Chapter 30 Alabasta

Through the crack of the door, Vivi eavesdropped on Cobra's conversation.

"Yes, your Majesty what is it?" Cobra asked.

There was a bit of silence for a while as Augustus said something on the other end of the line.

Vivi, who had a crack to peek through, noticed her father's wrinkles become more profound the longer Augustus spoke.

"Your Majesty that..." Cobra said with reluctance but stopped himself as Augustus spoke again which caused Cobra to go silent again.

Vivi noticed how Cobra seemed to be looking like any joy he had seemed to have been sucked away at this moment.

"No no!" Cobra suddenly exclaimed out loud.

"I will release the news..." he said hurriedly as he put the den den mushi away from his ear and put it away.

Putting his hands on his face he let out a deep sigh.

"Umm, dad, who was that?" Vivi said pushing the door open slowly.

Cobra raised his head to look at Vivi and felt like he couldn't face her.

He felt like he wasn't worthy of it.

"My dear... Your father is very sorry," Cobra solemnly said with his head down.

"Dad, what happened?" Vivi asked as she slowly approached Cobra, who didn't raise his eyes, unable to meet Vivi's.

"Dad, you can tell me" Vivi said softly as she hugged Cobra from the back.

It was quiet for a few seconds as Vivi tried to comfort her father, who was clearly not in the right emotional state.

"Vivi..." he wanted to tell Vivi about the Agreement with Augustus but he didn't know how to even start.

"Dad, it's alright, you don't need to tell me if you don't want to", Vivi said as she stepped back with a gentle smile.

He looked at the precious smile of his daughter and felt his heart twist.

This was something Vivi was gonna find out very soon and Cobra felt only right for her to find this news out through him.

"Vivi, I don't know how to say this elegantly but, I am no longer the real ruler of Alabasta, I have sold the kingdom..." Cobra said.

Vivi's felt her heart stop for a moment when she heard that.

She looked at Cobra with her smile slowly disappearing.

"Dad why?" Was all she could squeeze out.

"It was to protect our citizens from Crocodile" Cobra said.

"Augustus, the king of Glofield, Augustus..." Cobra said pausing for a second to think about how he was going to explain.

"Augustus approached me at a critical time and offered his help to get rid of Crocodile and a promise to let me have a veto in any decision made that would affect our citizens", Cobra said, guilt-stricken

Vivi fell into a state of shock as it all made sense to her.

The new Military men and the powerful Godfrey, who randomly one day appeared, must be from Glofield, and the sudden news about Crocodile, which eventually led to his arrest, must have been released by Glofield publicly to make the World Government and Marines promptly take care of Crocodile.

"What did Augustus ask you to do Dad?" Vivi asked causing Cobra to sigh.

"It was a part of our agreement, when the time came, we had to publicly go under Glofield as a Sub nation"

"And Now is the time" Vivi asked with a low tone causing him to silently nod

"No!" Vivi suddenly exclaimed.

"I want to talk to Augustus myself" Vivi said.

"There is no need for this, Augustus has been of great help to our kingdom other than the Crocodile situation" Cobra said.

"What do you mean?" Vivi, who was charged up, asked confused.

"In the time Glofield has ruled Alabasta, only good things have occurred; they created Advanced hospitals all around Alabsta which provide top-tier medical support to the citizens,", Cobra said.

"They have trained a strong military that will stay and guard Alabasta as well, ensuring our citizens protection and health", Cobra said.

"But Dad..."

"I will not hear it; as guilty and sorry as I feel to your mother for giving up this nation and your birthright, the decision has been made", Cobra said, causing Vivi to deflate like a balloon.

Vivi sighed to herself as she left the room.

As she closed the room, her dim eyes lit up again as a plan began to form inside her head, and she began walking with a determined look.

...

A few days later, Shanks had just sailed out of Marijoise with a solemn look on his face.

Ben Beckman, his right hand man noticed how Shanks seemed to be in a slump and couldn't help but ask what happened.

Shanks who was currently sitting on the ships mast turned back to look at Ben.

"The Marineford war was a disaster." Shanks simply stated.

"Luffy was supposed to be there" Shanks said looking back at the sea.

Shanks went silent after that and Ben didn't ask anymore.

"Alright Captain, We will be arriving near Toto in about 3 weeks" Ben said as he backed away leaving Shanks alone on the mast feeling the cold winds brushing past his face.

"Let's stop by Uta's island"

"Alright Captain, that will add another 4 weeks to our trip"

"Thats alright" Shanks said.

Ben simply nodded and went on his way to inform the crew about the decision made by Shanks while Shanks sat there looking at the waves of the ocean.

"Well played, Augustus" Shanks said after a while as he stood up and left the mast with a frown.

Shanks spent the next 4 weeks travelling to the island of Elegia where.

He wanted to meet Uta, but he just couldn't make himself to face her.

He watched how she had grown up and a week later simply decided to leave and sail to Toto island which was a journey of another 3 weeks.

By now 2 months had passed and Toto Island had appeared on the horizon.

"Captain!" A shout suddenly sounded as Yasop rushed towards Shanks with a newspaper in hand.

"Augustus has taken over Alabasta!" Yasop shouted with a laugh causing a deep frown to immediately form on Shank's face.

Yasop was in the mood to celebrate seeing as their friend has had a huge succes but when Yasop saw the frown on Shanks face he quickly went silent.

At this time withing the walls of Marigoise the Five Elders also recieved this news.