Chapter 30: The Incident Ends
At that moment, every rebel and royal soldier heard Vivi's voice ringing across the capital!
"It's Princess Vivi!"
"Princess Vivi?!"
"Didn't she already flee? How…?"
Everyone looked around in shock, then followed the voice to the figure standing atop the clock tower.
At the same time, Crocodile—freshly launched into the sky by Luffy's barrage of Gum-Gum punches—came crashing down right in the middle of the crowd.
BOOM!
The impact echoed across the plaza. All eyes turned to the unconscious man.
"Huh? That's Mr. Crocodile?!"
"What's Mr. Crocodile doing here? What happened?!"
A group gathered around the fallen Warlord, confused.
"You idiots! You're still calling him 'Mr. Crocodile'?! Let this great captain tell you exactly what he's done!"
Usopp, wrapped head-to-toe like a mummy, heard them and exploded. He waddled over furiously—only to be yanked back by Sanji.
"Hey, hold it! This is something Vivi should explain."
Usopp calmed down. Everyone looked up.
Tears in her eyes, Vivi shouted:
"From this moment on, rain will fall normally on every corner of this country again! The devil has been defeated! This nation's nightmare is OVER!"
Below, Sanji and the others smiled—proud of their partner. For a princess, Vivi was stronger than any royal they'd ever met.
In the underground shrine, Luffy lay flat on his back, grinning like an idiot.
He'd beaten Crocodile. He'd kept his promise to his friends.
Luo Lin crouched beside him.
"Hey, you're half-dead and still laughing?"
"Shishishi! Not gonna die! The rest is up to you now!"
Then he passed out cold.
Luo Lin poked him—no reaction. Pulled his cheek until it stretched two meters—still nothing.
"Yep, really out."
Robin helplessly pinched his ear.
"He's badly hurt and you're playing with him? Get up there already."
"Yes ma'am!"
Cobra snorted. Honestly, he wasn't worried—Luffy's life force made cockroaches look fragile. If he still had a head attached, he wasn't dying.
…
On the surface:
"The nightmare is over? Don't joke around!"
"Yeah! We saw the royal army attack Nanohana with our own eyes! How do you explain everything they've done?!"
"And Leader Koza was nearly assassinated! What about everyone who died in this war?!"
The rain had briefly calmed the rebels, but now their anger flared again. Weapons rose toward the royal army.
"Royal troops! Lower your weapons and stand down!"
Chaka's voice boomed. All eyes turned to him.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"Rebels! You lower your weapons too! Cough cough—anyway~"
A messy-haired man carrying a small child walked into the center of the plaza.
"That pervert uncle from Whiskey Peak!"
"Captain!"
It was Igaram, captain of the royal guard. He ignored his subordinates and looked at the boy in his arms.
"Hey, kid, can you still talk?"
"H-He's the boy who was attacked in Nanohana!"
Others recognized the child.
The boy struggled, lifted his head, and forced out words:
"It wasn't the royal army… I saw it myself… Baroque Works' Mr. 2 impersonated the king!"
"That's right! This entire war—everything that happened in this country—was planned from the start!"
Koza stepped forward and began explaining Baroque Works' crimes.
While Koza spoke, Luo Lin carried Luffy and Cobra back to the surface. (Heavy lifting was not for Robin baby!)
Vivi came running down from the clock tower. Seeing Nami and the others gone, she chased after them.
Meanwhile, the Straw Hats—realizing the truth was coming out—quietly slipped away to check on Luffy.
They ran straight into Luo Lin's group coming the other way.
"There… it's Luo Lin!"
Zoro spotted him first.
"Yo! Found your captain for you!"
Luo Lin gently set Luffy down on the roadside.
Zoro opened his mouth—
A blur shot past him.
BAM!
Nami's fist flew toward Luo Lin.
"You jerk! You were here the whole time and didn't help?! Do you know what I went through?! You're so strong—why didn't you do anything?!"
Luo Lin dodged casually.
"Hey, hey! Again with the fists the second we meet?! You're still as uncute as ever!"
"Although I don't know the full story, please stop! It's not what you think!"
Cobra recognized both sides and stepped in.
Nami actually stopped—not because she wanted to, but because she was exhausted.
She threw herself into Robin's arms and started bawling.
"Robin-nee! I missed you so much these ten years! That big jerk never brought you back to see me! He bullied me the other day! And today he didn't help at all! Everything hurts! Waaah!"
Luo Lin: -_-
Robin gently patted her back.
"Yes, yes, it's all his fault. When you're rested, beat him up—I won't stop you."
Sanji's heart-eyes nearly exploded seeing Nami buried in Robin's soft embrace. He tried to swoop in—Luo Lin shoved him back down.
Cobra cleared his throat.
"You must be the pirates who brought Vivi home. Thank you for everything you've done for this country! I'm not sure what your relationship is with Mr. Luo Lin, but in truth, he helped us tremendously."
"Father! Everyone's here!"
Vivi finally caught up.
Sanji's eyes bugged out.
"FATHER?! You're Vivi-chan's dad?!"
"You're the king?!"
All eyes locked on Cobra.
"Yeah. And though I don't know your connection to Mr. Luo Lin, he fought battles you can't even imagine!"
"Huh? No way. The guy doesn't have a scratch on him!"
Nami peeked out from Robin's chest.
