A day later, Rhett Vane landed on the coast of the Kingdom of Alabasta. Known as the Desert Kingdom, its endless golden dunes stretched to the horizon. Despite the harsh environment, Alabasta was far from poor. It remained one of the most influential nations in the first half of the Grand Line, rivaling the prestige of Dressrosa in the New World.
At this time, however, the kingdom's stability was in jeopardy. The land had already fallen under the subtle control of Crocodile. For the sake of obtaining the ancient weapon Pluton, Crocodile plotted carefully but acted under a false pretense. To the people, he appeared as their savior—a hero who quelled rebellions that he himself orchestrated. By first stirring chaos, then quelling it, Crocodile earned the reputation of protector while slowly tightening his grip on the kingdom.
It was a clever illusion, though not as ruthless as Doflamingo's direct dominance. Still, Crocodile's ambitions thrived in secrecy. Because the Navy Headquarters lay within the first half of the Grand Line, he avoided blatant actions that might draw unwanted attention.
Vane entered the royal city without ever setting foot on the burning sand. Riding the floating throne, Vimana, he soared above the desert until he passed through the city gates. The sight inside was striking: men and women cloaked in flowing garments, their faces wrapped in cloth, wide-brimmed hats shielding them from the merciless sun.
He ate a quick meal at a shaded tavern, then turned his focus to locating Baroque Works—Crocodile's underground syndicate. Within this organization were two figures of particular interest to Vane: Crocodile himself, a Shichibukai and a formidable combatant, and Nico Robin, the elusive archaeologist whose knowledge of the Poneglyphs could prove invaluable. Both, in his mind, were worth recruiting.
Just as he was considering his next move, Vane's sharp gaze fell upon a young woman with striking blue hair. His expression shifted. It wasn't her beauty that caught his attention—it was her identity. The girl was unmistakably Princess Nefertari Vivi, though she now lived under disguise, infiltrating Baroque Works in order to uncover Crocodile's schemes.
"Where is Crocodile?" Vane asked plainly, stepping closer and lightly placing a hand on her shoulder.
Startled, Vivi turned, her sapphire eyes meeting his. The young man before her was handsome, carrying himself with an aura far beyond his years. She had forgotten his question for a moment, caught in the unexpected presence of someone who radiated quiet power.
"Are you looking for me?" she asked softly, embarrassed by her own reaction.
"That's right," Vane replied, his tone calm, even detached.
When he repeated his question, mentioning Crocodile by name, Vivi's eyes widened in shock. "You… you're looking for him?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, wary of the ears around them. "You shouldn't. Crocodile is a devil."
Vane's gaze sharpened. "Do you want to save this country, Princess Vivi?"
Her breath caught. For a moment, she froze where she stood. No one was supposed to know her identity here. How could this stranger?
"If you truly wish to protect Alabasta, then take me to him," Vane said.
The intensity in his eyes unsettled her. Something about him sparked familiarity, as though she had glimpsed his face somewhere before. But where? No matter how hard she searched her memory, the answer eluded her.
Though hesitant, Vivi finally nodded. If Crocodile was a devil, perhaps this young man could be her country's hope. She silently led him through the streets toward Baroque Works' headquarters.
To Vivi, the situation was suffocating. Crocodile's power was monstrous, allowing him to manipulate the very sand that blanketed Alabasta. His subordinates were no less intimidating—lethal agents whose strength dwarfed her own. Every day she spent among them was a battle against despair.
Before long, she stopped in front of an ornate building that stood in stark contrast to the arid surroundings. Its grand, exotic design marked it as the base of Baroque Works.
At that moment, Nico Robin stepped through the gates. She greeted Vivi with a smile, her usual calm composure intact, until her eyes landed on the figure walking behind her. The warmth drained from Robin's expression, replaced with disbelief, then shock, and finally a flicker of fear.
"Miss All Sunday?" Vivi asked, bewildered by the archaeologist's reaction.
But Robin's gaze remained fixed behind her. Vane walked past the two of them without hesitation, not bothering with introductions. His attention was locked on the powerful presence waiting inside. Crocodile was here.
Robin's voice trembled as she turned to Vivi. "Where… where did you meet him?"
"You know him?" Vivi's confusion only deepened. Why would someone as composed as Miss All Sunday appear so unsettled?
Robin's answer came like a revelation. "He is one of the Pirate Emperors who dominate the seas. A being countless times more powerful than Crocodile."
Her words struck Vivi like a bolt of lightning. "Pirate Emperor?!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her shock. Suddenly, the pieces fell into place—the familiarity she felt, the intensity in his gaze. She had seen his face before, printed across newspapers that sent shockwaves through the world.
The King of the Sea.
Rhett Vane.
A man worth six billion Berries.
_____
If you want early access to chapters, check out my Patreon: Patreon.com/Zphyr