DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

Alvida laughed, shaking her head as she held her club.

"That girl, Miss Wednesday... I mean, Vivi, is a princess. How funny, a princess mingling with the scum of Baroque Works."

Nami narrowed her eyes, confused.

"A princess? You must be joking."

Vivi hesitated, her eyes darting to the ground before she raised her head, her voice trembling but determined.

"It's true. My name is Nefertari Vivi. I am the princess of Alabasta. I infiltrated Baroque Works to find out who is behind the crisis in my kingdom."

Sanji stepped forward, completely ignoring the shock on the others' faces.

"A princess? Oh, mademoiselle, what an honor to be in the presence of such grace and beauty. If you need anything, a guardian, a personal chef, a husband... count on me."

Vivi took a slight step back, uncomfortable with the sudden approach, while Nami rolled her eyes.

"Sanji, can you, for a moment, not act like a complete idiot?"

Sanji placed his hand on his chest, offended.

"Nami-swan, I would never be insensitive! I'm just offering my loyalty to the princess."

Zoro sighed, adjusting his swords.

"That's irrelevant. What matters is what she's hiding. Princess or not, it doesn't change anything."

Igaram, still kneeling and trembling, raised his hands towards Luffy.

"Please, Straw Hat, help us! The kingdom of Alabasta is on the brink of collapse. I... I'll give everything we have. Billions of berries, if necessary."

Luffy looked at him, his expression serious and full of determination.

"I don't want your money. I'll help because I want to, not because I'm paid."

Nami stepped forward, crossing her arms.

"That's very noble, Luffy. But I'm not that altruistic. If we're risking our lives, I want those billions of berries. And if he's offering, who are we to refuse?"

Igaram nodded vigorously, his voice filled with desperation.

"Yes, yes! You'll have everything you want. Just save Alabasta."

Vivi stepped forward, her eyes shining with sincerity.

"I... I lied to you because I had no choice. My kingdom is suffering. My people are dying of hunger and thirst. Baroque Works is manipulating everything to overthrow my family and take control of Alabasta. Crocodile... he's the true leader of Baroque Works. He's responsible for all of this."

Igaram hesitated before standing up, adjusting his flashy wig and taking a deep breath.

"I have to be honest with you," he began, in the most serious tone they had ever heard. "My real name isn't Igarappoi. That was just a codename to protect my identity while working undercover in Baroque Works."

All eyes turned to him, curious.

"My real name is Igaram, and I am the commander of the royal guard of Alabasta. Vivi is my princess, and I have given my life to protect her and our kingdom. Please, trust us."

Sanji struck a dramatic pose, with his hand on his heart.

"Commander of the royal guard? What an honor to fight alongside someone so devoted."

Zoro crossed his arms, not hiding his suspicion.

"As long as he doesn't get in the way, it doesn't matter. Let's focus on saving Alabasta."

Luffy smiled, nodding affirmatively.

"Whatever your name is, Igaram, if you're on Vivi's side, you're on our side too."

Igaram bowed deeply, moved. "Thank you. I won't let you down."

---

Riser stood still, casually leaning against the wall of a destroyed house, watching from a distance the conversation between Luffy and Vivi. His gaze seemed carefree, but there was a latent tension in his posture. He twirled the Jitte between his fingers, the blood of Mr. 5 still glistening in the light of the remaining flames.

"Yeah, it looks like the captain and the princess have reached an agreement," said Riser, his voice laden with irony. He shifted his gaze to Miss Valentine, who was watching him with a mix of fear and hesitation. "Now, it's our turn."

Miss Valentine took a step back, her eyes fixed on the still-dirty Jitte. "Are you going to kill me too?" Her voice was firm, but her body trembled slightly.

Riser didn't respond immediately. He took a step forward, approaching her with slow, calculated movements. When he was just a few centimeters away, he tilted his head, holding the Jitte with one hand while wiping the blood on her clothes.

The fabric absorbed the red liquid, and Miss Valentine shuddered. The touch of the Kairoseki on the Jitte made her strength diminish drastically, leaving her almost breathless.

"Relax," said Riser, with an enigmatic smile. "I don't kill without a reason. You're alive because you're still useful."

Miss Valentine tried to move away, but her legs wouldn't respond. "What do you want from me?" Her voice was now filled with panic.

Riser raised the Jitte, now clean, and put it away. "A deal," he said, crossing his arms. "You have two options: you can run away now, hide, and pray that Baroque Works doesn't find you... or you can serve me."

She blinked, confused and still panting. "Serve you? What does that mean?"

