The weather on the high seas gradually stabilized.
Will and his crew sailed swiftly, following behind a sea turtle.
Along the way, they encountered a sea beast that leaped out from the ocean. Its upper body resembled a cat, while its lower half was that of a fish.
Through Vivi's introduction, the crew learned that this creature was called a "Sea Cat," considered a sacred animal in the region. Spotting a Sea Cat also signified that they had officially entered the waters near Alabasta.
As they approached the coastline, the sea turtle guiding them didn't head toward the shore. Instead, it continued swimming toward a wide river mouth nearby.
"Don't we need to dock near the port?" Nami asked curiously, tilting her head. "Can this river really take us straight to Rain Dinners?"
Before Robin could respond, Vivi eagerly explained, "This river is called the Sandora River. It does lead directly to Rain Dinners. It's also the fastest route to the kingdom's capital, Alubarna. There are two port cities near this coast: the 'Perfume City' Rapeseed and… the former 'Oasis City' Erumalu. Traveling by land would be much slower than by water."
Karina nodded thoughtfully, piecing it together. "So, Rain Dinners and Alubarna are located on opposite banks of the Sandora River, right?"
"Exactly," Robin replied with a smile, resting her chin on one hand. "If you're planning to escort Princess Vivi back to Alubarna, there's no need to disembark at Rain Dinners. You can just head straight to the opposite bank. If you're unsure of the route, Banchi—the sea turtle—can guide you."
Will nodded in agreement. "Sounds good. Let's do it."
Nami, Vivi, and the others had no objections.
The ship continued along the wide Sandora River, heading deeper into the inland of Sandy Island. After several hours, the ship, still following the sea turtle Banchi, temporarily pulled ashore.
Will and Robin disembarked, stepping onto the sandy ground. Will scanned the surroundings, but there was no sign of a city—just an endless expanse of desert stretching out before them.
"Is Rain Dinners really in a place like this?" Nami asked skeptically, eyeing the barren landscape.
Robin, seemingly expecting this reaction, turned with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Banchi never leads us astray." She pointed ahead, clearly familiar with the area. "Once we cross that sand dune, you'll see a small town. There, you can find animals called Moving Crabs. They'll take you across the desert to Rain Dinners in no time."
Her clear explanation eased the crew's doubts.
"Alright, let's get moving," Will said, not questioning Robin's guidance. He gave a casual wave to the group.
"Yes, Boss," Robin replied with a smile, adjusting her hat before taking the lead.
"Wait, Will!" Karina suddenly called out, tossing something from the ship. "Take this with you."
Will caught it—a Den Den Mushi. He immediately understood her intent and gave a nod without saying much. "Take care of Vivi," he said, tucking the Den Den Mushi away before turning to follow Robin.
"Let's head to the kingdom's capital, Alubarna!" Nami declared, turning to the others as Will and Robin disappeared beyond the dunes.
"Mm!" Vivi nodded eagerly.
Karina stepped to the bow of the ship and called out to the sea turtle in the water. "Take us to Alubarna, Banchi!"
"Yes," the turtle responded with surprising intelligence, shifting its body to swim toward the opposite bank of the Sandora River. Nami and the others quickly steered the ship to follow.
Meanwhile, Will and Robin, led by the latter, climbed over several sand dunes. Soon, they arrived at a bustling little town that resembled a marketplace. People milled about, and vendors lined the streets, selling all sorts of goods.
Ignoring the lively scene, Will and Robin headed straight to a place where they could rent riding animals. They mounted a giant crab and continued their journey deeper into the desert.
After some time, Will broke the silence. "Here, you hold onto this. Contact Karina and the others if anything comes up." He pulled out the Den Den Mushi and tossed it to Robin.
Robin caught it instinctively, her eyes flickering with surprise. "Why give it to me?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.
"I'm too lazy to carry it," Will said casually, then added after a moment's thought, "Besides, if I keep it, this little guy probably won't survive if a fight breaks out."
Robin fell silent for a few seconds before her curiosity got the better of her. "Aren't you worried I might use this Den Den Mushi to lie to your crew about your situation? Or even lead them into danger?"
With her abilities, she could easily do so. And Will must have noticed how decisively she betrayed Crocodile back on the ship. So why would he trust her with something as important as the crew's communication line?
But Will, fully aware of her character and confident in his own strength, wasn't fazed. "I don't think you'd do that," he said nonchalantly. "Call it a gut feeling."
Robin's gaze wavered, but she didn't press further. She tucked the Den Den Mushi away silently and turned to stare at the endless desert, lost in her thoughts.
After hours of trekking, they finally reached their destination: the gambling city of Rain Dinners.
Will hopped off the giant crab, hands in his pockets, and surveyed the bustling city with curiosity. Compared to the small town they'd passed through, this place was on another level. The streets were alive with people, lined with all sorts of shops, including several large casinos and hotels catering to travelers. Various animals shuffled through the crowds, transporting goods and people alike, adding to the city's vibrant energy.
To an outsider, Rain Dinners might easily be mistaken for the capital of Alabasta.
"This is Rain Dinners, the 'City of Dreams,'" Robin said, stepping up beside Will with a smile, gesturing like a tour guide. "It's also the headquarters of Baroque Works. With all the casinos here, many call it the 'City of Gambles.'