Because there has never been any rain in Alabasta in the past three years, this kingdom has been filled with turmoil and unrest.
The Rainland is the only dream city in Alabasta, because it is the base camp of Crocodile.
It is also the only capital city that has not been affected by drought and civil strife. The largest casino in the kingdom, "Rain Feast", is located here.
In the past three years, Crocodile has used his fruit power to cause sandstorms, causing Alabasta to fall into a year-round drought.
Later, he designed it to make the people think that the drought was caused by the king's private use of the rain-inducing agent "Dancing Powder", which triggered a civil war. They wanted to take advantage of the turmoil to seize the Kingdom of Alabasta.
Crocodile has been planning for this for many years, and even created a "hero" character many years ago in order to better take over this country.
As for why Crocodile did not directly use force to conquer this place, but instead tried every possible means to incite civil strife, there is actually a reason for this.
Because Alabasta is a superpower in the first half of the Great Line, and is also one of the allied countries of the World Government, and is protected by the World Government.
Today Crocodile is one of the "Shichibukai" pirates recognized by the World Government. Even if he covets the country of Alabasta, he cannot blatantly get involved.
In order to complete his series of plans for the future, he cannot give up his identity as the "Shichibukai" for the time being, so Crocodile made that series of arrangements.
Seeing that the situation in Alabasta is becoming more and more turbulent, and the rebel army is almost approaching the royal city, Crocodile should have been in a very happy mood recently.
However, just today, the arrival of two uninvited guests at Yuyan Casino completely ruined Kroc's supposedly excellent mood.
"Wood, the navy traitor, has a bounty of one billion Baileys on his head. Even the world government is helpless to give up the pursuit. He is a leader in the underground world and is known as a big shot in black, white and gray. I wonder what the hell he is doing here today?"
As the largest casino in Alabasta, Yuyan is not only Crocodile's base camp, but also the place where he makes money on a daily basis.
However, all the other guests in the casino were driven away at this moment. On the huge gaming table, Crocodile was chewing a cigar and wiping the gold hook on his hand with a white cloth while looking at the man sitting next to him with extremely fearful eyes.
Wood opposite.
A few days ago, Mr.12 reported to him that the navy traitor Wood also landed in Alabasta.
However, Crocodile didn't pay too much attention at that time, and just thought that the other party was just passing by here by chance. After all, although Alabasta is a big country in the first half of the Great Line, it is not really rich, and it should not be able to get into the eyes of the big people in the underground world.
right.
However, just as Crocodile was thinking this, Wood came to the Rain Land and directly found his base camp, Yuyan. This had to make Crocodile wary.
In terms of age, Lao Sha is actually older than Wood, but in terms of pirate experience, Wood became famous on the sea earlier than Lao Sha, and his identity as the king of the Shichibukai cannot be shown in front of Wood.
.
"Don't worry, I'm not very interested in Alabasta, and I won't snatch this desert country from you.
It's just that a war is about to break out here, and as everyone knows, I am an arms dealer in the underground world, so I came here to do business.
I heard that there is the largest casino in Yudi, so I thought of gambling a little bit, but who would have thought that this is your place."
What Wood said did not make Crocodile lower his guard at all, because he did not want to believe even a single punctuation mark in what Wood just said.
It is true that under his agitation, even if a full-scale war breaks out in Alabasta, this will indeed be profitable for Wood, a well-known arms dealer in the underground world.
But Crocodile didn't believe that Wood, whose business had spread all over the sea, would come to a remote area like Alabasta to eat sand because of these three melons and two dates.
"Stop talking nonsense, what do you want? If you just want money, you can take as much as you can from this casino.
I just hope you leave Alabasta as soon as possible and don't hinder my plans here."
Facing Wood who was stronger and more powerful than him, Crocodile had no other choice. In order not to affect the execution of his plan, he now only hoped that Wood, the god of plague, would leave Alabasta as soon as possible.
"I can do whatever I want? What if what I say I want is actually the ancient weapon 'Hades'?"
“Crack——————!”
Almost as soon as Wood finished speaking, one of Crocodile's hands suddenly transformed into an element and slashed down towards Wood in front of him.
The sand that suddenly rose up in the air formed a huge sand blade at an extremely fast speed, and in an instant it split the long gambling table in front of him into two from the middle!
The terrifying power caused not only the gambling table in front of them to be cut open, but also the hard floor on the ground. At this moment, it was like being cut by a sharp knife, and a deep ravine instantly appeared.
However, when faced with Crocodile's violent attack, Wood, who was sitting opposite him, did not expect it at all.
Facing the huge sand blade with astonishing power, Wood just stretched out a hand, like the color of black metal, and climbed up Wood's entire fist at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The next second, there was a huge muffled sound in the air, and the desert sword, which could easily cut through the ground, was easily destroyed by Wood's punch.
The powerful punch crushed the sand blade in an instant, and the powerful impact caused the blasted sand to explode in all directions like bullets.
The exploded sand blade was like a shotgun with astonishing power, immediately pricking the originally magnificent Yuyan Casino with holes in it.
There is no doubt that such a large-scale sand bomb exploded in all directions. In addition to Wood, Robin and Crocodile who were present were naturally affected.
However, for Crocodile who had eaten the natural Devil Fruit, the sand that hit him like a shotgun did not pose any threat to him at all.
When the sand hit him, Crocodile still sat there calmly and smoked a cigar. Although his body was riddled with holes, Crocodile did not leave a drop of blood.
This is the natural ability of the Devil Fruit, which can elementalize one's body.
