Luo Xing smiled at Vivi.
"All suffering ends here. From this day forward, Alabasta will stand under the protection of my Beasts Pirates and become a prosperous land once more."
"Oh, right—rain," he added casually.
"It seems many regions have been dry for nearly three years."
"I didn't develop any rain-making device this time, but solving this isn't difficult."
He slowly raised his gaze to the sky.
At that instant, an overwhelming, majestic presence surged from his body.
Vivi, Robin, Cobra, Igaram, and Koza all watched in confusion.
How was he planning to make it rain—by simply staring at the heavens?
The next moment, they understood.
And the scene that followed would be carved into their memories forever.
The immense aura radiating from Luo Xing began to affect the very sky.
Dark clouds gathered from all directions, dense and heavy, like an advancing army.
As the clouds collided with the scorching desert heat below, violent thermal currents formed massive cumulonimbus clouds.
A crack of thunder rolled.
Then—
The torrential rain Alabasta's people had prayed for over three long years finally fell.
Rain that had been denied to them—and had led to civil war at last poured down.
Drip—drip—crash—crash!
Endless raindrops washed away sorrow from the people's faces, cleansed hatred from the rebels' hearts, and swept the bloodstained stench from the royal palace.
Luo Xing said calmly,
"It's raining. Those with laundry, go collect it. Those with bedding, bring it in. Let's head inside."
With that, he walked toward the intact portion of the palace.
Thud!
Igaram and Koza dropped to their knees.
They bowed deeply toward Luo Xing's back, as if worshiping a god.
"Thank you, Lord Luo Xing, for bringing the rain!"
"Thank you, Lord Luo Xing!"
To them, what he had done was no different from divine intervention.
In truth, it was merely applied meteorology—
as long as one could summon storm clouds, rain would follow.
And how did one summon clouds?
Conqueror's Haki.
Among those present, only Jack, Who's-Who, and one other person understood the method.
That person was Nico Robin, whose vast knowledge set her apart.
"Legends say the Conqueror's Haki of Yonko can split the heavens and alter the weather…"
"So it was true."
"And for him to do it so effortlessly…"
Robin felt a shock she had never known before.
Compared to this man, her deceased former superior, Crocodile, was utterly insignificant.
When Luo Xing passed her and asked if she wanted to take shelter from the rain, she nodded instinctively.
Before a king of Conqueror's Haki, resistance felt impossible.
Igaram and Koza hurried off to stop the civil war.
The rest followed Luo Xing into the palace.
"Lord Luo Xing!"
Vivi ran toward him, about to kneel, but Luo Xing caught her wrist gently.
"There's no need. I said I would help you—and I always keep my word."
Vivi burst into tears of relief and gratitude.
Since Crocodile entered her country, she had never once felt happiness like this.
"Thank you, Lord Luo Xing!"
Luo Xing raised his hand and wiped the tears from her pale cheeks.
He thought of Rebecca—
another princess of similar age, burdened by suffering.
In the original story, the two would later become sworn sisters at the Reverie.
Sisters forever.
He smiled softly.
"Don't call me 'Lord Luo Xing' anymore."
"Call me Brother."
"…Ah?"
Vivi froze.
A man of such status… willing to acknowledge her as family?
She lowered her head shyly, joy shining through her embarrassment.
"Brother."
The sound was gentle—so much like Rebecca's voice that Luo Xing almost wanted to compare the two.
Satisfied, he said,
"You're exhausted. Go bathe and rest. Tomorrow, you'll see a reborn Alabasta."
"Yes!"
Vivi nodded firmly and said goodbye to her father.
She was utterly spent—walking alone was difficult—but she refused assistance.
That night, she bathed, slept deeply, and dreamed peacefully for the first time in years.
Inside the palace.
After Vivi left, King Cobra remained silent for a long while before speaking.
"Fifth Emperor… I am deeply grateful for saving my country and my daughter."
"But Alabasta is poor. We have nothing of value to repay you."
Despite the rain, despite Luo Xing calling Vivi his sister—
Cobra still did not fully trust him.
At the very least, he had no intention of revealing information about Pluton.
Luo Xing had expected this.
Cobra was not as naïve as Vivi.
He understood the darkness of the world.
Luo Xing wasn't offended.
He smiled gently.
"A good deed doesn't require repayment."
Cobra froze.
Had he misunderstood this man?
Did Luo Xing truly not seek the ancient weapon?
"I need nothing," Luo Xing continued calmly.
"Only that I may shatter a section of land not far from here shortly. I hope you won't mind."
Cobra's body trembled.
Impossible.
"How… how could you know—?!"
The true Poneglyph lay beneath Alabasta.
He had never told anyone.
Was this man truly omniscient?
Luo Xing merely smiled.
Robin, sharp as ever, read the truth from Cobra's reaction.
Her heart raced.
"So it was underground… no wonder Crocodile and I never found it!"
Both she and Cobra shared the same question—
How did Luo Xing know?
After a long pause, Cobra sighed bitterly.
"There's no point hiding it anymore. Please… follow me."
He triggered a hidden mechanism.
The floor split open, revealing a passage below.
Cobra led the way.
Luo Xing followed.
Robin came next, barely able to contain her excitement.
Jack and Who's-Who brought up the rear.
Luo Xing walked close beside Robin, close enough to catch her faint fragrance.
He spoke quietly.
"It may not be what you're hoping for. The truth of history is not so easily revealed."
Robin looked up sharply.
Their eyes met.
Something flickered in her gaze—astonishment, disbelief.
This man was nothing like the masters she had served before.
And there seemed to be nothing he didn't know.
That mystery frightened her.
She forced a small smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Luo Xing."
They soon reached a massive stone tablet.
Strange, ancient symbols were carved across its surface.
Symbols only Robin could read.
Her body trembled.
History was her faith—the dream her fallen scholars of Ohara had died for.
How could she not be emotional?
She placed her hand on the stone and began reading.
But as she progressed—
Excitement drained from her face, replaced by profound disappointment.
Still, because of Luo Xing's earlier words, despair did not take hold.
In the original timeline, Robin would have lost the will to live here.
If not for Luffy's reckless salvation, she might truly have died.
This time, there was no Straw Hat—
but there was Luo Xing.
He stepped beside her and spoke evenly.
"There are many Poneglyphs. Only by gathering them all can the truth of the Void Century be revealed."
"If you want to know that truth, I can take you there."
"But there is one condition."
"You must willingly board my ship."
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