Chapter 117: The Plan Unveiled
The crew of the Going Merry gathered around Goku, their earlier tension replaced by a mix of relief and curiosity. The sun had fully risen now, casting a golden glow over the deck of the ship. Goku sat cross-legged on the deck, his straw hat tilted back as he finished the last bite of Sanji's breakfast. The crew waited impatiently, their eyes fixed on their captain, eager to hear what he had learned from his mysterious informant.
Goku wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and leaned back, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "Alright, guys," he began, his tone serious but still carrying that familiar edge of confidence. "I've got some important news. Crocodile's plan is worse than we thought."
Nami crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "Worse? How much worse can it get? He's already trying to overthrow the kingdom and start a civil war."
Goku's expression darkened. "Yeah, but that's just the surface. Crocodile's real goal is Pluton, an ancient weapon that's supposedly hidden somewhere in Alabasta. He's willing to burn the entire country to the ground to find it."
Vivi's eyes widened in shock, her hands trembling as she clasped them together. "Pluton? That's… that's just a legend. It can't be real, can it?"
Goku shook his head. "I don't know if it's real or not, but Crocodile believes it is. And if he's willing to go this far, we can't take any chances. We have to stop him before he gets his hands on it."
Usopp, who had been nervously fidgeting, spoke up. "But how do we stop him? He's got an entire organization working for him, and we're just... well, us."
Goku grinned, his usual confidence returning. "We've got something Crocodile doesn't—teamwork. And we've got Vivi. She knows this country better than anyone. We just need to stick to the plan and take things one step at a time."
Vivi stepped forward, her voice calm but filled with determination. "Goku's right. We can't let Crocodile's plans distract us from our original goal, stopping the rebels. If we can prevent the civil war, we can buy ourselves more time to deal with Crocodile directly."
Nami nodded in agreement. "So, what's the next move? Where do we start?"
Vivi took a deep breath, her mind racing as she recalled the geography of Alabasta. "We need to head to Yuba Oasis. That's where the rebel hideout is. If we can stop the rebels from marching on Alubarna, we can prevent the war from escalating."
Goku stood up, brushing off his pants. "Alright, Yuba it is. But we'll need to be smart about this. We can't just charge in blindly. We'll set anchor at the Sandora River delta and make our way to Yuba from there. It's a bit of a walk, but it's the safest route."
Zoro, who had been leaning against the mast with his arms crossed, smirked. "A walk? Sounds easy enough. As long as we don't get lost."
Nami shot him a glare. "We're not getting lost, Zoro. Not this time."
Vivi continued, her voice steady. "On the west coast of the Sandora River, we can start our journey to Yuba. Along the way, we can resupply in the green city of Erumalu. It's a small town, but they should have enough supplies to last us the rest of the trip. Yuba is only a day or two from there."
Sanji, who had been leaning against the galley door, lit a cigarette and exhaled a plume of smoke. "Sounds like a plan. But we'll need to be careful. Crocodile's agents are probably already on the move. We can't afford any mistakes."
Gin, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally spoke up. His voice was low and measured, but there was a hint of urgency in his tone. "I think we're missing something important. Vivi, have you considered informing your father about Crocodile's plans? If the king knows what's really going on, he might be able to take action from his end."
Vivi's eyes widened, and she nodded slowly. "You're right, Gin. My father needs to know the truth. If he can rally the royal guards and prepare for Crocodile's attack, it might give us an advantage."
Goku crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "A multi-pronged approach is always the best if you have enough resources. If we can stop the rebels and warn the king, we'll be hitting Crocodile from two sides. He won't know what hit him."
Vivi's resolve hardened, and she quickly pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. She began writing furiously, her hand trembling slightly as she detailed everything they knew about Crocodile's plans. She explained how he was behind the rebellion, his search for Pluton, and his ultimate goal of overthrowing the royal family. When she finished, she rolled up the parchment and tied it securely with a piece of string.
She turned to Karoo, her loyal duck, who had been standing by her side the entire time. "Karoo, I need you to deliver this letter to my father in Alubarna. It's extremely important. You have to get there as fast as you can."
Karoo quacked in understanding, his eyes filled with determination. Vivi attached the letter to his saddle and gave him a gentle pat on the head. "Be careful, Karoo. And thank you."
As Karoo took off into the sand dunes, the crew watched in silence, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. Goku clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Alright, everyone. Let's get moving. We've got a long journey ahead of us, and we can't afford to waste any more time."
