The Explorer of the Universe
53

The next day, when the sun had appeared on the eastern horizon, Luffy and the others were already preparing to leave Yuba, heading to the rebel headquarters in the city of Kotorea.

They say goodbye to Toto, who is the only resident of Yuba city who has not left.

"I'm sorry, Vivi's daughter, this place shouldn't be like this." Toto felt guilty.

"It's okay, just relax. Now we go, Uncle!" Say Vivi with a smile.

"Luffy, please take this with you." Toto said while giving something to Luffy.

"Wuah, water!" Luffy said, receiving a small water barrel with a straw and a rope to wrap around the neck.

"Water!" Usopp was also pleased.

"Where?" Ask Luffy.

"Last night when you fell asleep after digging, your dugout had already reached the moisture of the water. Then I distilled the moisture and that's the result." Toto clearly smiled.

"It looks complicated but thank you." Luffy.

"That's water from the original Yuba. Sorry, that's all I got." Toto felt guilty.

"I'll save this water." Luffy said with a smile and then laughed.

They left Yuba after saying goodbye to Toto and walking some distance from Yuba city, Luffy suddenly sat under a dry tree without any leaves.

"Oe, Luffy! What are you doing?!" Ask Usopp.

Luffy did not reply and just sat down and closed his eyes. He looked like he was thinking about something very heavy.

"Luffy?" Call Nami.

"what's wrong with you, Luffy?" Ask Vivi.

"I quit." Luffy said as he opened his eyes.

"Huh?" Said all those who were confused, except for Tanaka who was just silent without any expression.

Nami and Vivi question what is the meaning of the word 'stop' coming out of Luffy's mouth.

"Oe, Luffy! We don't have time for your jokes. Wake up!" Upset Usopp said.

"Luffy! If we don't get to Katorea soon, we can't stop the rebel forces. If millions of people go to war, you know what will happen?" Sanji asked who pulled Luffy's collar.

"This is for Vivi-chan! All righty! Let's go!" Sanji Strictly.

"No!" Said Luffy who took off his collar which Sanji was holding and threw Sanji's body aside.

"What did you say?!" Sanji said in annoyance.

Luffy ignored Sanji and looked at Vivi. He immediately expressed his wish directly to Vivi, who went to where Crocodile was and beat him up instead of going to Kotorea to meet with the rebel forces to persuade them to stop the resistance.

"If we can stop the rebel forces, can it stop Crocodile? Even if we get to Katorea, what can we do? We're pirates, remember that's fine!" Luffy said with his invisible eyes.

"Sometimes he can tell the core of a problem." Said Sanji who realized Luffy's intention.

"Luffy is so." Usopp.

"So-About that..." Vivi.

"All you want is for no one to die in battle, right? The whole town and all of us! He's a pirate with the title Shichibukai! And millions of people are ready for war, you hope everything will be all right? Do not force the will!" Luffy's.

Nami wants to mediate the debate and feels Luffy's remarks are too exaggerated for Vivi, though there is a point.

"Nami, wait." Said Sanji who stopped Nami.

"But..." Nami.

"Look it out, it's for Vivi's sake too." Tanaka.

Vivi who felt annoyed and stressed about everything that happened to her at this time immediately vented to Luffy.

"What then? Was it wrong to think that no one would die?" Ask the angry Vivi.

"People are going to die!" Luffy's.

"Yes, all living things are bound to die, no living being is immortal!" Thought Tanaka though she could be said to be immortal, but she wasn't.

Tanaka can also die in quite a special way. The immortal word attached to him was simply a delay of death to him.

Vivi slaps Luffy in the face until he slams to the side.

"Stop! Don't say that! If I say again, I will not forgive! That's what I'm supposed to do here! The rebel army, the royal army, they all did nothing wrong." Reveal Vivi in anger.

"Why should everyone die? This is all Crocodile's fault!" Firm Vivi.

Luffy then stood up and hit Vivi back quite hard.

"He really doesn't look at gender for his actions!" Think Tanaka.

"Why do you endanger your own life?!" Ask Luffy.

"Oe, Luffy! You're exaggerating!" Usopp.

"Suck, Luffy!" Sanji was angry.

Vivi again attacked Luffy and managed to occupy Luffy's stomach which then lifted his punch to Luffy's face.

"Since the first time I saw this kingdom, I can deduce it!" Said Luffy who ignored Vivi's punch.

"What's that?! What should we do?!" Say Vivi while hitting Luffy continuously.

"Indeed, putting your own life at risk is enough?!" Said Luffy who continued to speak despite being hit by Vivi.

"So what should I do?! What's..." Vivi said her hand was held by Luffy. "I have no other way but to do it myself."

Luffy then moved Vivi's body to the side and took a sitting position.

