"Kid, you look young. I don't want to hurt you, but keep pushing your luck and I won't be polite."
Oguro leveled his Zanpakutō, blade pointing at a slight figure hiding behind a rock not far off.
"Miss Goldenweek."
Vivi recognized the girl with the paintbrush right away. She was only sixteen, Mr. 3's partner, not a Devil Fruit user but able to control people through colors and paintings.
Miss Goldenweek paused for a beat at Oguro's tone, then slowly set the brush down. She was only sixteen and had no wish to die.
Oguro glanced around. The rest of the top officers were already dealt with.
Mr. 3 had tried to trap them with wax, but Rukia froze him into an ice statue. Mr. 4, who relied on brute strength, ran headlong into Rangiku's Haineko in its Shikai form, where the attack became intangible and his power counted for nothing. He was defeated with ease.
Miss Merry had looked down on the scrawny medic Hanatarō and ended up crushed in midair after Bell seized her. One by one, Baroque Works' elite were wiped out.
"Is Baroque Works finished?" Vivi stood there stunned. She had not expected this.
Oguro shook his head gently, "Not that simple. The real backbone is Crocodile himself."
"Among these people, only Mr. 1 was truly valued by Crocodile. The rest, whether they live or die, he simply doesn't care."
"In fact, Crocodile alone could probably have taken them all."
Do not underestimate a Logia-type in the first half of the Grand Line. Vivi's worry deepened. If Crocodile was that strong, how could they possibly handle him?
Oguro read her concern and spoke plainly, "Leave Crocodile to us. Your job is to keep Alabasta stable."
Vivi nodded. That was the best plan for now.
Oguro used the system to absorb the Devil Fruit souls from the defeated officers. Four souls in total, exchangeable for four Rare-tier draw tickets. He chose again to strengthen his spiritual pressure.
They prepared to move on. Oguro did not forget Miss Goldenweek. He told Vivi, "Take this kid with you. Her power might come in handy later."
Vivi trusted Oguro and agreed. To be safe, all her paints and brushes were confiscated.
The Karoo ducks raced across the plains. Oguro cast a subtle look back. In the shadowed crevice where Miss Goldenweek had been hiding, a petal-shaped eye faded away.
They pressed on and reached the capital, Alubarna, after a nonstop push. Cobra thanked Oguro for escorting Vivi, but then the king and his daughter fell into a fierce argument.
Cobra was furious at Vivi for secretly mobilizing troops. He claimed such actions would alarm the populace and hand ammunition to the rebels. Vivi argued that the situation was collapsing and only decisive, forceful action would stop the unrest. If the crown waited, public anger would only build until it boiled over.
No one convinced the other. Voices rose, tempers flared, and Oguro finally cut in.
"The country is dying. What are you still worrying about? Standing by while your people slide into the abyss is not kingly."
Cobra flushed with shame and anger. "State affairs are not something to take lightly. Mr. Oguro, I appreciate you rescuing Vivi, but that does not give you the right to meddle in our affairs."
Oguro smiled coldly, "Ask your guards who they want leading the effort. Doing nothing, or cooperating with Vivi to root out Baroque Works. Which would they choose?"
At his words, Bell, Alabasta's guardian and his senior officers, stepped immediately to Vivi's side. The civil officials exchanged looks. None openly sided with Vivi, but they also would not back Cobra's passivity. They knew waiting would be slow suicide for the nation, yet they owed loyalty to Cobra and that made switching sides hard.
Oguro noticed everything and turned to Vivi, "Issue the order, Vivi. Your people need you. Crocodile is our problem."
Cobra had no support. He wilted. Vivi steadied herself and spoke through the pain, "Father, please rest. I will handle Baroque Works."
Cobra was escorted back to the royal chamber.
"Bell." Vivi's voice hardened with a royal calm, a ruler's bearing emerging. "Lead troops to search the capital and surrounding areas. Find the Dance Powder within one day."
She then looked at the civil officials, "Organize teams to soothe the populace. Explain the harm of Dance Powder and encourage cooperation with the search."
"And this girl's power will help," Vivi added, nodding at Miss Goldenweek in the corner. If the people reacted violently, Miss Goldenweek could force them calm. It was a solution Oguro had anticipated from the start.
"Understood." Orders were given and men moved.
Vivi had considered exposing Crocodile immediately, but she lacked hard evidence. Crocodile still wore the hero's mask in Alabasta, so she set that aside for now and focused on removing the drought. Solve the Dance Powder problem and Crocodile's plot would collapse.
Oguro grinned, "Honestly, I still think you'd make a better Ruler than your father."
Vivi blushed and waved him off, "I'm just trying to hold things together."
Then, with serious eyes, she said, "Mr. Oguro, Crocodile is the key. As long as he remains in Alabasta, danger will not end. Please, make sure you win."
She bowed deeply. Oguro's smile tilted, confident and cold, "Don't worry. Crocodile's good days are almost over."
***
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