One Piece: Hashirama Template

"Just call me Link. Princess Vivi, you've been through a lot during this time."

Link smiled as he introduced Carina and Nami to Vivi, "These two are my assistants. Please get along well from now on."

"Ufufufu..."

Carina let out her unique laugh and introduced herself, "My name is Carina. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."

"I'm Nami."

Vivi stood up and said politely, "Hello, I am Nefertari Vivi. It's a pleasure to meet you too."

Carina was slightly taken aback. "Nefertari Vivi? Not Nefertari D. Vivi?"

After speaking, Carina looked meaningfully at Link.

"D? There's no D in my name!"

Vivi also looked at Link and couldn't help but ask, "Link, why did she call me that?"

"Well, that relates to certain secrets of the world."

Link pinched his chin, lying without batting an eye, "According to my investigation, the Nefertari family was one of the twenty royal families that founded the World Government. But for some unknown reason, they refused to relocate to the Holy Land, Mary Geoise. Their surname once contained the initial D, but it's unknown since when it disappeared."

"One of the tw... twenty kings?!"

Carina and Nami's eyes widened as they looked at Vivi. The latter said with a trembling voice, "Then... aren't they Celestial Dragons?"

They thought Vivi was just the princess of a super kingdom, but it turned out she was actually a World Noble!

"Link, are you sure it's okay that we've 'kidnapped' a descendant of the Celestial Dragons?" Nami asked hurriedly.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine."

Before Link could speak, Carina shook her head and analyzed, "If the Nefertari family enjoyed the privileges of the Celestial Dragons, the Kingdom of Alabasta would never be in a state of war, and Crocodile would never dare to make a move against the country."

"And look at Princess Vivi's reaction. She probably doesn't know about her own lineage either."

Vivi nodded with a similarly confused expression, "Yes, I had no idea my royal family had such a history!"

Although she was a princess, she had not yet inherited the throne and knew nothing of the royal family's secrets.

At this point, Vivi couldn't help but ask Link, "Link, how do you know all this?"

"This is erased history, carved onto a certain type of stone slab."

Link continued to lie, "My wood clones, scattered across the world, read about it in a certain ancient text."

"I see," Carina and Nami said, a look of understanding on their faces.

Vivi also understood. "So that's the history."

No royal history would be carved on just any stone. Vivi became even more curious about her own family's secrets.

After the war is over, she must ask her father about it.

With this conversation, Vivi had a preliminary acquaintance with Link and the others.

After establishing an employment relationship with Link, Vivi also let down her guard.

Immediately, she asked with her usual anxious expression, "Link, what about the bounty hunters who were tied up like me? What will happen to them?"

"Don't worry, they're fine," Link smiled reassuringly. "Although I didn't know which ones were your guards, I sensed they meant you no harm, so to avoid accidentally killing your protectors, I didn't attack those bounty hunters."

"When the ship left Whiskey Peak, I undid their bindings. They'll wake up naturally once they recover their strength."

"...That's good."

Learning that Igaram and Karoo were safe, Vivi let out a sigh of relief and looked at Link gratefully. "Thank you, Link."

If the system were to quantify affection levels, a "Favorability Up" notification would surely be popping up over Vivi's head right now.

Kingdom of Alabasta.

Rainbase, the city of dreams.

A stunningly beautiful, curvaceous, and mature woman walked into Crocodile's office.

Looking at Crocodile, who was sitting in the boss's chair and wearing a fur coat despite being in a desert kingdom, Nico Robin chuckled lightly, "Boss, I've found the little mouse you were investigating."

"Who?"

Crocodile, biting his cigar, immediately shifted his gaze.

Robin stated plainly: "Her Highness, Princess Nefertari Vivi."

"Heh..."

Crocodile let out a cold laugh. "No wonder there's been no news of the princess for two years. So she went undercover. How daring and willing to sacrifice."

"It seems she knows you are the secret boss of Baroque Works," Robin said with a smile.

In fact, the reason Vivi was able to find out that Crocodile was the boss of Baroque Works was all thanks to Robin's step-by-step guidance.

Even Vivi's promotion was approved by Robin.

If not for Robin's guidance and tacit approval, Vivi might have been brought before Crocodile the moment she joined Baroque Works.

Now, the time was ripe. Robin felt it was time for this coup plot to come to an end.

Hearing Robin's words, Crocodile said dismissively, "It doesn't matter. As long as they have no proof that I purchased and used Dance Powder, the World Government can't touch me even if they intervene."

"But to avoid any accidents, this danger must be eliminated."

After speaking, Crocodile looked at Robin and said in a deep voice, "I'm giving this mission to you, Miss All-Sunday!"

"Please allow me to refuse, Boss."

Robin shook her head, ignoring the darkening of Crocodile's face, and delivered her prepared lines: "Her Highness the Princess seems to know she's been discovered. She somehow contacted 'The Impaler' and hired the bounty hunter and mercenary to escort her home."

"'The Impaler'?"

Crocodile was momentarily stunned by the both familiar and unfamiliar name, then his expression turned grim. "Is that the kid who ate the Logia-type Forest-Forest Fruit?"

"Yes."

Robin nodded and smiled, "According to the photos faxed back by Mr. 13 and Miss Friday, 'The Impaler' Link turned half of Whiskey Peak into a forest with a single move."

"With his strength, aside from you, Boss, I believe none of us are his match."

Crocodile nodded in agreement, "A top-tier Logia user is indeed not someone to be taken lightly."

"This 'Impaler' might affect my plans."

"No matter."

Crocodile gave a cold smile, saying the same thing Link had: "If it were another top-tier Logia, I might be wary. But a Forest-Forest Fruit user is out of luck meeting me."

All Devil Fruits have counters, and this is most obvious among Logia types.

Although the Flare-Flare Fruit has the infamous meme of being a fruit no dog would eat, it doesn't diminish fire's top-tier status among Logia types. However, the Flare-Flare Fruit is indeed in an awkward position; if the user hasn't developed it to the point of being fearless against magma, then they can't beat the Magma-Magma Fruit from above and will be evenly matched with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit from below.

The Sand-Sand Fruit is also one of the top-tier Logia types because it has a very powerful characteristic: dehydration.

As long as something contains moisture, whether organic or inorganic, dehydration can turn it into sand.

This ability is a strong counter to Logia-type Devil Fruits like the Forest-Forest Fruit.

A fight between the Forest-Forest Fruit and the Sand-Sand Fruit is like a fight between the Magma-Magma Fruit and the Ice-Ice Fruit; it's a competition of stamina and fruit development.

Crocodile, currently in his prime, doesn't believe that a newcomer like Link can win in terms of stamina and fruit development.

Especially here in the desert kingdom, his home turf.

As long as Link sets foot on this island, Crocodile will ensure he meets his end here