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"Eight days. I hope Headquarters sends someone reliable this time!" Cameron clenched his fist.
Staring at the densely packed crowd near the Alabasta coast and the massive flagship among them, a vague sense of dread crept into his heart.
These people clearly didn't regard the Marines at all.
Marine Headquarters.
"Aokiji, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Remember, if there's even a hint of threat or suspicious intent from the other side, take them down immediately. Strike preemptively! A ten-thousand-man fleet, once it erupts, will cause massive chaos." Sengoku's voice was deep and firm, filled with iron-blooded resolve.
"Got it." A lazy voice responded, and then the tall figure in the office took a few steps forward and quickly vanished from Sengoku's sight.
After giving out this order, Sengoku's expression finally eased a bit.
"Next... is to locate that Asura of the Blood Eyes." He exhaled and murmured to himself.
Three days passed quickly. On the surface, whether it was the ten-thousand-man fleet in Alabasta or the recently spreading rumors of the Asura of the Blood Eyes in the first half of the Grand Line, nothing seemed to have changed.
But within those three short days, Cameron's mood had fluctuated several times, and today it had plummeted completely.
"Colonel Cameron! Bad news, apart from a few left on the flagship, the rest of those ten thousand who entered Alabasta... even our informants have lost all contact!"
"They've completely vanished!"
A panicked Marine shouted.
Cameron's heart skipped a beat. He knew something was very wrong!
"Quick! Prepare to enter Alabasta. I want to see their King!" He roared anxiously, practically on fire with urgency.
He had sensed something was off earlier, but now he was almost certain, this fleet had come targeting Alabasta itself!
"What the hell do they want? Take over the country? Impossible! The Marines, the World Government, even Crocodile wouldn't allow that, unless they've got a death wish! But if not that… then why gather a ten-thousand-man force? What's their goal?" Cameron's mind was in turmoil, his expression shifting again and again.
"But Colonel, without permission from Headquarters or Alabasta, we can't legally go ashore!" The Marine said helplessly.
"Who cares about permission now? Force your way in! They couldn't stop those ten thousand fleet members, do you think they'll be able to stop me, Cameron?!" Cameron cursed.
That day, facing the overwhelming ten-thousand-man fleet, Alabasta was nearly undefended. In a flash, the invaders surged in, and vanished.
At the same time, somewhere in Alabasta.
In a smoke-filled room, a golden hook glinted brilliantly. A hoarse but calm voice spoke, laced with amusement.
"So, based on your surveillance these past few days, can we finally confirm what their target is?"
"Yes, Mr. 0. They've been kidnapping or hypnotizing political figures, corporate leaders, and military officers."
"Right now, a large number of people in Alabasta are already under their control."
The figure kneeling in the shadows quickly reported.
He was a ruthless killer who spared no lives, yet even he didn't dare look directly at the man hidden in the smoke.
This person was like a crocodile, stick your head out, and he'd devour you in one bite.
"How interesting. Could it be that someone besides me also discovered this secret?"
By the end of his sentence, his voice had turned chillingly cold.
"You may go now. Continue monitoring their movements."
"And also—"
The man with the golden hook paused, a cruel smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
"Send some people to stir up a bit of trouble for them."
"I'm the kind of man who sometimes enjoys a good show… and likes watching grasshoppers jump around."
The man kneeling on one knee trembled all over. He nodded heavily and quickly turned to leave. Once outside, stepping again into the sunlight, the assassin could already foresee the miserable fate awaiting those who dared to come here.
Because that man with the golden hook possessed terrifying, despair-inducing power and a fearsome name. His name was Crocodile, a Shichibukai, a man of high status and immense power. Here, he was nothing less than a god.
Meanwhile, in a civilian house within Alubarna...
"Lord Wang Ye, as you instructed, we've deliberately exposed ourselves to let Baroque Works notice us." A soldier reported solemnly.
"Good! That bunch is like shadows under the sun, you can sense them, see them… but you can't catch them!"
"It's infuriating! If you want to deal with them, you have to let them see you… let them feel you."
"I believe it won't be long before we meet that legendary Shichibukai himself!"
With a laugh, Wang Ye struck his cane forcefully against the floor.
"Crack!"
As it struck several times, clear cracks spread across the floor tiles.
"As long as they make a move, we'll have our chance to strike. Let's wait patiently."
"There's still time," he muttered, a smile spreading across his face, though it carried a chilling edge.
Everything was progressing in an orderly fashion. Time quietly passed. In the vast world, Alabasta was but a small, colorful corner, yet every day here, silent changes brewed a massive storm beneath the surface.
In the blink of an eye, Day Seven.
On the sea not far from Sabaody Archipelago, a wooden ship, battered, creaking as it moved, was slowly approaching the island.
At the bow stood a cold, armored man with black hair down to his waist, arms crossed, eyes sweeping the strange island ahead, where bubbles floated endlessly upward.
"Sabaody Archipelago… we're almost there!" Ace ran about excitedly.
"General Qin, will my friends come here too?"
"Yes, Ace. This is the meeting place Madara-san agreed on with them," Qin Lin replied with a chuckle.
Having traveled together for a while, they had grown fond of this young man named Ace.
Open-hearted, cheerful, and polite, Ace was truly someone who left a good impression.
"That's great!" Ace eagerly scanned the interior of the island.
"Master Madara, once we land, we must explore the place! I heard there are a ton of fun spots here. And pirates from the first half of the Grand Line gather here, it's packed with experts!"
Ace said with excitement.
"Experts, huh?"
Madara's long-cold gaze finally flickered with interest.
Suddenly, Qin Yi's voice echoed in Madara's mind.
"Madara-san, where are you now?"
"Sabaody Archipelago," Madara replied flatly.
"Oh? You got there quickly, Madara-san!"
Leaping off the Royal Ship at the oilseed flower port of Alabasta, Qin Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise, a smile playing at his lips.
"Do you need something?" Madara's tone remained indifferent.
"Not really. But since fate has brought us both to action today... let's each cause a big event, shall we?" Qin Yi's voice carried emotion.
"Speak."
Madara's voice turned icy.
"I heard there are some Tenryuubito (Celestial Dragons) on Sabaody Archipelago."
"Help me kill them."
(End of Chapter)