One Piece: The Salted Fish Fruit

Angelia: "Big Brother Maby is quite handsome!"

Nami covered her forehead: "Fine! I give up! Let's go find a hotel first!"

Chapter 71 The Great Kidnapping of Mia!

"It's His Highness the Prince! Her Highness the Princess! They're back!" The palace guards, wielding naginatas, beamed with joy upon seeing Jordan and Maby and immediately shouted, while some ran inside the palace to inform them.

"Your Highness!" A group of people who came first knelt down to pay their respects, then stood up to welcome Maggie and her companion inside.

"Huh? This is quite impressive." Mabi looked at the countless white stone pillars, each tens of meters high, that stood around her and stretched into the distance. The huge white roof was engraved with various war histories of the country.

“Your Highness! You’re finally back. Now we have an explanation.” Several elderly people with gray hair stepped forward and hugged Jack, weeping.

"Your Highness Mia, you're back too. It must have been tough being away from home." Several female officials hugged Mabi and comforted her.

"Could we switch to a prettier girl?" Mabi, nestled in the arms of middle-aged women all over forty, forced a smile and nodded, thinking to herself that none of the people around her knew her, so to avoid any mishaps, she pretended to have a sore throat and couldn't say too much.

"Your Highness! What's wrong with Princess Mia?" he asked, seeing that Maggie hadn't made a sound.

Jordan looked at Maby, who was surrounded and enjoying herself, and said helplessly, "My sister has been traveling a lot and has a problem with her voice, so she can't talk too much."

“Yes!” Mabi’s face twitched slightly as she mimicked Mia’s trembling voice, playing the role of a frail girl who had been hunted for a long time and had finally returned home.

"Your Highness Mia, you've suffered so much." Hearing the familiar voice, she was overcome with maternal love and hugged Mabi tightly, feeling sorry for her.

Seeing Maby surrounded by a group of female ministers, she turned to the middle-aged man in knight's plate armor beside her and asked, "Uncle Caleb! My father, he..."

"Clang!" The opponent knelt down on one knee, drew his long sword from his thick armor, and placed it on the ground.

"I am incapable of protecting His Majesty! Please, Your Highness, grant me the punishment of hanging!"

"..." Uncle Caleb, can you ask me to hang you with a smile on your face? You are my god-uncle. My father is gone. Can you be happy? This is not to tell me that there is a problem here. So, with a heavy face, he stepped forward to help him up.

"Uncle Caleb, could you tell me where my father's gravestone is? I'd like to visit it."

Seeing that His Highness had realized his mistake, he stood up and replied, "Your Highness, please come with me."

"Your Highness Mia, please grant the World Government's request and do not leave alone again." Several elderly people knelt down and pleaded as they saw that Mia had regained her mobility.

The entire room fell silent. The middle-aged woman beside her slowly moved away, looking at Maggie and awaiting her choice. After all, everyone knew that Mia had been specifically requested by the Celestial Dragons. Before Mia returned, they could still manage to maneuver, but now that she had appeared, the news had reached the ears of those officials, and she would soon be here again, facing the same choice as before.

···

As expected, things were pretty much as anticipated. It's likely that when the Celestial Dragons demanded Mia enter the Holy Land, it wasn't just the World Government officials who agreed; many local officials probably did as well. After all, going against the Celestial Dragons' wishes would lead to the destruction of the entire country. Although Mia's country had tens of millions of people, it wasn't invincible without top-tier combat power. To protect their nation, they had no choice but to sacrifice Mia to ensure national stability. Presumably, her father was also caught in this difficult choice, which led to the rebellion and his attempt to hide himself and Mia.

Let's do what we discussed with Mia before and settle everything here.

"Tap! Tap! Tap!" The only sound in the silent arena was the sound of Mabi's footsteps on the floor. Even the guards in the distance lowered their heads and dared not look in this direction. Now, the safety of the entire country rested on her delicate shoulders.

