After careful consideration, Aeridar decided not to intervene.
Due to his transmigration, the trajectory of this world had already undergone significant changes. Crocodile's forces, because of Aeridar's presence, were already much stronger than they were in the original story.
If, even with this advantage, Crocodile's Utopia operation still failed and he was defeated by Luffy just as in the original, then it could only be attributed to fate.
In any case, Crocodile still managed to escape Impel Down later, merely losing his title as a Warlord of the Sea. They could still continue their alliance and cooperation.
"Is that so? It certainly must be interesting, if it's a person you remember." Crocodile's eyes were indifferent. He exhaled a ring of smoke, paying little attention.
Noticing Crocodile's expression, Aeridar's eyes flashed as he said, "Your Utopia operation is about to begin, isn't it? You bought enough arms from me to equip ten thousand men."
Influenced by Aeridar, Crocodile had also aggressively expanded his power over the years. According to incomplete statistics, his secret criminal organization, Baroque Works, boasted over twenty thousand lower-level Billions and Millions, not counting the dozen or so mid-to-high-level agents—at least ten times the number in the original story.
Furthermore, in his headquarters, 'Rainbase,' he had a personal guard of only four to five hundred men, but they were all elite warriors who had been injected with the SS drug and had a Doriki of over one hundred. His intelligence network also covered every town in the Alabasta Kingdom.
This was, of course, Crocodile's limit. After all, Baroque Works was a secret criminal organization, and the Alabasta Kingdom had not yet fallen. His power had only grown so large in Alabasta because of the presence of the rebels.
"That's right, the plan will be commencing soon. I will soon possess 'Pluton'," a hint of fanaticism appeared in Crocodile's eyes, but it vanished instantly. He then instructed Robin, "Send people to keep a close watch on Fire Fist Ace and the Marines. As long as they remain in Alabasta, I want to know their every move, every single day."
"As you wish, Boss!" Robin bowed slightly, then turned and left the room.
"That was Nico Robin, wasn't it? I'm surprised you would shelter her," Aeridar asked curiously. "Aren't you afraid of the World Government coming after you? After all, the CP agencies have been tracking her whereabouts all this time."
"We'll deal with them when they show up, hmph." Crocodile scoffed contemptuously.
"Hohohoho~ You're growing more imposing, Crocodile!" Aeridar laughed softly.
....
A certain coast on Sandy Island.
The Going Merry was moored there. Apart from Zoro and Ace, everyone else had disembarked and was on the shore.
The Straw Hat Pirates now included a beautiful girl with waist-length aquamarine hair and a large duck wearing a hat and clothing.
This girl was Princess Nefertari Vivi of the Alabasta Kingdom!
The large duck was a Karoo, a Super Spot-Billed Duck unique to Alabasta, and was Princess Vivi's mount and pet.
"Karoo, I need you to go to the Alubarna Palace alone now and give this letter to my father. This letter contains everything about Crocodile and Baroque Works' plot, as well as the results of Igaram and my investigation. It also states that I am alive and have made it back to Alabasta, and that I am with these reliable companions," Vivi said to the Super Spot-Billed Duck, Karoo, who stood before her, holding a letter.
"Can you do this? You have to cross the desert all by yourself."
"Waaahk!" Karoo squawked, holding out his wing in a salute.
Vivi smiled with relief, placing the letter inside the pocket of Karoo's clothing, and cautioned, "Listen carefully, you have to conserve your water well in the desert."
On the Going Merry, Zoro and Ace watched Vivi give careful instructions to Karoo.
"I knew the Warlord Crocodile was in this country," Ace leaned on the ship's railing, scoffing playfully. "A pirate trying to usurp the throne. I thought pirates wanted a place to drop anchor and settle down, not settle down on the King's throne…"
Before he could finish, the smile on Ace's face froze slightly, a certain man's image suddenly flashing through his mind.
"Alright! We're setting sail!"
"Wait! I haven't gotten on yet!"
Just then, Luffy and Usopp's voices could be heard. Watching Karoo leave, the shore party, including Luffy and the others, returned to the ship one after another.
"What's wrong?" Zoro frowned, noticing the strange look on Ace's face, but he refrained from asking further.
"Ah, nothing," Ace replied, shaking himself out of his thoughts.
He then narrowed his eyes and said, "There might be another scheme behind this attempt to usurp the throne. It probably isn't as simple as just wanting the King's crown."
As he said this, the image of that man flashed through Ace's mind once more.
"A scheme?" Zoro frowned.
"Exactly. The King's throne doesn't mean much to a pirate, unless… they have a deeper agenda." Ace reached out a hand, then walked towards the cabin below.
Zoro watched Ace's retreating back with a frown.
....
Business Island, Vesna.
This is a globally renowned place, ranking among the top three in the world for prosperity. Over forty percent of all large-scale merchant guilds have their headquarters here. It is only half a day's journey from Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In the city center stood a luxurious tower, adorned with a flag. The flag's design was an ancient gold coin with four limbs. The face of the coin bore the character '古' (Ancient), and its right hand held a cross-sword, while its left held a triangular shield.
This was the symbol of the Komodo Merchant Guild, and this luxurious tower was the Komodo Merchant Guild's headquarters.
In a spacious, opulent room on the top floor of the tower, four people, two middle-aged and two elderly, sat around a round table.
"Parodi is dead. He died at the hands of the Master of the World Neutral Zone," the silver-haired, silver-bearded old man spoke first.
"That bastard always finds a way to cause trouble! How could he offend that terrifying man? Couldn't that idiot show some flexibility? That moron!" The red-haired middle-aged man's face was contorted with rage, his voice bordering on venom.
"We lost a Guard Captain, plus a whole bunch of guards and sailors. Several ships were sunk, and the Marines let all those slaves go. The losses are staggering." The other bald old man had a grim expression. "The financial loss is secondary. The key is our reputation, and that entire ship of slaves, including several who were reserved by the Celestial Dragons."
"We completely forgot about the relationship between the Chris Pirates and the Kuja Pirates. We never expected that man to come after us personally." The remaining middle-aged man with blonde hair was filled with regret and fear. "Now, not only have we offended that man, but we also have to figure out how to compensate the Celestial Dragons for their losses."
"If we don't handle this properly, all of us will be finished!"