Just like in the original, Luffy's crew escaped riding Vivi's pet 'Karugamo' ducks to avoid the Marines. Then Igaram ran over and said urgently.
"Luffy's crew's bounties have gone up. With this amount, a 'minister'-level officer might move."
I looked at the bounty poster Igaram held and saw it was exactly the same as the original β Luffy 100 million Berries, Zoro 60 million Berries. Catching a Warlord had clearly made a big impact.
"Don't worry, Luffy and the others left early riding the Karugamo unit."
The next day, King Cobra gathered the kingdom's citizens and gave a speech. Meanwhile, Vivi said she needed to see Luffy off and rode Karu to the coastal cliff. Luffy's crew seemed to have safely set sail, because they were waving from the Going Merry.
"Kids! I came to say goodbye."
"What?"
"I still want to adventure more, but I love this country too, after all. So I can't go!!!"
"I see."
Vivi shouted while tearing up.
"If we meet again someday! Will you call me a crewmate again?!!!"
Luffy and the others quietly raised their left arms to the sky and showed the X mark that symbolized their comradeship. Seeing that, Vivi and Karu raised their arms too.
'This, really... is a famous scene. By now, Bon Kurei is probably getting caught by the Marines and being sent to Impel Down.'
Vivi and I returned to the palace and started planning with King Cobra, who had finished his speech. Operation: Extract Vivi.
"So you're saying we should make it look like Vivi was assassinated by Baroque Works."
"Yes, that way the citizens' anger will make it easier to wipe out Baroque Works stragglers."
"I see."
I went to the prison where Baroque Works stragglers were held, took out one female straggler, and used the ability to change her appearance to look exactly like Vivi, then killed her and made Vivi's fake corpse. It felt a bit off, but she was originally a villain, and it was an unavoidable choice to guarantee the kingdom's safety.[Form Shift]
The next day, I showed the corpse to King Cobra and Vivi.
"This... is a decoy corpse? It looks exactly the same."
Vivi was flustered seeing a corpse that looked exactly like her.
"I put some effort into it."
"I see."
We dressed the fake Vivi corpse in Vivi's clothes, put it in a coffin, and then, as planned, Vivi stood on the plaza podium to give a speech.
"Now we must overcome the pain and..."
Bang!
Thud!
"Huh! Princess Vivi!!!"
"Princess!!!"
"Kyaaaack!! Princess!!"
Vivi timed it perfectly, popped the fake blood I gave her in advance, and pretended to die. Pell quickly transformed into his animal form and flew off carrying Vivi to the palace. People went into an uproar.
The next day, news of Vivi's death spread throughout the kingdom. It was announced that the culprit was Baroque Works stragglers. The kingdom's people were consumed by rage and started capturing or reporting Baroque Works stragglers. At this rate, they'd all be rounded up in a few days.
The palace was busy preparing Vivi's funeral. King Cobra said goodbye to Vivi in the Thalaria camper.
"Take care of yourself."
"Yes, Father."
King Cobra also asked me.
"Please take care of Vivi."
"Yeah. And there's something to be careful about. Two years from now, at the Levely, you must survive. If you die, you won't be able to protect the kingdom's people at the crucial moment. Try not to step forward, and even if you're curious, hold back. For the people."
"Why is that?"
"By then, the time when the world starts sinking will be approaching, so who knows what crazy thing 'Im' will do."
"I see, got it."
If I've told him this much, he won't die like in the original.
"And I'd like to take Pell as Vivi's escort."
"Understood."
That was good for me. Pell had high loyalty and, if trained, would be more than capable. With that, King Cobra got out of Thalaria, and Pell and Karu boarded.
"Huh! Princ..."
Pell was extremely shocked to see Vivi alive and tried to say something, but I hurriedly stopped him.
"Be quiet. You'll be discovered."
"Hup!"
We rode Thalaria and moved to Sky Island. I figured it could be discovered since many people came and went on the Merchant's Island. While moving, I explained the situation to Pell.
"I see. Understood."
"To protect Vivi, you need to become stronger. Are you prepared?"
"Of course. I realized my incompetence this time."
"This applies to you too, Vivi. You can't just be protected forever. You need to learn to protect yourself."
"Got it."
Both of them steeled their resolve at my words. We arrived at Sky Island like that. Gan Fall and his retainers came out to greet us.
"Your Majesty. You've arrived."
"Yeah, nothing happened, right?"
"Everything is fine. The training grounds and research facilities are running well. But who are these people?"
"This is Princess Vivi, who will become my wife, and her pet Karu, and her guard Pell."
"Oh~ That's welcome news. I was worried you refused all female attendants, but this is good. After all, a kingdom needs descendants to be stable."
Hearing that, Vivi's face turned red.
"Ahem... Anyway, once Vivi gets used to life here, I plan to hold the wedding, so please take care of her."
"Understood."
The Elysium Kingdom on Sky Island had no palace, but I built a well-furnished modern three-story building, so Vivi wouldn't have any trouble living there. Just then, a huge dog came running toward me, wagging its tail.
Woof woof!
"Vivi, this is Holly. My dog."
