When the Sand Crocodile arrived at Port Wato, the only things that greeted his eyes were the harbor reduced to ruins by Luffy, and a white-haired Marine investigating the scene on a motorcycle with a cigar in his mouth.
As one of the few Logia-type Devil Fruit users, and a fellow die-hard cigar aficionado, Smoker and Crocodile had long shared a sort of "spiritual connection." It was truly a wondrous occurrence that these two men, who viewed each other with mutual disdain, didn't immediately come to blows upon meeting. Instead, after exchanging a few gunpowder-laced and utterly nutritiousless pleasantries, they simply went their separate ways.
Back at Rain Dinners, Crocodile sat in his chair with a gloomy expression, eyes closed in deep thought. The current situation was increasingly slipping out of his control.
(Damn it. Have the Marines already started acting so blatantly? I am a Warlord of the Sea; why would they suddenly target me?)
Even now, he couldn't figure out why the Marines and the World Government would suddenly focus on this desert kingdom in the first half of the Grand Line.
Although everything seemed calm on the surface, the Sand Crocodile knew perfectly well that if the Marines were given a little more time, the plan he had prepared for so many years would be exposed to the light of day.
After pondering for a long time, Crocodile prepared himself for the worst-case scenario. He let out a long breath of turbid air and revealed an expression of slight relief.
(Forget it. If it really comes down to it, I can completely abandon the political power of Alabasta. My true goal is Pluton. As long as I can obtain the whereabouts of Pluton, I can rebuild everything else from scratch!)
If he could acquire that Ancient Weapon with power as terrifying as the legends claimed, the Sand Crocodile would be one step closer to his dream of becoming the Pirate King.
Crocodile was absolutely a formidable man capable of letting go when necessary. Although this meant that a large portion of his years of painstaking effort would turn into bubbles and burst, he could endure it, and he could wait, all to realize his dream.
He was like a crocodile lurking in the water, waiting quietly in the freezing river. When solitary prey passed by, he would suddenly strike—a one-hit kill.
(Calculating the time, Mr. 1 and the others should be arriving in Alubarna soon. I should get moving as well...)
Thinking of this, Crocodile turned his head to look at the sofa not far away. He suddenly realized that Miss All Sunday, who had been sitting there quietly reading a book, was now nowhere to be seen. He couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly.
Speaking of his partner, Nico Robin, Crocodile had to admit that she was a woman of exceptional capability.
Not only did she manage the business of the Rain Dinners casino in an orderly fashion on the surface, but in the shadows, she also conveyed the orders Mr. 0 issued to Baroque Works with meaningful precision. It could be said that this black-haired, intellectual beauty deserved the primary credit for the smooth execution of the Sand Crocodile's various plans over the years.
However, even so, Crocodile had never trusted her; he merely treated her as a useful tool.
Or rather, this ambitious man had never trusted anyone—except himself.
"Strange, where did Miss All Sunday go? Didn't I warn her not to run around? That woman." A ruthless glint flashed through Crocodile's eyes. He immediately picked up a Transponder Snail, intending to question his subordinates...
Ten minutes later...
"She went out on a date with a man??!!!!"
Hearing this news, the Sand Crocodile nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.
How could that ascetic woman, who did nothing but read books all day, have the leisure and elegance to go on a date right before the final plan was about to be executed?! What kind of international joke are you cracking?!
This was simply a fantasy!
Perhaps sensing that Boss Crocodile was acting strangely, the person on the other end of the Transponder Snail continued hesitantly, "Uh, because this is the manager's private life, we felt it wasn't a big deal, so we didn't report it to you. Please rest assured, I think they should be back before tonight..."
"Not a big deal??!!..." Crocodile's voice instantly pitched higher. He forcibly suppressed the impulse to rush over and suck those smart-aleck subordinates dry. He took a deep breath, and suddenly, a sentence Robin had said earlier echoed in his mind:
(That Sorcerer is not simple...)
An extremely ominous thought flashed through the Sand Crocodile's mind like lightning, and his pupils abruptly contracted to the size of pinpoints.
"Hey, what does the man she's dating look like?" the Sand Crocodile asked hurriedly, simultaneously pulling out the photos of the entire Straw Hat crew provided by Mr. 2.
