King Cobra was utterly puzzled.
Why did Queen Lily, who participated in the founding of the World Government eight hundred years ago, leave a secret letter to the royal family but fail to mention anything about the Golden Underground Palace?
Nonetheless...
He had no time to ponder over these matters now.
Because the revived Straw Hat Pirates and Navy Colonel Smoker intended to stop Crocodile, yet they were unaware of the location of the Golden Underground Palace.
At a crucial moment...
Nami proposed an idea.
Back then, a magnetic disturbance occurred within the Alabasta Kingdom, causing chaos in the internal magnetic field, all pointing in one direction.
"Perhaps..."
Nami carefully recollected the issues of the magnetic disturbance that day, remembering the position indicated by the Log Pose: "That location might likely be the direction of the Golden Underground Palace."
"I'm heading over immediately!"
Luffy's arm suddenly stretched out, propelling him towards a location!
"Hmph!"
Smoker no longer insisted on capturing Straw Hat Luffy, transforming swiftly into a cloud of smoke and flew towards the position Nami indicated!
Compared to the two of them...
The others had it simpler.
Guided by Nico Robin, Crocodile and Mr.1 Bonez Danis quickly arrived at the Golden Underground Palace zone at the desert center, spotting a small pyramid tip concealed in the sands, shimmering with a needle-sized golden gleam under the sun.
"Is this the place?"
Sighting that glimmer of gold, Crocodile frowned: "Could a Golden Underground Palace be hidden here? How should we open it?"
"Clearing away the surrounding quicksand might be necessary..."
Surveying the surrounding quicksand, Nico Robin continued deceiving Crocodile: "According to the records within King's Tomb Underground Palace, only the Sand-Sand Fruit can unveil the Underground Palace..."
"Step aside."
Crocodile motioned Nico Robin and Mr.1 to move away.
"Desert Sunflower!"
Crocodile extended his palm, maneuvering the underground sand dunes, causing the pyramid tip to rapidly rise!
In no time!
It had risen to a height beyond that of a person!
Yet, this was just a glimpse of its peak!
A drop of cold sweat appeared on Crocodile's forehead as he felt the enormity of the Golden Underground Palace while manipulating the sand dunes!
"This Underground Palace exceeds my expectations in grandeur..."
Crocodile buried his hands into the sands, manipulating the subterranean dunes to elevate, attempting to uncover the deeply buried Golden Palace!
A golden palace forged from gold slowly emerged from the quicksands!
Both Mr.1 and Nico Robin stared, scarcely able to believe their eyes, at this palace constructed entirely of gold, finding its magnitude rather overwhelming!
The entire palace...
Measured at least a hundred meters high!
This palace appeared to be entirely crafted from gold!
Nico Robin's eyes narrowed as she watched the golden palace glisten in the sunlight, reminiscing the intelligence Mr.3 had provided: "I hadn't expected the notion of a Golden Underground Palace to be true; this palace wasn't something the current Alabasta could have constructed..."
The current Alabasta royal family wasn't particularly affluent; only the past King of Alabasta, one of the Twenty Kings who once pillaged the world, wielded the wealth and power to forge such a golden palace!
"Alabasta... has hidden it remarkably well..."
Not once had Crocodile ever cared about riches; yet, upon witnessing the uncovering of this golden palace, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
Unreservedly speaking...
The gold used in constructing this palace could purchase the entire Alabasta!
Crocodile, fond of unraveling mysteries, had discovered Pluto's whereabouts, and now, he firmly believed Pluto's secrets lay hidden here!
Only Pluto's secrets...
Warranted the concealment within such a golden palace!
The entire pyramid-shaped Golden Underground Palace emerged completely, revealing two towering golden doors, graced by golden reliefs above that adorned two letters.
D.
This letter stirred a thrill within Nico Robin's heart.
For the entire sea had once been roiled by the D Clan, and even O'Hara's destruction stemmed from the letter D; she knew she guessed right this time!
This Golden Underground Palace...
Surely harbored the secrets of the D Clan!
It could also reveal the giant kingdom that existed within the Void Century!
"D?"
Crocodile squinted his eyes, pushing open the golden door and, with indifference, stepped inside first, followed closely by Nico Robin.
Upon entering this Golden Underground Palace, they were taken aback by the opulent interior, entirely crafted from gold!
Most astonishing...
Was the dome within the palace!
On the dome was a relief of a woman.
The palace was adorned with various sculptures, each representing different races at sea, all cast in gold, gazing at the woman on the dome as though revering an ancient deity.
Within the palace...
Only one path existed.
Golden sculptures of soldiers lined each side of this path.
Crocodile, absorbing the opulence of this purely golden palace, sensed the past riches of the King of Alabasta as he proceeded deeper into the palace.