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In the end, Ikki left Conan at Marine Headquarters and took Luffy and Zoro back to Alabasta aboard Vice Admiral Momonga's warship.
On the way back to Alabasta, Ikki and Zoro resumed their habit of taking down any pirates they encountered.
Vice Admiral Momonga observed their actions closely and couldn't help but sigh. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku's judgment of people is truly sharp. These so-called Private Marines are more proactive in combating piracy than us official Marines..."
Meanwhile, as Ikki and the others made their way back to Alabasta, the news of Shichibukai Crocodile's arrest spread across the seas like wildfire.
Both Marines and pirates alike were delighted by the news.
For pirates, the Shichibukai were seen as traitors, lapdogs serving the World Government.
For the Marines, the disdain ran even deeper: after all, pirates were still pirates, no matter their affiliations.
Among the Shichibukai themselves, the arrest shocked many. The title of Shichibukai was highly coveted, especially by those with significant national or political influence behind them, like Jinbei, Donquixote Doflamingo, and Boa Hancock.
Within the grand halls of the royal palace in Dressrosa, the headquarters of the Donquixote Family, Doflamingo frowned as he read the news about Crocodile's capture.
The pirate captain, Shichibukai, and underground broker immediately reached for his Den Den Mushi to contact his sources within the World Government.
Though Doflamingo was no longer officially recognized as a Celestial Dragon, his years of scheming and meticulous planning had allowed him to reclaim certain privileges once held by his former lineage.
Doflamingo needed answers.
Was the World Government planning to abolish the Shichibukai system?
Doflamingo was not the type to fight an unprepared battle. When he claimed his seat as a Shichibukai, it was because he had learned ahead of time that the World Government was preparing to establish the system. He had secured his position by blackmailing them with knowledge of the National treasure and the Heavenly Tribute.
If the World Government was truly considering the abolition of the Shichibukai system, Doflamingo knew he needed a backup plan.
His best course of action? Forge an alliance with one of the Four Emperors.
He had already decided on his target: Kaido of the Beasts.
After the call ended, Doflamingo leaned back and began to laugh.
"Fufufufufu... Crocodile! You wanted to be a king, didn't you? Too bad... you're not ruthless enough!"
He smirked, recalling his own strategies. "The best way to handle a king like Cobra is to control what he values most—his people."
Doflamingo's mind drifted back to his return to Dressrosa. Those memories reminded him why he always stayed several steps ahead of others. Knowing the tides of change was critical, and Doflamingo had a strong hunch that the Shichibukai system would eventually be abolished.
Rather than panic, he felt a twisted sense of relief. He decided to continue consolidating his power within the underground world. If the title of Shichibukai were stripped away, he would still reign supreme as the king of the underworld.
Marine Headquarters
Shortly after Ikki and his crew departed, Fleet Admiral Sengoku invited some close friends to his home to celebrate. The reason? He had a new grandson—Conan.
At first, Conan felt a little uneasy. After all, suddenly gaining a grandfather like Sengoku was a lot to process. But despite his initial discomfort, Conan's natural charm and wit won everyone over.
Figures like Tsuru, Garp, Zephyr, and even former Fleet Admiral Kong quickly grew fond of the boy. Who wouldn't like a polite, clever, and sweet kid?
Once the celebration ended, the topic shifted to Conan's training.
"I'll handle it," Garp said confidently. "I'll train him into the best man he can be!"
Zephyr countered, "For basic training, I'm the best choice. That's my specialty!"
Sengoku, however, wasn't about to sit out. "No, I'll teach him myself."
In the end, all three stared intently at Conan, waiting for his decision. After some thought, Conan chose to train under Tsuru.
Tsuru said her subordinates are all female soldiers, so it's not a good fit for him!
The truth? Conan simply felt Tsuru seemed kinder than the others.
From that day forward, Conan lived at Marine Headquarters, training under Tsuru. Surrounded by her female soldiers, he had no shame in eating, training, and occasionally napping among them.
A Few Days Later
Ikki and the others finally returned to Alabasta.
During the journey, Ikki and Zoro defeated numerous pirates, earning a significant amount of justice points. Along the way, Ikki received several rewards from his accumulated points. Most of them were minor items or enhancements, but one stood out: a permanent antidote to APTX 4869.
The antidote would allow Conan to permanently transform back into Kudo Shinichi.
Ikki decided to give it to Conan when they met again. After all, he knew how much the antidote meant to him.
Back in Alabasta, the changes were remarkable.
Walking through the royal capital, Ikki, Luffy, and Zoro saw a city that was thriving. The streets bustled with activity, and the people appeared happy and content. Gone were the refugees begging for water and the mobs accusing King Cobra of incompetence.
The transformation began the day after Ikki had left, when Alabasta experienced three days of heavy rain.
The rain rejuvenated the land, quelling the desperation that had once gripped the people.
The remnants of the rebel army disbanded soon after. Some, led by Koza, joined Alabasta's royal guards, while others returned to their homes and families.
Ikki couldn't help but admire Cobra's leadership. Despite the challenges, the king had managed to stabilize his kingdom in record time.
Unbeknownst to Ikki, much of the credit belonged to Princess Vivi. Cobra's efforts alone would have taken months, but under Vivi's leadership, Alabasta had turned around in just over a week.