"Actually—the rebel army that entered Alubarna was originally far larger. Mr. Luo Lin single-handedly stopped 100,000 rebels at the south gate. When Crocodile tried to kill Vivi, he blocked him too. So please don't misunderstand!"
"Seriously?! 100,000?!"
Nami's eyes lost focus.
"That's even possible for a human?!"
"It's true! I was at the south gate with Koza! I didn't see it myself, but Koza said he witnessed Mr. Luo Lin do it!"
Vivi backed him up. Only then did the crew believe it.
"So that's how it was… As expected, super strong. No wonder he's Luffy's friend—monsters hang out with monsters. I'm getting more and more interested in surpassing you."
Zoro sat in a corner, smirking coolly.
Nami felt bad for misunderstanding, but was too embarrassed to apologize—she fidgeted awkwardly.
Luo Lin couldn't resist teasing.
"Exactly! 100,000 people! I look fine on the outside, but I actually suffered massive internal injuries. Might be dying soon!"
"EH?! DYING?! DOCTOR! WE NEED A DOCTOR! Wait—I'm the doctor!"
Chopper panicked and rushed over.
Nami teared up again—was blocking 100,000 that damaging?!
Only Robin rolled her eyes beautifully.
A hand sprouted on Luo Lin's shoulder and twisted his ear.
"No lying."
"Ow ow ow! Sorry Robin baby! I'm fine, I was kidding!"
Nami instantly switched to rage mode.
"When I recover, I'll give you real internal injuries, jerk!!"
"Alright, everyone's injured. Let's head back and get patched up!"
Cobra suggested treatment—no one agreed.
"Forget that! You two need to get to the plaza!"
"Yeah! The country finally has hope again. It wouldn't be complete without a speech from the king and princess!"
"But everyone—"
Sanji lit a cigarette.
"No buts. We're pirates. We don't want ties to any country."
Chopper: "I'm starving!"
Nami: "So tired… wanna sleep…"
Seeing their state, Vivi smiled and nodded.
She and Cobra headed to the plaza.
The moment they turned the corner and vanished—everyone collapsed like puppets with cut strings.
Luo Lin checked them quickly.
"Good, just passed out from exhaustion. Let's move them out of the rain—wounds getting wet would be bad."
"Mm. Risking their lives for a friend's wish, and still not wanting to worry the princess even when dead tired… Nami's crew is really trustworthy."
"Right? Told you! Hehe!"
…
Meanwhile in the plaza:
After Koza's explanation, everyone finally understood Crocodile was the mastermind.
Some still refused to believe—until Tashigi arrived with marines.
She brought news: the Navy had just seized a Baroque Works ship loaded with Dance Powder.
By order of Navy HQ, Crocodile was stripped of his Warlord title and arrested along with every member of Baroque Works!
Koza, gravely injured and filled with regret, stood silently.
Vivi didn't know how to comfort him.
Cobra stepped forward.
"Feeling regret and wanting to make amends when you realize you were wrong is natural. The war happened. It's over. What's done can't be undone. Since the war is finished—let's end the hatred and live on."
His words stunned everyone.
They understood: the king was forgiving them.
"What a heart… we can never match His Majesty's magnanimity."
Chaka wiped tears and sighed.
…
Under an awning, Luo Lin watched the rain.
"This rain's huge! Wonder when it'll stop."
"Normal. It hasn't rained in three years—let it pour."
As they sheltered, Tashigi and marines passed by.
Seeing the unconscious Straw Hats, some marines moved to arrest them.
Before Tashigi could speak, Luo Lin cut in.
"Nope. Not letting you take Luffy and the others."
"We're not touching them! And it's definitely not because we're scared of you! Next time we meet, I'll defeat you and claim that supreme-grade sword!"
Tashigi had recognized Mitama instantly—she carried a sword catalog everywhere.
Luo Lin shrugged. Say whatever makes you happy.
After some tough talk, she left with her troops.
Hours later, the rain finally stopped.
Luo Lin was wondering where to carry everyone when palace staff arrived.
They brought the whole group (including Luo Lin and Robin) back to the palace.
Apparently when they returned and didn't see the Straw Hats, they sent search parties—the crew hadn't moved an inch.
They slept a full day.
Luffy slept three.
He woke up to his crew playfully bickering, saw Luo Lin and Robin feeding each other breakfast, and immediately stretched an arm over.
Grabbed a sandwich right off their table.
Luo Lin's eyes flashed—Shave—instantly beside Luffy.
BONK!
Chestnut punch to the skull.
"OW! Damn it, Luo Lin, why'd you hit me?!"
Luo Lin: ???
You have the nerve to ask?! Meat would've been fine—you stole Robin's favorite sandwich!
"Who told you to steal my food?"
"Hey Luffy, you said it hurts? You're rubber—how does it hurt?"
"Dunno! Luo Lin's punches hurt like Grandpa's!"
BONK!
Another one.
"I told you—it's Haki!"
"Ow ow ow! Liar! You never told me!"
"Didn't I? My bad then!"
Robin's bell-like laughter rang out.
At that moment Zoro returned from outside.
Chopper jumped in front of him.
"You went training again?! I told you not to move too much right now!"
"That's my business."
Zoro walked straight to Luo Lin, cold as ever.
"I felt that power you showed me. I used it and cut steel. But I can't control it freely yet. So—teach me."
He bowed deeply.
==============================================================
Support me and be 100 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/inkshield