The instant their undercover agent was exposed, the "peace-loving" townsfolk shed their disguises.
Robes fluttered to the ground, and a glittering forest of blades, chains, and pistols appeared where modest cloth had been a heartbeat earlier.
Even the solemn nun at the bar tore away her habit—revealing arms packed with enough muscle to bench-press a Sea King.
Nami's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Wh-What kind of nun looks like that?!"
One thug noticed Shiki's back was exposed while the blond pirate cradled Vivi. Slipping a long knife from his sleeve, he crept in for a silent stab—only for Shiki to sense the murderous aura the instant it flickered.
Boom!
An invisible force yanked the would-be assassin skyward. He tore straight through the wooden ceiling, vanishing into the blue like a misfired cannonball.
Moonlight streamed through the fresh hole, washing over a room now frozen in fear.
Nami swallowed and tilted her head, watching the black speck disappear into the clouds.
"…Note to self," she murmured, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, "never, ever make him angry."
Yet stupidity still lingered in the room.
A scrawny local, veins pulsing with desperation, decided Shiki was untouchable but his navigator wasn't. Cruel intent flashed in his eyes.
With a sharp flick, he loosed a steel dart straight at Nami, aiming to turn her into leverage.
Ffff-whip!
The projectile sliced the air, shrieking like a banshee as it rocketed toward its mark—fast enough to punch clean through a cannon barrel.
Nami's eyes widened as the dart tore through the air toward her.
"W-Wait—!"
She tried to move, but her body refused to react in time. All she could do was flinch, squeeze her eyes shut, and brace herself for the sharp pain of metal piercing her flesh.
But...
Nothing happened.
One second passed, then another.
Nami's trembling eyelids slowly opened.
The dart had stopped less than a centimeter from her forehead.
It simply hung there in midair, caught by an invisible force.
"...Huh?"
Nami stared at it, her face turning pale as a cold bead of sweat rolled down her cheek.
A glacial light flashed through Shiki's eyes, cold enough to make it seem as though he intended to freeze everything before him.
In the next instant, every hostile person inside the room was seized by the invisible power of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi.
"W-What's happening?!"
Their feet were torn from the floor before any of them could react. Bodies flew wildly through the inn, smashing into the ground, crashing against the walls, and colliding with one another like helpless dolls.
BOOM!
The entire building trembled beneath the violent impact.
Hearing the deafening commotion from outside, Igaram hurried back toward the small inn.
However, the moment he stepped through the ruined entrance, his face turned pale.
Tables had been overturned.
The walls were cracked.
Bodies lay scattered across the floor but Igaram barely noticed any of it.
His eyes immediately found Vivi, who now stood completely at Shiki's mercy.
"VIVI!"
All reason vanished from Igaram's mind.
He knew the difference in strength between them was absurd. He knew rushing toward that man was no different from throwing away his life.
Even so, he charged forward without hesitation, desperate to protect the princess he had sworn to serve.
But before he could take more than a few steps—
SHLK!
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!"
A severed arm spun high through the air.
Blood sprayed across the floor as Igaram crashed down heavily, clutching the mangled stump of his shoulder while an agonized scream tore from his throat.
Vivi's face instantly lost all color.
"I-Igarappoi...!"
Her lips trembled as she stared at his severed arm and the blood spreading across the floor beneath him.
She wanted to call out to him. She wanted to beg him to stop.
But with Shiki's grip still tightening around her throat, she could not force out a single word.
Even if she could, she was terrified that anything Igarappoi did would only provoke Shiki further.
"Damn it...!"
Igarappoi gritted his teeth against the agony tearing through his shoulder. Then, with fury burning in his eyes, he turned toward the remaining Baroque Works agents.
"Attack him together!"
The agents clenched their weapons and prepared to rush forward.
However, before even one of them could take a step—
BZZZZZT!
Shiki's eyes flashed crimson.
A terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body and swept across the entire town in an instant.
The air itself seemed to buckle beneath the pressure.
Windows shattered.
The ground trembled.
Every Baroque Works agent caught within its range felt the force crash directly through their bodies. Blood rose in their throats as their insides were violently shaken, and one after another, their eyes rolled back until only the whites remained.
Thud.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Bodies collapsed throughout the inn and across the surrounding streets.
The strongest agents Baroque Works had stationed there fell like insects before a storm.
Igarappoi stared at the scene in stunned silence.
Not one of them had even managed to attack.
"Ghk...!"
A strained choking sound suddenly reached his ears.