"Oh, you're asking about that? He's a very handsome young man with black hair. Oh right, he's also wearing a pair of silver-rimmed glasses..."
Whoosh!
Before his subordinate could finish speaking, the exasperated Crocodile violently threw the Transponder Snail in his hand. (A moment of silence for the poor Transponder Snail, please: 3 seconds).
"Sor—cer—er!" The Sand Crocodile gritted his teeth, pronouncing each word distinctly. His eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving violently like a bellows, and the sand and wind flying around his body demonstrated that this Warlord of the Sea was angry to the extreme.
"It was you, ruining my plans all along, wasn't it..." For some reason, Crocodile suddenly had a realization. However, before he could consider how to act next, the ring of a Transponder Snail rang out once again in the empty basement.
Next, Crocodile heard the most screwed-up news he had heard in all these years.
"The Demon Child, Nico Robin, has been captured by the Marines. She has been sent to the G-17 Fortress and is currently waiting for the transport ship from Enies Lobby to take custody..."
Crocodile's expression at this moment could no longer be described merely as ugly. He slumped weakly into his chair, his eyes listless.
"..."
Intelligent as he was, he naturally understood what it meant for Nico Robin to be caught by the Marines.
Now, only two paths lay before Crocodile.
One: Abandon Robin, terminate his plan, and while the Marines hadn't completely torn off the mask of civility yet, quickly leave this place of trouble.
Two: Be the first to tear off the mask with the Marines, go to the G-17 Fortress to rescue Robin, and continue the plan.
If Nico Robin were sent to Enies Lobby, it meant the Sand Crocodile would never know the whereabouts of Pluton. Although it was the safe option, it would be a true and total defeat.
If he went to rescue Robin, it would be a confession of guilt without being pressed. The Marines would then strip him of his Warlord title and send people to crusade against the Sand Crocodile, plunging him into a situation that could be called eternal damnation. But doing so would secure the information on Pluton, meaning the possibility of a comeback in the future wasn't nonexistent.
For an ambitious, daring, and magnanimous leader like the Sand Crocodile, choosing between these two options wasn't actually that difficult...
"You calculated long ago that I would do this, didn't you, Sarsalian Sherlock... You truly are a terrifying opponent." Having thought everything through, Crocodile let out a helpless, bitter laugh. In his heart, he expressed sincere admiration for Sherlock, an opponent he had never even met—a feeling akin to heroes appreciating heroes.
An Open Conspiracy. This was a naked Open Conspiracy targeting the Sand Crocodile!
The most terrifying thing about an Open Conspiracy is not how complex the plotting is, but its unpredictable direction. Furthermore, because it grasps the pulse of worldly affairs, its momentum is irreversible.
Just like now: the Sand Crocodile clearly knew this was a trap, but even if he had to do it all over again, he would still choose to do this.
This is an Open Conspiracy, and at the same time, it is the irresistible [Reason] that Sherlock provided to the Marines.
"In that case, I might as well make this [farce] even more vigorous and spectacular before the curtain falls." Calming his mood, Crocodile revealed a ruthless smile. He then pulled out another Transponder Snail and issued a new directive:
"Notify all Billions and Millions. Order them to attack Alubarna and occupy the Royal Palace!"
"Also, prepare a ship for me heading to the G-17 Fortress."
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew was still miserably rushing through the desert.
"The Royal Army really did march south, exactly as Sherlock said." Looking at the traces of the massive army passing over the distant dunes, Sanji blew a smoke ring, his eye not covered by his blonde hair filled with worry.
Previously in Yuba, Sherlock had mentioned several scenarios that might occur after destroying those weapons. Looking at it now, the situation Sherlock deemed most likely—and simultaneously the least optimistic—had come to pass.
"Mr. Glasses..." The blue-haired girl sitting on the camel tucked a strand of messy hair behind her ear. She looked up into the distance, her mind involuntarily recalling the scene at Port Soratas not long ago.
"Before I developed the Rumble Ball, I created many by-products," the little reindeer lowered his head, pressing his hooves against his hat, and spoke quietly. "Among them was a drug with powerful stimulating properties. Consuming it significantly increases mental energy."
