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Vladimir's name spreads across the seas!
Pirates everywhere began to fear the name of the Blood Emperor Vladimir, and no one dared to challenge him anymore.
Vladimir lost the blood pack and experience pack that used to come to him automatically, but he was lucky enough to gain a lot during his travels in the New World.
The Whitebeard Pirates started to challenge many powerful pirates.
Some of these pirates, after hearing that the Whitebeard Pirates had backed down in front of Vladimir, became more ambitious.
When they looked at the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates, which they had once feared, they no longer felt afraid.
Just like when a lion shows signs of weakness, countless hyenas will appear, smelling blood and trying to test their limits.
Even Kaido of the Beasts, after hearing about the Whitebeard Pirates retreating before Vladimir, became extremely excited and decided to challenge the Whitebeard Pirates.
The Whitebeard Pirates control the largest and most valuable sea area in the New World, and Kaido has always wanted a piece of it.
The New World is in chaos!
Civilians and countries on the seas began to feel safer, knowing that Vladimir held such powerful strength.
Even some Marine generals, who had always disliked the Seven Warlords of the Sea system, began to rethink their stance after seeing Vladimir's overwhelming power.
They wondered if the Seven Warlords of the Sea system was really needed.
After all, Vladimir's strength could save the world and the Marines from facing such a terrifying enemy.
If Vladimir weren't one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, he would be their enemy.
No one wanted to face a legendary figure who could force the Whitebeard Pirates to surrender.
And with this terrifying legend on their side, the dream of ending the Great Pirate Era, taking down the Four Emperors, and controlling the New World no longer seemed impossible to the Marines.
Some of the younger generals in the Marine Headquarters started to dream of working with the Seven Warlords of the Sea to destroy the Four Emperors and take control of the New World!
Meanwhile, Sengoku, Garp, and others were troubled by the overwhelming power Vladimir had shown.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea may be forced to work with the World Government, but everyone knows they have never truly been part of it.
And it's impossible for the Seven Warlords to fully support the Marines in wiping out the Four Emperors and ending the Great Pirate Era.
The cunning rabbit is dead, the lackey is gone, and the Four Emperors and the Great Pirate Era are over.
Does the World Government and Marine Headquarters still need to tolerate the stigma and continue granting the Seven Warlords of the Sea the privileges of legal plunder?
The Pacifist and Seraphim Plans are not top-secret anymore among the higher-ups in Marine Headquarters.
Kizaru and Sentomaru have been assigned to protect Vegapunk.
Once the World Government and Marine Headquarters have stable, reliable combat forces in place, they plan to disband the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
However, before that happens, another terrifying figure among the Seven Warlords of the Sea has emerged, creating some problems.
Sengoku, Garp, and the others are troubled, but until the pacifists and Seraphim are mass-produced, there's no way to counter the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
For now, they can only let the Seven Warlords continue to spread their fame and terror across the seas.
The only silver lining is that the new Seven Warlord Vladimir doesn't seem to be abusing his privileges, but instead, he's focused on wiping out pirate crews.
He's looting their treasures and collecting their bounties? That's fine.
For the World Government and Marine Headquarters, any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem!
The World Government has plenty of money.
Duke couldn't help but feel envious of that.
But Duke didn't have time to think about how much Vladimir had changed the pirate world.
The Rapeseed Port of Alabasta was already in sight.
"Is this the superpower Alabasta, the largest country in the Grand Line by land area and population?"
"What a waste!"
The country seems to be suffering from drought, even in its once-prosperous ports and terminals.
Everywhere, there are thin civilians with ragged clothes and cracked lips.
Duke sighed deeply.
Alabasta should have been an extremely powerful and wealthy nation in the pirate world!
Yet, a simple drought has caused it to fall into hardship, even in a world filled with black technology and the miraculous powers of Devil Fruits.
Can it really be considered an unsolvable natural disaster?
Nami had been shot by a bear and ended up on Visalia Sky Island, where she controlled the weather and created artificial rainfall.
So, even without relying on advanced technology or Devil Fruits, can't the millions of civilians in Alabasta fight against the drought?
Alabasta has a river that almost stretches across the entire country—the Sandora River.
Duke once studied an era when a single person could change the fate of the world, and when tens of millions of civilians were fully mobilized.
It would be enough to build a grand canal system, extending in all directions like a spider web throughout Alabasta.
The average person in the pirate world is strong, and those deserts shouldn't be a barrier for millions of people.
Unfortunately, King Nefertari Cobra, who is known as a wise ruler, has never considered this.
Perhaps, in the pirate world, a king who doesn't impose heavy taxes or act recklessly might be called wise.
"A country like this should find a way to bring him under control, then develop it properly for the good of its people!"
"For the sake of the countless lives in Alabasta, Nefertari Cobra, you'd be willing to give up your throne, wouldn't you?"
"After all, the people are the country, as you've said!"
Duke looked at the pale and weary civilians at Rapeseed Port, deep in thought.
After using some of their money to help save elderly and hungry children, Duke, Ari, and the others quickly headed to the Rainbase.
This is where Crocodile's headquarters is, and where Nico Robin is also located.
The Rainbase's are one of the few towns in Alabasta where it still rains regularly.
And it's also home to Alabasta's largest casino—the fantastical Rain Feast.
During the Rain Feast, nobles and wealthy businessmen with shiny faces, large bellies, and drunken smiles fill the place.
It's a stark contrast to the civilians, who can be seen struggling to survive all over Alabasta.
No matter how dry Alabasta gets, it barely affects the nobles and rich merchants.
While the scent of wine and meat fills the air, the road beneath is one of frozen bones.
In the pirate world, it's always the same.
Duke ignored the nobles and had no interest in gambling at the Rain Feast.
He had no time for such things.
Deep within the Rain Feast, Nico Robin was thinking about how to stop Crocodile from burning his bridges while the Baroque Works grew stronger.
Outside her door, a strange figure appeared, smiling in surprise after confirming Robin's presence.