As everyone was still trembling in fear from the lightning strike just moments ago, the weather changed again.
This time, it was no longer the apocalyptic violet thunder, but a downpour that nourished all life.
For Alabasta, long plagued by drought, it was a long-awaited gift from the heavens. Everyone rejoiced in the sudden rain.
No one made any effort to seek shelter. Instead, people poured into the streets, tilting their heads up and bathing freely in the torrential rain.
Inside the palace, Cobra looked out the window, his heart so stirred that "excited" couldn't begin to describe what he felt. If Vivi weren't standing beside him, this king might have knelt before Kaito on the spot.
Vivi, however, had no such restraint. She dashed to the balcony, held out her hand, and caught a palmful of rainwater. She brought it gently to her lips and took a small sip.
The taste wasn't anything special—slightly bitter on the tongue—but to Vivi, it was as refreshing as spring water, sweet and soothing to the soul.
She couldn't help but turn her gaze toward the one who had caused all this—Kaito. Even under the dim sky, his Rinnegan still radiated a stunning violet glow that left Vivi entranced.
A gust of wind swept past, making Kaito's Justice coat billow dramatically. The kanji for "Justice" stood out, bold and striking.
He smiled at Vivi, who had been staring at him the whole time, and said,
"Alright, that should temporarily ease the situation. Now I need to deal with the real source of the problem."
With that, he didn't wait for a response. In the blink of an eye, Kaito transformed into a flash of violet lightning and vanished.
Cobra slowly walked over to where Kaito had just stood. He placed a hand on Vivi's shoulder and said with deep emotion,
"So this is the Navy's strongest Admiral—Shikiryū!"
Vivi nodded softly. Though Kaito hadn't stayed long, he had left an unforgettable impression on her young heart.
Those mysterious eyes, the fluttering Justice coat, and that ever-melancholic Uchiha face—all of it would remain etched in Vivi's memory as a shining light for years to come.
...
Inside the Baroque Works headquarters,
Crocodile paced back and forth, visibly restless and agitated.
Robin sat on a table nearby, resting her head on one hand, lost in thought.
Crocodile had already circled the room several times by the time Mr. 1, Daz Bonez, and the rest of the Baroque Works officers entered.
Seeing all his subordinates assembled, Crocodile's anxious expression eased slightly. He immediately barked out an order:
"We're leaving Alabasta. Right now. Admiral Shikiryū is here!"
The name Shikiryū instantly drew expressions of fear from everyone present—even the always-calm Mr. 1 looked shaken.
There was no helping it. A person casts a shadow, and a name carries weight. Admiral Shikiryū's name was legendary—virtually every pirate of this era lived under his looming shadow.
Once this man marked you as a target, it didn't matter if you joined a Yonko's crew or called yourself someone's son—you were looking at execution, followed by your bones being pulverized into dust. The full package.
Daz Bonez was able to maintain some composure, but Mr. 3, Galdino—never the bravest—immediately burst into tears and snot. The moment he heard Shikiryū was coming, it felt like his legs were filled with lead and glued to the floor.
Miss Doublefinger, Zala, spoke gravely:
"Boss... is Shikiryū really that terrifying? Aren't the newspapers exaggerating things a bit?"
Crocodile shook his head solemnly.
"Not even close to exaggeration. If anything, they're understating it. I saw that man with my own eyes back at Navy HQ. He beat Hawk Eyes like it was nothing!"
Just remembering what he had witnessed made sweat bead on Crocodile's forehead.
Shikiryū's power was terrifying. Crocodile was an extremely self-assured man—rarely did anyone leave an impression on him—but when it came to Kaito, he genuinely couldn't summon the will to resist.
That massive violet titan alone was something he couldn't contend with.
In front of that giant, even his so-called "natural disaster" Logia powers were a joke. At least Mihawk had been able to land a few hits. If Crocodile went up against him, he'd probably get smashed into a sand sculpture.
And that wasn't even the worst of it—Shikiryū had gone on to defeat both Red-Haired Shanks and Whitebeard, two of the Four Emperors!
For the Baroque Works officers, it was the first time they had seen such fear on Crocodile's face. Not even Whitebeard had scared him this much—Crocodile often spoke of wanting to challenge him again.
But now, he was ready to abandon everything in Alabasta and run, all because of Shikiryū.
That contrast alone was proof enough of how terrifying this unseen Admiral truly was.
Behind him, Robin maintained her composure. She stared at the flustered Crocodile expressionlessly but sighed inwardly.
"So even this place isn't safe anymore… I'll have to find a new shelter."
This turn of events was particularly unfortunate for Robin. Alabasta contained a Poneglyph—an invaluable piece of history. It meant a lot to her.
But with Crocodile ready to flee and Shikiryū now in the country, she had no chance to study it.
The sorrow in her heart showed in her eyes. How long would this drifting, uncertain life continue?
Maybe only death could bring it to an end.
Crocodile, now visibly impatient, shouted,
"Enough! We're leaving! Once that man arrives, it'll be too late!"
The officers all nodded, ready to flee.
Just then, Zala's expression changed sharply. She stopped everyone and said,
"Not good—someone's already here! He's right outside the door!"
"Nani!?"
Crocodile's eyes widened. He didn't doubt Zala's words—her senses were incredibly sharp. She could hear the faintest sounds and determine the general location of a person.
It was a kind of natural talent. She hadn't awakened Observation Haki yet, but once she did, this perception would only become more terrifying.
But this was no time to think about that. If the person outside really was Shikiryū, then escaping wasn't an option.
In that moment of crisis, Crocodile's mind raced. He quickly came up with what was, for now, the best course of action.
He raised a hand and commanded,
"Everyone form two lines! Prepare to welcome Admiral Shikiryū!!!"
"...?"
The officers looked at one another in confusion—but they quickly understood what Crocodile meant.
He wanted them to present themselves in the most orderly, respectful way possible—to maximize their chances of survival. It sounded humiliating, yes, but no one could deny it was the smart thing to do.
So the officers snapped into action like well-trained soldiers, lining up into two neat rows right there in the office.
Even Robin, after a moment of silent disbelief, sighed and slipped off the desk, joining the makeshift honor guard to greet Kaito.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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