"Crocodile-sama, the Straw Hat Pirates have landed on the island Alabasta and right after that… rain started pouring all over Alabasta," a Baroque Works agent reported through the Den Den Mushi.
"...I see," Crocodile replied calmly before cutting the line.
Click.
He leaned back in his chair, picking up the newspaper once more.
The more he read… the deeper his frown became.
"…He can extract Devil Fruit abilities and create advanced technology?" Crocodile muttered, his eyes narrowing. "A man like this… could even recreate an Ancient Weapon."
He clicked his tongue.
"Damn it… leaving Alabasta really was the right decision."
Robin had already betrayed him... of that, he was certain Jack had a hand on her too. Without her, the Poneglyph was useless to him anyway, he can't decode the poneglyph too.
But more than that, there was a bigger threat now, Jack F. Corrie.
Crocodile grip tightened slightly on the newspaper.
"I can deal with Whitebeard… at least that man has principles," he muttered. "But this Jack…"
His eyes darkened.
"He's unpredictable." Crocodile stood up slowly, walking toward the window as the wind blew past.
"I don't like gamblers… especially ones who enjoy turning torturing others."
For the first time in a long while since he had fought with Whitebeard, crocodile chose to retreat.
"…Let the Straw Hats have Alabasta," he said coldly. "I'll take something greater next time."
***
MIHAWK POV
After delivering the news and briefly meeting Shanks, Mihawk returned to his island.
It was desolate land, in the past this place are a beautiful kingdom but because of corruption and war it turned like this.
Only the humandrills, baboons that mimicked human behavior remained.
Sitting alone in his castle, Mihawk unfolded the newspaper.
His sharp eyes scanned the headlines.
"…Extracting Devil Fruit abilities?" he murmured.
There was only one person he could think of. "Jack F. Corrie…"
Mihawk leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful while smiling remembering that person.
"That man… warned me about the World Government."
And he had been right. Recently, the World Government had approached him, requesting samples of his body and they said for "research."
Mihawk's gaze turned cold because he knows that they wanted to clone him and turn that clone into a weapon.
The very idea disgusted him. "No one wields my blade… except me."
He stood up, walking toward the window.
"I can delay them… for now," he muttered. "But not forever, should I stay with Red-Haired Shanks…?"
He paused.
"…Or should I disappear completely no longer care about the world?"
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Nah... that is too boring.
The world was becoming more interesting and how can he hide and not fighting a new generation, furthermore he had promised Zoro for the last duel.
***
ALABASTA
"King Cobra, this place is really hot," Jack commented, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead.
"Indeed," replied Nefertari Cobra with a small chuckle. "But thanks to you, we now have rain, at least one hour every day."
Since Vivi returned from her journey, she had brought her entire crew back with her. Not only that, but every morning at 9 a.m., rain would fall across Alabasta for exactly one hour, just enough to nourish the land and allow crops to grow again.
This was all thanks to Jack.
With the weather-control device he invented, Alabasta no longer had to fear drought.
Before this, there was something called Dance Powder, an illegal substance in the kingdom. While it could attract rain, its effects were dangerous.
It would draw moisture to one area, while causing severe drought in another and during Crocodile live in this island, things had been even worse.
Using his Devil Fruit powers, he absorbed the remaining moisture from the land, leaving Alabasta completely dry for years.
Crops failed, animals died and the people suffered. Eventually, they reached their limit.
At that point, agents from Baroque Works began spreading rumors, claiming that the royal family was secretly using Dance Powder, stealing rain for the capital while the rest of the country suffered.
Their hatred grew because the people believed the lies and rebellion began to rise from all over the country.
Crocodile earlier plan to use this rebellion to become a Hero and overthrown the current ruler of Alabasta but everything changed when Vivi returned.
The moment rain fell across the kingdom, the people anger began to subside. Then, using the Going Merry AI system, they located Koza, the leader of the rebellion.
Vivi revealed her true identity to him and told him about the plot from Crocodile, he was the reason that there is no rain in this kingdom for the past few years.
After hearing her out, Koza chose to believe her and the rebellion was stopped before it could escalate further.
Now, Jack and the Straw Hat pirates crew were being treated as honored guests within the palace.
A grand feast had been prepared for them, they were celebrated as the heroes who saved Alabasta.
"To be honest… I have technology that can terraform this entire kingdom," Jack said casually.
"Terraform?" Cobra repeated, slightly confused. The word was unfamiliar to him.
"It means transforming the environment," Jack explained. "I can turn this desert into fertile land, make it capable of supporting abundant crops and life."
Cobra froze and not just him even Igaram, Chaka, and Pell exchanged shocked glances.
"Are you serious?" Cobra asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Jack nodded. "Yes… but before that, there's something I need to ask you."
Cobra straightened. "Go on."
Jack expression turned slightly serious.
"Do you know… Nefertari D. Lily?"
Cobra eyes widened.
Knowing Lily's name wasn't unusual…
But.... The "D."
That was something else entirely.
Even Igaram and the others looked stunned.
The royal family… bearing the mysterious initial of "D"?
"You…" Cobra's voice lowered. "How do you know that name?"
"Just answer me, do you know that name?" asked Jack again.
King Cobra just exhaled his breath before taking a few moment to stabilize his heart.
"800 Years ago, this place was ruled by the queen and her name is Nefertari D Lily. People only know us by the name of Nefertari family and not the D part, only our direct lineage knows about moniker D," said King Cobra.
Igaram, Pell and Chakra looked at each other. While Jack he just smiling hearing it.
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