The atmosphere in the private council chamber shifted. The morning sun, previously warm and inviting, now seemed to cast long, sharp shadows across the marble floor as Ben leaned forward.
"King Cobra," Ben said, his voice dropping an octave, resonating with a frequency that seemed to vibrate in the listener's chest. "Now, we need to discuss the reality of the world you live in."
Cobra swallowed hard, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair. "Speak plainly, Ben-dono."
"There is a war coming," Ben declared. He didn't speak it like a prediction; he spoke it like a historian reading a text that had already been written. "It won't be a skirmish like the one with Crocodile. It won't be a pirate raid. It will be a global cataclysm that will shatter the Red Line and turn the seas upside down."
Sabo and Koala exchanged a glance. Even they, revolutionaries dedicated to the cause, were unsettled by the absolute certainty in Ben's tone.
"The Celestial Dragons," Ben continued, his eyes glowing faintly blue. "The 'Gods' of this world... they will be removed. The World Government, as you know it, will be overthrown. It is inevitable. The gears have already started turning, and no amount of Marine Admirals or Buster Calls can stop it."
The room was deadly silent. To speak of overthrowing the World Government was treason. To speak of it with such assurance was something else entirely—it was a prophecy.
"So," Ben said, locking eyes with the King of Alabasta. "You need to make yourself clear, Nefertari D Cobra. When that war comes knocking at your door—and it will—you need to know which side you stand on. The middle ground is dissolving. You can no longer be a benevolent King under a tyrannical system. You will have to choose: the safety of your chains, or the danger of freedom."
Cobra closed his eyes. He thought of his ancestors who refused to ascend to Mary Geoise. He thought of the Poneglyph hidden in his basement.
"I... I understand," Cobra whispered. "The Nefertari family chose humanity over godhood eight hundred years ago. I suspect our choice has always been made."
"Good," Ben nodded. "But be careful. Because your neutrality is already compromised."
"What do you mean?" Vivi asked.
"The Poneglyph," Ben stated bluntly. "You guard it as a supreme secret. But think about it, Cobra. Crocodile knew it was here. A Warlord of the Sea, a man who operates in the shadows, knew exactly where Pluton's history was hidden."
"Crocodile isn't that smart," Ben interrupted. "If a pirate knew, do you really think the Cipher Pol doesn't? Do you think the Five Elders don't know exactly what is buried beneath your palace?"
Cobra slumped. The realization hit him like a physical blow. "They... they know?"
"They've likely known for generations," Ben said mercilessly. "They tolerate it because you've been loyal. But now? Now that a Warlord nearly seized it? They will be watching. The next Reverie is approaching, Cobra. You need to be incredibly careful. One wrong word, one slip up, and Alabasta becomes the next Ohara."
Cobra let out a long, shuddering sigh. "I had... an idea. A fear, really. That they allowed me to keep it only as long as I was useful. To hear you say it out loud..." He looked at his hands. "It confirms my worst nightmares."
Ben nodded. "Forewarned is forearmed. Act like the loyal King. Play their game. But sharpen your knives in the dark."
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut. Ben decided to shift the focus. He looked at Sabo.
"Cobra," Ben said, softening his tone. "The Revolutionaries helped save your city. They disarmed the bomb. They purged your army of traitors. They acted where the Marines failed."
Cobra straightened up, looking at the blond Chief of Staff. "You are right. Sabo-dono... Koala-dono. I cannot thank you publicly without endangering my people. But privately... what can I do? Name your price. Gold? Supplies? Safe harbor?"
Sabo smiled, adjusting his gloves. "We didn't do it for a reward, King Cobra. We saw people suffering under a system manipulated by a Warlord, and we acted. We wanted to help the common people. That is the core of the Revolutionary Army."
"Noble," Cobra murmured. "Rarely do I meet men who turn down gold."
"However," Sabo added, his expression turning serious. "The war Ben speaks of... it will require allies. Strong allies."
"If the day comes," Cobra said solemnly, placing a hand over his heart, "when the Revolutionary Army needs aid—be it resources, information, or shelter—you may ask it of me. Alabasta pays its debts."
