After taking down Doflamingo yesterday, Rowan's prestige points had climbed to over 8,000. He wondered how many points "Crocodile" would provide this time.
However, Rowan didn't harbor particularly high hopes for Crocodile's point yield. Compared to Doflamingo's grand-scale atrocities, Crocodile's current "villainy" was still somewhat contained within one nation, meaning his infamy across the wider seas wasn't quite on the same level yet.
But helping King Cobra solve the drought was more than just a hunt for points. While the immediate goal was to deal with the "Sandman," the primary objective was the execution of the second phase of his grand plan: winning over the world's allied nations to systematically weaken the World Government's grip on the globe.
Alabasta was his first major target. Following this, he planned to move on to Dressrosa (now freed from Doflamingo's shadow) and others.
Behind him on the deck, Zoro was deep in his grueling daily training, while Momousagi (Gion) was skillfully directing the sailors. Before long, King Cobra—still wearing a kitchen apron—stepped out from the galley.
"Mr. Rowan, the meal is ready. Shall we eat and talk?" Cobra invited warmly.
Rowan nodded with a smile. "I appreciate the effort, King Cobra. I'm looking forward to tasting your handiwork."
As the two entered the cabin, the warship continued to cut through the waves at full speed toward Alabasta. At this moment, aside from Rowan, no one realized just how drastically the global landscape was about to shift.
One day later. Alabasta Kingdom.
A warship slowly glided into the port of the capital, Alubarna. On the docks, the Alabasta Royal Guard stood at attention. At the very front were the high-ranking ministers of the kingdom, all gathered to welcome their king home.
"Welcome back, King Cobra!" they shouted in unison as he descended the gangplank.
The reverence on their faces spoke volumes about Cobra's popularity. Even though the kingdom was currently in a delicate state with rebel factions brewing in the outskirts, to the people of Alubarna and the royal court, Cobra remained a wise and beloved sovereign.
"Mr. Rowan, please." On the pier, Cobra made a gesture of invitation.
Rowan nodded and followed Cobra toward the waiting officials. He looked at the disciplined Royal Guard and the magnificent city of Alubarna rising in the distance, with the royal palace sitting like a crown at its center. He couldn't help but marvel.
Alabasta truly lived up to its reputation as a superpower with over 800 years of history. The palace's grandeur rivaled that of the Marine Headquarters fortress. Furthermore, he knew the kingdom boasted a standing army of over 600,000 soldiers—a number that far exceeded the core crews of any New World Yonko.
Yet, this titan was on the verge of collapse at the hands of Sir Crocodile. The "Dance Powder" incident, the framing of the Royal Guard, and the "Hero" persona Crocodile used to gain public trust—it was a masterclass in subversion.
Especially the "Operation Utopia": kidnapping the king, using Mr. 2's powers to impersonate him and destroy a town, and secretly supplying the rebels with weapons. Crocodile's plan was so seamless that both the loyalists and the rebels were dancing like puppets on his strings.
In the original timeline, only Luffy's "protagonist luck" had stopped him. But in front of Rowan, Crocodile's schemes were useless. To Rowan, the man's secrets were as transparent as glass.
Cobra introduced his guests to the ministers: "This is Marine Vice Admiral Rowan. Behind him is Vice Admiral Momousagi, and the young man is Mr. Rowan's apprentice. I have specifically invited Mr. Rowan from Headquarters to help us resolve our national crisis."
The ministers bowed deeply. "Greetings, Mr. Rowan..."
News of Rowan's exploits had been the talk of the seas. Even though they had been preoccupied with internal strife, they knew exactly who he was: the man who repelled a Yonko and defeated the world's greatest swordsman. In this world, the strong were always afforded respect—especially a Marine hero coming to save their country.
Cobra began introducing the individual ministers, and Rowan acknowledged them with a simple nod, maintaining a polite but detached demeanor.
However, halfway through the introductions, Cobra stopped. He frowned, scanning the crowd. "Chaka, where are Vivi and Igaram? Why aren't they here?"
It was strange. On his return from a long journey, his daughter Vivi and the Captain of the Guard, Igaram, were nowhere to be seen. Had Vivi fallen ill?
The expressions of Chaka and the other ministers shifted instantly.
"What's happened?" Cobra's voice grew sharp. Their faces told him something was very wrong.
Pell, another Vice Captain of the Guard, stepped forward and took a deep breath. "Your Majesty... Princess Vivi left a letter and disappeared. In it, she said she was going to personally investigate the 'Dance Powder' incident. It appears Lord Igaram went with her."
"What?! She went to investigate that herself? This is madness!" Cobra's face paled. "Why haven't you sent men to bring her back immediately?!"
Vivi was his only child; he cherished her above all else. If even he couldn't find a lead, what could a fourteen-year-old girl possibly uncover? He was furious at Igaram too—the Captain was supposed to stop her, not encourage her!
Chaka and Pell immediately dropped to one knee. "Please do not worry, Your Majesty! We have sent scouts in every direction. We will report the moment there is news!"