
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(A/N: Admiral Kizaru would like to know your location...)

Chapter 81: Helplessness