The early sun climbed over the sand dunes, its golden morning light spilling across the entire desert.
This cold desert was once again enveloped in heat.
Yuba.
In just one night, the entire city seemed to have emptied.
At this moment, the city was left with only the scent of old age and a few stray cats.
In fact, last night, while Kong Tai and the others were sound asleep, Kousha had led the rebel army and departed for Katlas, a port city near Nanohana.
Katlas, a famous perfume production site in Alabasta, was also a coastal city. Although it wasn't a port city for Alabasta like Nanohana, it had gathered a large portion of the country's population displaced by the drought.
Furthermore, its proximity to the port of Nanohana meant they didn't have to worry too much about the drought.
Thus, after discussions between Kousha and his companions, they unanimously decided to relocate to Katlas, a city deemed particularly suitable as their rebel army's base.
Early in the morning.
After washing up and having a simple meal, Kong Tai and the others bid farewell to Doto and headed towards Rainbase.
Kong Tai didn't have many thoughts about the deserted city behind them or about Kousha.
He wondered if Kousha could reach Katlas before the heavy rain began.
With so many people, he figured they probably wouldn't make it.
Perhaps they would be scattered by the rain along the way. He wondered what their expressions would be like then.
It would likely be quite amusing.
But that wasn't Kong Tai's concern. He was currently lying on the back of a camel, gazing at the sun in the sky, pondering what Crocodile had prepared for his arrival.
He hoped it wouldn't be too boring.
They hadn't concealed their movements upon arriving on the island; they had paraded openly, and their target was clear: Rainbase.
Given the density of Baroque Works personnel in Alabasta, Crocodile must have known of his arrival.
Knowing his destination, Crocodile, given his personality, wouldn't run.
After all, in his youth, he had been an equal match for Barrett and had challenged Whitebeard without dying.
If he were to flee without even meeting this junior, he wouldn't be considered a strong person, nor would he possess the ambition to become Pirate King. kanδん
In fact, with the speed of the camels, they should have reached Rainbase yesterday, but he hadn't done so.
On one hand, he wanted to properly admire the desert scenery. On the other, he wanted to give Crocodile more time to prepare.
He intended to eliminate all the Baroque Works personnel on the island in one go. As for those off the island, that wasn't his concern.
They were just weaklings, after all; he couldn't possibly seek them out specifically.
It was just their good luck that they weren't on the island.
As for the people on the island, they could only count themselves unlucky.
...
Rain Dinners.
The underground hall.
This time, it wasn't two people, but four, seated around a long conference table.
They were:
Mikita, who appeared to be a stylish and beautiful woman, but showed no hesitation when killing. She was a young girl who often spoke with exaggerated laughter.
She was a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user, able to freely change her weight, from 1kg to 10,000kg.
She looked at the afro-haired beauty opposite her and laughed loudly, "Bora, I didn't expect you to be Miss Doublefinger!"
Bora, the owner of the Spider-Man Cafe, was a user of the Thorn-Thorn Fruit. Her entire body could become incredibly sharp, easily piercing stone walls. By inserting thorns into the acupuncture points on her arm, she could become immensely strong.
She was a voluptuous beauty with a mass of dark blue afro hair.
Bora raised the cigarette she was holding, bit down on the mouthpiece, took a deep drag, and then looked up at Mikita, smiling, "I never denied that I was part of Baroque Works!"
At this moment, Mr. 5, sitting to Mikita's left and dressed like a rock singer, spoke up, "We all knew you were one of us, we just didn't expect you to be Miss Doublefinger."
Mr. 5, real name Jem, was a Super Type Bom-Bom Fruit user.
Any part of his body could explode, including his expelled boogers. Even the air he exhaled could be used as an explosive. He was also immune to gunpowder and explosive attacks.
"Haha!!"
Bora chuckled, holding her cigarette, rotating her head, and scanning the conference room, "I wonder what matter required us to be summoned so urgently."
Upon hearing Bora's words, everyone present wore serious expressions.
This was the first time they had come to this place since joining Baroque Works.
Just then, a light chuckle echoed from the giant staircase at the back of the room.
"Hmm! Heh heh, it seems you've all arrived quite quickly!"
Hearing the voice, everyone quickly turned their heads, looking at Robin on the staircase.
"Miss All Sunday."
At this moment, Mr. 1, Daz Bones, who always wore a serious expression and rarely smiled, with his arms crossed, glanced at Robin and asked, "Miss All Sunday, what are we summoned here for?"
"No rush."
Robin waved her hand, walking as she spoke, "You must be tired from your long journey. Thank you all for being here. Welcome to this city where everyone dreams of getting rich overnight through gambling, the dream city 'Rainbase'."
Saying this, she stopped walking, spread her arms, and looked at everyone with a smile, "Welcome to the grandest casino, 'Rain Dinners'."
"Enough with the pleasantries, Miss All Sunday."
Daz Bones looked at Robin, his slender eyebrows forming a straight line.
This man was the strongest in Baroque Works besides the President. Before joining Baroque Works, he was a renowned assassin in the West Blue, known as "The Killer," Daz Bones.
He was a user of the Super Type Chop-Chop Fruit, a blade-person, capable of transforming any part of his body into a blade at will, giving ordinary punches and kicks the power of blades.
Since his entire body was made of blades, his swordsmanship didn't distinguish between blade edge and blade back.
Furthermore, his blade-like physique, including his internal organs, was like actual steel. Thus, he was not only impervious to blades and guns, but most physical attacks were completely ineffective against his body. Bullets and even ordinary cannonballs couldn't affect him.
Therefore, normal blunt force attacks were useless against him.
Only a swordsman who had truly comprehended the intent of cutting steel, capable of truly cutting or piercing steel, could harm him.