Natural Disaster Kai?
Hearing this news, Crocodile's brows furrowed tightly, an intense discomfort and vigilance surging in his heart.
Is it coincidence, or are they coming for me?
Why would a pirate crew known worldwide suddenly arrive in Alabasta, this resource-poor desert kingdom? Something about this didn't add up.
Anyone else might dismiss it as coincidence, but he, Crocodile, knew better than anyone—beneath this seemingly impoverished nation lay a tremendously powerful "treasure."
That treasure was enough for him to defeat Whitebeard and become Pirate King.
Should he proactively probe their intentions? But doing so—wouldn't it alert them instead, backfiring spectacularly?
Just as he weighed his options, Bon Clay beside him carefully suggested, "Boss~ Should we have Baroque Works members temporarily lay low? If we accidentally provoke that Natural Disaster—"
Before finishing, Crocodile reacted explosively, instantly bristling. "Hmph, you think I should back down?"
"When I fought that old bastard Whitebeard in the New World, that brat named Kai was probably still in diapers!"
However, after venting, he ultimately forced himself to calm down. Anger aside, he wasn't a brainless brute—he could think strategically.
"Give the order."
He instructed Bon Clay in a low voice. "Have our people closely monitor all movements of the palace and Cobra! Report any developments immediately!"
His intelligence network built over a dozen years in Alabasta wasn't for show. If he wished, he could know exactly how many times King Cobra used the bathroom daily!
"Understood, Boss~"
Bon Clay quietly received the orders, then quickly changed faces using his ability and slipped into the crowd, hastily departing.
Crocodile stood alone, his face dark. He gazed toward the Sandora River port direction, eyes sharp as knives, murmuring in a low voice, "You'd better not interfere with my plan. Otherwise—"
Meanwhile, at the port, Kai's Rayquaza had already docked.
But before landing, they encountered unexpected obstacles—creatures blocking the way.
These were peculiar creatures called Kung Fu Dugongs. They resembled dugongs but carried hard turtle shells on their backs, each striking standard kung fu poses, blocking the landing path.
"Moo moo moo~"
The lead Kung Fu Dugong stood with hands on hips, full of spirit.
Kai glanced with interest, turning. "Chopper, translate."
"Okay, leave it to me!"
Chopper confidently walked before the dugong group, serving as translator. "It says—'If you want to land, try defeating me. If you don't dare, go home, coward.'"
"Eh? Chopper, you even have this ability? Amazing!"
Everyone cast astonished gazes.
"Stop it~ Even if you praise me like this, I won't be happy, idiots~"
Chopper covered his face, yet his body swayed happily back and forth, obviously delighted.
"In that case, let me face them!"
Yamato immediately rolled up her sleeves enthusiastically.
Then—
The battle ended without suspense. She didn't even need to actually strike with her kanabo—merely the fierce wind from swinging it pressed those posturing Kung Fu Dugongs firmly to the ground like an invisible mountain, unable to move.
"Ah? They lost already? So boring." Yamato pouted.
"Moo moo moo! Moo moo!"
Unexpectedly, the lead Kung Fu Dugong showed no dejection but brightened, excitedly calling loudly.
Ever-dutiful translator Chopper immediately jumped in. "It says—'Big Sis, accept us! We want to worship you as our master!'"
Facing such requests, Yamato naturally readily agreed!
"Great! Since you recognize strength when you see it, follow me from now on!"
Yamato stood with hands on hips, laughing heartily as she directly accepted this dugong group as her underlings.
"Moo moo moo!"
The Kung Fu Dugongs immediately rejoiced, clustering around Yamato's feet, revering her as their new leader.
Kai watched this scene, shaking his head with amusement. "Now you're truly living up to the name Beast Pirates, Yamato."
He didn't mind Yamato accepting the Kung Fu Dugongs—at least they were an amphibious force. Moreover, based on Laboon's situation, these Kung Fu Dugongs could also learn Haki. With proper training, their combat strength should be decent.
Just then, urgent footsteps approached.
Cobra led two Guard Vice-Captains plus a squad of fully-armed palace guards, hurriedly arriving at the port.
Wary of Kai, and with the Guard Captain staying behind at the palace, Cobra brought nearly all the kingdom's available elite forces.
"Lord Kai, your visit is an honor."
Cobra approached Kai, his voice barely concealing his nervousness.
This king had a lean build, sporting an Egyptian pharaoh-style beard, wearing plain clothing. Without the surrounding vice-captains and elite soldiers, one couldn't tell he ruled a ten-million-population nation.
Behind him stood a dog-headed man and a bird-man. If Kai remembered correctly, they were Dog-Dog Fruit: Jackal Model and Bird-Bird Fruit: Falcon Model users—their appearances eerily matching ancient Egyptian mythology's Anubis and Ra.
Kai's gaze paused on Pell momentarily. Seeing him, Kai recalled the old joke about "Bird-Bird Fruit: Falcon Model being one of five world-recognized flying abilities."
Kai's gaze returned to King Cobra, his tone calm but leaving no room for debate. "I came to this nation for only two things."
Cobra's pulse quickened. He took a deep breath, striving to maintain composure. "Please go ahead. As long as it's within my power, I'll do my utmost to satisfy you."
"Excellent."
Kai smiled slightly, then looked toward Cobra's guards. "But before that, let me clear the field first."
Whoosh.