“Uncles, please stand up. Mia has made her choice! After all, Mia is also a member of this country, isn’t she?” Mabi stepped forward and helped the elderly men who were kneeling on the ground to their feet, speaking softly.

"Your Highness!" Several elderly people looked at Mabi, who was hidden behind a black veil, with tears in their eyes. If they were not forced to do so, who would be willing to sacrifice their country's princess to please the Celestial Dragons?

“Where are those world government officials, my uncles? I’d like to speak with them,” Maggie asked softly.

"We're here, Princess Mia, you should come with us." Several men in black suits walked over from a distance and said disdainfully, showing no regard for the fact that they were in the other party's palace.

"Are you taking me away? Can I say goodbye to the people of this country?" Maggie asked, looking at the men in front of her. Is this the face of the World Government? They really make you want to kill them.

"You have no right to negotiate with us." They directly rejected Maggie's request. In the eyes of the World Government, she was nothing more than a large ant and had no right to negotiate with them.

"Is that so? What will happen to you if I die?" Mabi's voice was equally gentle, but the faint chill emanating from it made them take it seriously.

"If you die, your country will be buried with you! We have that capability!"

"Is that so? So you didn't die here, but were toyed with and killed by you during your voyage."

"Hiss!" The group of people on the other side exhaled a cold breath. Looking at the hostile eyes around them, they realized that if the woman died on the way, it would be their fault. This woman was not as easy to capture as the previous princesses.

"We agree to your request."

“Okay! I’ll be waiting for you on the stage in Victory Square in two hours.” Maggie replied softly, patting Jack in her arms and putting him on the ground.

Jack's actions, however, were as if he were afraid of the strangers surrounding him and was trying to dodge and move away, while no one cared about a white cat running around on the ground.

"Jordan! Get the newspapers to take photos on site," Maby instructed, stepping forward. She had already explained this part of the plan beforehand, and using her status as a prince was essential.

"Okay, Brother Mabi!"

···

"Jack, you're back? Did Maby say anything?" Mia asked as she saw Jack running back.

“Brother Mabi agreed to let the government officials take him away, but he has to say goodbye to the people of this country on the stage in Victory Square in two hours,” Jack, now back to human form, replied. He had brought him along so that he could deliver messages; no one would be wary of a pet.

"Brother Luffy! Everyone!" Mia looked up at the group that had been discussing the matter. They had agreed on several plans, and Victory Square was just one of them. It seemed to be going very smoothly.

"Haha! Leave it to us! Guys! Operation to kidnap Mia begins!" Luffy laughed heartily.

"So, who's going to kidnap Mabi?" Usopp asked!

"Ugh!" Sanji lay on the ground and gagged, remembering the scene of touching Maggie earlier!

"It's easier to cut him down than to let me touch him." Zoro's lips twitched.

"Haha! I feel like I can do it!" Luffy laughed heartily.

"We need a famous pirate!"

"Snoring! Snoring!" A clear, deep sleep rang out! Everyone looked at the cowboy hat, fast asleep amidst the food!

"Have it!"

Chapter 72 Rogue Ace!

Standing in the crowd, Ace looked up at the girl (or boy) sitting on the stage, completely bewildered! Why did he agree to his bastard brother's request to kidnap a woman (or man)? If those bastards found out, it would be a laughing stock for life.

"Nami! My brother sent word that he's dispersed the crowds and patrol officers in several areas, telling us to let them run wild." Mia, holding Jack, listened to the news from her brother and reminded Nami, who was looking at the map of the royal city beside her.

"Haha! Is this enough? This is the first time we've ever robbed so brazenly! Banks! Granaries! Taverns! Clothing stores! And you, my little princess!" Nami's eyes sparkled as she rushed forward and hugged Mia excitedly. To avoid giving the World Government any reason to rob, she had deliberately disguised herself as an evil pirate to divert attention from the target.

"Haha! The butcher shop! The butcher shop! I'm going to the butcher shop!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly from the side.

