Backstage, Vivi quietly packed her belongings, preparing to disembark. Old man Randoluff personally came to see her off.
The debt of over one million Berries was now mostly repaid—but Vivi wasn't concerned about it anymore. With the right target—like the Krieg Pirates—she could easily earn 20 million Berries. Compared to that, a million was nothing. In her previous life, that would've been just over 50,000 RMB—not a sum she'd lose sleep over. And if she ever got desperate for cash, well, she could just take it.
She changed into her swordswoman outfit again. Using the makeup techniques she'd learned from her time in the performance troupe, she let her ponytail down, swept her bangs to cover the left side of her face, straightened her brows, applied nude gloss to her lips, and swapped out her star-shaped earrings for two tiny crossed swords.
"You're clearly not ordinary… You're not a pirate, are you?" Randoluff asked, squinting at her thoughtfully.
"Of course not. If I were a pirate, why would I disembark here?" she replied calmly. "I'm not a pirate—and actually, I need to head to the Navy's G2 branch. Sir, do you know the way?"
Though Randoluff had once served in the Navy, he couldn't escort the entire troupe there. Still, the dock wasn't far from the G2 base.
He started explaining the directions to Vivi.
A minute in, he realized she had a terrible sense of direction. With the patience that only age and experience bring, Randoluff pulled out some paper, sketched a quick map, and handed it to Karoo. "Can you understand this, duck? Good. You handle this!"
Vivi tried to insist on repaying the remaining money, but Randoluff waved it off. She bid farewell to him and the ever-cool, aloof Belo Betty, then set off riding Karoo.
---
Three days later, Vivi finally reached the Navy's G2 base in the New World. She had already contacted Admiral Zefa in advance. The gate opened promptly after orders from above were confirmed.
A Navy soldier gave Karoo a wary glance. The admiral had only mentioned Vivi's arrival—no duck. The soldier looked like he might stop them, but after meeting Karoo's innocent gaze, he relented. If a duck like this could actually destroy the base, the entire Navy might as well retire.
Soon, Vivi was greeted by a tall, lean man with short pink hair—Binz.
At this point, Binz was still a proper Navy officer, far from the ninja-like persona he'd adopt in the future. To Vivi, he seemed stern and serious.
She'd heard from Duddy that Binz and another woman, Ain, were the only two survivors of a pirate attack four years ago. They were Admiral Zefa's most loyal students, even choosing to defect when their mentor did.
Vivi greeted him with respectful warmth. "Lieutenant Binz, I've heard of your achievements for a long time."
His attitude wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either.
As Zefa's student, Binz had noticed the admiral's shifting stance toward the Navy—a change that unsettled him. He hoped that whatever new paths lay ahead, they wouldn't be too extreme.
"Princess Nefertari. Welcome to the G2 base," Binz said after a pause. "But... I thought you were arriving three days ago."
Vivi raised her head and gently slapped Karoo's head. "Ah—sorry, sorry. My pet fell ill during the trip. Karoo is like family to me—I stayed back to care for him. That's why I'm late…"
Karoo resisted the urge to pull out a frying pan. Me? Sick? When did that happen?! You just got lost!
Binz had waited three days. It would've been impossible not to be annoyed. But Vivi's appearance and calm demeanor softened his frustration instantly.
How could a girl this kind and beautiful—who loves her pet—lie? he thought. In that instant, he forgave her completely.
Still, he was surprised she'd traveled alone. The New World wasn't known for its hospitality. No guards, no signs of injury—how had she gotten here?
To build rapport and leave a good impression, Vivi recounted the entire incident with the Randoluff troupe—leaving out only the part where she'd killed the instigator. Instead, she described it as a self-defense case resolved under the law.
Impressions mattered. Zefa and Randoluff had similar backgrounds—both veterans, both victims of pirate atrocities. Though separated by rank, such shared trauma could resonate with Zefa—and that might help Vivi's cause.
Binz arranged a place for her to rest and went to report to Admiral Zefa.
At 70, Zefa was an old man by any world's standards. Once a pillar of the Navy—Black Arm Zefa—his life had been scarred by loss. His family was killed by pirates, and he'd lost his right arm in battle. Even so, his presence remained imposing.
Though his posture was still upright and his body muscled, time had worn away at his spirit and beliefs. His youthful fighting will was now only a flicker.
When Binz entered, Zefa was in the middle of a one-armed workout, punching a sandbag repeatedly with his good left hand.
"Teacher! The doctor said you need rest!" Binz shouted in concern.
He glanced at the far side of the room. Leaning against the wall stood Ain, arms crossed.
"You didn't stop him?" he asked.
She shook her head slowly. Try stopping him yourself. He's as stubborn as a mule.
At this stage, Zefa hadn't yet donned the black shades that would later become his trademark. His face, though aged, still looked kind—especially to his students.
His right arm hung nearly useless, forcing him to train with his left. Still, he kept at it for over an hour before stopping, wiping sweat from his face.
He turned to his students. "The princess arrived?"
With a bruised face and a smile full of admiration, Binz nodded. "Yes, I've settled her in. She's sharp. She came to the New World disguised as part of a troupe..."
He told Zefa about Vivi's journey in detail—especially the incident involving Lieutenant Colonel Kobana's attempt to frame Randoluff. He made sure to highlight Vivi's integrity and intelligence.