The sudden appearance and departure of the Arrancar cast a shadow over everyone aboard the ship, but the bonfire party celebrating Chopper temporarily joining the crew went ahead as usual.
Everyone was still quite happy during the party, and after setting their goal, the group headed toward Alabasta with even greater determination and speed.
The closer they drew to Alabasta, the more clearly they could sense the Cartel's presence.
While at sea, they encountered quite a few Cartel ships traveling back and forth. Thanks to the Going Merry, however, they easily avoided them.
"If we go a little farther, we should reach a Sea Train transfer station."
That day, after estimating their distance and studying the surrounding terrain, Igaram came out and spoke to Nami while looking over the sea.
After Chopper's treatment, his body had mostly recovered.
"A Sea Train..."
Hearing those words, Nami could not help becoming serious.
While inside Laboon's stomach, she had heard about Sea Trains from Igaram. They were trains capable of traveling across the sea, greatly improving transportation.
It should have been something beneficial to every country and its people, but with the Cartel's rise, they gradually took control of the Sea Trains and turned them into a means of transporting troops, using them to launch large-scale wars against multiple countries.
The only reason the Cartel had not invaded the Drum Kingdom was that its environment was so hostile that humans could hardly survive there. The Ice Witch's extremely harsh curse kept the Cartel outside, which could be considered a positive contribution in its own way.
The station ahead was a Sea Train transfer station, which meant it would certainly have a large Cartel garrison. They definitely would not be able to bluff their way through as easily as before.
Places like this were essentially the Cartel's lifeline. It was only because they controlled the Sea Trains that the Cartel had been able to develop so rapidly, so the defenses at such locations were bound to be extremely tight.
"It doesn't matter. We can just punch the Cartel people away."
Luffy had overheard Igaram and came over from the side to speak.
Igaram hurriedly shook his head. "Wouldn't that be drawing attention to ourselves? If the Cartel in Alabasta learns that the station has been attacked, they'll become extremely vigilant. That would be very bad for our plans!"
"You really should be more cautious!" Nami said irritably. "They're a military organization capable of fighting the World Government. Do you think you can challenge them by yourself?"
Luffy curled his lip. Based only on what he had heard, he did not think the Cartel sounded particularly formidable.
Of everyone aboard, Igaram was certainly the person who understood the Cartel best and feared it most. He did not want the Straw Hat Pirates, the reinforcements he had brought in, to clash with the Cartel so soon. That would inevitably alert them.
Compared with dealing with the Cartel troops guarding the transfer station, breaking the siege around the royal city was obviously more important. As long as they eliminated the Cartel army surrounding Alubarna, Alabasta would have a chance to recover.
He had already thought of a plan, so he said to Nami, "Lower the pirate flag later. We'll replace it with a Church flag."
"The Church?!"
Nami was not the only one listening. The others, who had been slacking off nearby, pricked up their ears and looked at Igaram curiously.
"No way! We're pirates! How can we hang a Church flag?" Luffy protested, but Nami punched him and knocked him back down.
Nami asked, "Why do we need to hang a Church flag?"
Did the Cartel members worship a religion too?
Well, it was not impossible. After all, the Cartel's people had originally been poor and downtrodden. They needed spiritual support as well, so believing in the Cross Church did not seem impossible.
Igaram answered, "Just as you suspect, most people in the Cartel also believe in the Cross Church. Since a considerable number of Cartel members are believers, the Cross Church has never openly expressed hostility toward the Cartel. In fact, when the Cartel first began to rise, the Cross Church even supplied some civilians with provisions."
"Therefore, only Church ships can travel freely through Cartel territory. The Cartel members don't rob such ships, just as they never interfere with the large quantities of supplies the Cross Church transports to the Drum Kingdom every month."
"Then they must be good people after all." Luffy was an all-or-nothing kind of person. Hearing this, he immediately slapped one fist into his other palm.
Igaram sighed. "Everyone is only trying to survive. The king can understand why they did such things for the sake of survival, but by now they have twisted their original wish. They have launched wars against other countries without restraint, turning their guns on every royal family and noble house, and even on everyone who was capable of living a happy life. They have dragged nearly half of the Grand Line into an abyss of war."
"Ultimately, this is the World Government's problem, isn't it?" Ben Tennyson said disdainfully. "They leave people unable to eat their fill or survive, so people will make sure they can't rest easy either. The World Government gave people lives filled with suffering, so the people will destroy the government's happiness completely."
Igaram gave a bitter smile. All he could say was, "Regardless, there must be countless innocent people caught up in this."
"There isn't much that can be done about that. People aren't machines, so it's impossible to calculate every single factor with precision." Ben Tennyson shrugged.
"This world is always complicated. We can't make it perfect."
"Perfect..." Luffy slowly raised his head. It had been a long time since he had seriously considered a conversation like the one between Igaram and Ben Tennyson.
"There are countless slaves in this world. They aren't even treated as human beings, yet every one of them longs for freedom. Many people's happiness depends on those slaves, and there are even some fat pigs who can accomplish nothing at all without them."
Ben Tennyson shook his head as he spoke. "I think the Cartel's existence is a good thing. At the very least, it makes those greedy people restrain themselves a little and teaches them that if they go too far, a group of people will point guns at them."
Igaram said nothing more and merely smiled bitterly.
What else could he say?
In truth, he could not say anything at all.
Everyone aboard the ship was an ordinary civilian. Naturally, their way of thinking and their experience were much the same as those of ordinary people. As long as someone was not sitting on the nobles' side of the table, most people would probably find Ben Tennyson's words reasonable.
But Igaram was ultimately the captain of the royal guard. Even though Alabasta's royal family was benevolent, they were still not ordinary civilians.
