"Bogey, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and take it back!"
"What kind of adjutant are you? Don't you even know to remind me?"
"I'm getting old—what, are you getting old too?"
Still in shock, Bogey felt completely wronged.
"…Didn't you tell them to leave?"
But the moment Kane shot him a glance, he immediately shut up.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Kane!"
He quickly stepped forward and removed the Seastone cuffs from Crocodile.
Faced with Crocodile's murderous glare—
Bogey didn't feel the slightest fear.
That—
Was the confidence Kane gave him.
Mr. 1 didn't linger any longer—
He left immediately.
Watching Crocodile leave—
Kane fell into thought.
Originally—
He planned to wait for the Straw Hat crew to arrive—
Let them grow a bit—
Then harvest the rewards later.
That way—
He wouldn't even need to lift a finger—
And could comfortably rake in the profits.
But Crocodile…
Had pissed him off.
In that case—
He might as well do it himself.
And besides—
Baroque Works was rich.
In less than twenty minutes—
They had already gathered 2 billion Beli.
As expected—
The organization that controlled the largest entertainment network in Alabasta—
Was loaded.
But work was work—
And you don't work for free.
The "labor fee" had to be reimbursed.
At this moment—
The kingdom army captain spoke urgently:
"Captain Bogey!"
"The information you mentioned about Crocodile—"
"Is it true?"
"Can you hand over those pirates to us?"
"That information is extremely important to us—please!"
Kane suddenly interrupted:
"That doesn't matter anymore."
"Take me to meet your king."
The captain froze.
"…Vice Admiral, you want to meet His Majesty?"
"That's right."
"It's about Baroque Works."
"Which direction is your capital?"
Though confused—
The captain knew some things were above his level.
He pointed in a direction.
"From here, it'll take about two days."
"Oh? I see."
"Alright—let me make some arrangements."
"Bogey."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
"You stay here with the troops."
"I'll head to the capital."
"Deal with those pirates."
"And that injured kid—"
"Give him an extra 10 million Beli this time."
The injured Marine was stunned.
"Vice Admiral… I don't need that much!"
"What I got before was already enough!"
"Cut the nonsense."
"If I give it to you, take it."
The Marine froze—
Then tears streamed down his face.
"Vice Admiral Kane!!"
The surrounding Marines looked at Kane—
Eyes filled with fervent admiration.
Kane couldn't be bothered.
Cry if you want.
"Alright."
"Let's go."
The captain blinked.
"…Go?"
"Yeah."
"I'll take you to your king."
"You can explain everything yourself."
The captain quickly understood—
And nodded.
He was about to assemble his troops—
But Kane stopped him.
"Tell your men to return on their own."
"You come with me first."
"It'll be faster."
Bringing him along—
Would save a lot of explanations.
"…Huh?"
The next moment—
Kane transformed.
A massive dragon—
Over twenty meters long—
Appeared instantly.
The scene—
Left everyone completely stunned.
Even the Marines—
Were shocked.
Because this was the first time—
They had seen this form.
Under the captain's terrified gaze—
Kane grabbed him with one claw—
Spread his wings—
And vanished into the sky.
Only stunned onlookers remained below.
High in the sky—
The captain was utterly terrified—
Screaming nonstop.
"Can you stop yelling?"
"I'm not doing anything to you."
"AHHH—!!"
"Keep screaming and I'll drop you."
Silence.
The screaming stopped instantly.
A two-day journey—
Was reduced to a short flight.
### Alabasta Royal Capital
"Look!"
"What is that?!"
Everyone who saw it—
Stared with mouths wide open.
A massive crimson dragon—
Soared across the sky—
And descended into the royal palace.
Mid-air—
Kane had already returned to human form—
Still holding the captain.
He landed.
The palace guards panicked—
Immediately surrounding them.
"Who are you?!"
"Why are you trespassing in the palace?!"
"Wait—look!"
"Isn't that the captain?!"
"Didn't he go to suppress pirates?"
"…That uniform—he's a Marine."
Hearing that—
The guards relaxed slightly.
If he was a Marine—
There shouldn't be a problem.
But still—
Why did he arrive like that?
And what was that dragon just now?
Kane had no intention of explaining.
"Move these people aside."
"I'm not some zoo animal."
The captain snapped back to his senses—
Quickly restoring order.
Soon—
He led Kane to meet the king.
Not long after—
They arrived at a side hall—
Where they met the ruler of Alabasta:
Nefertari Cobra.
Kane looked at him with curiosity.
Back then—
Why did the Nefertari family choose to stay here?
Why abandon the Celestial Dragons' position?
Though the Celestial Dragons were despicable—
They still stood at the very top of the world.
That decision—
Required immense courage.
Cobra, meanwhile—
Was also observing Kane.
A dragon descending into the palace—
Only to turn out to be a Marine?
He was still a bit stunned.
But he was, after all, a king.
"Vice Admiral…"
"What brings you here?"
Kane smiled faintly.
"My matter can wait."
"Let him report first."
Cobra nodded—
Looking at the captain.
As king—
He cared deeply about pirate-related matters.
After all—
Protecting his people was his duty.
"What happened?"
"Your Majesty…"
"When we arrived, the pirates had already been subdued by the Marines led by the Vice Admiral…"
"But something unusual occurred…"
"What?"
The captain then recounted everything in detail.
From confusion—
To anger—
To shock—
Cobra's expression changed continuously.
Then—
He fell into silence.
"Alright."
"You may leave."
"I have something to discuss with your king."
Kane said calmly.
The captain didn't move—
Instead, he looked at Cobra.
"You may go."
"I'll speak with the Vice Admiral."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
He left immediately.
Kane didn't mind.
After all—
This was their territory.
Once only the two remained—
Cobra spoke:
"Vice Admiral…"
"Now you may tell me—"
"What this is about?"
Kane smiled.
"Simple."
"You pay."
"I provide the muscle."
"I'll help you solve your country's problems."
Cobra froze.
"…What do you mean?"
Kane blinked.
Was this guy pretending not to understand—
Or did he really not get it?
But seeing the confusion on Cobra's face—
Kane decided to be patient.
"Your country's current situation."
"The rebellion."
"And the drought."
At the mention of rebellion—
Cobra remained calm.
But when he heard—
Drought—
His expression changed instantly.
"…Please."
"Explain in detail."
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