Oguro wanted to bring Alabasta under his control, but he didn't have the energy to manage such a vast country himself.
That meant Vivienne, this sharp and capable new queen, was essential. Otherwise, leaving it to Cobra was completely unthinkable.
Of course, that was all in the future.
Getting a superpowerful nation with over ten million people to submit was no easy task.
Oguro was considering his next move when the group had already entered the heart of the desert without realizing it.
Suddenly, Oguro's Observation Haki sensed a disturbance underground.
"Watch out!"
He lunged, pulling Vivienne down along with her Kalu ducks.
Thud!
A small figure shot out from the ground, claws aimed at Vivienne, but missed completely.
"Cut… you noticed me?"
Everyone focused and saw a short, plump old woman with a brown afro.
"Miss. Merry Christmas! What are you doing here?"
Vivienne recognized her and was shocked. Only a few people in the kingdom knew she had returned.
"Hmph… a dead person doesn't need to know that much."
Miss. Merry Christmas ignored her, forming her hands into claws and burrowing into the ground.
"Earth Dragon Escape, Earth Dragon Fish!"
"Everyone, watch out!" Vivienne shouted. "Miss. Merry Christmas ate the Mole-Mole Fruit and can dig freely underground!"
"Too slow!"
Miss. Merry Christmas emerged again, targeting Vivienne.
"Earth Dragon Banana Slap!"
Her animal-like claws aimed for Vivienne's neck.
"Looking for death?"
A red light flashed in Oguro's eyes. His Observation Haki captured everything, and his Zanpakutō swept in a horizontal slash.
So fast…
Miss. Merry Christmas froze, retracting her claws but leaving a blood streak in her palm.
Stepping aside, she roared in anger, "How long do you intend to watch? Don't forget the boss's orders!"
"Calm down, I told you, don't be so impatient!"
At her words, several figures emerged from behind a sand dune.
Oguro scanned quickly.
Damn, they were all the Baroque Works' top officers.
Except for Mr. 2 and the two already dead, everyone else had gathered.
"How… how is this possible?"
Vivienne staggered, her face pale. She had secretly returned to the country, yet she had walked straight into an elite ambush. Who had betrayed her?
Oguro already had an idea.
Mr. 2, a Paramecia-type Mimic-Mimic Fruit user, excelled at infiltration.
He wasn't on site, so he was likely hiding in the capital, maybe even right next to Cobra. That explained how they knew Vivienne's route.
In the original story, he had even disguised himself as Cobra, proving he could approach him. With an ability like that, Alabasta's intelligence was almost transparent to Crocodile.
"Sith Oguro, isn't it?"
Mr. 1 stepped forward, his dark skin serious, eyes sharp.
"Killing Mr. 5 and Miss. Valentine shows you're quite strong. The boss said if you reveal information about the treasures of Alabasta and join Baroque Works, you could replace Mr. 5."
Crocodile's plan was perfect, recruiting a capable subordinate while securing the treasure.
Heh…
Oguro smirked, signaling Vivienne to fall back. He sneered, "Tell Crocodile if he gets down on his knees and apologizes, maybe I'll spare him."
"Arrogant!"
Mr. 1's fury flared. Crocodile had his loyalty for life, and this newcomer dared to humiliate him.
He decided that regardless of Crocodile's intentions, Oguro had to die.
Master insults, die.
"Steel Palm!"
Mr. 1 charged, his right hand forming a tiger-claw shape, the inside of his fingers turning into blades.
Superhuman-type Quick-Cut Fruit. His whole body, even his organs, could become steel-sharp blades of extreme hardness.
Clang!
Oguro raised his Zanpakutō to block. Mr. 1 gripped the weapon tightly in his hand.
He instinctively tried to crush it like before but no matter how hard he pressed, the blade didn't budge.
"Hah, impressive blade… but that's not enough."
Mr. 1 smirked, stepping back. He crossed his hands, then slashed forward with a fierce motion.
"Micro-Dust Slash!"
A dense net of cuts spread toward Oguro, aiming to shred everything into pieces.
Die!
Mr. 1 roared internally, recalling how many overconfident pirates this attack had killed.
Yet Oguro's feet tapped in an Instant Step, his body vanishing like foam.
In the next moment, Mr. 1 felt every hair on his body stand on end as his right arm turned into a long steel blade, swinging wildly backward.
Oguro lifted his Zanpakutō, invisible Armament Haki wrapping tightly around it.
"You think your body, as strong as steel, makes you invincible? That's why you can only play in Paradise!"
The first half of the Grand Line was just a playground for real strong fighters.
Clang!
Their weapons collided, and Mr. 1 realized he hadn't blocked Oguro's weapon.
An indescribable, terrifying force erupted from the opponent's blade, shattering his steel-formed arm effortlessly.
Pfft!
The blade cut through Mr. 1's chest, his once impenetrable steel body now spouting blood like rain.
"What… what power is this?" Mr. 1 asked, kneeling with difficulty.
Oguro's tone mocked, "What, Crocodile never told you about Haki? He's still a pirate who fought in the New World."
"Oh, almost forgot… he got sent back from the New World. It's understandable he doesn't want to talk about it."
Pfft!
Anger and frustration made Mr. 1 cough up more blood.
He raised his blade, ready to finish off Crocodile's right-hand man, when suddenly Oguro felt a strange haze.
His fighting spirit waned, almost making him want to lie down and rest.
What a fine moment to just relax…
Sensing something was wrong, Oguro's eyes flashed cold, and his spiritual pressure surged violently.
Everyone present immediately felt an overwhelming oppression.
The strange feeling vanished under the force of his Haki.
At his feet, a green pattern appeared without anyone noticing.
Scanning with Observation Haki, Oguro immediately located the one tampering from the shadows.
***
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