"Huh? That kid? A skinny little guy like him chased off a whole group of desert bandits?" Igaram looked skeptically at Takumi, who had already walked past him. He couldn't see anything in this rude, arrogant kid that screamed "expert."
Takumi didn't bother acknowledging him and kept walking towards the inn.
Igaram frowned, "Pell, are you sure you've got the right guy?"
"No mistake," Pell said, watching Takumi's figure disappear into the distance. "Everyone in the tavern saw it. I trust the people of Alabasta wouldn't lie to me."
Vivi's eyes lit up as she excitedly asked, "Pell, do you know how he chased away those desert bandits?"
Pell nodded and continued, "The folks in the tavern said Takumi dodged all the bullets the bandits shot at him, and when they tried to slash him with swords, their blades shattered, but he wasn't even scratched. Plus, he smashed the leader's weapon to pieces with his bare hands."
"Wow, really? Takumi is amazing!" Vivi said excitedly. "Even though he seems cold and distant, I bet he's just tough on the outside and warm on the inside. Otherwise, he wouldn't have chased away those evil bandits or saved me when I got kidnapped."
"Exactly," Pell nodded in agreement. "That's what I think too."
"Right, right!" Vivi beamed. "He doesn't look much older than me, but he's so strong. Takumi saved not just me, but the people of Alabasta too. He's a hero, and we can't let a hero go unappreciated. Pell, Igaram, I want to invite Takumi to the palace and treat him well. What do you think?"
"I think that's a good idea," Pell said with a smile.
Igaram, who wasn't too thrilled about it at first, finally gave in after seeing how excited and hopeful Vivi was. "Even though I can't stand that rude brat's arrogance, he did save you, Princess Vivi, so… alright, fine."
"Great!" Vivi cheered. "I'm going to invite him right now."
With that, Vivi was about to run off in the direction Takumi had gone.
But Igaram quickly grabbed her arm. "Princess Vivi, it's already so late, and King Cobra is still worried about you. I think it'd be better if you head back to the palace first. Let Pell go invite him."
Pell: "…"
Vivi pouted, "If Pell goes, it'll seem insincere. I should be the one to go. How about Pell comes with me, and Igaram, you can go back and let my father know I'm safe."
"Huh?" Igaram was taken aback. "Why can't I go with you, Princess Vivi? Can't Pell be the one to deliver the news?"
"Because Pell has already met Takumi once," Vivi explained with a smile. "Besides, Igaram, you don't seem to like Takumi much, and it looks like he doesn't like you either. If you come with me, it might backfire. So it's best if Pell comes with me, and you go reassure my father."
With that, Vivi grabbed Pell's arm and started running off to catch up with Takumi.
Igaram stood there, stunned, then turned his back, tears streaming down his face. "So I'm just going to make things worse, huh? Princess Vivi, that's a bit harsh…"
Takumi walked silently along the road back to the inn.
He hadn't gone far when the system notification suddenly popped up in his mind.
[Ding! You've gained Vivi's favor. Mission progress +20%. Current total progress: 70%. Shunpo level +1. Current Shunpo level: Lv4.]
Takumi felt his body become even lighter.
He paused for a moment, feeling a bit speechless.
Gained Vivi's favor?
What did he do?
Wasn't that failed rescue attempt earlier?
So why didn't it trigger Vivi's favor immediately?
It had to be because that guy Pell—who ate the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Falcon, and is known as "Pell the Falcon"—told Vivi about his deeds in that small town…
Anyway, it turned out alright in the end. At least saving Vivi wasn't for nothing.
Without thinking about it any further, Takumi kept walking.
But before long, Vivi and Pell caught up to him.
"Takumi, wait up!" Vivi called out, running in front of Takumi to block his path.
Takumi stopped, feeling a bit annoyed.
Vivi smiled and said, "Thank you for saving the people of Alabasta, and thank you for saving me. So, I'd like to invite you to the palace and treat you well."
"No thanks," Takumi replied bluntly, stepping around Vivi and continuing on his way to the inn.
Vivi was stunned for a moment, then looked a bit upset as she watched him walk away. "Pell, do you think he hates me?"
"I don't think so," Pell replied. "That's just how he is. When I asked him questions in that tavern, he didn't say a word either. His companion, a red-haired guy, did all the talking."
"Red-haired guy?" Vivi paused, thinking. "But earlier today, I only saw him with a camel. There wasn't any red-haired guy."
Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, and Vivi quickly asked, "Pell, when did you see Takumi and his companion?"
Pell thought for a moment and answered, "About twenty days ago."
Vivi continued, "And is that small town far from Alubarna?"
"If you're riding a camel, it takes about ten to fifteen days to get here."
"Ah, then I think I've got it," Vivi's face went pale. "If it only takes fifteen days at most to reach Alubarna, but he took twenty days, what happened during those extra five days?"
Pell was shocked. "Princess Vivi, you're suggesting that something happened to Takumi's companion during those five extra days?"
Vivi nodded seriously. "Exactly. We know the terrain of Alabasta well. Even for locals, traveling through the desert isn't completely safe, let alone for outsiders… So, that red-haired friend of Takumi's must have met with misfortune, and Takumi's feeling awful about it. That's why he's so distant and doesn't want anyone around him."
Pell was silent for a moment. Although he wanted to tell Vivi she was probably overthinking it—since the chances of something like that happening were slim—he decided not to burst her bubble. Instead, he nodded and said, "Maybe you're right."
"See, I knew it," Vivi said, clenching her fists as she looked at Takumi's distant figure. "I've made up my mind. I'm going to help him overcome the loss of his friend!"
******
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