Nami nodded, her expression serious. "I'll chart our course to the Sandora River delta. We'll set anchor there and start our journey to Yuba."
Zoro smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Finally, some action. I was starting to get bored."
Usopp groaned, slumping down onto the deck. "I was hoping for a little more time to prepare. Maybe build some new gadgets or something."
Chopper, who had been nervously fidgeting, looked up at Usopp with wide eyes. "Don't worry, Usopp. We'll be fine as long as we stick together."
Sanji flicked the ash off his cigarette and grinned. "And as long as we have plenty of food. I'll make sure we're well-stocked before we head out."
Goku's grin widened, and he placed his straw hat back on his head. "That's the spirit. Let's show Crocodile what happens when he messes with us."
As the crew sprang into action, preparing the ship for their journey, Vivi stood at the bow, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Her heart was heavy with worry, but she knew they were doing the right thing. With Goku and the crew by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope. They had a long road ahead, but they were ready to face whatever challenges came their way.
The Going Merry sailed steadily toward the Sandora River delta, the crew's determination unwavering. The dawn of uncertainty had passed, and now, with a clear plan in mind, they were ready to take on Crocodile and save Alabasta.
As the crew continued to prepare for their journey, Goku's expression grew more serious. He leaned against the mast, his arms crossed, and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "There's one more thing you all need to know," he said, his tone grave. "The officer agents of Baroque Works are already in Alabasta. Crocodile's called them all to Rainbase for a final briefing on Operation Utopia."
Nami's eyes widened in alarm. "All of them? How many are we talking about?"
Goku nodded, his jaw tightening. "From what the informant told me, Mr. 4 and his partner, Miss Merry Christmas, are already here. So are Mr. 1 and Miss Doublefinger. And… get this, Mr. 2 is still alive."
Usopp's jaw dropped, and he nearly fell backward. "WHAT?! Mr. 2 is alive?! But you blew up his ship! How is that even possible?!"
Goku shrugged, though his expression was far from casual. "I don't know how he survived, but he did. Crocodile's got all his top agents gathered in Rainbase, and they're getting ready to make their move. We're running out of time."
Zoro's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowing. "So, we've got a whole crew of powerful devil fruit users to deal with. Great. Just what we needed."
Sanji exhaled a plume of smoke, his brow furrowed. "This just got a lot more complicated. If Crocodile's got all his top agents in one place, it means he's preparing for something big. We can't afford to underestimate them."
Vivi's hands clenched into fists, her voice trembling slightly. "This changes everything. If Crocodile's agents are already in Alabasta, they could be moving against the rebels or the royal family at any moment. We have to act fast."
Goku nodded, his expression resolute. "That's why we need to stick to the plan. We'll head to Yuba and stop the rebels, but we also need to be ready for whatever Crocodile throws at us. If we can take out his agents one by one, we'll weaken his position and give ourselves a better chance."
Chopper, who had been nervously fidgeting, looked up at Goku with wide eyes. "But… how are we supposed to fight all of them? They're so strong!"
Goku grinned, his usual confidence returning. "We'll figure it out. We've taken on tough opponents before, and we've always come out on top. This time won't be any different."
Nami sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Easy for you to say. You're the one who can blow up ships and survive falling from the sky. The rest of us aren't exactly on your level."
Goku chuckled, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "Don't sell yourselves short. You guys are stronger than you think. And besides, we've been training haven't we? Trust me, you guys are stronger than you think."
Vivi stepped forward, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "Goku's right. We can't let this news shake us. We have to stay focused and stick together. If we can stop the rebels and warn my father, we'll be one step closer to taking down Crocodile."
Gin, who had been quietly listening, crossed his arms and nodded. "Agreed. We can't afford to panic. We've got a plan, and we need to see it through. If we start doubting ourselves now, we're already lost."
Goku clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Alright, everyone. Let's get moving. We've got a long journey ahead of us, and we can't afford to waste any more time. Crocodile's agents might be strong, but so are we. Let's show them what we're made of."
The crew nodded In unison, their determination renewed. As the Going Merry sailed steadily toward the Sandora River delta, the crew prepared themselves for the challenges ahead. The stakes were higher than ever, but with Goku leading the way, they knew they had a fighting chance. The dawn of uncertainty had passed, and now, with a clear plan in mind, they were ready to take on Crocodile and save Alabasta.
[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]