Around the time Luffy and his crew departed Nanohana for Katorea, Crocodile contacted a certain woman.
"You told me something different."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Don't play coy! I hired you to divert Twilight's attention away from Alabasta! I don't know what you did, but do you even know who's heading here?!"
The Beasts Pirates, one of the Four Emperors, and the Big Mom Pirates, their equals. And the Marines and the Twilight Pirates, mobilized to intercept them, were also converging on Alabasta.
A clash between these four factions threatened to derail Crocodile's plans, potentially destroying the entire kingdom. However, the woman on the other end of the line, Alpha Maraptonoka, seemed unconcerned.
"I provided Kaido-san and Linlin-san with some… motivating information. I couldn't possibly divert Twilight's attention on my own."
She wasn't afraid of attracting Twilight's attention. It was a risk, but she couldn't conduct business while constantly looking over her shoulder.
"Besides, I heard King Cobra and Kanata are acquaintances. An all-out war in Alabasta would devastate the country. She'll likely intercept them at sea."
Kanata's ability wasn't a secret in the underworld. There was no point hiding it, and after decades of activity, it was impossible to conceal. She wielded the Hie Hie no Mi, the Ice-Ice Fruit, granting her control over ice. This allowed her to create platforms at sea, effectively immobilizing ships. Intercepting the Four Emperors at sea would minimize collateral damage, a more appealing option than a direct confrontation in Alabasta.
"Are you certain?"
"The worst-case scenario is them being unaware of Kaido-san and Linlin-san's movements. To prevent that, I also leaked some information to Twilight. They'll definitely intercept."
Judging by the radio broadcasts, the information had been disseminated, and Twilight was responding. Maraptonoka's plan was working. It was a risky move, attracting so much attention, but Crocodile's plan, if successful, would inevitably draw attention anyway.
The risk was unavoidable. The Millions, Baroque Works' lowest-ranking agents, had been eliminated. Most of the Billions, the Officer Agents' subordinates, stationed outside Alabasta, were also gone.
Twilight's swift actions had left them scrambling to react. If Twilight's forces were now focused on intercepting the Four Emperors, it would make things considerably easier.
"I don't trust optimistic reports. Twilight's already here."
"Expecting them to withdraw all their forces from Alabasta is unrealistic, don't you think?"
"Tch…"
Twilight was a formidable force. Tens of thousands of subordinates, hundreds of elite fighters. A force that would rival the Emperors if not for Kanata's Warlord status. Even while facing two of the Four Emperors, and assuming cooperation with the Marines, it wasn't unreasonable to think they could spare a few elite agents for Alabasta. –Though, the fact that they had any forces to spare while facing the Kaido-Big Mom alliance, even with Marine support, was absurd.
Crocodile, deciding he couldn't waste any more time, lit a cigar and took a deep breath.
(It's no use dwelling on the past. Time for the next phase.)
He spoke to Maraptonoka.
"Forget about that. What about the weapons?"
"They're on schedule. Already waiting near Alabasta's coast."
"I'll send the signal just before. Make sure they arrive without delay."
"Of course. Consider it done."
Maraptonoka's eagerness to fulfill her contracts, perhaps driven by professional pride, was convenient. It saved him the trouble of mobilizing additional resources. He could focus on other matters.
Having confirmed the arrangements, he ended the call and leaned back in his chair. Everything was a headache.
Pluton was an ancient weapon rumored to be hidden somewhere in Alabasta. He had invested considerable effort to acquire it. He had manipulated Nico Robin, fueled the citizens' resentment towards the royal family, orchestrated the rebellion, all to destabilize the kingdom and seize control. Having his plans disrupted at this stage was unacceptable. He harbored his own ambitions of becoming King of the Pirates. He wouldn't be deterred.
"…How are the agents?"
"They're already gathered at Spider's Cafe. I called them in early, given the circumstances."
Spider's Cafe was a known meeting place for Baroque Works' Officer Agents. With the plan entering its final phase, he had summoned them all. Their timely arrival was convenient. Crocodile nodded, satisfied with Robin's report. She was a competent secretary. He might even consider maintaining their partnership after this was over.
"Good. Summon them immediately."
