Chapter 228 - 86

Chapter 86"Speak.""Headquarters says to wait and see for now...""How can anything good be done while working with those vermin?"Smoker cut off the communications officer mid-sentence, his voice low and gravelly. "When we passed Small Garden, the intercepted message from the transponder snail clearly indicated someone is plotting something big in this country. We even caught agents from Baroque Works. Can those guys at Headquarters use their brains for once?""After all, this is the territory of the Shichibukai, Crocodile," said Tashigi, stepping forward while wearing her glasses and cradling the famous sword, Shigure. "If the Marines enter and launch a large-scale operation without notifying him, Headquarters will have a hard time answering to the World Government.""Hmph, the Shichibukai."Smoker snorted coldly, clearly disdainful of such a system.He didn't care about any damn political compromises; he only knew that an abnormal atmosphere permeated this country.He felt it personally."Patch me through to Admiral Aokiji's private line," Smoker suddenly ordered the communications officer."Eh? Admiral Aokiji?" The communications officer was stunned.Smoker wanted to take action.If Headquarters wouldn't give the order, an Admiral's order would suffice.And it helped that he and Aokiji were close friends.This was the power of connections.Tashigi also wore an odd expression, pushing up her glasses as she whispered, "Is Captain Smokerlooking for someone to take the blame again? Admiral Aokiji really has it rough. Captain Hina probably gets asked for favors like this all the time too."Beyond his Marine duties and his sense of justice, there was another major reason Smoker was hell-bent on coming to Alabasta.He had received intelligence that the Straw Hatkid, who had left a deep impression on him in Loguetown, was also heading this way.That Rubber idiot might even have some sort of connection to that man.This time, he would definitely arrest him personally!The connection was established quickly. Smokerdidn't waste words, succinctly explaining the situation and his decision to take action directly to the transponder snail.There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before a lazy, somewhat helpless voice came through:"Arara, Smoker, you really know how to cause trouble for me... Fine, I get it. Go ahead, I'll take responsibility for the consequences.""Thanks."Smoker hung up the call decisively, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth as he immediately ordered the Marines to land in Alabasta.Not long after they landed, they encountered a group of reckless pirates.Just as Smoker was about to clear out these small fry, an anomaly occurred!A golden figure swept past like a ghost, accompanied by a whirlwind of sand.The pirates didn't even have time to react before they were sliced by countless sand blades amidst shrill screams. Crocodile's figure coalesced within the dissipating dust, and he flicked non-existent blood from his golden hook.Smoker's brow furrowed, his expression grim.Wait, who's the Marine here?A pirate was stealing the Marines' job; it was truly a reversal of the natural order.Especially seeing Crocodile basking in the adoration of the citizens.Smoker bit down on his unlit cigar, suppressing his rage. Just as he was about to move, the Straw Hatcrew and Princess Vivi arrived nearby and exposed Crocodile's conspiracy.So that's how it was?Smoker's pupils constricted slightly.Though he had his suspicions, hearing it confirmed by the Princess of Alabasta herself was still shocking.A Shichibukai, a legal pirate recognized by the World Government, was the culprit behind the civil war and chaos in this country."How ironic."Smoker instinctively pulled out a lighter, wanting to light his cigar to calm his surging emotions.However, the moment the lighter was about to touch the cigar—Poof!The two cigars in his mouth spontaneously ignited without warning.Orange-red flames flared up abruptly, giving Smoker a start.He jerked his head up, looking instinctively toward the roof above."Ah, sorry. I wanted to know what you were planning to do."On the dilapidated roof of a nearby building stood a man in an orange cowboy hat. He held up a finger, a small flame dancing on the tip."Are you planning to make a move?"Smoker's expression instantly became incredibly solemn. "Why are you here? Portgas D. Ace, Commander of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates."This was only the first half of the Grand Line.A commander-level figure from the Whitebeard Pirates should not be in these waters at all.Ace brushed the dust off his clothes, about to answer.Suddenly, a restaurant owner from nearby rushed over brandishing a kitchen knife, shouting at Acebreathlessly, "Hey! You kid, pay your bill!"This man had eaten so much, suddenly falling asleep while chatting, then falling asleep again while eating, and then suddenly running out—was he trying to dine and dash?"Ahaha, sorry, sorry!"Ace rubbed