Sabo nodded respectfully. "That is more than enough, Your Majesty."
The heavy political talk wound down. They spent the next hour discussing logistics—how to distribute the water Ben would summon, how to rebuild the destroyed towns of Nanohana and Katorea, and how to spin the narrative to keep the World Government off their backs.
Finally, as the clock chimed noon, the meeting adjourned.
"Now," Ben stood up, stretching his arms. "The payment for the Magician."
Cobra nodded. He stood up, gesturing for Vivi to join them.
"Come. We go to the Tombs."
---
The descent into the Royal Treasury was a journey through time. The air grew cooler and smelled of ancient dust and dry stone. Torches flickered to life as they passed, illuminating murals that depicted the earliest days of the Alabasta Kingdom.
Ben walked alongside Cobra and Vivi. Sabo and Koala had remained above to coordinate their departure; this part of the journey was for the "Seer" alone.
They reached the final chamber. It was a vast, domed room filled with the treasures of the Nefertari dynasty—urns of gold, jewelry, ancient weapons. But in the center, dominating the space, was the Poneglyph.
The massive blue cube sat in silence, its message from the Void Century etched into its indestructible surface.
"There it is," Cobra said softly. "The history of Pluton."
Ben walked up to it. He didn't touch it with reverence; he approached it with the efficiency of a scholar.
Ben pulled out a small camera from his pocket and snapped a few photos for good measure.
"Thank you, Cobra-san," Ben said, pocketing the camera. "This confirms what I needed to know."
"Is that all?" Vivi asked, looking at the stone. "You don't want to... take it?"
"It belongs here," Ben said. "For now."
He turned to look at the rest of the treasury. It was impressive, but Ben knew the state of the country outside. The drought had destroyed crops. The people were poor. Rebuilding would cost billions of berries.
"Cobra-san," Ben said. "You're broke."
Cobra winced. "Direct, aren't you? Yes. The treasury is... depleted. Crocodile's manipulation of the economy, combined with the lack of trade due to the civil unrest... we have very little liquid capital."
"I figured," Ben said.
He stepped back into the center of the room, away from the Poneglyph.
He raised his right hand.
A glow surrounded Ben's hand. From his palm, a small, perfectly cut diamond, the size of a marble, materialized. Next to it, a small gold ingot appeared.
It wasn't much. Just a few thousand berries worth.
Then, Ben's eyes flashed green.
"Brandish: Command T - Enlarge."
VWOOM.
The air displaced violently.
The marble-sized diamond instantly expanded, ballooning until it was the size of a beach ball. It hit the stone floor with a heavy thud, catching the torchlight and scattering rainbows across the walls.
The gold ingot expanded next, growing until it was a solid brick the size of a coffin.
Cobra's jaw dropped so low it nearly unhinged.
Vivi's eyes popped out of her head. "EH?!"
Ben wasn't done. He repeated the process three more times.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
In seconds, a pile of wealth worth easily five billion berries sat on the floor of the treasury. Massive diamonds the size of boulders. Gold bars so large they would need a crane to move.
"There," Ben dusted off his hands. "That should cover the infrastructure costs, import of food, and tax relief for the next five years."
Cobra stared at the pile. He stuttered. "B-Ben... what... how..."
"Alchemy? Magic?" Ben shrugged. "Call it what you want. Sell those. Buy food for your people."
"I cannot accept this!" Cobra finally found his voice. "We owe you our lives! We cannot take your... your conjured fortune as well! This is too much!"
"It's not charity," Ben argued, crossing his arms. "Look, we raided Rain Dinners. We have Crocodile's treasure. That money was stolen from your people. Think of this as me paying it back with interest. I'm just returning what was lost."
"But this is newly created!" Cobra protested, gesturing to the beach-ball diamond. "This isn't Crocodile's money! This is... this is god-like power! No, I refuse! A King has pride!"
"Fine," Ben rolled his eyes. He turned and started walking toward the exit. "Leave it there. Throw it in the ocean. Use it as a doorstop. I don't care. It's yours now. I'm leaving."
"Wait!" Cobra chased after him. "Ben-dono!"