Igarappoi's head snapped upward.
Vivi's face had turned red from the lack of air. Her hands clawed helplessly at her throat, but there was nothing she could do.
Shiki's power remained invincible, tightening around her neck without mercy.
At that moment, Igarappoi understood.
There was no fighting this man.
There was no escaping him either.
He had only one choice left.
He had to gamble everything on the truth.
"My lord... please!"
Ignoring the blood pouring from his shoulder, Igarappoi dropped to his knees. One hand remained clamped over the mangled stump as he bowed his head before Shiki.
"Please release Princess Vivi!"
His voice shook from pain and desperation.
"Her name is Nefertari Vivi! She is the princess of the Kingdom of Alabasta!"
The man known within Baroque Works as Igarappoi raised his pale face.
His true name was Igaram—captain of the Alabasta Royal Guard and a man who had sworn his life to protecting the princess.
"Please... let her go!"
"I... Igaram!"
The moment Vivi saw what he had done, a faint gleam of hope returned to her frightened eyes.
"Princess of Alabasta?"
Shiki repeated the title calmly.
The invisible force around Vivi's throat loosened slightly, finally allowing air to rush back into her lungs.
"G-Ghah...!"
Vivi gasped desperately, pressing a hand against her neck as she struggled to breathe.
Of course, Shiki had already known who she was.
Had they remained quiet and avoided causing such a commotion, he would never have needed to take things this far. But they had chosen to attack him and once someone raised a weapon against him, consequences naturally followed.
That was why Igaram had lost an arm.
Shiki's expression remained perfectly calm, as though everything that had happened was merely the inevitable result of their own foolish decision.
Nami, however, was anything but calm.
Her eyes widened, and she quickly covered her mouth in shock.
"A princess?!"
"If I remember correctly, Alabasta has recently fallen into civil unrest," Shiki said after pretending to consider the matter for a moment. "Wasn't it because King Nefertari Cobra secretly used Dance Powder to steal the rain from the rest of the kingdom?"
His face remained completely straight, as though he genuinely believed every word.
"That's impossible!"
Vivi had only just regained the ability to breathe and was still drawing in desperate lungfuls of air. Yet the moment she heard her father being accused, she forgot her fear and immediately raised her voice.
"My father would never do something like that! He would never steal water from his own people!"
Shiki looked at her calmly.
"Do you truly believe shouting at me is a wise decision?"
He did not raise his voice.
He did not frown or display even the slightest trace of anger.
Even so, those quiet words caused Vivi's entire body to stiffen.
"N-No..."
Her earlier courage vanished almost instantly. She swallowed nervously before forcing herself to continue.
"My father was framed by the leader of Baroque Works. Someone used his name to turn the people of Alabasta against him."
Vivi lowered her voice, but the desperation behind her words remained unmistakable.
"That is why I infiltrated Baroque Works with Igaram. We needed to discover who was behind the organization and uncover the truth before the entire kingdom destroyed itself."
Nami stared at her in surprise.
"So that's what's really happening..."
Shiki had already grown tired of listening to Vivi defend her father.
Without another word, he loosened the invisible grip around her neck and let her drop to the floor.
"Ah...!"
Vivi landed awkwardly and immediately rubbed her aching backside. Even so, she did not complain. She remained seated where she had fallen, too frightened to make any sudden movement, while her eyes followed Shiki's back.
He walked toward Igaram at an unhurried pace.
"Then tell me," Shiki said, looking down at him with mild interest. "What do I gain by letting you guys go? After all... you were the ones who messed with me first."
Igaram opened his mouth, however no answer came.
At present, he and Vivi possessed little more than their titles. They were far from Alabasta, stranded in enemy territory, and almost completely penniless. There was nothing valuable they could offer someone like Shiki.
More importantly, Shiki was a pirate.
Even if Igaram somehow promised him money, what guarantee was there that he would keep his word? He could take the reward and kill them afterward without hesitation.
Shiki watched the hesitation spread across his face.
"We're pirates," he said lightly. "You don't trust me. That's what you're thinking, isn't it?"
Igaram's expression stiffened.
Shiki gave a faint, indifferent shrug.
"If you have nothing to offer, then forget it."
His hand slowly moved toward the hilt of his sword.
Shiki was about to dispose of the entire group when a deafening explosion suddenly erupted outside.
BOOM!
The inn shook violently as a cloud of dust burst through the ruined entrance.
Igaram's eyes widened in horror.
"No...!"
