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"Hello, sir. I am King Cobra of Alabasta. What brings you to the palace?"
Cobra couldn't help but tread carefully. The man before him had Crocodile—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—under his foot. Such a powerful individual was not someone they could afford to offend.
"King Cobra, I need your assistance with something. