"Too strong!"
Although his first attempt hadn't gone perfectly, that only made Red even more thrilled. After all, they were already deep inside the Kingdom of Alabasta—and his Hyperspace Hole move had just teleported him all the way outside this massive nation in one go. The range was downright terrifying!
"In this pirate world, aside from the Red Line, there can't be many islands larger than Alabasta itself, right?"
"That means from now on, even if I get separated from my crewmates somewhere else, as long as my mental range is wide enough, I can instantly gather everyone back together!"
"Wait… hold on."
"Doesn't that make me a tool again!?"
Red scratched his head, confused. Something didn't sit right.
Why was the first thing he thought of—using a god-tier mobility-plus-attack move—to play support!?
"Don't tell me I've gotten so used to being a utility guy that there's no going back!?"
…
…
And so, under the puzzled gazes of the agents and Nico Robin, the long night passed quietly.
By the next morning, beneath the blazing desert sun that made even the ground feel scorching hot, Red's group finally reached Alabasta's largest entertainment hub—Rainbase!
Although Alabasta covered a vast area, most of its land was useless desert. In this country, there were only two cities that had all three crucial elements: abundant water, a large population, and convenient trade routes. One was the royal capital Alubarna, and the other—this so-called "Dream City" occupied and remodeled by Crocodile—was Rainbase itself.
It was laughable, really.
This city was supposed to be the nation's economic lifeline, yet neither the royal army nor any loyal governors held even the slightest control over it. They could only watch as Crocodile strutted about like a king.
And because of Crocodile's official status and his occasional purges of pirates near surrounding towns, King Cobra didn't just fail to suspect him—he actually welcomed the rise of such a "heroic figure" within his borders.
One could say Cobra was a kind and benevolent man toward his people…
But as a monarch, that same naïveté was the root cause of Alabasta's downfall.
If not for the Straw Hats' miraculous intervention in the original timeline, the kingdom would've long since fallen to a new regime.
As for whether the World Government would've lifted a finger to save one of the "Twenty Founding Families"… that was anyone's guess.
…
…
"So this is the place?"
After dismissing all the agents, Red followed Robin toward the entrance of the enormous casino Crocodile had established—Rain Dinners.
As the massive glass doors swung open, a cool gust instantly swept over them, starkly contrasting the dry heat outside.
Even in a land where water scarcity could start a war, a gigantic fountain in the casino's center sprayed continuously, humidifying the air.
Beautiful, provocatively dressed dealers moved among flushed, exhilarated gamblers, silver trays in hand, offering drinks with polished smiles.
"Wow… real live dealer girls, huh?"
"No wonder this is where rich people come to have fun."
He'd seen plenty of glamorous settings in films, but witnessing this level of extravagance firsthand still made Red sigh in awe.
"Vice-Captain, this way," Robin's voice called softly, pulling him from his daze. Red reluctantly tore his eyes away from the many… round attractions around him.
After all, they were here for serious business today.
"Manager!"
Red and Robin entered the staff area of Rain Dinners.
The moment the workers saw Robin's face, they froze, then hastily stood at attention, greeting her with utmost respect.
Thanks to Crocodile's reclusive nature—and the fact that he still had no idea why Robin had vanished—the employees of Rain Dinners continued to treat her with reverence.
With Robin's presence opening every door, the two made it smoothly to the very heart of the casino…
Crocodile's private office.
Step… step… step… step…
Descending the dimly lit staircase, Red and Robin finally reached the bottom—and the space opened wide before them.
A grand, well-lit office stretched out ahead.
The walls on both sides were reinforced glass panels, revealing an underground river beyond. From time to time, massive crocodiles swam past, their eyes glinting menacingly through the glass.
"What a fancy office."
Red couldn't help but admire it—then his gaze sharpened straight ahead.
"Don't you think so… Warlord Crocodile?"
Clap… clap…
A slow, heavy applause echoed.
The large chair behind the desk turned around, revealing a face shrouded in smoke and fury—Crocodile's expression was dark and stormy.
"I didn't think… you'd actually choose to betray me now."
His eyes, cold and venomous, locked not on Red, but on Robin.
Though he'd prepared for the possibility of her disappearance, seeing her walk in with a strange man through a secret passage only the two of them knew—it ignited a blaze of rage inside him.
They had been so close…So close to uncovering Alabasta's greatest secret.
How could he possibly swallow that humiliation?
But faced with his fury, Robin merely smiled politely—calm, almost mocking.
"People always seek higher ground, and water flows downward," she said lightly. "I believe my former employer will wish me well… won't he?"
"Wish you well?" Crocodile let out a chilling laugh, his voice laced with venom.
"You really dare to talk like that. No wonder the underworld calls you the 'Demon Child'—born to betray."
"You're right, I should've seen this coming."
"But what I don't understand is…"
SLAM!
He slapped three bounty posters onto the table—the wanted notices of the Straw Hats' top three fighters.
Crocodile sneered."Surely your intellect isn't so feeble that you'd choose betrayal just because their bounties are higher than mine?"
"I truly am curious—what kind of offer did they make to buy your loyalty at such a critical time?"
His gaze shifted toward Red."If my intel's correct, you must be Straw Hat's vice-captain—Red, right?"
"Storming in here alone… you've got guts, kid."
"So tell me—can you answer my question?"
"Of course."
Smiling faintly, Red stepped forward, locking eyes with the Warlord—and suddenly raised his hand.
"This is your answer!"
"Surf!"
BOOM!
A deafening tremor ripped through the office.Crocodile's eyes widened as the reinforced glass walls began to fracture—cracks spreading like a spiderweb.
Crack… crackle—CRASH!
Shards rained down, and two colossal waves burst through, crashing straight toward Crocodile with unstoppable force.
"What—what are you doing!?" he shouted, panicked. His body immediately dispersed into sand, flying toward a hidden passage.
But…
How could Red, already briefed by Robin about the room's layout, ever let him escape?
Before the surging waves had even fully entered, Red extended his arm toward the secret tunnel and roared:
"Hyperspace Hole!"
WHOOSH—!
A brilliant light flared open in midair.Crocodile barely had time to blink before an oceanic torrent exploded from the dimensional rift, blasting out like a high-pressure cannon.
"What—!?"
Gurgle, gurgle!
Unprepared, Crocodile was engulfed by the flood, swallowing a mouthful of seawater before he could react.
His Sand-Sand Fruit powers vanished instantly.Soaked through and powerless, he was swept back toward Red's feet by the current.
"Sorry, Mr. Warlord…" Red smiled down at him. "But it looks like—"
"You're not going anywhere."
Crocodile, drenched and sputtering, glared up in shock as Red's smirk widened in satisfaction.
To be honest, even after rehearsing it countless times in his head, Red hadn't expected it to go this smoothly. Neutralizing a Logia user's power so easily—it exceeded all his expectations.
As for answering Crocodile's question?
What a joke.He wasn't some clichéd anime villain who stopped to talk before a fight.
With a devil fruit user trapped in a sealed space, there was only one move that made sense—Strike first. Disable his ability. End it fast.
BOOM!!!
At that moment, the twin torrents crashed fully through the glass, flooding the entire office like a pair of raging beasts.
Seeing this, Red instantly reached for Robin's hand—soft, slender—and placed his other palm firmly on Crocodile's chest.
In that instant—a massive Hyperspace Hole opened beneath them.
Just before the roaring sea could swallow their spot, all three vanished.
Moments later, the violent floodwaters filled Crocodile's office, surging upward through the casino's lower floors.
The entire Rain Dinners building began to quake violently.
All at once, staff and gamblers froze mid-action, staring in alarm as the floor trembled beneath their feet.
"What's happening!?"
"An earthquake!?"
Confusion and terror spread instantly.
Then, with a deafening roar, the flood burst out from the employee corridors, sweeping across the entire first floor—washing gamblers, chips, and mountains of cash alike straight out onto the streets of Rainbase.
And for the first time in ages, the scorching desert city felt… just a little cooler.
(End of Chapter)