the back of his head and laughed heartily without any airs. He readily pulled some Berries from his pocket, counted them, and handed them to the owner. "Here, this should be enough."The owner took the money, stunned. His anger mostly dissipated, and he muttered that it was more like it before turning to go back.Meanwhile, the surrounding citizens who had been watching the spectacle finally reacted, their faces filled with terror."Boss, you actually dared to make someone from the Whitebeard Pirates pay?!"The owner: "???"He looked down at the Berries in his hand, then at the beaming Ace. His legs began to tremble, and he nearly fainted on the spot.Ace ignored the little interlude and looked back at the wary Smoker, his smile fading slightly."Now, back to the point.Marine, didn't you hear my little brother and that Princess?The one who plunged this country into chaos is the very hero recognized by your World Government, the Shichibukai, Crocodile."Smoker took a deep drag of his lit cigar and exhaled thick smoke. "A pirate is a pirate, whether it's Crocodile, Straw Hat, or you. I will arrest you all.""You've got quite the mouth."Ace raised an eyebrow, then as if remembering something, his smile grew wider. "You're very interested in Luffy?"Smoker's gaze was sharp. "What is your relationship with Straw Hat Luffy?""Luffy? He's my brother.""Brother?"What kind of joke was this?Straw Hat was actually the brother of the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates? Then what was his connection to Dragon?This family's relationships were truly complicated.By the time the battle over there ended, the entanglement of smoke and fire continued."Forget it. I'm going to arrest Crocodile and stop this country's war."Smoker knew he wouldn't get anywhere with Aceand chose to go after Crocodile instead.Ace tugged at his orange cowboy hat and grinned. That desert Crocodile who had once challenged the Old Man wasn't the type to die so easily.He wasn't dead even after taking that hit from Luffy... but he certainly ran away fast.Chapter 117 Robin's Choice"Mr. Crocodile?""What happened? Why is Mr. Crocodile lying here?""Was that explosion just now because of Mr. Crocodile?"The massive explosion just now had drawn many people. Being naturally curious, they crowded around and saw Crocodile lying in a deep crater.Crocodile's gaze was somewhat vacant.Failed again?After failing to challenge Whitebeard in the New World, Crocodile had retreated to the first half of the Grand Line, planning to seize the legendary ancient weapon to build a military superpower and then march back into the New World.And yet...He had actually been defeated by a rookie pirate?No, it wasn't a failure yet!Crocodile suddenly pushed himself up from the ground. He still had a chance!The Straw Hat kid had been hit by his Scorpion Venom; he should be dying from it right now.Find Pluton!He still had a chance!The Revolutionary Army was still fighting the Kingdom's army exactly as he had envisioned.Crocodile climbed out of the crater, looked toward Luffy's direction from afar, coughed up blood, and turned to leave.He didn't even dare to confirm whether the Straw Hat kid was alive or dead.Fortunately for him, he didn't go....Before Princess Vivi.The torment was not yet over.She watched the intimate scene between the two before her but didn't dare step forward to push Robin away.She knew Robin was administering medicine to save Luffy's life; it was the only effective method right now.But her heart felt stifled and miserable!The feeling was like being a rightful wife who could only watch helplessly as another woman saved her husband in such an intimate way, while she could do nothing but worry uselessly from the sidelines!A strong sense of powerlessness and the frustration of being sidelined filled her heart."I was the one who thought of it first!"On Princess Vivi's delicate face, her expression shifted unpredictably.She was worried for Luffy, annoyed with Robin, and resentful of her own hesitation—a kaleidoscope of emotions.As for the tears? That was just sand in her eyes.Meanwhile, Robin's heart was not without its own ripples.Initially, she truly only wanted to neutralize the poison in Luffy; she had no ulterior motives.However, when her lips touched Luffy's—which were somewhat cracked from thirst yet still held a burning heat—an unfamiliar sensation made her heart tremble slightly.In her twenty years of life spent wandering, filled with betrayal and darkness since the Buster Callon Ohara, her world creed had been self-preservation above all else.If any stranger came within two meters of her, she would instinctively be on guard, even ready to use her abilities to snap their neck.Intimate contact?That term practically didn't exist in her dictionary.But now, she had unhesitatingly performed such an act with this Straw Hat kid, whom she hadn't known for long and who, in a sense, held her as a captive.Though it was to save him, why him?Why had she made this choice so naturally?