"And… Mr. 13 and Miss Friday, the Unluckies, reported that Princess Vivi is trying to contact the rebel army…"
Crocodile stroked his chin, considering this. Vivi and Koza, the rebel leader, were childhood friends. It was an unwelcome complication. Her intervention could introduce doubt among the rebel forces, potentially jeopardizing his plan to instigate a full-scale conflict between the rebels and the royal army.
"…Ignore her."
"Are you sure? The clash between the rebels and the royal army is a crucial element of your plan."
"There are other ways to incite hatred. It won't be that easily swayed."
Besides, Vivi was a member of the royal family. While Koza and his close associates might listen to her, the other rebels would likely see her as just another royal to be overthrown. He had agents within the rebel army. Inciting violence would be easy. There was nothing that woman could do at this point, he thought with a sneer.
"The bigger problem is the former Mr. 5 pair."
Their betrayal was exposed. He didn't understand why they had joined forces with Straw Hat Luffy, but they had clearly concealed their true strength. The speed with which the Billions and Millions had been eliminated suggested a leak within Baroque Works. And that leak, he suspected, led to Twilight. He was right, of course.
"It was fortunate their betrayal was revealed just before the entire plan was exposed. But that bitch Kanata wouldn't send such weaklings as spies, not for something like this."
He respected Kanata's abilities, in a way. Her skill in managing a vast organization, her extraordinary strength. If she considered him a threat worthy of spying on, she would have sent someone more capable. While she would likely keep her top agents close, to deal with the Four Emperors, she could easily spare a Haki-wielding elite. Mr. 5 was a bluff.
"Then what do you plan to do? Use the remaining Millions within the country to gather intel?"
"I'll be wary, but I have the advantage in the desert. Prioritize other tasks for the Millions."
He couldn't spare any resources for such a task, and the Millions were no match for Twilight spies anyway. While he would be cautious, he couldn't afford to be paralyzed by fear of an unseen enemy. He made his decision.
"Summon the agents immediately. We need to accelerate the plan."
Before the Four Emperors, the Marines, or the other Warlords could interfere, he would swiftly seize control of this kingdom.
***
Alubarna, the capital of Alabasta.
The royal palace stood in the center of the desert city. The royal family and the royal army were gathered there. Their numbers had dwindled due to defections, but they were still a formidable force, trained soldiers ready to receive their guests. They stood at attention, ensuring King Cobra wouldn't be embarrassed.
Two figures approached the throne.
An old man with white hair and wrinkles.
A young woman with purple hair, her legs encased in steel heels.
They stopped a short distance from the throne, and King Cobra greeted them warmly.
"It's been a while, Junshi. I saw Kanata at the last Reverie, but it's been decades since we last met…"
"It's an honor you remember me. Though I'm merely Kanata's subordinate. I don't deserve such a respectful title. Forgive my informal speech. I wasn't raised with such refined manners."
"Is that so? Well, there's no need for formalities… what brings you here?"
"I have a letter from Kanata. The details are inside."
Junshi pulled a letter from his pocket, handing it to a nearby soldier, who passed it to King Cobra. King Cobra opened the letter, verifying Kanata's signature before reading its contents. After a moment of silence, he brought a hand to his forehead. "Is this true?" he asked Junshi.
"It is. I only know the enemies we're supposed to eliminate."
"I see… so Crocodile is planning to… overthrow this kingdom…"
"That's why I'm here, to protect you."
Junshi's words caused a stir among the soldiers. His statement implied the royal army was insufficient to protect the king. For the soldiers, especially Chaka and Pell, the king's close guards, it was an unacceptable insult. They stepped forward, glaring at Junshi.
"Insufficient, you say?"
"Don't underestimate us. We're not soldiers for show!"
"Don't get so worked up. It's simply a matter of specialization."
"…Specialization?"
"Assassination, kidnapping… that's my area of expertise."
Junshi laughs slightly. It wasn't boastful, nor self-deprecating. It was simply a statement of fact. A lifetime of experience, dedicated to protecting his chosen leader, now applied to guarding a king. Besides, Chaka and Pell, as commanders, couldn't remain by the king's side constantly. In that sense, Junshi was the ideal protector.
"You focus on the battles ahead. I'll handle any threats from behind."
"…I see."
He hadn't meant to insult them. They understood and, with a word of apology, returned to their positions behind King Cobra.
