The laughter ceased, and Kong Tai smiled at Vivi. "Yes, yes, Vivi-chan, you're truly a princess. While it's regrettable, I admire your decision."
He then turned, gazing up at the windsock flag re-hoisted atop the mast, before looking down at the distant sea and waving goodbye to Vivi below.
"Since you've made your decision, go and fulfill it well. I believe you will become a great princess."
As he walked towards the bow of the ship, he said without turning back, "Then we shall part ways here! Vivi-chan, Mr. Igaram, and of course, Chaka."
"Thank you!"
Vivi nodded as she watched Kong Tai's retreating back, then shouted loudly to him, "Thank you, Kong Tai-san."
Igaram also called out loudly with Vivi. "Thank you."
Even though they had said it many times over the past few days, their gratitude towards the silver-haired group who had saved Alabasta could never be overstated.
"Kaa—!"
Chaka, beside Vivi, also let out a loud cry towards the Going Merry.
Kong Tai didn't look back at their thanks. Holding his teacup, he walked to the bow.
*Dong—!*
He placed the teacup on the coffee table on the deck at the bow, then turned to look at the mast, where the sails had been lowered. With a thought, the anchor at the bow was automatically retracted with a clattering sound, hanging on one side.
Then, under Kong Tai's control, the Going Merry slowly backed out of the harbor.
It then turned, its sails catching the wind, and set sail towards the boundless sea.
While Kong Tai was maneuvering the ship, Kuina, who had taken Robin to her room, changed into dry clothes with Robin and then came out to bid farewell to Vivi and the others.
Of course, Ah Hua's three companions and Indigo were also present.
They stood at the ship's railing, waving continuously at Vivi.
After five days together, they had all become good friends. There was certainly sadness at parting, but on the ship, there was more anticipation for future adventures.
After all, Vivi was the princess of Alabasta; they didn't need to worry about her.
Gazing at the gradually receding Going Merry.
Vivi, Chaka, and Igaram stood on the pier for a long time. Only when the Going Merry had completely disappeared did they finally look away.
Vivi turned around, mounted Chaka's back, and looked up, her gaze passing over the canola flowers and towards the depths of the desert.
Alabasta had just experienced a disaster, and countless dry oases awaited her, the highest authority in Alabasta at this moment, to lead the reconstruction of their homeland!
"Let's go! Igaram, we'll go to Erumalo first, then to Yuba. That was the rebel army's base. Even though it's raining, I still need to go and comfort the people."
"Understood!"
Igaram turned to look at Vivi, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.
After this incident, Vivi had become more mature and steady. Even though she was still a young girl of only fifteen, she was now the highest authority in Alabasta, the Princess of Alabasta, and she was fulfilling her duties and responsibilities.
"Kaa—!"
Chaka let out a loud cry, bucked his legs, and walked towards the distant street.
This cry broke Igaram's reverie. He looked at Vivi's retreating back, the corners of his mouth curling up into a smile.
Then, he turned his head and looked towards the distant sea, silently saying once more in his heart, "Thank you."
He then turned and mounted a horse that had been standing quietly beside him.
Yes, a horse. Don't assume Alabasta has no horses because it's a desert.
There are horses here, just very few. When Kong Tai and his companions saw horses in the palace, they curiously asked where they came from.
It turned out that at the end of the St. Dora River, the River of Life in Alabasta, there was a large grassland with an Alabasta horse farm.
Because the source of the St. Dora River was there, and to prevent the water source from being polluted, the Nefertari family had not built a city there, even though the climate was very suitable for human habitation. Therefore, on normal days, besides a few stable hands, the place was practically uninhabited.
Alabasta had finally ended. Everyone had their own mission. It was believed that with their hearts set on their paths, Vivi and Kong Tai's group would eventually meet again.
Just like in life, there are always friends, even if they don't spend much time together, who become very close. Even if they are separated by thousands of miles, true friends will silently bless each other in their hearts.
At the bow of the Going Merry.
Kong Tai lay back on his exclusive recliner.
Originally, three chairs could be placed at the bow. Two were for Kong Tai and Kuina. Indigo often brought a recliner to the bow when he was there.
