"Mhm. Mr. Amon, I believe you."
Vivi did not know whether Robin was a gentle and kind person or not, but she was willing to trust Amon's words.
For some reason, she felt an odd sense of closeness toward him. Maybe it was because he had appeared just in time and saved her when she was in danger.
And for a little princess, a heroic rescuer naturally carried a certain charm.
"Vivi, are you all right?"
With a press to the philtrum, Koza finally came to. The moment he opened his eyes and saw Vivi standing there safely, he hurriedly asked about her condition.
"I'm fine, Chief. Mr. Amon saved us. He's the one who woke you up too."
"And Mr. Amon's medical skill is amazing. The cut on my arm from before disappeared as soon as he touched it."
Amon had already used his god-tier medical skill to heal the wound on Vivi's little arm, then roused Koza immediately after.
"Thank you, Mr. Amon. If you hadn't come, I don't even want to imagine what would've happened."
The thought of what nearly happened made Koza's face tense. If Amon had arrived even a little later, both he and Vivi might have died there.
"Yes, thank you so much, Mr. Amon."
Vivi bowed to him as well.
Amon laughed lightly. "It's nothing. Since I ran into it, there was no way I'd just stand by. Besides, the one who actually dealt with them was Lily, not me."
That reminded Vivi of something else.
"Right, Lily. Mr. Amon, you said before that Lily came out of one of your Jars. Are those Jars really that magical?"
She had wanted to ask earlier, but Robin's appearance had interrupted them. Now that the danger had passed, her curiosity came back.
"Of course." Amon smiled. "My Jars are extremely special. They can open cute companions like Lily, and even things far more incredible than that."
"Things even more incredible..." Vivi's eyes lit up. "Can they open something that would make it rain in Alabasta? It hasn't rained in our country for over a year. The crops are almost dead. Father and everyone else have been so worried about it that they don't even have time to play with Vivi anymore."
Amon paused for a moment.
Something that could make it rain...
That was not entirely impossible. Dry ice could be used for artificial rainfall, and the system might well produce stranger solutions than that. Whether such an item would actually come out was another matter, but looking at Vivi's hopeful face, he changed his tone.
"That should be possible. It shouldn't be a problem."
"Really?"
Vivi seized both his hands in delight, her whole face lighting up.
"That's wonderful. If we really can get something that brings rain, Father will be so happy. Once the kingdom has rain again, the crops can grow back, the people will have food, there won't be so many refugees, and the country will be peaceful again."
Amon looked at her for a moment and could not help smiling.
She was such a sensible child. Even when given the chance to ask for something amazing, the first thing on her mind was still her country and its people.
That said a great deal about how Cobra had raised her.
He truly was a king who loved his nation.
"Of course it's real," Amon said. "It only costs a hundred thousand berries to open one."
"A hundred thousand?" Vivi nodded at once. "Then I'll go back to the royal city and get it."
"That's fine. I'll wait here. In the meantime, I'll help treat the injuries of your other friends too."
He pointed toward the children of the Sand-Sand Clan lying injured in the distance.
Vivi's eyes brightened again.
"Mr. Amon is really such a good person."
Then she took off at once toward the royal city.
Amon, Lily, and Koza headed over to the other children.
...
"Wow, Mr. Amon's medical skill is amazing. It doesn't hurt anymore!"
"My swollen hand is completely fine too!"
"My leg is better already. Thank you, Mr. Amon!"
Amon's treatment was almost absurd. He barely had to touch them, and their injuries were already gone. The children of the Sand-Sand Clan were amazed, especially after hearing that he had saved both Vivi and Koza.
Amid their excited praise, a yellow figure came racing over in a trail of dust.
It was Vivi, and beside her was Karoo.
At this age, Karoo still looked like a little yellow duck, with a canteen strapped to his back and a straw hanging down from it. As he ran, he occasionally lowered his head and drank from the water tube around his neck.
"Mr. Amon, I'm back!"
Vivi waved before she had even reached them.
Amon laughed. "Take it easy. I'm not going anywhere."
"Haa... I'm exhausted."
Then Vivi tugged on Karoo's straw. "Karoo, let me have a sip too."
She drank from his water tube in big gulps. She had grown up with him, so there was no distance between them at all.
"Kwa!"
Karoo lowered himself obediently so she could drink more comfortably.
After finally catching her breath, Vivi raised the money toward him with a bright smile.
"Mr. Amon, I brought the berries!"
She had run all the way back without even stopping for water, then rushed straight back again. Without Karoo carrying her, it really would have worn her out.
"That must've been hard on our Vivi."
Amon reached out and gently patted her head.
Looking at the little girl standing there with the money in hand and that bright, sensible smile on her face, he felt a pang of tenderness for her.