Chapter 212: Without You, What Would I Eat?
The sound echoed through the empty steps.
The guards on either side remained motionless, maintaining their standard postures as if they had heard nothing.
Robin looked down at her from above, her voice calm:
"It's useless."
"The boss has already made his choice."
"You should go back."
Lufia did not respond.
She was still struggling.
Still trying to get up.
In her eyes, there were no tears, no anger—only a simple, stubborn
I don't believe it.
Robin watched her, and a strange feeling suddenly welled up inside.
This girl was different from all the pirates she had ever seen.
Just then—
An invisible force surged from Lufia's body!
Robin's Hana Hana no Mi ability instantly failed!
All the arms that had grown on Lufia vanished without a trace at the same moment!
"What?!"
Robin instinctively took a step back, disbelief flashing in her eyes.
This is...
Haki?
She had seen Ralph use Haki—that power capable of suppressing Devil Fruit abilities—and it felt very similar to what she had just experienced.
But the force emanating from Lufia was stronger, purer, and more—
Overwhelming!
Lufia climbed to her feet, not even glancing at Robin, and charged up the steps, pushed open the palace doors, and rushed inside.
Robin stood where she was, unmoving for a long time.
Now she understood.
This girl who bore the name of D was truly extraordinary.
Was this the captain that Boss Ralph was determined to follow no matter what?
Was this the girl he refused to give up on at any cost?
Robin took a deep breath and turned to look at the palace doors.
What mission did the Will of D., which had appeared repeatedly throughout history, truly hold?
Boss, this is what you want to know too, isn't it?
Inside the palace.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
Lufia rushed in, panting heavily, her eyes scanning the hall.
Then, she saw him.
Ralph stood in the center of the grand hall.
Dressed in a fitting black formal suit, embroidered with intricate golden patterns.
His usually messy, boyish hair was combed into a mature slicked-back style, revealing his smooth forehead and those deep eyes.
Even the little dinosaur Munch-Munch beside him seemed to have donned new attire.
Adorned with golden patterns and studded with sparkling gemstones on its back.
In truth, this outfit should have been paired with a gem-encrusted golden sword.
But the moment that extravagant sword appeared, Munch-Munch had devoured it as a snack.
Which was why it now bore golden patterns and gemstones.
But that wasn't the point.
The point was, Lufia froze.
She had never seen Ralph like this before.
Handsome.
That was the first word that popped into her mind.
Followed by—
Unfamiliar.
Was this really Ralph?
The one who usually wore ordinary clothes, had messy hair, and always followed her around?
Vivi and King Cobra stood to the side, smiling as if waiting for some important moment.
Last night, Princess Vivi had come to Ralph's room and extended an invitation, hoping he would stay.
The conditions were exactly what Robin had mentioned.
Become a minister of Alabasta, gain noble status.
Apply his talents and ambitions in this nation without being a pirate hunted by the Navy.
He could even marry a princess and gain a country.
Out of courtesy to Princess Vivi, Ralph pretended to hesitate for a moment—and then refused!
Of course!
From a personal emotional standpoint, Princess Vivi's appearance and personality are both excellent, but in terms of attraction, she is far less appealing to Ralph than Lufia.
Moreover, Princess Vivi has always yearned for freedom; in the original story, she almost ran off with the Straw Hat Pirates.
In the end, she chose to stay because she shouldered the responsibilities of royalty.
This shows that being a royal or noble, especially the kind who takes responsibility for the people, is just a very tiring profession.
Why would Ralph make the foolish choice of trapping himself in this country?
From a benefit perspective, Ralph finds it even less appealing!
Alabasta, one of the 20 founding nations of the World Government.
As its king, one holds a permanent seat at the Levely.
It sounds impressive, but Ralph can't help but laugh!
No matter what secrets you hold, against the world's top combatants, this country has no ability to defend itself.
What sovereignty is there to speak of?
Any one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea could nearly destroy this country; it's truly as fragile as a handful of sand.
Cobra is a good person, but not a good king.
Previously, Crocodile could easily win his and the people's trust, becoming their hero.
The Mr. 1 Ralph planted could have done the same through gradual effort.
It's just that Ralph isn't willing to invest too much thought here; otherwise, with the remaining agents of Baroque Works, it would be enough for him to secretly control this nation again.
