Seeing Princess Vivi and Igaram arrive, Rowan gently lowered his pipe and smiled. "Since the Princess has been found, let's set out."
"Set out?" Vivi blinked, confused. "To where?"
Rowan gave her a knowing look. "To find Crocodile."
"Crocodile?" This time, Vivi was even more bewildered. Crocodile might be a pirate, but he was a Royal Shichibukai sanctioned by the World Government, and more importantly, he was the beloved hero of Alabasta. "Mr. Rowan, weren't you sent here to help our country solve its crisis?" she asked, watching his retreating back.
Being as sharp as she was, Vivi had already guessed Rowan's purpose for coming to Alabasta. After all, the Navy was an arm of the World Government.
"That's exactly why we're going to see him." Rowan stopped, turning back to face her. "Because that man is the boss of the Baroque Works organization you've been trying to investigate: Mr. 0."
"What did you say?!"
Not only Vivi, but even Igaram's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. The hero of Alabasta was the mastermind behind the chaos, the shadow boss Mr. 0?
"Mr. Rowan, you must be mistaken. How is that possible...?" In Vivi's heart, Crocodile had always been a savior. According to her father, Crocodile had been active in Alabasta for over a decade, hunting pirates as a Warlord. Over time, he had become the people's "Guardian Deity."
Rowan chuckled at the sight of the stunned girl. "I'm only here to ensure your safety. As for the rest, believe it or not as you wish." He shrugged, lit his pipe, and began walking away.
Ensuring Vivi's safety was merely a way for Rowan to quickly build prestige in the eyes of King Cobra. As for Crocodile, he didn't feel the need to explain every detail to a teenager.
Zoro followed without hesitation. Gion (Momousagi) looked at the frozen pair and asked, "Princess Vivi, should I escort you back to the palace first?"
Vivi hesitated for a long time, but finally, she broke into a run to catch up with Rowan. She had to see for herself if what he said was true. The idea that a national hero was actually the architect of their civil war was too surreal to ignore. Seeing her move, Igaram followed instantly—his duty was to her safety, wherever she went.
Gion didn't mind. In fact, she preferred this. Taking a young girl along might be a slight hassle, but escorting her back to the palace would take a full day. This way, she could spend more time by Mr. Rowan's side.
Alabasta: Rainbase.
As a superpower of the Grand Line, Alabasta saw a massive influx of various factions daily. Rainbase, home to the "Rain Dinners"—the kingdom's largest casino—was just as prosperous as the capital, Alubarna.
Arriving before the grand casino, Vivi and Igaram were stunned by the bustling crowd. Except for a trip to the Levely as a child, Vivi had rarely left the palace. She never imagined a city on the edge of the kingdom could be this thriving, seemingly untouched by the national crisis.
Looking at the massive building, Rowan exhaled a cloud of smoke and said indifferently, "Let's go."
Unlike the others, who were somewhat bundled up against the desert sun, Rowan wore a loud Hawaiian shirt and shorts. His skin had tanned considerably, and if not for his sturdy physique and sharp eyes, he might have been mistaken for a wandering refugee.
Rowan led the way into Rain Dinners. Zoro and Gion followed wordlessly. Vivi stomped her foot in frustration but had no choice but to follow. A casino was no place for a child, but to uncover Crocodile's identity, she had to see this through.
Half an hour later. Rain Dinners: Basement.
Compared to the noisy casino above, the basement was eerily quiet, decorated with the opulence of a palace. In the center of the hall was a massive dining table with a single chair.
Sir Crocodile was elegantly enjoying his lunch. Standing beside him were a man and a woman: the top agents of Baroque Works, Mr. 1 and his partner, Miss Doublefinger.
"How is the plan progressing?" Crocodile asked, cutting into a steak.
"Rest assured, Boss," Miss Doublefinger smiled. "The Dance Powder was released in Alubarna right on schedule, and the Rebel Army is receiving regular weapon shipments. The voices condemning King Cobra are growing louder by the day. It won't be long now..."
Mr. 1 stood silently, his cold gaze fixed forward.
Crocodile swallowed a piece of meat, his face expressionless. "There is no rush. This must be done step by step. We have planned too long to allow even a single error." He waved a hand. "You may leave."
"Yes, Boss."
But before they could move, a loud BOOM echoed as the basement doors were kicked off their hinges. A tanned old man in casual wear walked in, grinning.
"Yo, Crocodile. You certainly have refined tastes." Rowan chuckled, eyeing the gourmet lunch.
"Huh? The Marine Godfather... Rowan?"
As a man who had dominated the headlines for months, there was no way Crocodile didn't recognize him. Behind Rowan, Vivi stood in total shock. She had heard every word of the conversation between Crocodile and Miss Doublefinger.
"Crocodile... it really was you all along..."
Behind her, Igaram was trembling with rage. "You traitor!"
"Oh?" Crocodile looked at the uninvited guests. Instead of getting angry, he let out a dark laugh. "Princess Vivi... and Captain Igaram? What a surprise."