Now that Robin had arrived, Indigo had to stay on the middle deck. It was because Robin was a girl!
He couldn't possibly ask Kong Tai and Kuina to give up their seats.
However, these were minor issues. Indigo spent most of his time in his small infirmary, researching various medicines.
Kong Tai took a sip of the iced watermelon juice that Ah Hua had just brought over through a straw.
*Gulp—!*
The cold liquid slid quickly down his throat and into his stomach, giving him a refreshing feeling.
He put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the entire ship, and then he stroked his chin with his right hand, deep in thought.
"What's wrong?"
Kuina put down the newspaper she was reading.
She turned to Kong Tai and asked, "Are you thinking about where to change ships?"
"Yes!"
Kong Tai lowered his hand, leaning his head back against the recliner.
He looked up at the clear blue sky, enjoying the comfortable weather that had lost its stuffiness, and said, "After all, this ship is too small. Ah Hua's three companions and you can't train properly. And now there's Robin too. We got a lot of money from Crocodile, so it's a good time to get a bigger ship."
"Since we have money, we should get a bigger ship and live more comfortably."
He was not Monkey D. Luffy, and his crew was not the Straw Hat Pirates. To be honest, with their strength, he hadn't felt any pressure from the weather on the Grand Line since he set sail.
Therefore, he didn't have the same emotional attachment to the ship as a comrade.
Changing ships was something he had thought about since entering the Grand Line.
As he said, with money, why not get a bigger ship and make himself more comfortable?
As for this ship, which was almost identical to the Merry, it was only due to a small sentimental attachment.
And this little sentiment could not affect his decision to change ships.
As for the ship spirit...
That was purely a fantasy.
His ship didn't have anyone like Usopp who loved their ship as much as their life. It was impossible for a ship spirit to be born!
"Captain, are you thinking of changing ships?"
Beside Kuina, Robin, who was also lying in a recliner reading a newspaper, heard Kong Tai's words, slowly put down her teacup and newspaper, and turned to Kong Tai.
"If you want to change to a better ship, then in the first half of the Grand Line, there is only 'Water Seven.' It has the largest and best shipyard in this world. However, it is still a long voyage from our current location. With a permanent pointer, it's fine. Without a permanent pointer, charting a course to Water Seven will likely take quite some time."
She paused, a hint of thought in her eyes, and then continued, "Of course, if the captain is in a hurry to change ships, there is the shipyard on Card Island, on route number 3, which is only two or three days away and can fulfill the captain's wish."
"Oh..."
Kong Tai became interested. He sat up straight and turned to Robin, asking, "Card Island, how is the shipbuilding standard there?"
"The shipbuilding standard is certainly not comparable to Water Seven, but it's not bad either. If you're just building a ship with ordinary materials, it's pretty much the same."
"Oh, to travel across routes, you're so familiar with it, I assume you have a permanent pointer there!"
"Yes!"
Robin nodded and smiled, "The Baroque Works often ordered ships from there, so of course I'm familiar with it."
"Alright, then let's go to Card Island and see. If there isn't any good shipbuilding timber there, then we'll change ships in Water Seven. After all, we're going to various adventure destinations, and then the New World. It's better to have a well-built ship."
Saying this, Kong Tai turned to Robin and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Robin."
"Heh heh!! It's fine, Captain."
Robin chuckled lightly, placed her newspaper on the coffee table, then stood up and walked towards the ship's cabin.
She had brought out many things from the rainy area, some of which were permanent pointers to various islands that Baroque Works had visited and collected in the first half of the Grand Line.
Kong Tai might have forgotten these things, but she, accustomed to fleeing, would naturally not forget these things that might be useful at any time.
Thinking about her interactions with Kong Tai and the others over the past few days, the smile on her lips deepened, and her entire demeanor exuded a sense of relaxation and joy.
"This is nice!"
She couldn't remember how long it had been since she felt so at ease.
Kong Tai's invincible strength, and the sense of security and warmth of companionship provided by everyone on the ship, were something she couldn't find elsewhere.