"At that time, I only took a tiny bit, but I didn't sleep for three whole days and nights. My spirit was incredibly hyperactive."
"So, I named it—Insomnia."
"Shortly after leaving Drum Island, Sherlock asked me if I had any medicine that could temporarily boost mental power, so I gave him that."
Sanji rubbed his chin. He had heard Sherlock say that as long as his energy and stamina were abundant, Sherlock's Mirror-Mirror Fruit could unleash terrifying power. Although this drug wasn't very useful for Chopper, who relied on close-quarters combat, for the Sorcerer, it was practically like an elixir of the gods.
"With such good effects, there must be side effects, right?" As soon as the curly-browed cook finished speaking, Princess Vivi looked nervously at the little reindeer.
"Yes." Chopper nodded and continued, "After the three days and nights of hyperactivity passed, I fell into a coma for a full week. If Doctorine hadn't been there, I'm afraid I..."
The little reindeer didn't finish his sentence, but both Sanji and Vivi understood what he meant. Their faces immediately turned extremely grim.
"Idiot! If the side effects are that huge, why did you give it to Sherlock?!" Sanji roared.
"It's fine, it's fine, you guys don't need to worry." Chopper smiled and waved his cute hooves at the two, explaining, "Sherlock said it himself. He is a human, and I am a reindeer; our drug resistance is different. Although there might still be side effects after he eats it, they will be much smaller. There's absolutely no need to worry."
It seemed this innocent little reindeer completely believed what Sherlock had said.
However, after hearing Chopper's explanation, Vivi and Sanji's expressions became even worse.
"You idiot reindeer!" Sanji threw his cigarette butt away and looked up at the sky. "Human and reindeer drug resistance is different, but how do you know the side effect on Sherlock will be smaller and not greater??!!"
"You were tricked by Sherlock, Chopper!"
The expression on the little reindeer's furry face instantly froze. He looked at Sanji in a daze, his pitch-black deer eyes instantly filling with tears.
"Sherlock, he... I... What have I done!"
"What are you thinking about, Vivi?" Sensing something off with the girl behind her, Nami turned around with a giggle and said, "Are you worrying about Sherlock? Sigh~ A maiden in love..."
Vivi was greatly embarrassed, a crimson flush instantly spreading across her fair cheeks. She wanted to refute it, but didn't know what she should say.
Perhaps charmed by the blue-haired girl's cute appearance, the navigator couldn't help but pat Vivi's little head.
"Don't worry, Vivi," Nami said seriously. "Sherlock said he has a way, so he definitely can do it. He's a man who keeps his word."
"He will definitely be able to stop the war from happening!"
Standing to the side, the green-haired swordsman nodded in agreement. "Vivi, we are a team. As a member of this team, what you need to do is handle your own tasks well, and at the same time, trust your teammates unconditionally."
Having said that, Zoro revealed his customary wicked grin. "Therefore, you should think about what expression you'll use to face the father you haven't seen in years. Leave the fighting to us!"
"Mm..." Princess Vivi didn't speak after listening; she simply nodded heavily.
(That's right! Mr. Glasses will definitely be fine. I need to do my part properly.)
"Tch, you Marimo-head, sometimes you actually make sense..." Sanji curled his lips in extreme disdain. Then, not giving Zoro time to retort, he pointed a finger at the three idiots behind them who were collapsed on the sand, tongues lolling out.
"The problem now is, how do we get these three idiots moving??!!"
Of the three playing dead, Chopper was down due to his constitution, while the duo of Usopp and Luffy were entirely exhausted because they had charged too fiercely at the start and ran out of steam.
Nami and Zoro instantly had black lines running down their faces. Their movement speed in the desert was simply too slow.
Princess Vivi gave an awkward smile. She was just about to say something when she suddenly noticed a thick plume of dust rising in the distance. It was getting larger and larger in her field of vision, as if something was approaching at high speed.
Her expression changed, and she hurriedly focused her eyes to look.
"Those are... The Super Spot-Billed Duck Troops!" Vivi shouted aloud in surprise and joy.
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