He stared into the dust with a panicked expression.
"They're here!"
The cloud of dust stirred through the shattered inn, swallowing the entrance and making it impossible to see what had caused the explosion.
Nami's heart leaped into her throat.
They're here? Who exactly is Igaram talking about? More Baroque Works agents?
Without making a sound, she edged closer to Shiki's side. Considering what had just happened, staying near him suddenly felt like the safest place in the entire town.
The dust gradually began to settle.
Two shadows emerged from within the haze.
Their outlines passed through the light pouring into the ruined inn, slowly revealing themselves before Shiki and the others.
"So, it looks like you failed to complete your mission."
The one who spoke was a dark-skinned man with a large afro. His arms were folded across his chest, and he wore a brown outfit along with a smug expression that immediately made him unpleasant to look at.
It was Mr. 5.
Standing beside him was a young woman holding a small parasol over her shoulder. A sweet smile rested on her face, but the malicious glint in her eyes made it clear that there was nothing friendly about her.
Miss Valentine.
Shiki knew enough about the pair.
They were Officer Agents of Baroque Works, ranked considerably higher than the agents stationed in the town. Mr. 5 possessed the power of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, while Miss Valentine had eaten the Kilo-Kilo Fruit.
They had apparently been sent by Baroque Works to inspect the progress of the mission.
And they were far from the only partnership within the organization. Baroque Works had numerous paired agents scattered across the Grand Line, each identified by a codename rather than a true identity.
Mr. 5's eyes moved over the ruined inn.
Then they settled on Shiki.
With his arms still folded, he examined him from head to toe without the slightest attempt to hide his suspicion.
Shiki's eyes narrowed.
He did not appreciate the way the man was staring at him.
"So, you're the one who did this?" Mr. 5 asked.
Disbelief filled his voice. He could not imagine that a single man had defeated everyone here.
As for Nami, he barely acknowledged her existence.
Miss Valentine rested her parasol against her shoulder and gave an irritated smile.
"Why are you wasting time asking questions?" she said in a light yet mocking voice. "Just kill him already. I have better things to do."
Shiki released a tired sigh.
"Every so often, another fool like you appears..."
Mr. 5's expression twisted.
"What the hell did you just say?! I'll—"
He never finished.
Shiki moved.
Neither Mr. 5 nor Miss Valentine saw him draw his sword. They did not perceive the blade, the slash, or even the moment he attacked.
A thin line of blood appeared across the middle of Mr. 5's body.
His eyes widened in astonishment.
Then his upper half slid away from his lower body.
THUD!
Both halves crashed heavily onto the floor.
Shiki had no interest in exchanging pointless words with them. They had entered the inn carrying clear killing intent, so there was no reason for him to show mercy.
Besides, he had no desire to wait for Mr. 5 to demonstrate his Devil Fruit ability.
The man himself was hardly a threat, but the disgusting manner in which he commonly used his power was something Shiki had absolutely no intention of witnessing.
Miss Valentine's smile disappeared.
Her eyes slowly lowered toward Mr. 5's divided corpse.
Then they returned to Shiki.
Her heart began pounding against her chest like a drum.
...
A short while later...
Miss Valentine sat on the floor, tightly bound from shoulders to ankles with several layers of rope.
Nami had personally tied every knot.
Surprisingly, Miss Valentine had barely resisted. After witnessing what had happened to Mr. 5, she no longer possessed the courage to make any reckless moves.
However, the instant she saw Shiki approaching with a sword in his hand, her composure shattered.
"W-Wait!"
Her face turned deathly pale.
"You promised you wouldn't kill me if I didn't resist!"
"That promise was made under the assumption that you would answer my questions truthfully."
Shiki continued walking toward her at an unhurried pace.
"What I hate most are people who lie to me."
His voice was neither loud nor hurried. Each word left his mouth with cold, measured calm, making Miss Valentine feel as though death itself was approaching her one step at a time.
Her eyes trembled as they followed the blade in his hand.
She briefly considered using her Devil Fruit ability, but immediately abandoned the thought. If she made even the smallest suspicious movement, there was no doubt in her mind that she would lose her life before she could escape.
"I'll talk!"
Miss Valentine squeezed her eyes shut and shouted desperately.
"I'll tell you everything, so please don't kill me!"
Mr. 5's corpse lay only a short distance away. With such a vivid warning before her eyes, she did not possess the courage to conceal anything.
Shiki had not even begun questioning her when she hurriedly revealed everything she knew.
