Vivi Agrees
Kaido's expression hardened, and a terrifying, invisible wave spread outward toward the surrounding royal guards.
In an instant, a massive number of royal guards lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.
A series of heavy thuds echoed through the air.
Rebecca turned pale with fright. *'To think he's this terrifying,'* she thought.
*'Yet I wasn't affected at all. Did he intentionally spare me?'*
On the other side, Cobra and Vivi wore expressions of sheer terror.
Under this man's Conqueror's Haki, the royal guards had absolutely no ability to resist.
Kaido chuckled.
"Just be a good girl and come with me, Princess Vivi. You wouldn't want me to do anything even more excessive, now would you?"
Vivi seethed with anger. *'What a despicable man.'*
*'To think he dares to threaten me like this. If I refuse, there's no telling what evil deeds he might commit.'*
Suddenly, she thought of a countermeasure.
"Kaido, my Alabasta Kingdom is an affiliated nation of the World Government! If you lay a hand on me, the World Government and the Marines won't let you get away with it!"
Kaido was actually a bit surprised.
*'She's actually trying to use the World Government and the Marines to pressure me?'*
However, he replied with utter indifference.
"The World Government might be a slight hassle for me, but you can forget about the Marines."
"And I'm not afraid to tell you this: if the Emperor of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets were to make a move, the World Government wouldn't have the slightest power to resist."
"Make your choice. Do I knock you out and drag you away, or are you going to come quietly?"
*'After I finish up here, I still have to head to the North Blue to find Reiju of the Vinsmoke Family,'* he thought.
*'To think that one day, I'd end up as nothing more than an errand boy.'*
His mood instantly soured.
Hearing Kaido's words, Cobra was completely stunned.
He hadn't expected this Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets to have absolutely no fear of the World Government or the Celestial Dragons.
*'Where on earth do they get such confidence?'*
Although he wasn't entirely clear on the origins of the Celestial Dragons, he vaguely harbored some grim suspicions.
The Celestial Dragons called themselves World Nobles, styling themselves as descendants of the Creators and enjoying every conceivable privilege.
Yet, his own ancestors had renounced their status as Celestial Dragons and abandoned their right to reside atop the Red Line.
There had to be a massive secret behind that decision.
However, his ancestors had never passed it down.
Now, he actually found himself hoping that Vivi would go through with the political marriage.
If they could secure the Empire's assistance, they might be able to uncover the truth of the past in the future, not to mention gaining a tremendous military force.
Anyone capable of making Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, submit was undoubtedly both mysterious and overwhelmingly powerful.
But ultimately, the decision still rested with Vivi.
Vivi felt a deep sense of helplessness.
*'Not even the World Government and the Marines can pressure him?'*
Though, in truth, she hadn't actually expected the World Government or the Marines to stick their necks out for her anyway.
They were naturally inactive when it came to helping others, only ever acting to protect their own interests.
Resigned, she spoke.
"Fine, I agree."
She simply had no means of resistance left.
Kaido was thoroughly pleased.
*'Looks like that's another one down. Now, only the eldest daughter of the Vinsmoke Family, Reiju, is left.'*
*'I heard before that the Vinsmoke Family was arranging a political marriage with the Big Mom Pirates, but Linlin is truly petty. To think she actually planned to steal their secrets and then wipe them out.'*
*'But this time, it's a genuine political marriage. There won't be any treachery here.'*
As for Princess Vivi standing before him, she was clearly just an ordinary person. She had absolutely no way to cross the treacherous waters surrounding Wano Country.
Without the ability to fly, navigating those seas was a deadly challenge for anyone.
The unpredictable weather changes.
The violent storms, and the massive tsunamis.
Kaido directly transformed into his massive blue dragon form.
He fixed his gaze on Princess Vivi.
"Climb onto my back."
Cobra suddenly spoke up.
"I need to say a word to Vivi."
He walked over to his daughter's side and whispered.
"Vivi, if you get the chance, earn this man's trust. It might be of great help to our future."
Vivi was incredibly surprised. Why did it seem like her father actually wanted her to go through with this marriage? Hadn't he been vehemently against it at first?
"Father, why?"
Cobra sighed helplessly.
"I can't explain it clearly right now. Perhaps you'll understand in the future."
Even he didn't fully understand it himself at the moment; it was merely a strong premonition.
Vivi felt a wave of resignation.
"Alright."
Her aversion to this political marriage had lessened somewhat.
If her father was saying this, he definitely had his reasons.
Having grown up in the royal court, she naturally understood that political marriages were a way to secure tremendous support. Perhaps this was one of those times.
*'But what kind of man will my future husband be?'*
After letting out a sigh, she walked toward Kaido.
By this time, Rebecca had already hopped onto Kaido's back.
She reached out a hand and pulled Princess Vivi up.
Only then did Kaido summon his flame clouds, soaring into the sky and flying straight toward the north.
The Vinsmoke Family was located in the North Blue.
It wasn't long before they ascended high into the clouds.
Vivi looked at Rebecca, finding her somewhat familiar, and couldn't help but ask.
"You're Rebecca from the Dressrosa Kingdom, aren't you?"
"Why are you here?"
Rebecca replied with a helpless smile.
"For the same reason as you. I'm also being married off to that Emperor of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets."
A look of astonishment crossed Vivi's face.
*'So that's how it is. There are actually others besides me.'*
*'Damn it, what a greedy man.'*
"Did he threaten you like this too?"
Rebecca sighed.
"Yes. And he's threatened other prominent figures as well. There's Princess Shirahoshi of Fish-Man Island, and the Pirate Empress of Amazon Lily. Now, I'm guessing we're heading to the North Blue for the Vinsmoke Family."
Vivi was utterly shocked. These were all princesses of their respective nations, or even an empress in her own right.
The Vinsmoke Family held the status of absolute overlords in the North Blue.
Their daughter was naturally the equivalent of a princess as well.
Feeling a mix of anger and confusion, she wondered, *'Just what exactly is this guy trying to do?'*
Suddenly, a realization hit her. This man wasn't merely lusting after their beauty; he was likely trying to seize control of the nations behind them through these political marriages.
Her heart instantly sank.
*'If that's the case, doesn't that mean Father has played right into his hands?'*
One day later.
The Straw Hat Pirates entered the waters of Wano Country.
However, the sea was calm and the sun was shining brightly.
It didn't look like a dangerous stretch of ocean at all.
Nami frowned, muttering to herself.
"How strange. Have we really arrived at Wano Country? The waters here are so mild that I almost thought we'd sailed back to the East Blue."
Among the four seas, the conditions in the East Blue were relatively peaceful and far less perilous.
In contrast, the waters surrounding Wano Country were notoriously treacherous.
The sheer danger of this area alone was enough to deter a massive number of pirates from ever entering.
Hearing Nami's words, Sanji was equally puzzled.
"But Zoro's Vivre Card is pointing this way, and it wouldn't lie."
"Let's just keep moving forward."
"This kind of weather is perfect. We'll be able to reach Wano Country without a hitch."
Nami nodded.
"Following the direction of the Vivre Card naturally won't lead us astray. But weather that's *this* normal might actually be a sign of something abnormal."
Soon, they arrived at the base of a massive island. The only way up was a single, towering waterfall.
Luffy shouted in excitement.
"Zoro, Franky, Robin, and Chopper are right up there! We should be able to see them really soon!"
Then, following the giant koi fish swimming upstream, they scaled the waterfall.
They entered the inland sea, their journey completely peaceful and uneventful.
Finally, they successfully set foot on the soil of Wano Country.