On the massive vessel of the North Blue's Three Kingdoms, sailing from the North Blue toward the New World, the three kings and their retainers watched a young girl in white with deep trepidation. She sat comfortably on a beach lounger, leafing through a newspaper.
"You really were too green, Crocodile."
The girl, in her Loli A form, tossed the newspaper onto the deck. The others caught a glimpse of the front-page headline: [One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sir Crocodile, has violated the treaty and endangered a nation. His Warlord status is revoked, and he has been arrested by Marine Captain Smoker.]
Attached to today's news were two fresh bounty posters: [A major threat to the nation, heinous crimes. Monkey D. Luffy, Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries. Roronoa Zoro, Bounty: 60,000,000 Berries.]
Meanwhile, in the New World's largest entertainment hub, a certain man had just received a report regarding the events in Alabasta.
"Crocodile was taken down?"
"By who?"
"A Marine Captain? Don't make me laugh! That's impossible. Go find out the truth, now!"
The fall of Sir Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, caused ripples among ambitious pirates eyeing the vacant throne. Among them was...
"Zehahaha!"
Aboard a massive log raft, Marshall D. Teach looked at the news. Staring at the photo of a disgraced, arrested Crocodile, he erupted into a wild, mocking laugh. "Zehahaha! How pathetic! Crocodile, you've really lost it!"
"Wiiihahaha! Captain, this means there's an empty seat among the Warlords now, right?" Burgess shouted excitedly.
"Lafitte, take a trip to Mariejois. The Government is bound to start selecting a new Warlord. We can't let someone else snatch it first," Teach said, turning to his navigator.
"Before that, we should find an island to stop at. I'm the navigator, after all, would you even know the way without me?" Lafitte's sharp voice carried a hint of disdain.
"Zehahaha, then let's part ways at the next island. It's called... Mock Town, right?"
"Captain, don't forget the Immortal Pirates," Van Augur, the poker-faced sniper, reminded him. "Their demand that you hand Fire Fist Ace over to the Marines."
"Of course. I'll use Commander Ace as my ticket to becoming the new Warlord."
In Port Nanohana, a harbor city very close to Alabasta, a peculiar duo was drawing a lot of attention: a tiny, wrinkled old woman and a five-meter-tall giant with a thin, crescent-shaped white mustache.
"Mommy, how long do we have to keep hiding? Didn't you say once I became a Warlord, we wouldn't have to run anymore?" the massive man asked petulantly, clutching his naginata.
The wrinkled old woman, barely a meter tall, gripped her cane in fury. Her wrinkles twisted together as her temper flared. "That's why we're here! I planned for you to take out Crocodile, but who knew that coward would get himself beaten first!"
This duo was Edward Weevil, the man who had defeated the Immortal Pirates' star member, Wolf, two years prior, and his self-proclaimed mother, Miss Buckin.
Buckin knew that for the past two years, the Immortal Pirates, especially Wolf, had been hunting them for revenge. To find protection, she decided her son should become a Warlord to enjoy Government immunity. Combined with his strength, which was said to rival an Admiral's, they wouldn't have to fear the Immortals.
Since there had been no vacancies, she had intended to kill Crocodile to create one. But the moment they set foot in Alabasta, they heard he had already been defeated. Buckin was hopping mad.
"So, what do we do now, Mommy?" Weevil asked foolishly.
Buckin went silent for two minutes before declaring, "My darling boy, we're going to Marine Headquarters! Now that Crocodile is gone, they'll be desperate for a replacement. This is even better, we'll go and recommend ourselves!"
Meanwhile, in Alubarna, the capital of the Island of Sandy Island (Alabasta):
"Report!"
Inside the royal palace hall, a sturdy young soldier saluted a middle-aged man with massive, curly hair. "Guard Captain Igaram, the Straw Hat crew has safely departed Alabasta."
Igaram scratched his forehead. "I see. I hope Princess Vivi can move past the shadow of their departure soon."
He looked down at the bounties on his desk: Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro.
"There's no turning back for you now, Luffy," Igaram murmured, looking up. "Because you've struck down one of the Warlords of the Sea."
"Your Majesty!"
Another official rushed toward King Nefertari Cobra on his throne, handing over an emergency document. "The World Government has issued an urgent summons for all member nations to gather at Mariejois."
Cobra, Vivi's father, frowned as he took the file. "Isn't the Reverie supposed to be two years from now?"
The world summit only gathered the rulers of member nations every four years. There should still be two years left until the next meeting. He tore open the envelope, and upon seeing the contents, he let out a cry of disbelief identical to Sengoku's:
"What on earth is the Government planning?"
Cobra immediately convened his first meeting since reclaiming his throne. "It is decided. As the King of Alabasta, I must leave for Mariejois immediately."
"But Your Majesty, you've only just returned to the throne. Going there now is..." Pell voiced his concern.
"That is precisely why it is necessary. I must announce my return to the other world leaders," Cobra insisted.
"In that case, let us accompany you."
"Me too."
"And me."
The Royal Guard, led by Igaram, clamored to join him.
"I leave it to you then."
SLAM!
The doors to the meeting room were thrown open. A beautiful young woman with blue hair parted in the middle and tied in a ponytail stepped out, shouting: "I'm going too!"
"Vivi?"
"Princess Vivi?"
Everyone in the room stared in surprise at the girl who had burst in.