"You can do it with us! Aren't we friends?!" Shouted Luffy.

Hearing the words of a friend made Vivi cry. The feeling that she had endured all this time was only because she was a royal princess who had to look strong and tough in the face of trouble had already been shattered into pieces.

Right now, Vivi was just a weak girl and did not have the strength to solve her problems.

"What's? You crying?" Luffy said as he picked up his straw hat that had fallen off. "Cry as much as you. I know you hate him so much and want to beat him."

Nami walked up to Vivi and then hugged her who was crying while Tanaka just kept quiet as well as the others.

"Tell me." Luffy said while wearing his straw hat. "Where is Crocodile!"

Vivi kept crying while biting her lips.

"Vivi remembered what I said earlier, what is your current goal?" Tanaka. "Don't you say you want to stop Crocodile and his organization from destroying this land, your hometown?"

Vivi just kept quiet and kept crying after she calmed down, then she looked at us.

"Everything ... Luffy is right, let's head to Crocodile's hideout!" Pinta Vivi decides to return to her original destination.

They all agreed to this so that their destination which originally headed to the city of Kotorea turned into the city where the main headquarters of the Baroque Works was located.

"So where is the land crocodile?" Ask Tanaka.

Vivi did not immediately give an answer about the whereabouts of Crocodile but she explained the new plan to others.

"This is the capital of Alubarna where my father ruled. And the rebel forces used this road to attack Alubarna." Clearly Vivi while explaining using the map.

"So we have to find Crocodile before they attack!" Sanji Strictly.

"Crocodile is here." Said Vivi while pointing at a city that was on the map. "It's Rainbase."

"Rainbase?" Ask Usopp.

"The location is in the north and takes a day from here." Vivi.

After knowing the location of Crocodile's whereabouts, they immediately continued their journey to Rainbase as soon as possible.

However, due to the very hot desert weather their journey becomes a little hampered.

"Well..." Luffy and Usopp said as they felt so thirsty while walking around with the help of a wooden stick.

"Can't you 'aahh' be held for a moment?!" Nami asked who was upset because she also felt exhausted even though she was riding Matsuge with Vivi.

"You could've said that because you got on Matsuge!" Upset Usopp said.

Luffy and Usopp ridicule Nami like a child who is ignored by Nami.

"Chopper, you're not hot, are you?" Ask Zoro.

"Yes, I've been trying. Vivi, is Rainbase on water?" Ask Chopper who walks like a reindeer and holds back the heat with his body covered in fur.

"Yes, don't worry about that. The city is sheltered from rebel forces and is famous for its casinos." Vivi.

"Casino?!" Nami said with eyes that turned into berries.

"Hey, now what's in your brain?" Zoro said to Nami.

"Money is of course, right? Because Nami really likes money." Answer Tanaka.

"It turns out there's still a place of entertainment in Alabasta's." Sanji.

Usopp then tried to take Luffy's drink which was previously given by Toto.

"Little bit! I just wanted a sip! Why are you so stingy with that water?" Said Usopp with tears.

"I want to appreciate that skinny Uncle because he needed overnight for this water! Even a mouthful I won't give you! You idiot!" Said the angry Luffy.

"Tumben you can hold your lust." Nami was surprised.

"of course! If this is small. Tiny knows!" Said Luffy who was upset at Nami's words.

"I'm not strong anymore! Water..." Said Usopp who dropped both of his knees on the sand because he was completely dehydrated.

Tanaka sighed and approached Usopp to give Usopp his water stock which he immediately drank a few sips.

"Ah..I'm safe, thank you, Tanaka!" Said Usopp who was only replied by a nod.

"Luffy, thank you, I couldn't have decided like this without you." Said Vivi coming down from Matsuge.

"Food in return." Said Luffy who was thirsty and hungry.

"Eh?" Vivi was confused.

"After I defeat Crocodile, you have to give as much food as possible." Luffy Pinta.

"I'll definitely provide." Said Vivi with a smile.

They continued their journey until they could not feel, they were close to Rainbase.

"So that?" Ask Chopper who saw a city in the middle of the desert.

"Rainbase?" Answer Nami

"It's over, huh?" Said Luffy who was very exhausted but immediately excited when he saw the city of Rainbase. "All right! Time to hit Crocodile!"

"By the way, does Baroque Works know we're here?" Ask Zoro.

"That's possible. Mr. 2 has already met us on his way, so let's just say they know we're here." Answer Nami.

"Why indeed?" Ask Luffy innocently or can be said not to care too much whether they already know or not.

In his mind just wanted to beat Crocodile to pieces.

"Stupid, they'll definitely recognize us. Maybe we can't even get into Rainbase." Answer Usopp.

"Why can't it?!" Said the angry Luffy.

"We already know them. So Crocodile might have his men ban us from entering." Answer Usopp.