Holly had a bad expression from being abused and trained by Ohm, but ever since I took her in, her expression softened, and now she had a smiling face.
"Oh my~ What a huge dog~ So cute~"
Pant pant~
Vivi petted Holly and smiled. Then Karu got jealous and poked Vivi.
"Kuek!"
Vivi found that cute and petted Karu too.
I told Pell and Vivi where this was.
"So this is the legendary Sky Island?"
"Yes, this is a place I've been preparing."
"Indeed... I understand it's a safe place even if the sea level rises."
"I built a kingdom called 'Elysium' here. And don't tell anyone about the sea level yet. It's still a secret."
"Got it."
Pell was assigned lodging with the retainers' guidance, and I taught Vivi how to use the modern shower and toilet facilities in the modern residence I made.
It seemed the time had come, so I teleported to the Merchant's Island and called for Hina and Nico Chunja.
"You haven't been around for days β where did you go again."
"I was in Alabasta for a bit. But I have something to tell you."
"Hina, curious. What is it?"
"I'm getting married soon."
Hearing that, Hina and Chunja were flustered.
"What??? What did you say!!!???"
"Hina, flustered!!!???"
"It's hard to talk here, so wait a bit."
I called another employee and asked them to notify me if anything happened, then went back to my office to talk.
"Hold my hand. I'll show you what I've been preparing."
The two looked at each other for a moment, then held my hand. I immediately teleported and arrived at Sky Island.
"Huh! Where is this?"
Both were flustered again and looked around.
"This is Sky Island."
"What!!!???"
"Hina, flustered!!!???"
At their loud voices, retainers of the Elysium Kingdom ran over.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong."
"Nothing, go back to work."
"Understood."
I sent the retainers back. The two were still flustered and said.
"A king, what is this all about..."
"Yeah, I'm the king of the Elysium Kingdom on Sky Island."
"What???"
Vivi also came outside at the loud noise.
"What's going on?"
"It's hard to talk here, so let's go inside."
I guided the three into the lodging and sat them on the living room sofa, then started explaining the truth of the world and what I was planning. Chunja and Vivi already knew some of it, so they were less shocked, but Hina, who knew nothing, was extremely shocked by those words.
"Hina, shocked, that can't be..."
"Since I reached Laugh Tale and calculated it, it's accurate. And if this fact becomes known, the World Government will do anything to cover it up and erase the information."
"Then... You two knew?"
Hina looked at Vivi and Chunja and said.
"I knew. I'm actually Nico Robin, and I reached Laugh Tale with Taejin."
"What!!!???"
"I heard about it in Alabasta Kingdom."
"Then..."
I patted Hina's shoulder and said.
"I'm sorry I had to hide it because you have many connections in the Marines, but I hope you understand."
"Haa..."
"And knowing this fact alone makes you a target of the World Government, so I had no choice for your safety."
"Yes... The World Government would... do that."
Hina understood immediately since she'd been in the Marines for a long time. Nico Chunja had been petting Karu the whole time because he was cute. Come to think of it, in the original she liked animals too.
"Anyway, that's why I built the Elysium Kingdom on Sky Island and am preparing for emergencies."
"I see... Give me some time. I heard too many shocking things..."
"Got it."
I prepared coffee and snacks and put them on the table. Vivi drank the coffee and was impressed.
"Wow~ It's delicious."
"Right? The snacks will be good too. I baked them myself."
Vivi ate a snack too.
"The snack's delicious too. You cook well."
"Yeah, I studied ingredients for business, so my cooking skills improved along with it."
"I see."
After that, everyone was quiet. Only the sound of Nico Chunja petting Karu could be heard. Then Hina broke the silence and spoke.
"By the way, what's this about marriage."
"That's because, for Vivi's safety, we decided to get married. So I'm asking you all. Nico Robin believed in me and followed me, and I've known for a while that Hina liked me. So I intend to marry all three of you. If you hear this and want to leave, I won't stop you."
Hearing that, Hina's face turned bright red and she got flustered.
"Ah... um... so... I... like Taejin... eep! What am I saying... damn it!"
At that moment, Nico Chunja spoke.
"Hehe! This is something the women need to talk about, playboy boss! Why don't you step out for a bit?"
"Got it."
I went outside for a bit and fed Holly some sky chicken breast I had prepared while passing time, and Nico Chunja came outside and called me.
"Taejin, we're done talking. Come in!"
"Got it."
I followed Nico Chunja back into the lodging. The three were sitting calmly on the sofa, drinking the coffee I served. Hina spoke first.
"We don't know how we got involved with a playboy like you, but we all agreed to marry you."
"That's a relief."
Hina slammed her coffee cup down hard on the table and said.
Thud!
"But! On the condition that you don't increase the number of women! Got it!?"
"Yeah, I promise."
So the first wife was Hina, the second wife was Nico Chunja, and the third wife was Vivi β they decided that among themselves. Since they were on Sky Island, they decided to look around various places. I assigned a few guards for safety.
Hina toured the training grounds and research facilities, Nico Chunja toured the ancient ruins in Sky Island's Skypiea, and Vivi lightly covered her face and, escorted by Pell, went to the market on Lovely Street in Elzel Island to look around and sightsee.