King Cobra, however, looked at the young woman standing beside Junshi. Her penguin-themed hoodie concealed most of her body, but the steel heels were impossible to miss. He asked Junshi if she, too, was a specialist.
"Not exactly. She's still young. I brought her to gain some experience."
"She's still a child. Sending her into battle… no, it's not my place to comment."
King Cobra shook his head, retracting his statement.
"How long do you plan to stay?"
"Until this is over. It shouldn't take long, but we'll be imposing on your hospitality for a while."
"I'll have rooms prepared. Wait in the reception room. I'll send someone to–"
"That's unnecessary. I know the way."
He had already memorized the layout of the palace. Junshi bowed and, with the young woman following, headed for the reception room. They walked in silence, then Junshi spoke.
"I'll be staying as a bodyguard. What about you?"
"…What do you mean? I'm here as a bodyguard too. Am I allowed to act independently?"
"If you want to. You know about Crocodile's ability, right? As long as you don't underestimate him and lose, you can engage him."
"Oh…? That's surprising. I thought you always obeyed her orders without question."
"Heh heh, that's a reasonable assumption. But you, as a member of the Valkyries, should be capable of defeating Crocodile on your own."
The royal army wouldn't be involved in Crocodile's elimination. Kanata had likely forbidden it. Ordinary soldiers, without Haki, would be useless against him. And this incident was, in a way, the government's fault. While the Marines should handle it, Kanata didn't trust them, hence deploying Junshi and the others. It didn't matter who eliminated Crocodile, as long as he was eliminated.
"But don't take too long. Two of the Four Emperors are involved. They can't be completely contained."
Some of their forces would likely slip through the net and reach Alabasta. They would have to intercept them within the kingdom. Junshi had chosen to wait, anticipating Crocodile's eventual appearance at the palace, but if they could eliminate him preemptively, they would. The young woman, Lycoris, grinned. "Perhaps I'll take you up on that offer," she replied.
"Return if I summon you. If multiple of the Four Emperors' commanders attack, I'll need help."
"Not much time to play, then. Too bad."
Neither anticipated defeat. Lycoris, while wary of Crocodile's Warlord status, considered him a declining force, based on Kanata's assessment. Junshi, while once seeing potential in Crocodile, now saw him as a relic of the past, obsessed with military strength rather than honing his own abilities.
"You know about Crocodile's subordinates, right? Eliminate one of them. The others don't matter."
"I know. –Oh, but please don't kill Mr. 3."
"Hmm? Is there a reason?"
"I want him for my unit."
Lycoris had read Gem's reports. Mr. 3 and his partner were artists, a sculptor and a painter. She wanted them for her own purposes. It was an added task, but Junshi didn't mind. They were tired from their journey. They would rest today and target Crocodile tomorrow. They began discussing their route.
***
Meanwhile, in Katorea.
Luffy and his crew, after several hours of travel, arrived at the rebel army's base. It was a large town, but the number of people exceeded the number of buildings. Many slept in tents, lacking proper housing.
"Are these all… rebel soldiers…?" Nami was surprised by the sheer number of people.
"Not all of them, but most, probably." Gem answered.
While some were likely residents, the majority were rebel soldiers. Hundreds of thousands. A single town couldn't accommodate them all. Gem had heard they had established bases in other towns as well. But Katorea, where the leader resided, was their headquarters.
"Let's hurry. We don't have time to waste."
"…Right."
Zoro started walking, but Gem stopped him. "That's the wrong way," he said, redirecting them towards a large tent, the rebel army's headquarters.
Pedro and Zepo, as minks, and Chopper, as a reindeer, attracted attention. Vivi and Igaram who were recognizable, pulled their hoods low while walking quickly.
Gem, having acquired directions earlier, consulted the paper in his hand, leading them to the tent.
"Here it is."
"Koza's here…?"
A man stood guard outside the tent. Gem approached him, requesting an audience with Koza.
Only Vivi and Igaram would enter. The others waited outside. Having pirates present would only complicate matters. No one objected.
Vivi and Igaram entered the tent. It was more of a makeshift shelter, a simple roof to protect them from the sun. Supplies were piled inside, and at the back, a slightly larger space had been cleared. They were there. The rebel leaders.
"…We have a lot of visitors today."
Koza was a young man with a scar across his eye. He sat on a crate, muttering this.
Vivi and Igaram lowered their hoods, revealing their faces.