"The murders are their specialists." Zoro Sahut.

"Yes!! Get out you Crocodile!" Said Luffy who shouted.

"you didn't listen to me, did you?!" Usopp said angrily and then hit Luffy on the head from behind.

"By the way, whatever happens, I'll protect Nami, and Vivi." Sanji. "And you two can call me Prince!"

"Prince." Call Zoro who mocks Sanji.

"Prince Mesum!" Call Tanaka who is also the same as Zoro.

"I'll beat you both up, you son of a bitch!" Said Sanji who was upset because Zoro and Tanaka said it.

As he got closer to Rainbase, Luffy and Usopp ran into the city in search of water.

"Wait, Luffy! Bring money before you go!" Nami said but was not heard by Luffy.

Tanaka and the others finally entered Rainbase and took shelter in a cool place while waiting for Luffy and Usopp.

Chopper then went to separate himself because he wanted to pee.

"Letting the two of them go, is that okay?" Ask Sanji.

"They can do it, relax." Answer Nami.

"really? I think he'll come back with a problem. We better be on standby." Zoro said while playing with Matsuge by patting the camel's head using a tree branch.

Matsuge was upset that his head was patted by Zoro so he tried to bite Zoro's hand but always failed.

"I think so too." Tanaka.

Not long after, they heard a commotion and saw Luffy and Usopp being chased by the Navy.

"Once again he's dealing with the Navy?" Said Sanji who was shocked and upset.

"That's a lie, right? And why did they run here?" Nami said that upset too.

"Eh, Tony's not back yet." Vivi. "How's this?

"Leave! He can catch up!" Reply Zoro who is ready to run as well as others.

"Hey, everybody! There's a Navy!" Shouted Luffy.

"Then don't bring them here!" Zoro said.

They were all trying to escape from the Navy.

"This time it's gonna get caught!" Shouted a Marine soldier.

Smoker also chased from behind the soldiers with a feeling of annoyance.

"They are very fast when it comes to running!" Smoker.

"This is not a good idea! If it's like this, Baroque Works will see it!" Usopp.

Tanaka and Zoro looked around and realized there were many Baroque Works members holding posters that were definitely Luffy's and others' face posters, except for Sanji and Tanaka.

"It seems to be too late." Said Zoro who was also aware of that.

"What can I do! Just go! To Crocodile's hideout! Right, Vivi?!" Ask Luffy.

"Ehm! Did you guys see that alligator-roofed pyramid?" Said Vivi while pointing at the pyramid with the crocodile roof. "That's the Crocodile, Rain Dinners!"

"So there?! So that's where Crocodile is?!" Said the excited Luffy.

"We'd better split up!" Sanji's Advice.

"It has to be so!" Zoro agreed.

"Yes! We meet again there!" Luffy.

"Yes!" Say them all and then we split up.

Tanaka immediately moves alone and he immediately hides behind a small alley to escape the pursuit of the Marine.

After waiting for a while and monitoring the situation, he finally came out of his hiding place after feeling safe.

"Why are you hiding?" Ask Sengo. "Use me to fight with them!"

"No, I don't want to kill them and also fighting them is just a waste of time." Think Tanaka.

Sengo was furious but Tanaka ignored him and ran towards the building whose roof was a crocodile.

He was able to move freely without anyone chasing anymore because the Marine soldiers were not puffed with his face and the members of the Baroque Works did not know his face.

They just chase according to the face in the poster they carry.

Arriving in front of the crocodile roof building, he had not seen anyone arrive so he stood some distance away while monitoring the situation around the building.

Moments later, Nami and Usopp appear, but several members of Baroque Works are there, pointing their weapons at Usopp and Nami respectively.

"No!" Shouted the frightened Nami and Usopp while raising both of his hands up.

"Yes! Shoot 'em!"

Nami and Usopp are about to be shot by members of Baroque Works. Zoro quickly kicked all the members of the Baroque Works.

"Zoru!" Usopp.

"Where's Vivi? Wasn't Vivi with you?!" Ask Nami.

"Yes! Has he not arrived yet?" Ask Zoro.

"Maybe he went in first." Usopp.

"Then, hurry!" Nami.

Tanaka immediately ran towards where the three of them were. "Where are the others?" Tanaka asked as he was near the three of them.

Not even had time to be answered by the three of them, there was the sound of Luffy running towards the four of them.

"Luffy?!" Usopp.

"Don't run!" Smoker is still chasing Luffy.

"He's being chased by Moku Moku!!" Zoro.

"Hey, come! Everybody get inside!" Take Luffy.

The four of them immediately followed Luffy running to get into the Rain Dinners.

"So this is where he is!!" Luffy. "Crocodiles! I will definitely beat you up! Just wait!"