"All right, let's talk less about this kind of thing." As a woman, Nami was more sensitive to such matters, and she spoke up at that moment.
"We don't know how things are in other places, but Alabasta itself should be fine. Since we promised Dr. Kureha, we still have to lift the siege around Alubarna. We also have to rescue the princess they captured."
They had not reached Alabasta yet, but after speaking with Igaram over the past few days, she had gained some understanding of the country. It was only one side of the story, but they could always ask around after arriving in Alabasta.
"What we need to do now is replace the pirate flag."
Nami changed the subject. "We'll put up the Cross Church's flag, and our own clothes need to resemble those of priests and nuns as well."
"Leave that to me." Igaram raised a hand. "Since I have had to disguise myself as a clergyman when going out to sea, I know a thing or two about making their clothes."
Nami was very satisfied. This would give them even more confidence in the plan.
No one else objected either. Fighting at sea was simply too troublesome. Even though only Chopper and Luffy among them had eaten Devil Fruits, the others were not particularly skilled at naval combat either.
The Cartel's firepower could stand against the World Government, so it certainly had powerful weapons such as aircraft and artillery. One mistake could sink the ship. That would remain true even with the Going Merry being powered by two Shikon Jewel fragments.
Therefore, fighting on land would be best. At sea, it was better to focus on sailing properly.
Before long, everyone changed into clerical clothing. The Straw Hat Pirates' flag was put away and replaced with a religious flag bearing a cross.
The entire Going Merry suddenly looked somewhat holy.
Not long after changing, they sailed near the Sea Train transfer station. As expected, there were many ships in the area, all carrying Cartel members armed with firearms. They wore matching uniforms and appeared to be extremely well equipped.
"Who are you?"
The Going Merry immediately attracted the Cartel soldiers' attention when it appeared. Several ships soon approached, their guns trained on everyone aboard. Nami hurriedly said, "We're from the Drum Kingdom. Our supplies have recently run short, so we can only return to headquarters to request more supplies first!"
"The Drum Kingdom?" The soldiers were suspicious. They looked over everyone aboard, but when they saw Zoro carrying swords, they paused before waving a hand. "Leave immediately. If you're not gone within three minutes, we'll open fire!"
"Understood! We'll leave right away!" Nami had not expected them to be so easy to deal with. She quickly took the helm and steered away. The Going Merry had already been modified with Shikon Jewel fragments and was incredibly fast. At full speed, it soon crossed the entire area.
"What? We got through that easily?" Luffy said, sounding disappointed.
"If we hadn't been flying the Cross flag, the Going Merry would have been bombarded the moment it appeared." Igaram spoke with lingering fear, as if he had personally experienced something like that.
"Still, they were strangely lax." Nami could not help saying, "They didn't verify our identities at all. I had already prepared an entire explanation."
"Actually, it makes sense. As long as we aren't here to attack the station, they have no reason to make things difficult for us," Igaram explained. "The Cartel's corruption lies with its upper ranks. Not long ago, many of those at the bottom were farmers who had just put down their tools or impoverished people who could no longer survive. They follow the orders from above, but in the end, they aren't like professionally trained soldiers."
"Especially since they realized that we weren't people to be trifled with," Ben Tennyson said at that moment. "Someone like Big Brother Zoro is obviously an expert at a glance. As long as we aren't here to attack the station, they probably don't want a conflict with us either."
Zoro was still training. He certainly looked like the most intimidating person among them, with three swords at his side, each of which appeared extraordinary.
"Looks like they are pretty smart after all." Nami was in a good mood. She had not expected them to bluff their way through so easily.
What they did not know was that the soldier who had let them leave had already called someone as soon as they passed through. "Reporting to the officer, the target is heading toward Alabasta!"
A man's voice came from the other end of the phone. "Good. Follow them discreetly and record their position at all times."
"Yes, sir!" the soldier replied loudly.
On the other end of the call was a handsome man in a military uniform with short black hair. He looked to be around forty years old, wore black leather gloves, and had sharp eyes.
After hanging up, he said to the man standing before him, "He will reach Alabasta soon. The Cartel will cooperate with you when the time comes."
"As expected of Anzu Seifer, the leader of the Cartel. Your efficiency is impressive." Rob Lucci applauded lightly, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Don't worry. The weapons Wano Country promised you will be transported here soon. They include the latest combat weapons we have developed."
"The latest weapons you developed? Tanks? Or aircraft?" the man named Anzu Seifer asked calmly.
"Heh..." Lucci chuckled softly. "How could tanks and aircraft be called the latest combat weapons we have developed? Just wait. The new weapons will arrive in Alabasta within three days at most. Once equipped with them, the Cartel will sweep across the surrounding countries."
Anzu Seifer nodded. "We trust Wano Country's weapons. In that case, let us wish ourselves a pleasant cooperation in advance."
"Of course." Rob Lucci nodded. After retreating from the East Blue to the first half of the Grand Line, he was naturally still scheming to obtain the Shikon Jewel fragments aboard Luffy's ship.
However, making a personal move would have been too conspicuous, so he had thought of using the Cartel's power instead.
The Cartel already cooperated with Wano Country, and many of its weapons and pieces of equipment were acquired through trade with Wano Country. Borrowing their power to deal with the Straw Hat Pirates could not have been more suitable.
Or rather, Wano Country traded weapons with many forces throughout the world, even the World Government.
Wano Country was the world's largest arms dealer, and it had already formed a huge trading network.
There was nothing they could do about it. Wano Country's weapons and equipment were simply the best, and even its discarded equipment was enough to attract large numbers of buyers.
After discussing a few more details with the Cartel, Lucci disappeared.
As a top-level agent, Rob Lucci would not remain out in the open for long.
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