"Luffy and I are going to the granary!" Sanji replied, exhaling a smoke ring.

"Then I'll go to the tavern!" Zoro said, leaning on his longsword.

“I need a few more clothes, so I’ll go to the clothing store!” Robin said with a smile.

“Chopper and I are going to the pharmacy to get some medicine,” Angelia replied, hugging Chopper.

"I'll set a fire!" Usopp prepared a few oil bottles and looked at the map to find a safe place to set the fire so that it would be easier to put out.

"Then I'll go to the bank with Mia and Jack."

"Then we'll wait for Ace to launch a fireball into the sky as a signal to begin our operation."

Burn! Loot! Plunder! The operation begins!

···

"Princess Mia!"

"Your Highness Mia!"

The crowd below erupted in cheers as they saw Mabi stand up and walk to the edge of the stage! After the guards explained, the people who had come here knew why Mia, who had just returned home, had come here! Many more people in the distance heard the news and rushed over, the angry crowd staring at the World Government officials sitting on the stage and cursing them.

"Get out!"

"Get out of this country!"

"This country does not welcome you!"

···

"Everyone, please be quiet!" Looking at the boiling crowd, Mabi reached out and picked up a Den Den Mushi to calm the chaos. The broadcast spread throughout the square, making everyone able to hear Mabi's voice clearly. The noise gradually subsided, and everyone looked at the girl standing on the stage.

"Thank you so much for your concern!" Mabi bowed slightly in gratitude as she looked at the quiet crowd below the stage.

“During my travels, I’ve cried and laughed! I’ve witnessed all sorts of disasters and wars around the world! People are displaced and struggling for their daily bread! And then I see the smiling faces of my own country. As a citizen of this country, I know I can no longer be willful and let everyone suffer for me. I must also shoulder my own responsibilities.” Maggie said softly. Hearing this, everyone fell silent, and their previous anger subsided. If the princess hadn’t agreed, would those same things have happened to them?

Everyone knows that the demands of the nobility in this world are absolute and cannot be defied, or they will face destruction. To ensure their previous lives, many people had the idea that if the princess came, they would be guaranteed safety. But now, looking back, they realize how ugly their actions were. Now, all the suffering is on the shoulders of the frail girl on the stage, and they are powerless to help.

···

Maggie smiled at the silent crowd below the stage and said, "Don't worry, everyone. I believe they will treat me well and won't let me suffer any hardship. After all, I am a princess of a country, aren't I? Please bless me!"

"Your Highness Mia!"

"Princess Mia!"

"your Highness!"

···

At this moment, Maggie's gentle voice sounded extremely grating to their ears. It was all their inaction that had caused their princess to force a smile!

"Kill them!"

Finally, someone ignited their passion and shouted out to the government officials on stage!

A single spark can start a prairie fire! The explosion of a tiny spark caused the entire square to burst into flames! A deafening roar pierced the sky! It tore through layers of mist and surged into the distance! But it was all stopped by the guards below!

"We'll fight them to the death!"

"Let's give it our all!"

···

"Sabo! Let's go save her! She's so pitiful. If she falls into the hands of the Celestial Dragons, she'll suffer a fate worse than death. We can't let them ruin another woman." A young couple on a rooftop in the distance watched the chaotic scene unfold. The woman in the pink robe felt a dull ache in her back as she spoke with heartache.

“Alright! Intercepting us here will only bring them disaster. Let’s intercept them at sea!” The man in the top hat and blue robe smiled as he looked into the distance.

“Sabo, you’re the best! Once we find Sister Ivan, the king of this country will agree to our conditions.” The woman in the pink robe hugged the man’s arm affectionately.

···

"Hey! Pretty girl! Do you have a boyfriend?" Ace, who was squatting on the railing with flames burning all over his body, teased Maggie by lightly hooking her chin, but the words came through the microphone in Maggie's hand and spread throughout the entire square.

"Bastard! Who are you! Let go of our princess!"