Chapter 30: Vivi: How Strong Exactly Are the Twelve Star Generals?
In Alabasta, the Royal Palace was in utter chaos.
"Your Highness, Princess! You cannot go there—it's possible... no, the South Palace is definitely in danger now!"
Igaram stood in front of Vivi, speaking sternly.
"Pell and Chaka have both left Alabasta with His Majesty. The Royal Palace's current forces are insufficient to protect you."
"No."
But at this moment, Vivi spoke in a deep voice, "The explosion just now must mean the assassins Mr. Dragon mentioned have arrived."
"The other party used some method to impersonate me... I... I must go confirm his safety!"
Her heart was burning with anxiety, completely unexpected—Dragon had been attacked right after she left the South Palace.
And according to the information she had now, the attackers apparently used some method to impersonate her, allowing them to successfully enter the South Palace after the guards were let down.
If Dragon were to die because of this, leading to the deterioration of Alabasta's situation, she would absolutely not be able to accept it!
"I must go, Igaram—please don't stop me, okay?"
Thus, she also looked at Igaram with a pleading gaze.
For her, this captain of the royal guard was not merely a simple guard.
He was more like a relative and an elder who had watched her grow up.
"...Alright."
And Igaram truly understood Vivi well.
So after seeing the look in her eyes, he knew he couldn't stop her.
This princess was usually very approachable and easy to get along with.
But when she set her mind on doing something, no one could stop her.
"But you must promise that if there is danger or a fight breaks out, you must immediately flee!"
"Mm! I promise!"
Vivi also clearly knew that her own fighting ability wouldn't be much help, so at this moment, she nodded decisively.
And so, Igaram no longer hesitated.
Taking many guards who were waiting in strict formation, he immediately went to the South Palace.
What they saw at this moment was that the entire Royal Palace's South Palace, after the previous explosion, was covered in scars—the walls and pillars were riddled with cracks, and the ground was full of rubble and pits of various sizes.
However, fortunately, Alabasta's ancient architecture's foundations were clearly well-built.
So even after enduring such a huge explosion, the overall structure of the South Palace remained intact—at least it wouldn't collapse in the short term.
"Go! Enter immediately!"
At this moment, after Igaram gave the order.
Everyone then clustered around Vivi and rushed into the South Palace.
Then,
"Ah!?"
"What is that...?"
Uncontrollable cries of astonishment immediately rang out.
Of course—as the captain of the royal guard, Igaram would normally scold such unrestrained behavior.
But at this moment, he was in no position to reprimand his subordinates.
Because at this moment, his eyeballs were practically bulging out, and his head of golden curly hair almost stood on end from fright.
"..."
Even Vivi unbelievably covered her mouth, her wide eyes filled with shock.
What they saw at this moment was:
Inside the entire South Palace, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
The left side's corridors and walls were covered with thick frost.
The biting cold air condensed into white mist, spreading all around.
But in contrast, the ground on the right side was almost completely melted.
The bricks and tiles, meticulously chosen during the construction of Alabasta's royal palace in ancient times, were scorched to a fiery red by the high temperature, and the steaming heat almost warped the air.
Extreme cold and scorching heat.
It was clearly one palace hall, but at this moment, it seemed to have been molded into completely opposing worlds by some invisible giant hand.
And at the boundary of ice and fire.
The Baroque Works' assassins were already lying on the ground.
Mr. 2 Bon Clay was embedded face-up in a layer of ice, Mr. 3 Galdino's candle hair on his head had completely melted, Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 lay to one side, their umbrella and glasses completely destroyed.
Miss Merry Christmas's mole gloves were already burnt to ashes, Mr. 4 and his pet lay not far from her, and the giant baseball bat in his hand was also completely broken.
And in the center of the hall, lying on the ground was a heavily burnt Miss Doublefinger, as well as...
"...Monster."
In the center of the battlefield.
Mr. 1 Daz Bonez was being held by the neck with one hand by Dragon, suspended in the air.
His proud blade-body was now clearly covered with traces of frostbite.
His right leg had even clearly been partially melted by something scorching hot.
At this moment, he weakly said, "I... I lost. Kill me."
In his words, this tough guy clearly had no intention of resisting anymore.
This wasn't just because his current injuries no longer allowed him to resist, but also because of the battle just now...
No, that couldn't even be called a battle.
It was merely the other party allowing them to witness a pure, overwhelming power.
Just as his evaluation of the other party was—a monster.
For "them" who challenged a monster, it was inherently foolish.
And as a veteran who was already a renowned assassin before joining Baroque Works, Daz Bonez had long been aware of death.
"Kill you?"
But at this moment, Dragon's voice from beneath his mask was very calm: "No, I actually think you're qualified."
"What?"
Thus, Mr. 1 naturally didn't understand.
But Dragon didn't answer him.
