"Colonel Smoker, what are you doing?"
Smoker had been holding the Den Den Mushi and listening the entire morning, so much so that he didn't even realize the cigar in his mouth had already burned out.
Tashigi placed her polished sword to the side and finally couldn't hold back her question.
"Don't make noise!" Smoker was a little impatient, but still explained, "I'm eavesdropping on the line from headquarters."
"Wait!"
The content on the phone made his face change.
Smoker stood up and shouted, "Change course, next we head for Alabasta!"
Last time, he lost to Jotaro's hands, letting the other side escape from Loguetown. Smoker remained brooding over this matter.
After coming to the Grand Line, he had been constantly searching for Jotaro's tracks.
However, Jotaro's whereabouts were unpredictable, and he was unable to get accurate information on Jotaro's location for a long time.
But just now, through a conversation between the higher-ups at headquarters, he learned that Jotaro had already gone to Alabasta.
No one on the ship dared to disobey Smoker's orders.
As soon as the command was given, his subordinates quickly mobilized, not daring to slack in the slightest.
Even so, after a long time had passed, the warship still hadn't moved an inch.
"What's going on!" Smoker asked angrily.
"Colonel! Someone has blocked us! He wants to board the ship!"
"Who dares obstruct military duty? Run him right over!"
"Colonel, his rank seems to be higher than yours!"
Smoker froze, feeling a terrifying pressure descending from the sky.
The other party hadn't gotten his permission, yet had already forced his way on board first.
The newcomer wore a Navy cloak, but from his appearance and build, he didn't resemble the bearing of a Navy man at all.
Even so, cold sweat seeped out from Smoker's body, and in his gaze toward the other's eyes, there was no trace of contempt.
Just from seeing the Moonwalk he had used, it was clear this man's strength was not ordinary.
"I heard you're heading to Alabasta? Just right, let me hitch a ride, that shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Smoker asked, "Aren't you in the New World? Why are you appearing in the first half of the Grand Line?"
The other spoke coldly, "Because I want to slaughter someone!"
———
"Igaram!"
Stepping onto her homeland and seeing a familiar figure, Vivi could no longer restrain the excitement in her heart. She ran quickly into Igaram's arms and embraced him tightly.
"Princess, I thought you… uuu… It's truly wonderful that you could be safe and sound." Igaram wiped his eyes, weeping with joy.
"Sorry to disturb your reunion, but let's change to another place first." Jotaro strolled forward.
This place was far too open. If enemies were to snipe them here, they could only serve as living targets.
"This must be the Mr. Jotaro mentioned in the princess's letter."
The moment he saw Jotaro, Igaram's eyes lit up. He tossed Princess Vivi to the side and rushed up close to Jotaro.
"Mr. Jotaro really is a fine figure of a man, I've never seen such an outstanding man before. Hmm… even the smell on your body is so nice."
"Tch." Jotaro's face darkened as he stood there like a statue, forcefully holding back the urge to hit him.
"Igaram, what are you doing!"
Vivi quickly pulled Igaram away, her cheeks flushed red, terrified he might leave a bad impression on Jotaro.
In her memory, Igaram's personality was never this frivolous.
Igaram, pulled back by Vivi, just smiled.
"Haha, I got overly excited. Along this whole journey, it was Mr. Jotaro protecting the princess. I wanted to thank him properly."
"So that's how it is…" Vivi nodded, "Jotaro-san is right, this isn't the proper place to talk. Igaram, quickly take us somewhere else."
She knew well Jotaro's temper. Seeing his face grow darker, she dared not delay further.
Igaram led the way in front.
"Follow me this way. To avoid attention, I specially set up a secret base in Yuba. Over there it's all our own people."
Jotaro remained vigilant of the surroundings, but discovered no abnormalities. He also received Mr. 9's report.
"Boss, within five kilometers we haven't found any suspicious figures."
After making sure no one was ambushing them, he finally followed Igaram up ahead.
After arriving in Alabasta, Jotaro had split the personnel into two groups.
Nami and Shinobu came ashore with him.
Mr. 9 and Nezuko stayed on the ship to secure logistics.
Although they hadn't reached Yuba yet, Mr. 9's drone had already flown over Yuba's skies and transmitted local photos.
"Strange, I heard Miss Wednesday say Yuba is the trading center of western Alabasta. Why does it look so desolate here?"
In the photos, all that could be seen was desert.
The residential area was densely packed with houses, showing it had once been prosperous, but now it was a scene of bleak ruin and decline.
"Did you find anyone suspicious?"
From the communicator came Jotaro's deep voice.
Mr. 9 said, "Boss, rest assured. On Yuba's streets there isn't even a human shadow, there simply can't be anyone suspicious."
On the other end, Jotaro's sword-like brows were already furrowing.
"I ask you, is it that you also can't see anyone in the surrounding area?"
Mr. 9 froze for a moment, looked at the images, and said, "Yes."
"I see. Hurry up and grasp the terrain of this place."
Jotaro cut off communication, a flash of light flashing through his eyes.
"Yare yare, looks like we've already fallen into the enemy's trap."
"Enemy? Where?" Nami was extremely sensitive, and at hearing those words, her whole body immediately felt uncomfortable.
Shinobu didn't ask more, but directly entered a guarded stance.
Jotaro quickly walked up to the two who were talking ahead.
"Igaram, how is the situation in the country now?"
Vivi's face was full of worry.
The last time she had received news from Alabasta was still several days ago, and she was worried that in this time the rebel army had taken drastic action.
Igaram let out a light sigh.
"Princess, the domestic situation is extremely grim. The rebel army has already gone straight for the royal capital."
"What!" Vivi turned pale with shock. "No, I must stop them, I need to depart immediately for Alubarna."
"Igaram, in my letter I asked you to bring Karoo. Where is Karoo?"
"Karoo? Oh, he's at the secret base."
With Alubarna in imminent danger, Igaram still showed no urgency.
"In any case, princess, let us first go there and then speak."
Saying so, he wanted to reach out and pull Vivi's arm.
Jotaro immediately grabbed his hand, coldly asking, "Earlier, you said you set the secret base where?"
Igaram looked at him, somewhat puzzled.
"Yuba, what's wrong?"
Jotaro stayed silent, and in the next second, his fist smashed into Igaram's face.
Igaram's nose spurted blood, and like a ball he rolled across the sand.
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