Invisible waves suddenly swept across in all directions.
Before Cobra could comprehend what happened, he was shocked by the scene before him. The elite soldiers just moments ago alert and vigilant, along with his most trusted vice-captains—the powerful Pell and Chaka—now had their eyes rolled back, silently collapsing to the ground, motionless.
"What did you do to them?!"
Cobra clenched his fists, forgetting fear in anger and worry, actually stepping forward to confront Kai with stern questioning.
Kai wasn't angry. Cobra had once stood face-to-face questioning even the Five Elders plus Imu themselves—Kai's face wasn't that important.
"Relax."
He calmly explained. "Just letting them sleep. Believe me, Your Majesty—our upcoming conversation is better kept from them—for their sake, yours, and all of Alabasta."
Just then, Kai suddenly turned his head toward a distant large rock, smiling playfully. "Alright, little spy—time to come out."
"What?"
A sense of dread washed over Cobra.
The next moment, his fears were confirmed.
"Vivi! You followed me?!"
Cobra's eyes widened, voice trembling.
The other party was the vicious Beast Pirates. If things went south, any conflict might endanger his daughter's life!
"Father, I'm sorry—"
A head of blue hair timidly emerged from behind the rock. Little Vivi huddled beside her companion Karoo duck, head lowered, nervously fidgeting.
She couldn't understand how she was spotted immediately despite hiding so carefully.
Of course, such small tricks couldn't escape Observation Haki scanning.
Kai smiled slightly at the nervous father-daughter pair, saying something that alarmed Cobra even more. "Relax—my upcoming conditions actually involve her somewhat."
Before Cobra could think further, Violet standing beside Kai paled. She looked at Kai like he was trash, incredulously. "This little girl is only eight or nine years old. You wouldn't..."
"Get your mind out of the gutter!"
Kai's face darkened as he irritably glared at Violet, immediately understanding that this princess was imagining her kingdom princess theory again.
If you want me dead, just say so.
Vivi was just a child! There were lines even he wouldn't cross.
After quickly suppressing Violet's dangerous speculation, Kai turned back toward the wary Cobra and Vivi, raising two fingers.
"First, I want to read the personal letter your ancestor Queen Lily left for her brother eight hundred years ago."
Seeing Cobra's hesitant expression, he stated decisively. "Don't deny it. I know this letter has been passed down in secret within your Nefertari royal family—no, Nefertari D. royal family—through every generation."
Cobra's sharp intake of breath was audible.
How did Natural Disaster Kai know? He even knew Nefertari's original name was Nefert!
Could he have Nefertari bloodline—some branch line that spread outside?
Cobra's thoughts instantly drifted far.
Kai naturally didn't know that in this brief moment, he'd become Alabasta's exiled royal family member.
He immediately stated his second condition while pointing at Robin beside him. "Second, take this lady beside me to view your royal family's collected historical Poneglyph."
Robin's eyes flickered slightly, clear pupils showing surprise and emotion. She hadn't expected Kai's second condition to be specifically for her.
An indescribable warm current quietly flowed through her heart.
Cobra's pupils dilated slightly. He never imagined Kai would immediately reveal two core secrets his royal family had hidden for eight hundred years.
Yet he had no room to refuse. For two dead objects, gambling dozens of lives here or even more citizens' lives—he, Cobra, couldn't do such things.
Currently, he even felt somewhat grateful for Kai's clearing action.
"I understand. I agree to your requests. Please follow me." Cobra sighed.
Thus, under Cobra's personal guidance, Kai's group entered Alabasta's palace.
Perhaps due to its extremely long history, this palace symbolizing the kingdom's highest power appeared unusually plain, even somewhat crude, showing everywhere the mottled traces left by passing years.
Bluntly speaking, it couldn't even compare to Wapol's castle.
However, from another angle, this was also the best proof that the Nefertari family had maintained frugality and diligent governance for centuries.
Cobra led them to an inconspicuous wooden door deep in the palace. A large, ancient copper lock hung on the door.
Vivi was excited, her large eyes sparkling brightly. Being naturally adventurous, she'd long since explored the entire palace. This perpetually locked door had drawn her attention long ago.
But no matter how she pleaded, Father always flatly refused with a non-negotiable tone. This time, she could finally fulfill her wish.
Under everyone's gaze, Cobra solemnly produced an old-fashioned key from his breast pocket.
The copper lock was removed, the wooden door slowly opened, and stale, dusty air came rushing out.
In the light streaming in from outside, one could see the room was quite spacious, containing only a few treasure chests. One was open, revealing just a few gold and silver treasures inside.
"So it's just a treasure room?"
Vivi couldn't help showing disappointment, but it was immediately replaced by greater confusion. If it was just a treasure room, why couldn't she enter? She could freely access larger treasure rooms with more treasures in the palace.
To her surprise, Cobra walked right past those treasure chests as if the gold and silver were merely useless rubble.
He came to a dim corner of the room, crouched down, his fingers carefully feeling along the dust-covered wall.
Soon, his fingertips touched a tiny protrusion on the wall. He gently pressed—a floor tile sank down, then slid aside, revealing a hidden compartment within.
Inside the compartment was a small, exquisite locked treasure chest.
Clearly, those chests containing ordinary valuables in the room were merely decoys to mislead prying eyes.
Cobra unlocked it. This time, Kai saw what he wanted—a well-preserved letter in an ancient style.