Why gamble a lifetime for something that can be obtained with a little thought?
Ralph proposed this trial to find out how much weight he holds in Lufia's heart.
At the same time, to make Princess Vivi give up the idea of keeping him.
Because in his heart, there is only Lufia.
Lufia's attention quickly shifted from Ralph's appearance.
She looked at him, her eyes focused solely on him.
"Ralph."
She spoke, her voice much calmer than before.
"I've come to pick you up."
"Come with me."
Ralph looked at her.
At her slightly flushed cheeks from running all the way.
At those eyes staring straight at him.
At the disheveled sight of her with the straw hat on her back and dust on her clothes.
A part of him softened.
But he suppressed the smile at the corner of his mouth and spoke with feigned restraint:
"Give me a reason."
Lufia tilted her head:
"A reason?"
"Yes, a reason."
Ralph took a step forward, pointing at Vivi and Cobra,
"They're trying to keep me with a whole country."
"Tell me, why do you need me?"
Lufia thought for a moment:
"Without you, what would I eat?"
"There's Sanji," Ralph said.
"Without you, I'd get lost!"
"There's Nami."
"..."
Lufia struggled to think, her face turning red with effort.
Ralph watched her, feeling both disappointed and amused.
He knew what she was thinking.
But those weren't the answers he wanted to hear.
Ralph took a deep breath and said it for her:
"Usopp is the gunner and sniper, Zoro is the combatant, Chopper is the ship's doctor."
"Even if you want to find a shipwright, you'll eventually meet one you like—and you'll invite them then."
"In the future, there will be a musician, a helmsman... and many more interesting companions."
His voice grew a little lower.
"What about me?
"Does the ship really need me?"
"Everyone was invited by you."
"Only I... was the one who sold myself to you."
Lufia opened her mouth, lost in memories.
"Tell me, Lufia."
Ralph looked at her, his eyes filled with anticipation, unease, and a hint of fragile caution.
"The reason you need me by your side."
The great hall fell utterly silent.
Sunlight flowed quietly, dust drifting slowly within the pillars of light.
Vivi and Cobra exchanged a glance, both seeing complex emotions reflected in the other's eyes.
This was the question Ralph truly wanted to ask.
Not "why do I stay," but "why do I follow you."
Not "what do they give me," but "do you need me."
Lufia tilted her head, thinking hard.
Her brows furrowed, her eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, as if she were exerting all her effort to ponder an incredibly difficult problem.
Her entire face flushed red.
Her head seemed to have grown a size larger.
Steam began to rise from her ears and nostrils.
Vivi couldn't bear to watch any longer.
This was just too pitiful.
She cleared her throat softly, exchanged a look with her father, and began to applaud.
Clap, clap, clap!
Cobra joined in the applause.
"Since, since Lufia is feeling shy..."
Vivi laughed awkwardly, "Isn't this proof enough of her affection for you? Congratulations, congratulations!"
Ralph: "..."
He was completely speechless.
You two, father and daughter, really know how to save face.
Thank you so much.
Do I need your pity?
Lufia shy?
Is that what shy looks like?
That's clearly her brain overheating from lack of intelligence!
Ralph raged inwardly, but on the surface, he could only maintain a polite smile.
Well, this test had backfired.
He had underestimated Lufia's "thinking ability."
Now the question was—how to save face?
He couldn't really refuse to go with her over this, could he?
That would be too foolish, too awkward.
Just as Ralph was pondering what to say to salvage the situation—
Lufia spoke.
"I really like Munch-Munch!"
Ralph froze.
Lufia continued:
"And aren't you Munch-Munch's dad?"
Munch-Munch, who had been licking the gem on his back nearby, looked up at the sound of his name, glancing curiously at Lufia and then at Ralph.
He didn't understand what this had to do with him.
Ralph looked at Lufia's earnest face.
At her slightly reddened eyes from the strain of thinking.
At her expectant gaze.
And then—
He smiled.
A helpless smile.
Somewhere in his heart, a sliver of happiness filled the void.
Well, that works too.
If he's already a dad, what else could he say?
Just then—
[Ding—]
[Detected increase in target "Lufia's" favorability toward the host]
[Current relationship: Close Friend Stage 100%]
[Favorability stage breakthrough completed]
[Next stage unlocked: ...]