The night passed in uneasy silence.
As Vivi returned to her room, she caught a glimpse of Nami sitting on her bed, her arms crossed and eyes closed. It was unclear whether she was asleep or simply pretending, but Vivi didn't dare disturb her.
She let out a quiet sigh and slipped under the covers.
Her mind raced with thoughts of Luffy's words. His knowledge, his confidence, and the sheer control he had over the situation left her both relieved and terrified.
Did she really just trust a pirate with the fate of her kingdom?
As doubt filled her mind, exhaustion took over, and she drifted into a restless sleep.
The sun rose, casting a warm glow over the calm sea as the Going Merry sailed smoothly toward Whiskey Peak.
Nami, fully rested, stretched and yawned, stepping onto the deck. She noticed Vivi standing near the railing, staring at the horizon with a troubled expression.
"Morning," Nami greeted, rubbing her eyes.
Vivi flinched slightly but nodded. "Good morning, Nami-san."
Sanji instantly appeared out of nowhere, twirling like an idiot. "Ah, my beautiful Miss Wednesday! Did you sleep well? Would you like a freshly prepared breakfast from my heart?"
Vivi gave him a nervous smile. "Uh… thanks, Sanji-san, but I'm not really hungry."
Nami raised an eyebrow at how uncomfortable Vivi looked.
Then, something clicked in her mind.
She looked back at Vivi. Something's off.
Nami turned toward Usopp, who was lazily adjusting some ropes. "Hey, long nose."
"Oi! My name is Usopp!" he complained.
"Yeah, yeah," she waved him off. "What do you know about Miss Wednesday?"
Usopp perked up. "Oh, you didn't hear? She's actually the princess of Alabasta!"
Nami froze.
"...What?"
"Oh yeah!" Usopp continued, completely oblivious to the way Nami's face was slowly morphing into pure greed. "Her real name is Nefertari Vivi, and she's trying to stop a civil war caused by a Warlord named Crocodile."
Nami's eyes widened.
Then, a slow, devilish grin crept onto her face.
She whirled around and grabbed Vivi's shoulders. "You're a princess?!"
Vivi, caught off guard, stammered. "Y-yes…?"
Nami's eyes sparkled. "And you need our help, right?"
Vivi gulped, sensing the predatory look in Nami's eyes. "...Yes?"
Nami's smile widened.
"Then…" She leaned in closer, whispering in a sickeningly sweet voice, "How much are you willing to pay us to solve your problem?"
Vivi's jaw dropped.
Sanji instantly intervened, pushing Nami away. "Nami-swan! How could you exploit a poor princess in distress?!"
Nami crossed her arms. "I'm just saying, saving a kingdom is a big job. Big jobs need big rewards!"
Luffy, who had been watching silently, suddenly let out a chuckle.
Nami turned toward him. "What's so funny?"
Luffy smirked. "Nothing. Just expected this from you."
Nami pouted. "Hey! It's a valid concern!"
Vivi, meanwhile, sweatdropped. What kind of people have I joined…?
As the ship continued toward Whiskey Peak, Luffy made an important announcement.
"Alright, listen up!" His tone carried authority, making everyone turn toward him. "From now on, everyone trains."
Zoro grinned. "Tch. About time."
Sanji cracked his knuckles. "I could use some exercise."
Usopp paled. "W-Wait, what do you mean everyone? I'm already strong!"
Luffy tilted his head. "Oh? So you can fight a Warlord of the Sea?"
Usopp immediately dropped to his knees. "C-CAPTAIN, PLEASE TRAIN ME!"
Luffy grinned. "Good answer."
With that, the Going Merry became a training ground.
Zoro went straight to work, increasing his weight training by using the ship's anchor.
He performed push-ups with it on his back, lifted it above his head, and even used it for squats.
Luffy watched and nodded. He'll be fine.
Sanji focused on leg strength, using only his legs to maneuver around the ship at insane speeds.
To increase difficulty, he cooked meals while balancing on one foot, dodging incoming attacks from Usopp's slingshot.
Luffy personally oversaw Usopp's training.
"Alright, shoot that moving target." Luffy flickered around the ship using Soru, forcing Usopp to track his movements.
Sweat dripped down Usopp's face as he tried to anticipate Luffy's next position.
'This is insane!'
But he gritted his teeth and fired.
Though she wasn't a fighter, Nami reluctantly agreed to train.
She practiced agility drills, using a rope to swing around the ship while avoiding obstacles.
She also trained in map reading under pressure, preparing for quick decision-making.
Despite being a princess, Vivi found herself dragged into training—specifically by Sanji.
"Sanji-san, please! I'm not a fighter!" she protested.
Sanji grinned. "That's why you need training!"
With that, he made her run laps around the ship.
Days passed in grueling training, with everyone improving their skills.
Finally, as dawn broke, land came into view.
Whiskey Peak stood tall on the horizon, its rocky terrain lined with hundreds of cacti.
A small port came into view, and at first glance, it looked welcoming.
Vivi clenched her fists.
'This is where the real test begins.'
Luffy, standing at the front of the ship, smirked.
"Let's begin."