Mr.1 looked at Crocodile, whose killing intent was surging, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead, not daring to say another word.
"That… President, there's one more thing worth noting—according to intelligence, Princess Vivi had been traveling with the Straw Hat Pirates before. It was only after she separated from them that she suddenly acquired that magical irrigation equipment."
Before he finished speaking, the temperature in the office seemed to drop by ten degrees.
Crocodile's face twisted in the shadows, and the cigar crackled between his teeth: "Straw Hat… Pirates…"
No more explanation was needed; everyone present understood the connection.
Those damned pirates not only successively defeated the agents he sent out, but now they even helped Princess Vivi disrupt his meticulously planned scheme of many years!
"Good, very good…" Crocodile's voice was as low as a rattlesnake in the desert, and his golden hook glinted with a dangerous cold light under the lamp, "Now, it's truly a fight to the death between us…"
Suddenly,
A "buruburu" sound of a Den Den Mushi ringing interrupted Crocodile's harsh words.
Robin took out an exquisite golden Den Den Mushi from her embrace. After answering it for a moment, her deep eyes widened slightly.
"Interesting." She put down the Den Den Mushi, and a playful smile curved her red lips, "The Marine has also come to join the fun."
Crocodile snorted disdainfully upon hearing this, and the cigar smoke swirled in the air: "What about the Marine? Don't forget, we are now Shichibukai protected by the World Government."
"Even if an Admiral comes in person, they can't touch us in the slightest if we haven't committed a crime." He twirled his golden hook, his tone full of mockery, "Those Marines are just watchdogs kept by the World Government."
Robin gently shook her head, her long black hair falling over her shoulders: "The situation is probably not that simple."
She spread out the intelligence file in her hand, "According to our informant, the Marine is following the Straw Hat Pirates like attendants, maintaining a subtle distance. And…"
She pointed her slender finger at the map, "The Straw Hat Pirates didn't come towards Rainbase at all, but went directly towards the Alabasta Royal Capital."
"What?!" Crocodile turned around, somewhat unable to comprehend, "This isn't right…"
A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes, "From those two useless Mr.5 and Miss Valentine, they should know I'm in Rainbase…"
The office fell into an eerie silence.
Crocodile frowned tightly, slowly puffing on his cigar, the smoke rising and swirling around the ceiling.
He couldn't figure out why the Straw Hat Pirates, who had ruined his plan, would ignore him, a Shichibukai, and head straight for the Royal Capital instead.
"Damn it!" He suddenly slammed his fist on the table in a furious rage, "Looking down on me?!"
His Crocodile leather coat rustled with his movements, "Since they ruined my plan, even if they don't come looking for me, I will personally go and meet them!"
Crocodile strode towards the door, his golden hook gleaming with a cold light under the lamp: "Mr.1! Immediately gather all high-ranking agents! Depart immediately for the Alabasta Royal Capital!"
Robin elegantly closed her book: "What about the Marine side…"
"Ignore them!" Crocodile pushed open the door without looking back, "A mere Smoker isn't worthy of my attention!"
Outside the window, the sky suddenly darkened, and a rare sandstorm was brewing over Rainbase.
Robin stood by the window, watching Crocodile's departing back, then lowered her head to look at the Straw Hat Pirates' bounty poster in her hand, a meaningful smile appearing on her lips: "This is getting more and more interesting, isn't it…"
At the same time,
Ron and his group were traversing the vast and boundless desert of Alabasta.
"Why don't we go directly to Rainbase to find Crocodile?" Zoro asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Ron, riding on the back of a giant sand crab, squinted into the distance: "The Crocodile is right there, he's not going to grow legs and run away."
A confident arc curved at the corner of his mouth, "We ruined his plan, so now he's the one who should be anxious. Instead of actively seeking him out, it's better to wait for him to come to us."
Nami sat on another sand crab, her compass shimmering: "Ron is right, digging for treasure in the Royal Capital is the proper thing to do first."
She wiped her sweat-soaked bangs, "I can't wait to dig for treasure!"
Although they found a few giant sand crabs for transportation, the scorching heat of the desert was still unbearable.
The sun was high in the sky, sand grains reflected dazzling white light, and heat waves distorted the distant scenery.
"So… so hot…" Chopper stuck out his tongue, his furry body slumped on the crab shell, "I feel like I'm going to turn into roasted reindeer…"
Usopp's long nose was sunburned red, and he complained weakly: "This cursed temperature… even smoke is coming out of my nose…"
Luffy, however, was full of energy; his rubber body seemed to have a special resistance to high temperatures: "Hahaha! You guys are too weak! Watch me—" He suddenly stretched out his arm on a whim, grabbing a passing vulture, "It won't be hot if you fly higher!"
"Idiot! Get down!" Sanji kicked at Luffy, but his movements were a half-beat slower due to the high temperature, "Do you want to get sun-dried into rubber jerky?!"
Ace sat at the very front, a faint flame surrounding him. Surprisingly, these flames not only didn't intensify the heat but instead regulated the surrounding temperature perfectly.
Behind them,
Smoker's Marine unit maintained a consistent distance, always following behind the Going Merry's crew.
The White Hunter stood on a large crab, the smoke from his cigar twisting and dissipating in the heat waves. He squinted at the direction of the group ahead, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
Finally, Smoker couldn't hold back. White smoke erupted from his feet, and he instantly flew to Ron's side:
"Hey!" His low voice was exceptionally clear in the desert, "Aren't you supposed to go settle scores with Crocodile? Why are you heading straight for the Alabasta Royal Capital?"
Ron didn't turn his head, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "Crocodile? What's there to find?" He turned his face, a grin on his lips, "Now I'll take you to find something fun."
"Fun?" Smoker was startled, his cigar almost falling from his mouth.
Suddenly, as if remembering something terrifying, his pupils contracted sharply, and his face instantly turned ashen: "Wait… you crazy people aren't going to—again—"
Before he finished speaking, he saw Nami's excited expression, those sparkling eyes that he knew all too well—that was the fanatic look she had when she was about to dig for treasure.
"Damn it!"
Smoker's veins bulged on his forehead, and white smoke uncontrollably gushed out from his entire body,
"Can't you just behave yourselves?! Wasn't digging up Roger's phantom last time enough? What kind of ghost thing do you want to dig up this time?!"
....
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