Chapter Seventy-Three: Clever Vivi (Please Vote and Recommend)

“Smoker! You’re smoke, I’m fire—we’ve never settled who’s stronger!” Ace appeared atop a rooftop across the way, arms spread wide as he controlled the flickering fireflies, facing off against Smoker.

At that moment, the civilians—who had just vented their emotions with improvised “weapons”—began shouting:

“Go, fire boy! Beat the mad dog senseless!”

“Make him leave, drive him out of Rapeseed Harbor, drive him out of Alabasta!”

The more Smoker thought about it, the more frustrated he became. Who was really the Marine here?

He first transformed his arms and legs into smoke, then stretched them out, launching a furious barrage of punches and kicks at Buffon.

But before he could touch Buffon, his target vanished.

Smoker sensed movement behind him. Turning, he glimpsed a black palm striking toward the back of his neck.

“Pirate, don’t you know I’m—”

Before he could finish, his vision went black and he collapsed.

“Ace, I can’t believe you actually knocked out a Logia-type!” Ace’s expression was exaggerated, his voice booming.

Buffon shook his head, calm as ever. “There’s a new chef aboard. I’m inviting you to enjoy a proper meal.”

With that, the two of them leapt from the rooftop, walking toward the port amid cheers from the townsfolk.

Vivi and Reiju followed behind, watching the scene unfold with a sense of unreality.

Little did they know, this very spectacle had played out earlier that morning—only the target then had been Crocodile. And today, the scale was dozens of times greater.

Atop the rooftop where Smoker lay unconscious, a swordswoman wearing glasses hefted his limp body. She had witnessed everything, and could hardly believe that her superior, Captain Smoker, had become the target of public outrage, treated like a rat in the street.

“Is the justice of civilians not the same as the justice of the Marines?” For the first time in her life, she doubted what “justice” truly meant.

Meanwhile, Buffon and Ace had reached the port, only to be dumbfounded by the scene before the Juventus.

Three giants stood around a mountain of supplies piled on the dock, fretting aloud. From their conversation, the two learned that the ship’s hold was already full—everything left on the dock would have to go on deck.

All these supplies had been delivered by the civilians Buffon had helped, and they’d tossed their gifts to Sauro, refusing to take “no” for an answer.

“What now, Captain Buffon?” Sauro asked as the two approached. Buffon didn’t reply, but turned to Reiju and Vivi, who followed behind.

The two princesses understood, nodding their agreement.

Buffon and Ace boarded the ship. Lily brought them beers, then went off to prepare the meal.

As they drank, Buffon told Ace about Luffy’s situation, not even hiding the matter of the pointer exchange.

Ace laughed, clutching his stomach. “Buffon, you’re full of surprises!”

Buffon sipped his beer, shaking his head with a smile.

“That works out well. Maybe that blue-nosed little fellow will join his crew. Didn’t you say they needed a doctor aboard?” Ace said, his laughter subsiding as he grew serious.

Buffon nodded, but didn’t answer. In his heart, he thought, “He definitely will.”

Ace then told Buffon about his own journey since they parted at Drum Island—he’d been chasing Teach’s trail all over the sea, and had only just arrived at Rapeseed Harbor, where he ran into Buffon.

As for Smoker, Ace guessed he must have come in pursuit of Luffy.

“Just wait awhile, Luffy should show up here. That way you brothers can meet again.”

After the last incident with Teach, Ace trusted Buffon’s predictions, so he didn’t ask for details and simply nodded. “I’ll stay here at most five days, then head out to chase Teach again. What about you? Where’s your next stop?”

Buffon calculated the timing, then nodded. “I plan to check out the Rain Dinners casino in Rainbase.”

He didn’t elaborate on his intentions, and Ace didn’t ask. They simply continued drinking.

Soon, Lily’s cooking was ready, and the rest of the Juventus crew joined the feast.

After leaving only the necessary supplies, Vivi and Reiju—using Vivi’s status as princess—donated the surplus to local welfare organizations. Of course, she didn’t use her own name, but that of Buffon, the miracle doctor.

The party lasted until deep into the night. Ace, thoroughly drunk, slept aboard the Juventus.

Still clear-headed, Vivi and Buffon stood at the bow, gazing at the now-silent Rapeseed Harbor. Vivi spoke: “Captain Buffon, what is your true purpose in coming to Alabasta?”

“To heal and save lives,” Buffon replied truthfully.

Vivi laughed. “Captain Buffon, you really know how to joke!”

“Isn’t that what I’m doing?” Buffon countered.

Vivi thought back on his actions during the day; they seemed harmless enough. As long as Buffon wasn’t allied with Baroque Works, she had no worries.

“Perhaps when you say ‘heal and save lives,’ you mean healing this country’s sickness, saving its people…”

With this thought, Vivi continued, “Captain Buffon, can I ask where Luffy’s eternal pointer leads to?”

Buffon considered for a moment, then said calmly, “You wouldn’t want to meet the king of that place.”

Hearing this, Vivi fell silent. The words “king” and “wouldn’t want to meet” together pointed to only one possibility—Wapol, king of Drum Kingdom.

This man had bullied Vivi at a world government summit when she was young. At one meeting, Wapol quarreled with Vivi’s father, Cobra, and vented his anger on young Vivi, striking her on the head and forcing her to apologize through tears.

“Is it really Drum Kingdom? If so, how did Captain Buffon know about this?” Vivi wondered, when Buffon suddenly added, “Luffy will surely teach that tyrant a lesson.”

With those words, Vivi was almost certain it was Wapol. But how had Buffon acquired an eternal pointer to Drum Island?

Vivi searched her memories, recalling the news reports, and realized a possibility.

“Doctor Buffon, you were at Drum Island when Blackbeard’s crew went there, weren’t you?”

Buffon thought to himself, “No wonder she was chosen as an undercover agent for Baroque Works. Her deduction is almost spot on.”

Buffon didn’t answer; he simply shook his head and headed back to the cabin.

Though Buffon hadn’t admitted it, Vivi was convinced. She resolved to ask Sauro about it tomorrow.