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Chapter 119: Encountering Robin
"But... if we don't try, how will we know if it will succeed?" Vivi still couldn't accept it. She stepped forward, grabbing Koza's arm, tears welling in her eyes.
"It's useless, Vivi. Instead of agonizing over how to stop the war, you should think about how to minimize the losses of this war." Koza withdrew his arm gently but firmly.
As a mature leader, his judgment at this moment was naturally correct.
Given Alabasta's current situation, a war was inevitable no matter what.
"How could it be... like this..." Vivi gradually realized that Koza was the rational one. She covered her cheek, still filled with unwillingness, but unable to think of a solution.
As a princess, she had already done her absolute best.
Just then, Ganyu, who had been watching quietly, walked forward slowly.
Her footsteps were light, but they sounded exceptionally clear in the silent command room.
Koza and Vivi looked at her simultaneously.
"Mr. Koza," Ganyu's voice was calm as water, yet remarkably distinct. "In your words just now, you emphasized several times that the root cause of this country's current situation, and the birth of the Rebel Army, lies in the continuous drought, correct?"
Koza nodded cautiously. He wasn't sure of the mysterious girl's purpose in speaking suddenly, but the power she had displayed made him dare not slight her in the least.
"Correct. I have analyzed the changes in Alabasta over the years. If not for this drought lasting several years, King Cobra's governance measures actually had no major issues. If the people's basic livelihood could be guaranteed, there wouldn't be so many dissatisfied with the Royal Family, and the Rebel Army wouldn't have the soil to be born."
"Then," Ganyu tilted her head slightly, her blue hair sliding over her shoulder, a glint seemingly flashing in her calm eyes. "If, at this very moment, a sudden heavy rain fell upon Alabasta, do you think it could change the status quo? Could it calm those angered by the drought? Even... could it directly end this imminent war?"
"What?!"
Koza's expression changed drastically.
He was shocked at first, then a look of disbelief burst from his eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by reason.
He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Ganyu carefully, his tone carrying obvious probing and suspicion:
"That depends... on how heavy the rain is."
Ganyu raised one hand, palm facing up, fingers spreading gently.
"What if... it covers the entire country?"
The moment her voice fell, the temperature in the air began to drop sharply. Gradually, pure white snowflakes began to float inside the room.
Koza stared blankly and extended his hand. A snowflake landed on his palm and didn't melt immediately.
The indoor temperature was already low enough for the snowflake to exist briefly.
Feeling that cold touch, feeling this miracle so out of place in the desert environment, his brain almost stopped thinking.
"This... This is..."
Ganyu explained, "With my own power, it is indeed insufficient to bring rain to the entire country. But the moment I set foot in Alabasta, I sensed something—"
Her gaze seemed to penetrate the walls, looking toward the boundless desert in the distance.
"In this perennially drought-stricken country, the Hydro element accumulated in the air has actually reached a critical point. Like a saturated sponge, it only needs a little pressure, a little guidance..."
She withdrew her hand, snowflakes continuing to fall.
"And it can release a heavy rain that has been accumulating for years. The range will cover the whole country, and the volume will be beyond imagination."
"Even without my intervention, this rain would have fallen naturally in three days. I can simply make it arrive two days early."
....
By evening, Ganyu and Vivi walked out of the tent to a temporary residence Koza had prepared for them.
"You stay here tonight," Ganyu said to Vivi. "Koza has promised to protect your safety, and the Rebel Army also needs time to digest today's information."
Vivi nodded, but there was still a trace of unease in her eyes. "Ganyu, what about you? Won't you stay?"
Ganyu shook her head gently, her gaze cast toward the gradually darkening horizon. "I'm going to find Luffy and the others. Calculating the time, they should have already entered Alabasta."
She knew the personalities of those people on the ship very well; they were likely already rushing toward Crocodile.
Although Crocodile's attention was likely entirely on Ace right now, there was no guarantee he wouldn't run into Luffy's group halfway.
"Alright, please be careful." Although reluctant to part, Vivi knew clearly that Ganyu and the others were likely going to stop Crocodile.
Ordinary people like her couldn't participate in battles between monsters.
"You too." Ganyu patted Vivi's shoulder. "If nothing goes wrong, after tomorrow, your country will be restored to stability."
With that, she turned and walked into the deepening twilight.
Vivi watched her retreating figure in a daze, murmuring, "Thank you... all of you."
After leaving Katorea, Ganyu chose a direction and flew for half an hour.
Gradually, the sky turned completely dark.
The starry sky in the desert was exceptionally conspicuous. Starlight spilled onto the sand dunes, plating the desert with a layer of silver-white, beautiful to the extreme.
Ganyu admired the desert night as she flew.
Suddenly.
A flicker of firelight caught her eye. It seemed to be a traveler hurrying through the desert holding a torch.
Ganyu looked curiously for a few moments, her gaze turning to surprise, and she stopped in mid-air.
Black long hair, tanned skin, exceptionally tall stature.
"Robin? Why is she here?"
Ganyu was somewhat surprised.
But she didn't hesitate. Turning her body, she dove down toward that point of firelight.
Robin seemed startled by the sudden movement, crossing her arms in front of her chest—the gesture to activate her ability.
But when she saw the face of the person before her clearly, she immediately unclenched her hands.
"Long time no see, the omnipotent Miss Ganyu."
Robin lowered her head slightly, looking at the blue-haired girl before her, a smile hanging on her face.
It had to be said, in the dark night, this smile was exceptionally stunning, causing even Ganyu to look a second time.
Robin was also sizing up the girl in front of her.
She was simply too beautiful, too cute—especially that pair of small horns. It gave her an urge to get close and touch them.
"Long time no see. But, why are you here?" Ganyu nodded, asking with some confusion.
Seeming to sense Robin's overly obvious gaze, she couldn't help but reach up and touch her own horns.
Is this thing really that tempting?
"Don't worry, without your permission, I won't touch randomly."
Seeing her action, Robin seemed amused. She teased Ganyu and then continued:
"Of course, I came to Katorea to find you. Didn't you say we would meet again?"
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