Ben didn't stop. He walked out of the heavy doors, his trench coat swishing behind him. Cobra scrambled to catch up, glancing back one last time at the absurd amount of wealth sitting casually on his floor.
As they walked up the long stone corridor back toward the surface, Cobra calmed down slightly, though he kept glancing at Ben with a mixture of awe and confusion. He stroked his goatee, his brow furrowed.
"Ben-dono," Cobra asked quietly.
"Yes, King?"
"If..." Cobra hesitated. "If you have the ability to create gold and diamonds that easily... literally out of thin air... why did you steal the gold from the casino? Why did you make such a big deal about Nami getting the treasury?"
Ben stopped walking. He looked left and right, checking for spies, even though they were alone.
"Because," Ben whispered conspiratorially, "I didn't want to reveal my ability to create gold to my crewmates."
Cobra frowned, looking offended on their behalf. "Do you not trust them? They seem like loyal, good-hearted people. Surely you don't think they would sell you out for money?"
"Sell me out?" Ben laughed, a genuine, hearty sound that echoed in the tunnel. "No, no, Cobra. I trust them with my life. I would die for them, and they would die for me. That's not the problem."
"Then why the secrecy?" Cobra asked. "Why hide such a useful gift?"
Ben sighed. A look of genuine, primal fear crossed his face. He shuddered visibly.
"Because, Cobra-san... there is a certain orange-haired witch on my ship."
Cobra blinked. "The navigator? Nami-san?"
"Yes," Ben whispered, his eyes widening in terror. "She loves money more than she loves oxygen. If she knew... if she found out I could snap my fingers and make diamonds..."
Ben hugged himself, shivering.
"She wouldn't sell me out. Oh no. That would be too easy. She would enslave me."
Ben stared into the middle distance, lost in a horrifying hallucination.
"I can see it," he muttered. "Me, chained in the brig. Nami sitting on a throne made of cash, holding a whip. 'More!' she would scream. 'Make me a ruby the size of an island, Ben! No sleep until I have a golden swimming pool!' She would suck me dry until I was nothing but a husk... a dried-up husk unable to produce even a single coin..."
Cobra stared at the powerful magician—the man who commanded water, predicted the future, and defeated armies—shaking in fear of a teenage girl.
"Surely," Cobra sweatdropped, "you are exaggerating?"
"I am under-exaggerating!" Ben hissed. "You saw her eyes when you told her to keep the casino money. They turned into Belli symbols! Actual symbols, Cobra! That's not normal biology!"
Behind them, Vivi, who had been listening quietly, let out a snort.
She clamped her hand over her mouth, but it was too late.
She started to giggle. Then she started to shake.
Finally, she burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Vivi?" Cobra looked at his daughter, concerned. "Are you alright?"
"I..." Vivi gasped for air, tears of mirth streaming down her face. "I can see it! I can see it so clearly!"
Vivi leaned against the wall, sliding down as she laughed. She had traveled with Nami. She knew Nami. She remembered the debt Nami charged Zoro just for waking him up.
"She would..." Vivi wheezed. "She would definitely charge you a 'creation fee' for letting you use your own powers! She would make you mint coins with her face on them!"
"See?!" Ben pointed at Vivi vindictively. "She knows! It's a fate worse than death!"
Cobra looked from the terrified magician to his hysterical daughter. He shook his head, a small smile finally breaking through his confusion.
"Pirates," Cobra muttered. "Truly, you are a chaotic bunch."
"Just... don't tell her," Ben pleaded, fixing his collar. "Let her think I'm just a really good thief. It's safer for everyone."
"My lips are sealed," Cobra promised, chuckling. "Though I cannot promise Vivi will keep it together."
Vivi wiped her eyes, standing up and taking a deep breath to compose herself. "I promise, Ben. Your secret is safe. I don't want to be an accessory to your slavery."
"Thank you," Ben exhaled in relief. "Now, let's get out of here. I think Sanji is making lunch, and if Luffy gets there first, the famine will start all over again."
The three of them walked toward the light of the surface, the weight of the Poneglyph and the impending war momentarily forgotten, replaced by the laughter of friends and the shared fear of a Navigator's wrath.