"Takumi, you'd better cooperate with us. This is Alabasta, not a place where you can just do as you please. Even if you don't care about giving me, the captain of the Royal Guard, any respect, at least show some for Princess Vivi, who's been speaking up for you. If you're innocent, we'll make sure this whole thing gets sorted out and clear your name!" Igaram was only holding back because Vivi was here. Otherwise, he would've already tried to arrest Takumi by force.
A regular person might have been moved by those words and agreed to cooperate.
But Takumi wasn't one to be tied down. Unless he chose to go along with something, no one could make him do anything.
"I'll say this one last time," Takumi said, his expression cold. "Move."
Seeing that Takumi wasn't budging, Igaram was about to ask for Vivi's permission to arrest him.
But the murmuring of the onlookers around them only added to the pressure.
Igaram couldn't wait any longer and gave the order: "Grab him, now!"
"No, Igaram, stop! Let go of me!" Vivi tried to intervene, even attempting to physically stop the guards, but Igaram held her back.
The guards, following their orders, began advancing on Takumi with their weapons drawn.
Takumi flexed his legs.
As the guards got close, he suddenly kicked out, sending a white slash wave toward them. In a split second, the guards in front of him were knocked back, flying through the air.
Immediately, the air filled with screams and shouts of panic.
Takumi lowered his leg and looked at the guards he had just sent flying. They were clutching their bodies in pain, their clothes torn, but thankfully not bleeding.
Looks like Rankyaku at level one isn't powerful enough yet.
Without dwelling on it, Takumi started walking again. As he moved, the crowd parted in front of him, everyone too scared to get in his way.
Vivi's eyes were wide as she covered her mouth in shock, staring at Takumi's retreating back in disbelief.
Igaram's face had gone pale, and he clenched his fists, quickly chasing after Takumi.
He was the captain of the Royal Guard. His men had been injured, and the one who did it was suspected of being an accomplice to a murderer. There was no way he could let Takumi walk away from this!
Catching up to Takumi, Igaram swung his leg, aiming a swift kick at him.
Takumi sidestepped.
Igaram flew past him but quickly regained his footing, pulling back his leg and throwing a palm strike at Takumi.
Takumi chuckled, raising his right hand and extending his index finger. Gathering all his strength into his finger, he hardened it with Armament Haki and struck Igaram's palm.
In an instant, a sharp pain shot through Igaram's hand, forcing him to pull back. He looked down to see a bloody hole in his palm, blood dripping onto the ground.
"What… what are you?" Igaram had doubted Pell's story that this kid had single-handedly taken on desert bandits. Now, he believed it. But he couldn't understand why someone who had helped others by driving off bandits would refuse to cooperate with him. Was he hiding something?
Takumi didn't care what Igaram was thinking, nor was he interested in finding out.
He flexed his fingers. It seemed that Shigan's level one attack was stronger than Rankyaku's.
Vivi and the surrounding crowd were left speechless, their mouths hanging open in shock.
Takumi wasn't about to answer Igaram's questions. He was just about to continue on his way when—
Igaram, ignoring the pain in his hand, drew his gun and pointed it at Takumi's head. "You're leaving me no choice. I didn't want to hurt you."
With that, he pulled the trigger.
"No!" Vivi cried, running toward Takumi and Igaram.
Takumi sidestepped, easily dodging the bullet.
But in that split second, Vivi had unknowingly stepped right into the bullet's path.
"Princess Vivi, get out of the way!" Igaram shouted in panic when he saw her.
Vivi froze, staring at the oncoming bullet with wide eyes. She wanted to move, but her legs felt like they were made of lead.
If nothing stopped it, that bullet would go right through her forehead.
As Takumi dodged the bullet, he noticed Vivi standing there, not moving, and couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed.
Without a word, Takumi drew his sword, Sandai Kitetsu, and slashed at the bullet. His powerful, invisible sword energy cut the bullet in half as easily as slicing through tofu, sending the two halves flying past Vivi's head, just grazing her hair.
Vivi's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
Igaram let out a sigh of relief when he saw she was unharmed.
The crowd around them also relaxed a bit, their hearts still pounding.
Takumi sheathed his sword and walked calmly past Igaram.
He had only saved Vivi to avoid unnecessary trouble.
After all, Vivi was Alabasta's only princess and beloved by the entire nation. If she had died, Takumi wouldn't just be facing the kingdom's army but the wrath of the entire population.
Not that he cared about how many enemies he might face, but if the whole country turned against him, he wouldn't be able to walk into a tavern for a drink anymore.
Besides, his task in Alabasta wasn't complete yet. He still wasn't sure if the remaining 30% progress was connected to Vivi.
So, Vivi couldn't die just yet.
This time, Igaram didn't try to stop Takumi. Instead, he rushed over to Vivi and helped her to her feet.
"Princess Vivi, are you alright?" Igaram said, guilt-ridden. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't fired my gun, you wouldn't have been in danger."
"I'm… I'm fine," Vivi said quickly, grabbing Igaram's injured hand. "But your hand…"
"It's nothing, just a scratch," Igaram said with a forced smile.
The crowd also seemed relieved.
The injured guards, despite their pain, slowly made their way over to Igaram and Vivi.
One of the guards asked, "Captain, should we keep going after that guy, Takumi?"
Igaram gritted his teeth and looked at Vivi. "Princess Vivi, you should head back to the palace."
"Wait, Igaram, are you really going after Takumi? You're no match for him. Don't go after him! He's saved me twice now. If he really were that murderer's accomplice, why would he save me?" Vivi said, shocked.
"Princess Vivi, you're still young. There are many things you don't understand," Igaram sighed. "I'm grateful he saved you twice, but he's still a suspect. I have to bring him in for questioning. Leave the rest to me. You need to go back now, alright?"
"No, I won't!"
"Guards, escort the princess back to the palace," Igaram ordered.
"Yes, Captain! Princess, please come with us back to the palace." The appointed guard gestured for Vivi to follow.
Vivi wanted to refuse, but seeing the guard's battered state and glancing at the exhausted Igaram, she bit her lip, turned, and ran toward the palace.
After Vivi left, Igaram turned to another guard and said, "I can't handle that guy alone. Go get Pell and bring that murderer along too."
******
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