He simply tossed Mr. 1 aside, slamming him onto the ground.
After confirming the other party had fallen unconscious, he clapped his hands: "Phew, a slight workout. I even broke a small sweat."
After saying this with a smile, he turned to look at the stunned Igaram and Vivi.
"Oh? Captain Igaram, and Princess Vivi, you've come at just the right time—please take these people away."
"They... they are, no, this... this surrounding is..."
And Igaram couldn't even speak properly anymore.
At this moment, it was Vivi who managed to keep her composure.
She, too, took several deep breaths amidst her shock—the air, where extreme cold and scorching heat coexisted, made her mind slightly clearer.
Then, she forced herself to speak with a trembling voice, "These people are..."
"Mm."
And looking at the now composed Vivi, a hint of admiration seemed to flash in Dragon's eyes beneath his mask.
"That's right—they are the executives of Baroque Works, and also the 'evidence' for the King of Alabasta."
He said calmly, "You can inform King Cobra to return."
"Wait, wait, your meaning is that Father..."
And after hearing Dragon's words, Vivi was first stunned, then immediately reacted: "He already knew? That's why he left the Royal Palace to inspect the disaster area?"
"And—Baroque Works?"
"The one secretly causing the great drought in our Alabasta is this Baroque Works?"
"To be precise, it's the 'President' of Baroque Works."
Dragon nodded: "For the specific situation, please ask King Cobra yourself after he returns—if he is willing to tell you."
"..."
Vivi then felt like she was almost going to die of anger.
Clearly, Dragon and her King had discussed a plan, and even now, the enemies had been captured through that plan, yet she had been kept in the dark from beginning to end.
And she was even clearer—even if she personally asked King Cobra after he returned, he would most likely not give her a direct answer.
But at this moment, looking at Dragon, who had already turned away and clearly had no intention of continuing the conversation.
Vivi took a few deep breaths, then gritted her teeth and said, "Igaram, arrest them all."
She had already made up her mind.
Since her King and this annoying fellow wouldn't tell her the truth, she would personally get the answers from the other party's mouths.
So the guards rushed forward, one by one tying up and taking away all of Baroque Works' assassins.
"Remember to suppress them with Seastone. They are all Ability Users—Alabasta should have Seastone, right?"
At this moment, Dragon said to Vivi and Igaram.
"They are all Ability Users?"
After hearing these words, Vivi and Igaram were even more shocked.
They naturally knew the power of Ability Users.
As long as they were Ability Users who had eaten a Devil Fruit, without exception, they were definitely possessed of strength far exceeding that of ordinary people.
Even in a super-great nation like their Alabasta, which had inherited protective Devil Fruits, there were only two Ability Users within the country.
But the assassins sent by Baroque Works actually numbered six Ability Users.
One could imagine just how powerful that criminal organization was.
But then, Vivi became even more aware of another terrifying fact.
That was, judging from the surrounding situation, even if all six Ability Users combined their strength, they didn't seem to have inflicted even a single effective wound on Dragon.
Vivi naturally understood the meaning behind this.
Even though they were both executives of mysterious organizations hidden on the great sea.
But the executive "Dragon" of the "Twelve Star Generals" was clearly much stronger than the renowned "Baroque Works."
Of course, that wasn't because the latter was weak.
It was simply because the existence named "Dragon" was simply too powerful.
What was even more crucial was...
"Such a powerful person is merely *one* of the 'Twelve Star Generals'."
"Then, the 'Twelve Star Generals'—just how strong exactly is this organization?"
The dumbfounded thoughts in Vivi's heart, of course, no one could answer for her.
And after capturing all the Baroque Works assassins, Vivi naturally invited Dragon to interrogate them.
She naturally had some small clever intentions—if Dragon interrogated them, she might be able to glean some information from the conversation.
But unfortunately,
"I won't go. But please trouble yourself to arrange a new residence for me. This time, there's no need to prepare guards... Oh, and don't forget to prepare a bottle of cola in the room."
Dragon waved his hand.
"Also—don't kill these people captured today. I still have a use for them."
Seeing Dragon's nonchalant demeanor, Vivi's heart sank with disappointment.
But she didn't say anything more, and soon left with Igaram and the guards.
And Dragon was quickly led by the attendants to his new residence—an equally opulent and exquisite room, located on the south side of the Royal Palace.
After entering the room, the attendants introduced the locations of various living items, then quietly left.
Dragon familiarly walked to the sofa in the center of the room and sat down, opening the iced cola placed on the table.
"Fizz."
The unique refreshing sound of carbonation was heard.
Dragon then casually took out two glasses from the room and silently filled both with cola.
Then,
"I merely brought out precious cola to entertain a guest."
"My hidden guest, if you don't reveal yourself soon, it would be quite rude."
(End of Chapter)