Pirates: Usurping a Kingdom Is Surprisingly Easy

When the Goa fleet entered Alabasta's territorial waters, Nico Robin, the Vice President of Baroque Works, had already gathered all 9 Chief Commanders and 14 Executive Commanders, following Crocodile's orders. A meeting was held at the Baroque Works headquarters, the Spider Cafe.

Crocodile, the hidden Mr. 0, still showed no intention of revealing himself. He issued instructions through Nico Robin, inciting and guiding the Rebel Army to attack the three warships of the Goa Empire. Even the Marine warship protecting Kael was not to be spared. He just wanted his Baroque Works subordinates to cause trouble for the Goa fleet. It wouldn't be that simple for Kael to meet Cobra.

Crocodile wanted to see if Kael would lay hands on these poor Rebel Army members who were 'forced to rebel by the King.' Would Kael, this Goa Emperor, stain his hands with the blood of Alabasta's common people? Crocodile revealed a wanton smile. He knew that although these rebels were attacking the capital Alubarna, King Cobra still felt that these citizens were merely misguided and had not resorted to total annihilation, still hoping to persuade the Rebel Army. This benevolent King still regarded these Rebel Army members as his own citizens. If Kael eliminated a portion of the Rebel Army, even if only tens of thousands, who knew if this benevolent King Cobra would feel that Kael had massacred his citizens? Would Cobra still meet Kael and form any cooperation? Crocodile enjoyed playing with human nature like this.

As the 9 Chief Commanders and 14 Executive Commanders received their mission from the Vice President, they mobilized all their forces. Under the propaganda of Baroque Works' 200 Billion Elders and 1.8 Billion Elders, the rumor that King Cobra would ally with the tyrannical East Blue Overlord to crush the uprising quickly spread among the hundreds of thousands of Rebel Army members. Soon, guided by Baroque Works spies, a Rebel Army force of over a hundred thousand soldiers left the main Rebel Army to eliminate the Goa fleet that intended to help the tyrant Cobra. They would not allow outsiders to help Cobra, this tyrannical Rain-Stealing King. It was Cobra who had taken all the rain from other cities to the capital Alubarna, causing other cities in Alabasta to become dry and dilapidated. Now, Kael, this Goa Emperor, was oblivious to right and wrong and even wanted to help the tyrant Cobra; they must drive them away, or even kill them.

All of this was proceeding according to Crocodile's plan.

Alabasta's City of Dreams, Rainbase, a prosperous city that never lacked rain. In this city, ruled by the kingdom's hero and Shichibukai, Crocodile, an extremely luxurious casino named Rain Dinners Casino was located in the heart of the city. As other cities in Alabasta became increasingly dry, countless nobles and wealthy individuals moved either to the capital Alubarna or to Rainbase. This made Rainbase's prosperity rival that of Alubarna, the thousand-year-old capital. This city not only had abundant rain and immense prosperity but also Crocodile's protection, making it even more suitable for the extravagant lives of the wealthy. Aside from the capital Alubarna, Rainbase, established some 20 years ago, was the most prosperous city in Alabasta.

In the lavish top-floor office of the Rain Dinners Casino, Crocodile, biting a cigar, looked in a certain direction and showed a disdainful smile. "East Blue Overlord, Exiled Emperor, just a few ships, and you think you can interfere with a war I've been planning for over a decade?"

"First, deal with these hundred thousand Rebel Army members properly."

This insidious and ruthless Crocodile did not consider these 'uprising forces' as people at all. Everyone was just his pawn, including these so-called subordinates of Baroque Works. If the hundred thousand Rebel Army members couldn't stop Kael, then he would mobilize hundreds of thousands more to deal with him. Crocodile didn't believe that Kael could eliminate hundreds of thousands of Rebel Army members. He didn't really understand Kael's character, but he understood Cobra's. He could guarantee that as long as Kael eliminated this current Rebel Army—let alone casualties of over a hundred thousand, even casualties of tens of thousands—this benevolent King would probably not be willing to see Kael again. With Alubarna's 600,000 well-equipped King's Army, if Cobra refused Kael entry to the capital for a meeting, would Kael really be able to fight his way into the capital? Once Kael left Alabasta dejectedly, Crocodile would slowly kill Cobra, this 'benevolent King.'

Crocodile admitted that the One Emperor Two Marquises of the Goa Empire were indeed very strong, being able to suppress the North Blue Overlord and West Blue Twin Heroes. But sometimes, brains are more useful than strength. Whether the hundred thousand Rebel Army members drove away the Goa fleet, or Kael led his strong individuals to defeat these Rebel Army members, Crocodile's goal would be achieved. He wouldn't need to make a move, and Kael would return empty-handed, leaving this desert kingdom dejectedly.

However, what Crocodile didn't expect was that Kael didn't go to Alubarna to find King Cobra immediately, but instead planned to go directly to his old lair, the Rain Dinners Casino, to make money. He also didn't expect that Kael's warship could float and fly. These Rebel Army members couldn't touch or stop Kael and his group at all.

When the Goa fleet approached the Alabasta coast, preparing to enter the port, Kael, Issho, and Aramaki's Observation Haki had already detected the dense Rebel Army.

"I didn't expect Alabasta's rebellion to be so severe; they even occupied the port."

Issho's Observation Haki was the strongest; he discovered that these Rebel Army members numbered over a hundred thousand, and most of them were frail civilians. This made him feel quite unbearable.

"It seems our Crocodile has made his move."

Kael stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the ragged 'rebel soldiers' in the port city, feeling quite surprised. Why were these Rebel Army members blocking them at the port instead of surrounding the capital Alubarna? However, Kael soon realized that this was likely Crocodile's doing.

"Your Majesty, should we charge directly?"

Aramaki didn't put these Rebel Army members in his eyes. Even with over a hundred thousand troops, let alone Kael's Haoshoku Haki being able to stun most of the weak soldiers. Even if Kael didn't act, given Aramaki some time, he could 'eat up' all these Rebel Army members himself. Or let Issho launch a few meteorites, directly clearing the area with one click. However, seeing Issho's good-natured appearance, this guy probably wouldn't drop meteorites on civilians.

"Charging in would just be playing into Crocodile's chess game."

Kael chuckled softly. In this world full of muscle-headed individuals, Crocodile's intelligence was already considered top-tier, but in Kael's eyes, it was just so-so. "He wants to play chess with me, but I refuse; I'll just smash him with the chessboard."

Kael, who commanded two Admirals, Aramaki and Issho, had no time to play games with Crocodile. He wanted to tell Crocodile that in the face of absolute strength, all conspiracies and tricks are mere bubbles.

"Issho, take off!"

"Tashigi, you go too this time. I'll help you earn merits. Even if you can't be promoted to Rear Admiral this time, you can at least be promoted to Commodore."