In the capital city of Alubarna, the streets were eerily empty. Rows of tall, cylindrical buildings with rounded yellow domes stood proudly, their bases paved with pale marble, exuding a foreign elegance.
"There they are!"
"Spotted the Straw Hat crew! After them!"
Rainer and the others sprinted down the streets, Navy soldiers appearing in groups here and there.
After Smoker entered the palace alone, the guards barred his men from following. The Marines were forced to wait outside.
So the moment Rainer's group left the palace, they found themselves constantly running into enemy soldiers.
"This is too much! Fire Star!" Usopp launched a flaming shot from his slingshot, gritting his teeth.
"Isn't that smoke guy just a Captain? How the hell does he have so many men?"
"He probably called for reinforcements."
Rainer trailed at the rear, while Chopper enlarged his form, his massive arms swatting Marines aside with single punches.
Suddenly, a pink-haired woman appeared ahead, blocking their way. She wore a fitted red suit that accentuated her curves, her refined features made all the more alluring by the cigarette resting between her soft pink lips.
A mature beauty.
Rainer immediately recognized her—Tina, a Headquarters Captain, wielder of the Cage-Cage Fruit.
"Tch, Smoker that bastard… always the same story." Tina looked at the Straw Hat crew with visible annoyance.
She had just been on assignment nearby, but then Aokiji called her over again, just to clean up Smoker's mess.
"Tina is very angry right now," she said coolly, slipping off her red gloves. She stood her ground, eyes sharp as the Straw Hats charged toward her.
Behind her, her men cheered.
"I'm in love with you, Captain Tina!"
"Please make me your prisoner!"
"I'll be your dog, Captain Tina!"
"Me too, me too!"
The ridiculous shouts sounded oddly familiar.
Rainer turned his head—sure enough, there was Sanji, dressed in his black suit, sprinting toward them from the opposite street.
But his eyes were glowing with hearts, and he was running straight for Tina.
Rainer: "…"
Unbelievable. This guy really doesn't discriminate.
"Idiot! That's the enemy!" Nami's furious shout snapped Sanji out of his daze.
He froze for a moment, then suddenly shifted his gaze back onto Nami, his legs instantly carrying him toward her instead.
Like riding on flaming wheels, he charged forward with hearts in his eyes:
"Woohoo Nami-swan, I'm coming!"
"Not so fast!"
Tina snarled, lunging forward in a blur. Her right arm extended, transforming into black steel bars as she reached for Sanji's back.
"Yes! That's Captain Tina's Cage-Cage Fruit ability!"
"I want to be captured by her too!"
Her Marines practically swooned, watching in delight as their superior moved in for the catch.
But then—
A tall figure materialized beside Tina in an instant: the four-meter Oni warrior, shield raised high.
"So fast?!"
Tina's heart lurched—before she even realized it, Red Oni had closed the distance.
The masked fighter swung his massive sword downward.
Tina twisted, her arm forming into a black cage that clamped around the blade.
CLANG!
The ringing clash of steel on steel echoed.
Her bars successfully locked onto the blade—but Tina's triumph froze in her throat.
Because in Red Oni's other hand was a massive round shield, which he rammed forward with all his might.
BOOM!!
The impact sent Tina flying, smashing her straight through the wall of a nearby house.
"Captain Tina!"
"She got blasted away!" her Marines cried out in horror, rushing toward the crash site.
"You four-eyed bastard! What the hell did you just do?!" Sanji roared at Rainer, veins bulging.
I saved your life, obviously. Rainer rolled his eyes.
BANG!
Before he could answer, Nami's fist came down hard on Sanji's head, leaving a huge lump.
"Use your eyes, you idiot!" she snapped.
"Yes! Even angry, you're so cute, Nami-swan" Sanji swooned, trailing after her.
"Zoro's not with you?" Rainer asked casually.
"Yeah, he was right behind me just now…"
Sanji answered without thinking—then froze, eyes going wide. "Shit! We lost him!!"
Everyone turned back. Sure enough, all they saw was a mass of Marines. Zoro was nowhere to be found.
"That dumb moss-head!"
"How does he disappear the second you blink?!"
"Forget it, let's just run," Rainer sighed. "It's Zoro. He'll show up when it matters."
After some time, they finally shook off the Marines and ducked into an alley.
"I'm starving… I can't move anymore…"
Luffy collapsed onto the ground, tongue lolling. "Meat! Sanji, I need meat!"
"The city's crawling with Marines, all the civilians are evacuated—there's no restaurants open," Sanji replied helplessly.
From Caterlia to the capital, through all the battles, everyone was utterly drained.
"Should we just head back to the Merry?"
"Already? But we haven't even said goodbye to Vivi yet."
"It's that damn smoke-guy's fault," Rainer muttered, slumping against the wall.
They all sighed in unison.
The desert sun blazed overhead, baking Alabasta like an oven. Their canteens were empty, lips parched, tempers fraying.
"Friends!"
A figure descended from the sky, great wings beating the hot air.
The hawk warrior Pell landed before them, his massive bird form shrinking until he stood as a man again in a white robe.
"My deepest apologies, honored benefactors. Please allow me to escort you back to the palace. The kitchens are already preparing a feast in your honor."
After discovering the bomb, Pell had flown off—but from the skies, he eventually spotted them.
"Meat!" Luffy leapt up instantly, bursting with energy. "I want meat! Let's go, guys!"
"Vivi's there too?" Nami asked eagerly.
Since entering the Grand Line, Nami and Vivi had become inseparable—more like sisters than shipmates. Now, facing separation, Nami's heart felt heavy.
Vivi was a princess. She couldn't just abandon her kingdom to sail as a pirate.
"Yes. Both the King and Princess will host you personally," Pell confirmed with a nod.
Rainer quietly extracted Pell's template and created a hawk undead on the spot.
Pell had long mastered his fruit's flight abilities.
Exotic species, rare Zoans—these were Rainer's favorite acquisitions.
"Now we've got two mounts—more room for everyone," Rainer said, patting the hawk before leaping onto its back. "Let's go."
Meanwhile, at Nanohana Port, several Navy ships were docked.
On deck, Smoker lounged lazily in a folding chair, hands behind his head.
"Report, Captain!" A Marine stood stiffly at his side, saluting with hands behind his back.
Orders from Headquarters: for now, this incident is not to be publicized. Also, you are to personally write a report, so the bounties can be updated.