Chapter 104

Before the pair—one person and one duck—could even catch their breath,

a youthful male voice, tinged with amusement, rang out beside Princess Vivi and the land-running duck Karu.

"Good evening, Princess Nefertari Vivi, princess of the Kingdom of Alabasta."

The land-running duck Karu gave a sudden shudder, nearly shaking Princess Vivi right off his back.

Vivi stared blankly toward the direction the voice had come from.

She saw that the black-haired youth who had earlier been inside the great hall of the Tomb now stood atop the courtyard wall, hands tucked into the pockets of his black trench coat, smiling as he looked at them.

Beneath the clear, bright moonlight.

The youth stood high on the courtyard wall, his black trench coat and black hair swaying gently, giving him an air of utter mystery.

97, Luo En's disciple, Kung-Fu Sea Lion Little Seven (4/4 asking for subscriptions!)

"You know me?"

Princess Vivi asked, gazing up at him.

"No, this is our first meeting."

"Was it you who knocked out the guards outside and took that thing from the Tomb? Are you a bad person?"

Vivi called up to Luo En, who stood atop the courtyard wall.

"Whether I'm a bad person or not, that's something for you to decide."

Luo En smiled down at Vivi, who sat astride the land-running duck's back. "As for that stone tablet, I did indeed take it."

"Then you're a thief, a bad person!"

Vivi puffed out her cheeks and shouted at him.

"That thing clearly belongs to our family, why did you take it? Hurry up and give it back, or I'll have Father send soldiers to come catch you."

The land-duck Karu beneath her trembled nonstop.

If he could speak, he would surely beg the little ancestor on his back to say a few words less.

Couldn't they just run?

Though, admittedly, they might not be able to escape…

Hearing Vivi's innocent words, Luo En chuckled: "Your father can't do anything to me."

"Nonsense, my father is the ruler of an entire nation…"

Vivi tried to argue back.

But before she could finish.

That black-haired youth in the black trench coat, utterly mysterious, cut her off:

"Since we've met tonight, and on account of that stone tablet I took, I'll give you a few pieces of advice."

"First, don't trust Crocodile."

"Why?"

Princess Vivi's face was full of confusion. "He's the hero of our country."

"Don't ask me why, you'll find out later."

Vivi still wanted to say something.

Luo En turned around and said: "Second piece of advice—if this country ever falls into great danger, you can tell Crocodile that the stone tablet was taken by me."

"Third piece of advice—if you ever meet a fellow named Luffy, tell him I'll be waiting for him in the New World."

After saying these words, he stamped his foot, and his figure vanished instantly from before Vivi and the land-duck's eyes.

Leaving Vivi behind, her heart full of questions, utterly bewildered.

"Crocodile is a bad person? The country will fall into danger? And… who is Luffy?

And the biggest question that surfaced in her heart was—

Who on earth… was that mysterious-looking guy?!

……

Luo En returned to the agreed-upon spot.

Conis had already bought the food, drink, and clothing.

But Luo Bin, who had been sent to purchase the gunpowder, had not yet returned.

After a while.

several carriages of Baroque Works arrived at the place.

Some people unloaded box after box of gunpowder from the carriages.

"Vice President, is this enough?"

"Ah, this is fine, you lot head back first."

"Yes!"

After that group left in the carriages.

Luo Bin, wearing a cowboy hat and a white fur coat, walked over toward the two of them.

"Looks like my activities haven't been exposed yet. This is all the gunpowder Baroque Works has gathered from the underground forces in the capital—thirteen boxes in total."

"Well done."

Luo En nodded, then stepped forward two paces and extended his hand toward the gunpowder before him.

"System, scan and store."

【Understood】

Although it was the system that stored them away into the system space, in Luo Bin and Conis's eyes, it looked as though, while Luo En exerted his ability, the gunpowder slowly sank down into the void.

After he repeated the same trick and stored the mountain-like pile of food, clothing, and drink entirely into the system space.

Luo Bin could not help but exclaim:

"What an incredibly convenient ability."

"What on earth is this Devil Fruit ability? Is it something related to space?"

Koniess was also somewhat curious.

Looking at the curious gazes of the two women, Luo En thought for a moment, then decided to speak frankly.

"Actually, this isn't a Devil Fruit ability. I've never eaten a Devil Fruit."

Koniess and Luo Bin were stunned by the words.

"…………Eh?!"

"Not… a Devil Fruit ability? Then does that mean you can touch seawater?"

Luo Bin was greatly shocked.

Luo En nodded.

Luo Bin was dumbfounded.

Someone who had never eaten a Devil Fruit, yet possessed an extraordinary ability ordinary people did not have… she had never heard of such a thing.

"Captain, were you born with it?"

Koniess asked curiously.

Luo En shook his head: "No."

"This ability… um… is related to a kind of special thing I call a Noble Phantasm."

"Noble Phantasm…"

Luo Bin murmured.

Luo En tapped his foot, and the void around him rippled before the two women like the surface of water, like a portal of nothingness leading to another space.

"Its Noble Phantasm is named 'Gate of Babylon,' capable of connecting to a void space that stores inanimate objects."

Luo En raised his hand, and the hilt of Lei Qie emerged from the water-like void, slowly falling into his hand under the gaze of Koniess and Luo En.

Luo En hung the sheathed Lei Qie at his waist, and the strange phenomenon around him gradually faded.

"Consider this my secret."

Luo Bin and Koniess slowly came back to their senses. Hearing these words, both women's hearts stirred slightly.

This was… completely treating them as companions worthy of trust…

But before the two women could think further—

Luo En's next sentence directly shattered the emotion that had just risen in their hearts.

"Of course, my secrets aren't limited to just this one."