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In Crocodile's Office
Crocodile slammed his desk, his face dark with fury. "What did you just say? Mr. 2 has lost contact as well?!"
Standing calmly before him, Nico Robin replied in her usual composed tone. "Yes. I've been trying to reach Mr. 2 using the Den Den Mushi since yesterday, but there's been no response."
"Damn it!" Crocodile growled, clenching his cigar between his teeth. "First Mr. 5, then Mr. 3, and now even Mr. 2 is gone! What the hell is happening out there?!"
Robin's expression remained unreadable as she stated plainly, "Without Mr. 2, it will be difficult to ignite the final fire we need for the plan."
Her words hit the core of the issue. Mr. 2, with his Clone-Clone Fruit, was critical to Crocodile's scheme.
Alabasta's revolutionary army had already gathered in full force. The leader, Koza, needed only to give the order for them to march on Alubarna. However, Koza still held onto a shred of hope in the royal family, keeping his troops in check. Crocodile needed a spark to ignite Koza's anger—something to destroy that hope completely.
Mr. 2's role was pivotal. Disguised as King Cobra, he was to commit an act so heinous that Koza and the revolutionary army would be pushed over the edge. But now that Mr. 2 had vanished, Crocodile's plan faced an unwelcome complication.
After a moment of tense contemplation, Crocodile barked another order. "Send a few of our people to pose as the King's Army. Have them kill the families of several Revolutionary Army leaders!"
Robin frowned slightly, a rare sign of hesitation. "If we do that, Koza might grow suspicious. He already has doubts. This could make him question things even further."
Crocodile's lips curled into a cold sneer. "Hmph. Let him suspect. There's a saying: 'The butt determines the head.' If his family members are killed by people dressed as the King's Army, it doesn't matter what he believes in his heart. His followers will demand vengeance, and he'll have no choice but to lead them into battle!"
Reluctantly, Robin nodded. She retrieved the Den Den Mushi in front of Crocodile and relayed his orders to Baroque Works' agents stationed in Alabasta.
Once Robin finished her task, Crocodile spoke again, his tone sharper. "Contact Mr. 1 and Mr. 4. Order them to come to Rainbase immediately!"
The paranoia in Crocodile's voice was evident. He was beginning to suspect that the Revolutionary Army had secretly been eliminating his agents. With so many of his subordinates missing, he couldn't risk losing the few he had left.
For now, the overall plan remained unchanged. Crocodile's goal was Pluton, and once he acquired the ancient weapon, he planned to leave Alabasta immediately. At that point, neither the Revolutionary Army nor the World Government would be able to touch him.
"With Pluton in hand," Crocodile muttered under his breath, "the world will be mine."
Off the Coast of Alabasta
The Going Merry and Bon Clay's swan boat finally entered Alabasta's waters.
However, the scene on the Going Merry was utter chaos.
Although Bon Clay had been turned into a big white goose, he didn't seem to mind. In fact, he had a fantastic time playing with Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper on the Going Merry. Their camaraderie grew so strong that Luffy and the others declared they wanted to become geese as well—for the sake of friendship.
And so, Ikki, ever the instigator, obliged. With a grin, he turned Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper into big white geese.
But he didn't stop there. A dozen of Bon Clay's swan boat crew were also transformed into geese, resulting in a chaotic flock of fat, flapping white birds.
The newly transformed geese had the time of their lives, flapping their wings and waddling back and forth between the Merry and the swan boat. The cacophony of honking and flapping echoed across the deck, disturbing Zoro, who was attempting to nap.
"Hey… Ikki," Zoro called out impatiently. "Can you change them back already? It's way too noisy!"
Ikki, removing his headphones, shrugged. "We're almost at Alabasta anyway. Once we get off the ship, they won't bother you anymore."
At that moment, Vivi came onto the deck. "Everyone, please dock the ship briefly. Igaram needs to disembark to inform my father that I've returned."
Once the ship docked, Ikki handed Igaram a Bamboo coptor, explaining how to use it. The bewildered Igaram strapped it on, gave a reluctant nod, and took off into the sky.
With Igaram on his way, the Going Merry resumed its journey, finally arriving at Nanohana, the bustling port city of Alabasta.
At the Port of Nanohana
As the ship docked, the crew prepared to stock up on supplies and gather information about the Revolutionary Army.
"Alright, everyone," Nami instructed, "stay focused. We're here to resupply and gather intel. No wandering off! We'll meet back at the ship as soon as we're done."
Before she could finish, Zoro pointed toward the city. "I think you're already too late."
The crew followed Zoro's gaze to see a group of geese running off into the distance. Their fat little legs pumped furiously as their wings flapped for balance.
The four geese were instantly recognizable. One wore a tiny straw hat, another a red cap, the third had a brown bandana, and the last had long, dramatic eyelashes.
Yes, the four geese were Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Bon Clay.
The chaos had started moments earlier. Bon Clay had decided it was time to leave the ship and return to Baroque Works headquarters to request official leave. Disguised as a goose, he thought he could sneak off unnoticed.
But his plan backfired when Luffy spotted him.
Upon hearing that Bon Clay was heading to his organization, Luffy declared, "I'll come with you!"
"Why?" Bon Clay honked in confusion.
"Because you're my friend, and it's dangerous for a goose to travel alone!" Luffy said earnestly.
Luffy's logic might have made sense, but he conveniently forgot that he himself was now a goose and just as vulnerable to being caught… or cooked.
Naturally, Usopp and Chopper couldn't let Luffy go alone, so the three geese joined Bon Clay and waddled off the ship together. Their destination? Spider's Cafe, the secret gathering spot for Baroque Works' senior agents.
Back on the Merry, Nami facepalmed. "It's way too dangerous for them to be running around by themselves. Who's going to go after them?"
She glanced at Zoro, Sanji, and Ikki, weighing her options. When her eyes lingered on Zoro, she shook her head slightly.
Zoro frowned. "Hey, what's with that look? Why are you shaking your head?"
"Do you really not know why?" Nami replied flatly. "If we send you after them, you'll get lost before you even leave the port!"
Zoro's face darkened. "…Don't look down on me! I'll handle it!"
Without waiting for a response, Zoro leapt off the Merry and dashed confidently into the city.
"Wait, Zoro!" Ikki called after him.
Zoro turned back, confused, as Ikki pointed in the opposite direction of where the geese had gone.
"You're running the wrong way."
Zoro froze in place, his face twitching. "…Shut up."