"Baroque Works is controlled from Rain Dinners, the largest casino in Rainbase! Rainbase is one of the most prosperous cities in Alabasta!"
Once the words left her mouth, Miss Valentine tightly closed her eyes again.
Her shoulders trembled as she waited for the sword to fall, terrified that Shiki might decide her information was not valuable enough to spare her.
But one second passed, then another, and no blade touched her.
Instead, she heard Shiki's footsteps moving away.
Miss Valentine cautiously opened one eye.
"Very good."
Shiki lightly clapped his hands together, his earlier killing intent already gone.
"As long as you cooperate, you get to keep your life."
Miss Valentine's entire body sagged with relief.
Igaram and Vivi exchanged startled looks.
Only moments earlier, Shiki had shown no interest whatsoever in Alabasta's crisis. Yet now, he had deliberately asked for the location of Baroque Works' headquarters.
A possibility immediately entered Igaram's mind.
"Could we... ask him to help us?" he whispered, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.
His severed arm still burned with unbearable pain, but at that moment, it hardly mattered. If a man as powerful as Shiki could truly be persuaded to intervene, then Alabasta might still have a chance.
Vivi's eyes also brightened.
Could he really save the kingdom?
But her hope was quickly tempered by caution.
Shiki did not look like the kind of man who helped others out of generosity. Everything he had done so far made that painfully clear.
Nami was equally puzzled.
Unlike Vivi and Igaram, however, she was the only person present bold enough to ask him directly.
"Shiki," Nami said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously, "why did you ask where Baroque Works' headquarters is?"
Shiki glanced at her, a faint smile touching his lips.
"There's simply something there that I want."
Naturally, that something was Crocodile's head.
Defeating one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea would earn Shiki far more attention than crushing nameless agents in some remote town. And if he reached Alabasta before Luffy, there was even a chance he might encounter Blackbeard along the way.
"Then... you intend to go after Baroque Works?" Igaram asked.
He lifted his pale face toward Shiki, his expression sincere.
"If that is your destination, please take Princess Vivi with you."
Vivi's eyes widened.
"No! Igaram!"
She turned toward him with a deep frown.
"What about you?"
Igaram said nothing at first.
Vivi clearly still did not understand the danger they were in.
He was not asking Shiki to take her because he trusted the pirate. Far from it.
Their fate remained uncertain. There was still no guarantee that Shiki would spare either of them once he had finished asking his questions.
But if Vivi had even the smallest chance of leaving this place alive, Igaram was willing to seize it for her.
Even if he had to remain behind.
"Princess Vivi, this is no time to be stubborn!"
Igaram's voice carried a rare severity that made Vivi freeze.
"You must think about Alabasta!"
"But..."
Vivi tried to protest, but Igaram cut her off before she could continue.
"Mr. Shiki," he said, forcing himself to speak with greater respect this time. "Could you please—"
Shiki raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the sudden change in his manner.
"I'm a pirate," he said. "What do I gain by helping you?"
"I..."
Igaram's voice died in his throat.
It was the same question as before, and once again, he had no answer.
They had nothing.
No authority they could use here. No wealth they could offer. No treasure valuable enough to interest someone like Shiki.
"Then forget it."
Shiki spread his hands with an indifferent shrug.
"I have no interest in dragging a useless person around with me."
He turned and began walking away.
"Wait! Shiki-san!"
Vivi threw herself forward and grabbed the leg of his trousers.
Shiki stopped.
She remained on the floor, clutching the fabric tightly as she looked up at him with tearful eyes.
Igaram's words had finally reached her.
This was no longer about her pride.
The people of Alabasta were suffering. Every day she wasted brought the kingdom closer to civil war, and countless lives were depending on her return.
"Please take me with you!"
Her voice trembled, but she refused to release him.
"I'll make myself useful. I can work as a maid, carry supplies, run errands—anything you ask!"
Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
"Just... please help me."
The princess of Alabasta, who had once lived above countless others, now knelt in the dust and lowered herself before a pirate but she no longer cared about dignity...
Not when her country was dying.
"Please take me to Alabasta," Vivi continued, gritting her teeth as her entire body trembled. "I have to find the person controlling Baroque Works from the shadows."
Hatred burned through the fear in her eyes.
"I have to stop those bastards before they destroy my kingdom."
Igaram watched her in silence, his chest tightening painfully.
Seeing the princess he had sworn to protect reduced to begging on the ground tore at him.
However he said nothing because this might be their only chance.
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