Chapter 103 The Rebel Army Surrenders

While everyone was eating, the Rebel Army led by Koza finally arrived at the royal capital.

Koza’s group stopped before the city gates; he looked up at the towering walls, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Seeing the arrival of the Rebel Army, the soldiers guarding the city thought they were there to attack the capital and raised their guns one after another.

Koza immediately raised his hands in a gesture of peace and shouted loudly.

“We are not here to fight! Please inform His Majesty the King that Koza, leader of the Rebel Army, has come to surrender!”

A commotion broke out atop the walls, and soon, an officer poked his head out.

“Lay down your weapons! Only the leader is allowed to enter the city!”

Without hesitation, Koza unbuckled his saber, handed it to a companion, and walked toward the city gate alone.

The heavy iron gate slowly opened with a dull thud.

Inside the palace’s main hall, King Cobra had already received the news.

He sat upright on the throne, with the two guards Pell and Chaka standing by his side.

As the ragged Koza walked in, a flicker of pain and pity flashed in the old king’s eyes.

“The guilty subject Koza pays his respects to His Majesty the King.”

The young rebel leader knelt on one knee, his raspy voice echoing through the hall.

With his forehead against the cold marble floor, he continued.

“We were blinded by Crocodile and committed unforgivable crimes.

I have come today to confess my guilt and submit to Your Majesty’s judgment.”

Cobra rose slowly, his trembling hands helping up the young man he had once treated as his own son.

Seeing the undried blood on the other man, the old king could no longer hold back his tears.

“It’s good that you’re back… child of Alabasta, it’s good that you’ve come home.”

Vivi, who had just learned that the leader of the Rebel Army was actually Koza, rushed to the hall; her eyes instantly welled up when she saw him.

Seeing her childhood friend, with whom she had grown up, now kneeling before her father covered in wounds, felt like a knife to her heart.

“Koza…”

Koza looked up, and the moment he saw Vivi, a flash of guilt and joy crossed his eyes.

He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say, finally only whispering.

“Princess Vivi… I’m sorry.”

Vivi shook her head.

“No, it is we who should apologize. We failed to expose Crocodile’s conspiracy sooner, causing you and everyone else to suffer.”

King Cobra watched this scene, his eyes full of relief.

He took a deep breath and said loudly.

“Koza, you and your companions are willing to lay down your arms and return to the kingdom’s embrace. This courage and loyalty are enough to make up for past mistakes.”

“Your Majesty…”

Koza’s eyes were slightly red, his voice low and solemn.

“We are willing to give everything for the peace of Alabasta.”

Cobra nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall as he said deeply.

“From today onward, Alabasta will see a new beginning.

Crocodile’s conspiracy has been shattered, and our country needs to unite to rebuild our home.”

Hearing about rebuilding their home, Vivi remembered the methods for managing the desert that Kaguya had told her about earlier.

“Father, Brother Kaguya… Lord Kaguya told me about methods to manage the desert before.”

Vivi almost blurted out the intimate name from last night in bed.

But she hadn’t decided whether to confess her relationship with Kaguya to her father yet, so she quickly changed her wording.

“Oh? What methods?”

Cobra’s eyes lit up.

“Lord Kaguya?”

Koza was curious about this unfamiliar name.

“Young friend Kaguya is the benefactor of the Alabasta Kingdom. It was he who dealt with Crocodile and exposed his conspiracy.”

Cobra explained briefly, then looked at Vivi and asked.

“What are the methods?”

Vivi recounted all the methods Kaguya had told her.

Cobra’s eyes grew brighter as he listened, and when Vivi finished, he couldn’t help but clap in approval.

“Great! Young friend Kaguya is truly a great benefactor of the Alabasta Kingdom.

Not only did he deal with Crocodile, but he also solved a problem that has plagued the Alabasta Kingdom for centuries.

Where is young friend Kaguya?

I must thank him properly.”

Hearing this, Vivi’s cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered.

“He should still be in the palace… I’ll go find him.”

Vivi walked quickly through the palace corridors, her heart beating like a drum.

“Sara, have you seen Kaguya?”

Vivi asked as she saw Sara accompanying Marianne while she painted in the garden.

“The boss and the others have already left.”

“Left? Where to?”

Vivi thought they had just gone out of the palace for fun.

“The boss said they were preparing to set sail and leave Alabasta.”

“What!”

Vivi’s face instantly turned pale, her vision went dark, and she felt a bit unsteady on her feet.

“When did they leave?”

Her voice trembled so much it was almost inaudible.

“Just a few minutes ago… The boss knew you were dealing with the Rebel Army, so he told me not to disturb you…”

Sara looked worriedly at Vivi’s pale face.

“He asked me to tell you…”

“What did he say?”

Vivi suddenly grabbed Sara’s wrist, tears welling in her eyes.

Sara hesitated for a moment and said softly.

“The boss said… for you to be a good princess, and that he will remember the stars of Alabasta.”

Vivi’s tears finally burst forth; she lifted her skirt and turned to run, her footsteps echoing sharply on the stone path.

As she passed through the palace gates, the guards didn’t even have time to salute before they saw the princess flash by like a gust of wind.

“Karoo!”

…Meanwhile, Kaguya was flying towards Nanohana, carrying Tashigi and Robin.

Robin touched Kaguya’s smooth scales and asked curiously, “What kind of Devil Fruit power is this?”

“Mythical Zoan: Torch Dragon Fruit.”

“Mythical Zoan…”

Robin looked shocked, then showed a thoughtful expression.

“No wonder your strength is so formidable…”

“Do you believe I can protect you now?”

Robin smiled slightly upon hearing this.

“I’ve always believed it~”

“Tch~”

At Robin’s obvious lie, Kaguya snorted softly, his dragon tail swaying gently as he increased his flying speed.

Soon, the outline of Nanohana appeared in Kaguya’s sight.

When Kaguya arrived above the dragon soaring ten thousand miles, Dezaya and Nojiko were on the deck using the poneglyph stone tablet to practice their swordsmanship.

“Stop!”

Seeing this, Robin’s face instantly turned pale, and she jumped directly off the dragon’s back.

“That is a poneglyph! You can’t treat it like that!”

Robin lost her usual calm and elegance, spreading her arms to block the stone tablet like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

Dezaya and Nojiko immediately stopped their movements.

“You’re back!”

Neither of the two women paid any attention to Robin; instead, they happily approached Kaguya.

“Why are you using the poneglyph to practice swordsmanship?”

Kaguya transformed back into human form and pinched the two women’s cheeks.

“We can’t read this thing anyway.

You had Nami bring it back, and it just takes up space and is useless.

We could only put it to some use.”

Nojiko shrugged helplessly.

…

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