When in this state, as long as the corresponding elemental weakness is not found, or is restrained by the Armed Haki and Sea Tower Stone, even if the body is broken into pieces, the natural devil fruit user is basically useless.
Nothing happened.
It is also for this reason that the natural Devil Fruit is also known as the strongest Devil Fruit. It is almost invincible in the first half of the Grand Line where no one is domineering.
"Captain, in the situation just now, you could have accepted the attack in a more gentle way.
Although armed color is indeed a means to restrain natural abilities, have you considered the feelings of other people around you?"
The sand bombs that were like shotguns just hit all around, and Robin next to Wood was naturally affected. However, Robin was immediately covered with armed domineering, so he was unscathed at this moment.
That's right, because without the many years of escape life, Robin's growth rate is naturally not comparable to that in the original plot.
At this moment, she has not only entered the stage of fair skin and beauty ahead of schedule, but also mastered the two domineering qualities of "knowledge color" and "armed color" under Wood's guidance for more than ten years.
Moreover, Wood also told Robin about his understanding of the "Flower Fruit" in his previous life, so that Robin developed his own Devil Fruit to a very high level, and even Wood felt that Robin had secretly reached the level of fruit awakening.
Today's Robin is feared by pirates on the sea, not just because she is Wood's personal secretary.
On the other hand, it is also because this woman is not only good at skills, but her strength has definitely reached the level of a cadre in Wood's current force.
"Where did you hear about "Pluto"? I have been planning Alabasta for three years. Even if you are a famous arms dealer in the underground world, I will not let go.
Although I may not be able to compete with you, at the worst possible outcome, I can immediately arrange for my people to spread the news that Alabasta has a "Pluto".
Regarding the so-called ancient weapons, I think the big figures in the New World and the World Government will also be interested in them."
Crocodile found the navy traitor Wood to be very troublesome. Now that he saw Nico Robin beside him, he could actually use his "armed domineering" to such an extent. Crocodile's expression was natural.
It becomes even more ugly.
The name of a person is the shadow of a tree. Crocodile had heard more than ten years ago that the Navy traitor Wood had the strength to rival the Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters.
And the existence he fought with was either a legendary pirate or a current navy admiral.
More than ten years have passed, and Crocodile naturally does not believe that Wood's strength will enter a stage of regression, so at this moment he seems to have no other option but to give in.
However, even if he gave in, Crocodile did not want to take advantage of Wood. He planned to expose the news that "Pluto" was hidden in Alabasta, thereby completely muddying the waters.
All in all, he, Crocodile, could not get "Pluto", and he would not let Wood get his wish.
"I think you are really thinking too much. I really don't have much interest in the so-called "Pluto". Do you think that with my current strength and power, I will still be short of an ancient weapon?
Don’t forget, I am a man who is known as an ancient weapon, and ‘Pluto’ is dispensable to me. If I really want to do it, I will speak frankly here?”
After hearing what Wood said, Crocodile restrained his anger and quickly calmed down.
That's right, with Wood's current strength and power, "Pluto" will have little effect on him, because his own existence is enough to frighten the sea.
And if you really want to take action, doing it secretly will obviously be more powerful against him. There is no need to reveal Pluto's affairs to yourself.
"Then what exactly do you want to do? Could it be that apart from the ancient weapon 'Pluto', there are other things in Alabasta that are worthy of your attention?"
As the world's largest arms lord and one of the most powerful men in the underground world, Crocodile believed that Wood had some information that he did not know.
"Well, when I came to Alabasta, I really came here for a vacation. If you insist on thinking that I came to snatch "Pluto", then I can't help it.
What’s more, even if I don’t intervene in this matter this time, you, Crocodile Crocodile, won’t be able to get ‘Pluto’ as you wish, do you believe it?”
Crocodile would definitely not believe that Wood was here purely for vacation. However, what Wood said also aroused Crocodile's competitive spirit.
"Apart from you, the Navy traitor Wood, is there anyone else in Alabasta who can pose a threat to me?"
It is undeniable that Crocodile believed that if Wood wanted to interfere in Alabasta's affairs, Crocodile might not have any chance.
However, that was only relative to the power of Wood and others. In any case, Crocodile was also one of the "Shichibukai", and the Baroque Works Company under him had been operating for many years.
It's hard to say in the new world. In the first half of the Grand Line, could Crocodile still be carried in the hands of a group of new pirates?
"Since this is a casino, how about we have a gamble?
Regarding the matters concerning Alabasta and ‘Pluto’, I and the forces under my command will never get involved, but I bet you will end up in the hands of the Straw Hat Pirates.”
"Even if you find the historical text about "Pluto" in the ruins of Alabasta, you won't be able to translate it yourself, right?
Although I don't know what your original plan is, if you can win the bet with me, I can ask my assistant to help you translate this historical article.
Don't forget, she is Nico Robin, the son of the devil. If there is anyone in the world who can understand this historical text, she should be one of the few left.
Moreover, in addition to the Straw Hat Pirates, the Navy is also chasing them to Alabasta. As long as you win, I can also help you solve all the finishing work."
Wood's proposal really moved Crocodile's heart. There was a historical article about Alabasta. Originally, he was planning to get it first, then divide it into several sections, and throw it into the black market and other channels to find someone to translate it.
In this way, there is no need to worry about the location of "Pluto" being exposed, and the historical text can be translated as quickly as possible.
However, whether the black market could find a way to translate the historical text, Crocodile himself was honestly unsure.
Nico Robin is the only survivor of O'Hara. If she is willing to help translate, it will naturally save herself a lot of effort.
Moreover, Wood said that he could solve the problem of the Navy, and Crocodile had no doubt about this, because the current Navy traitor Wood did have this energy.