"Simple," replied Riser, leaning slightly forward. "You follow my orders. There's a mole of mine in Baroque Works. You'll work with him. He'll contact you when the time is right."

Miss Valentine hesitated, her eyes fixed on the ground. "What if I refuse?"

Riser smiled, but his gaze turned icy. "If you refuse, you're free to go. But I'll also be free to do as I please. And believe me, there's nowhere you can hide from me."

His words fell like a weight on Miss Valentine. She knew he was serious. Feeling cornered, she nodded slowly. "And who is this mole?"

Riser leaned even closer, whispering in her ear: "I Know What You Did Last Summer."

Miss Valentine's heart raced, but before she could respond, Riser took a step back and gestured towards the street. "You can go. The rest is up to you."

Without another word, Miss Valentine turned and left, her steps hurried and shaky. Her mind was a whirlwind of confused thoughts as she tried to process everything that had just happened.

Riser remained still, watching as she disappeared into the darkness. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips. He wiped his hands, turned, and began walking back towards Luffy's group.

At the corner of the street, a separate eye and ear were discreetly positioned, watching and listening to everything. It was a detail anyone would have ignored, but Riser knew exactly what it meant.

He didn't look, didn't change his pace, or give any indication that he had noticed. His attention remained focused on his own goals.

Luffy walked up to him, stopping a few meters away.

"Who was that woman?"

Riser didn't look away, standing under the faint moonlight, the Jitte hanging in his hand.

"She could be an enemy. Or an ally. It's entirely up to her."

Vivi and Igaram, beside them, exchanged worried glances. Riser's casual tone didn't mask the tension in the air, and the shadow of Crocodile seemed to loom over them like an invisible presence.

"This is no joke," Vivi murmured, her eyes fixed on the ground.

Riser noticed the hesitation on their faces, but his enigmatic smile didn't waver. He raised his hand, pointing to the sky.

"Whether this matters or not is no longer my problem. Luffy decided to help you."

Everyone looked where Riser was pointing. High above, a vulture and an otter floated on the wind currents, with a notebook in their hands.

"Mr. 13 and Miss Friday!" exclaimed Vivi and Igaram simultaneously, their voices filled with alarm.

Sanji stepped forward, his eyes wide as he watched the animals. "Are you telling me that even animals are part of Baroque Works? This is getting stranger by the second."

CLACK!

The sound of Riser's fingers snapping echoed through the street. In an instant, flames erupted on the bodies of the two animal agents, lighting up the night sky with a burst of fire.

FWOOSH!

The vulture and the otter were consumed by the flames, their forms writhing in agony as they slowly fell from the sky. The air was filled with the acrid smell of burning flesh, while ashes floated gently, disappearing into the darkness.

Vivi let out a relieved sigh, her hands trembling slightly as she watched the ashes disappear.

"That... that could have been a disaster."

Nami crossed her arms, sighing as she averted her gaze from the incinerated remains. "You like being dramatic, don't you?"

"It's more efficient this way," Riser replied, starting to walk leisurely towards the Going Merry.

Luffy, his eyes shining with excitement, looked at the flames still dissipating in the sky.

"That was amazing! The flames! Did you see that, Usopp?"

"I saw!" replied Usopp, his face lit with a mix of shock and fascination. "It was like a fireworks show! But... a bit more deadly."

Riser didn't stop walking, his posture relaxed as he distanced himself from the group.

Nami, watching Vivi, approached with a sympathetic look. "You're coming with us, aren't you?"

Vivi hesitated, her eyes meeting Nami's. For a moment, her expression softened, before she nodded slowly.

"Yes... I need to go. My people need help."

She put her fingers to her mouth, letting out a sharp whistle that echoed through the village.

QUACK! QUACK!

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed as a huge yellow duck emerged from a side street, wings spread and eyes determined.

"Karoo!" Vivi exclaimed, running to hug him. The large duck responded with a head movement, rubbing his beak against her face.

"A giant duck," murmured Sanji, with a surprised smile. "It's an honor to meet such a majestic companion."

"Karoo is my most loyal friend," said Vivi, climbing onto his back with agility. She turned to the group, renewed determination in her eyes. "I'm ready. Let's save Alabasta."

The group began walking towards the Going Merry, with Vivi and Karoo at the rear. The ship, illuminated by the moonlight, seemed like a safe sanctuary after the chaos at Whiskey Peak.

As they boarded, the sound of sails being adjusted and preparations for the journey filled the air.

Luffy ran to the bow, a wide smile on his face.

"Next destination: Alabasta! Let's save the kingdom and find lots of food along the way!"

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