"—Vivi! And Igaram…!"
"It's been a while, Leader."
Koza stared in surprise. Vivi suppressed a wave of nostalgia before she returned his greeting.
"…Don't call me that. We're not kids anymore."
"…Right. Koza, leader of the rebel army. I'm here to talk to you."
Despite their shared childhood, their current positions placed them on opposing sides. One, the leader of a rebellion. The other, a princess, heir to the throne. They should be enemies, yet, an odd silence fell over the tent.
"What do you want to talk about? I'm not backing down. We'll continue fighting until King Cobra returns the rain."
"Overthrowing my father won't bring back the rain."
Vivi countered Koza's statement. The rebel army had risen up to reclaim the rain stolen by Dance Powder. But even if they deposed the king, they would have to wait for natural rain. Using Dance Powder again would only create further problems, potentially leading to war with other countries.
"Then what are we supposed to do?! Yuba has dried up! So many towns and villages are dying! I can't just stand by and watch!"
"I can't stand by and watch either! That's why… I'm going to defeat the one who stole the rain!"
"…Stole the rain?"
Wasn't King Cobra responsible? Many wanted to believe in the king's innocence, but objectively, the blame fell upon him. Koza, staring intently at Vivi, waited for her to continue.
"Crocodile."
The man hailed as a hero in Alabasta, even within the rebel army. How many would believe her?
Vivi, answering Koza's unspoken question, recounted Crocodile's crimes.
Stealing the rain with Dance Powder.
Destroying canals in numerous towns and villages.
Sabotaging infrastructure while disguised as royal soldiers.
While it sounded like she was shifting the blame from her father to Crocodile, it was the truth. Twilight had already presented the evidence to the Five Elders, demanding Crocodile's removal as a Warlord and extorting compensation for their negligence. Once this was over, aid would arrive to help rebuild the kingdom.
"…Crocodile… did all that…?"
Koza frowned. The enemy was identified. But knowing Crocodile was responsible wouldn't magically unite the rebel army against him. Crocodile was more trusted than King Cobra. Would they even believe her?
She needed time.
"Just a few days. Give me time… to defeat… Crocodile."
"…Can you do it?"
"Yes… I believe…"
Her words sounded like empty boasts. Yet, hearing her say it… somehow, it felt possible. Crocodile was a Warlord, a powerful pirate. But Vivi believed. Luffy would defeat him.
"I see… then I have something to tell you."
"Something to tell me?"
"The Revolutionary Army contacted us."
Vivi paled. The Revolutionary Army. An organization that opposed the World Government, inciting coups and revolutions in countries plagued by tyrannical rule. With the suspicion of King Cobra using Dance Powder, and the countless citizens suffering from the drought, the Revolutionary Army's involvement wasn't implausible. They were a force to be reckoned with, not simply armed civilians.
"What?! The Revolutionary Army is here?! What are they doing?!"
"They're not here for work. They're looking for their… younger brother."
"Younger brother…?"
"Yeah. But none of us knew him. He's a pirate. He even has a bounty. I'll show you the wanted poster later."
"Oh…"
Vivi sighed.
Igaram's expression remains as stern as ever. He was nevertheless relieved the rebel army and the Revolutionary Army weren't joining forces. The Revolutionary Army searching for their younger brother was concerning, but it likely didn't involve Vivi. "We're in a hurry," he said, declining to see the wanted poster.
"He should still be around here. You probably don't want to get involved with him. Be careful."
"I will."
So, that was the situation. Koza, understanding, agreed.
"A few days… we're short on weapons anyway. We can't attack Alubarna yet. A few days won't make a difference."
"Thank you. I'll… resolve this within a few days."
Vivi had risked everything to defeat Crocodile and bring back the rain. Alabasta's salvation was within reach. She renewed her resolve.
As she turned to leave, Koza called out to her.
"Vivi."
"Yes? What is it?"
He opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated, unsure what to say. He settled on a simple, safe phrase.
"…Nothing. Good luck."
"Thank you! I won't fail!"
Vivi raised her fist in a triumphant gesture and made Koza smile. He watched her leave, relieved that things had gone well. As she exited the tent, she saw…
"Sabo!"
"Whoa! Calm down, Luffy!"
Luffy was seen crying and hugging someone Vivi didn't recognize.