Inside the royal palace of Alabasta, King Cobra quickly approached Roy, his eyes filled with respect and gratitude.
"Admiral Roy, I truly don't know how to thank you enough." Cobra's voice was sincere. "The battle between you and Mr. Hashirama Senju brought so many oases to our Alabasta. To us, these oases are the hope of life, a blessing for this arid land."
As he spoke, Cobra gave a slight bow, offering Roy a solemn salute.
Roy nodded slightly, a gentle smile on his face.
"King Cobra, this was merely a fortunate accident. I also hope that Alabasta can continue to grow and prosper."
Cobra turned, took Princess Vivi's hand, and led her before Roy.
Vivi wore a pale blue long dress, like a blue lotus blooming in the desert, fresh and beautiful.
"Mr. Roy, my father and I are willing to follow your plan and offer our strength to establish a new order."
Roy smiled and nodded. "Trust me, we will succeed."
The Nefertari family had deep roots and influence in this land, playing a significant role in Roy's plan.
Vivi raised her head, her gaze meeting Roy's. Looking at his face, a ripple stirred in her heart, and she found herself momentarily lost in thought.
It was as if she could see a future full of hope, a future where Alabasta flourished.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at Rain Dinners was starkly different.
Under the dim lighting, Crocodile, clad in a black coat, stood with a grim expression, his hands tightly gripping a letter.
His eyes burned with anger and resentment, veins faintly bulging on his forehead.
"An utter disgrace!" Crocodile hissed through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with hatred.
He had never imagined receiving a letter from Hashirama Senju, let alone one threatening him to leave Alabasta.
In his eyes, this was a profound insult.
He had meticulously schemed in Alabasta, aiming to seize control of the kingdom, only to see it all fail in the end.
Now, this letter from Hashirama Senju only added to his humiliation.
"Could he be after Pluton?"
He narrowed his eyes, his mind racing to discern Hashirama's intentions.
He believed that Hashirama's aggressive threat to force him out of Alabasta was most likely driven by a desire for the legendary ancient weapon, Pluton.
After all, Pluton's power was immense enough to alter the world's balance, a temptation for anyone.
"Even he covets the power of an ancient weapon?" Crocodile muttered to himself, his tone laced with disdain.
Crocodile's hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his heart torn with conflict.
On one hand, his desire for Pluton burned fiercely; it was the key to achieving his ambitions, and he was reluctant to abandon it.
On the other hand, Hashirama's terrifying strength loomed over him like a shadow, instilling fear and a sense of powerlessness.
He vividly recalled the overwhelming power Hashirama displayed during his fight with Roy—the sheer scale of the Wood Release ninjutsu, the aura that shook the heavens and earth—it was clear he was no match.
"Damn it." Crocodile muttered a curse, his facial muscles twitching slightly.
He weighed the pros and cons internally, and ultimately, the harsh reality forced his decision.
He took a deep breath and slowly relaxed his clenched fists.
"I will return to Alabasta." His voice was cold.
He told himself this departure was only temporary; he would bide his time, gather strength, and wait for the right moment to return, reclaim what was his, and fulfill his ambitions.
With that, Crocodile tossed the crumpled letter aside and strode away.
…
Within the buildings of Marine Headquarters, Roy walked through the corridors.
He had just returned from Alabasta and knew Fleet Admiral Sengoku wanted to see him, but he had no intention of going immediately, instead choosing to slip back to his own courtyard.
After all, he had just returned from a mission; he deserved a good break.
The courtyard was quiet and elegant, surrounded by various green plants.
Roy entered and went straight to the stone table, beginning to boil water for tea.
The water bubbled in the pot as the aroma of tea gradually filled the air, lingering around him.
Roy closed his eyes slightly, a contented expression on his face.
Just as Roy was leisurely enjoying his tea, a hearty laugh broke the courtyard's tranquility.
"Roy, hahaha, looks like you had a good time."
Garp's booming voice preceded his arrival, accompanied by his signature laughter, as he strode into the courtyard carrying a large bag of rice crackers.
Roy opened his eyes, and upon seeing Garp, the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.
"The plan went smoothly." Roy said, reaching over to snatch a rice cracker from Garp's bag and popping it into his mouth.
"Ah!" Garp's eyes widened in exaggerated shock as he saw his snack being taken.
He quickly opened the bag and stuffed a handful into his mouth.
"You brat, why are you stealing my rice crackers?" Garp said between chews, still smiling.
Roy chuckled at Garp's possessive behavior over his food.
"Vice Admiral Garp, these rice crackers are indeed quite good." Roy picked up his teacup, taking a small sip to moisten his throat.
Garp placed the bag of rice crackers on the stone table and plopped down on the stool opposite Roy.
"Haha, of course, these are my favorite rice crackers."
Garp said, grabbing another cracker and popping it into his mouth.
"Speaking of which, that fight between you and Hashirama Senju was truly spectacular. I'd really like to try fighting him myself."
Garp stared intently at Roy, his expression one of keen interest.
He was, of course, already aware of Hashirama Senju's true identity—that powerful ninja from another world.
Thinking of the battle between Hashirama and Roy, an irrepressible surge of excitement welled up within Garp.
"I'd really like to test my strength against Hashirama Senju, to experience the power of another world. Ahaha!"
For a warrior like Garp who loved battle, the chance to compete against a master from a different world was an immense temptation.
Roy watched Garp's eager expression, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"I happen to know of a certain power from another world. Vice Admiral Garp, are you interested?"
Roy's voice carried a hint of temptation.
"Hmm?" Garp's eyes widened instantly upon hearing Roy's words, a look of surprise crossing his face.
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