After bidding farewell once again to Dorry and Brogy, the Going Merry sailed into the vast open sea.
And soon enough, trouble began brewing.
Sandy insisted on finding a doctor, while Nami firmly opposed it. Vivi stood torn between the two, conflicted.
Just moments ago, Vivi had read the latest newspaper Nami handed her, and what she saw had her pale with worry.
"Everyone," Vivi began anxiously, "the Royal Army had seventy million soldiers while the rebels had forty million. But thirty million of the Royal Army have defected! The situation has completely reversed!"
Nami tried to comfort her. "Vivi, don't worry too much. We'll reach Alabasta as fast as possible. Once we expose Crocodile's true face to everyone, the war will stop before it begins."
Vivi gave a small, grateful nod. "Thank you…"
Luffy grinned from the side. "We'll just go beat up Crocodile!"
Nami glared at him. "You've said that a dozen times already! Say it again and I'll throw you overboard!"
Sandy chuckled coldly. "You two are being way too naive. This is a war of millions. You think a few words from Vivi will stop it?"
Vivi frowned. "So I should just do nothing?"
Sandy raised a brow. "Do you even have solid proof that Crocodile's the one behind this? And even if you do—how will you stop a war that's already begun?"
Vivi protested, "As long as I tell my father and Koza—the rebel leader—what I've discovered, they'll stop the fighting!"
Sandy sighed and shook his head. "You're thinking too simply. What kind of misunderstanding escalates to millions fighting each other? Let's say you tell your father about Crocodile's plan—but Koza doesn't know yet. What happens when they meet on the battlefield?"
Sanji scratched his chin. "Then… the side with fewer numbers might hesitate, and the battle turns one-sided?"
Vivi's eyes widened, though she insisted, "I'll definitely find Koza! I won't let that happen."
Sandy was about to respond when Sanji interjected sharply, "Hey, be gentle when you talk to a lady, got it?"
Sandy slapped his forehead. "I'm trying to make her think! Listen, Vivi—what if Koza isn't there? What if he's already dead? What then? You need to realize this isn't something solved by words."
Vivi clenched her fists. "Then what, everything I've done is meaningless?!"
Nami shot Sandy a glare. "What he's trying to say, Vivi, is that we should find a doctor for me first before heading back to Alabasta."
Sandy took a deep breath, regaining his composure, "Look. Crocodile's been planning this for years. He's not an amateur—he'll have traps everywhere."
"If we charge in blindly, we're just walking into his net. Think this through before rushing home, or you'll just get caught too."
Vivi hesitated, thinking it over. "Then… what do you suggest we do?"
Luffy crossed his arms. "Let's just go defeat Crocodile!"
Zoro added, "Even if we do, what about the rest of Alabasta? The rebellion won't just vanish."
Usopp groaned. "So what, we split up? Some deal with Crocodile, others stop the war?"
Sandy nodded. "That would be safer. But remember—Baroque Works has powerful agents hiding all over Alabasta. We'd have to be careful about how we divide our strength."
Luffy clenched his fists. "Leave Crocodile to me!"
Sandy rolled his eyes. "He's a Logia-type, the Sand-Sand Fruit user. You don't even know Haki! You'd just get buried alive. I'll go—I'll slice him apart myself."
Usopp threw up his hands. "There he goes again! Why do you always want to cut people?!"
Sandy shrugged. "He's an enemy. What, should I invite him to dinner instead?"
Nami sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine. We'll go to Alabasta first. Once we land, we'll split up and handle things from there."
Vivi bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, everyone… This isn't your fight, yet you've chosen to help me. I'm truly—"
Sandy interrupted coolly, "Don't mention it. We'll deal with all that once we're on land."
Then he pointed straight at Nami. "Right now, the most important thing is finding a doctor. Nami, you're sick and need treatment."
Thud!
Nami's fist slammed into his head, followed by Sanji's kick.
Sanji barked, "You idiot! Stop cursing Miss Nami!"
Nami huffed. "I told you I'm fine!"
But before she could finish, the world spun around her—and she collapsed.
"Miss Nami!" Vivi cried, catching her before she hit the deck.
Everyone turned toward Sandy in shock.
Sandy crossed his arms. "What? Was I wrong? You idiots never listen."
Usopp gasped. "You really can curse people!"
Luffy yelled, "Oh no! Nami's been cursed by Sandy! Don't die, Nami!"
Sandy groaned. "Are you all stupid? Didn't you see the mark on her stomach earlier?"
Without hesitation, he lifted Nami's top slightly—revealing black spots spreading across her abdomen.
"See that?" he said grimly. "It's an infection. Some kind of jungle virus. We need a doctor, fast."
Everyone froze.
Usopp's jaw dropped. "So you were… actually right?"
Sanji paled. "No way… Miss Nami, you're not gonna—"
Vivi snapped, "Everyone, enough! Help her inside to rest!"
As they carried her, Nami weakly muttered, "Wait… the wind's shifting… turn left—quickly…"
Sanji nodded. "Got it!"
Moments later, they all froze in terror.
On the far horizon, a massive tornado—nearly seven hundred meters wide—was spinning violently across the sea.
The entire crew stood dumbfounded, realizing that if not for Nami's quick command, they'd have sailed straight into it.
When they finally steadied the ship, Usopp noticed Sandy taking a fighting stance again.
"Uh… Sandy? What are you doing?"
Sandy glared at the tornado. "That damn thing tried to kill us. I'm gonna cut it."
Thud! Thud!
He was immediately smacked down by everyone nearby.
"Cutting again?! Why do you always want to cut everything?!"
"You psycho! You'll wreck the current again—we'll all sink!"
As the crew argued, Zoro turned to Nami. "Navigator, tell us the heading before you rest."
Nami, pale and sweating, whispered, "Sail… in that direction. If the weather changes, wake me…"
Sandy stopped the others, standing protectively beside her.
"Nami," he said quietly, "are you really still planning to go straight to Alabasta? You need treatment first…"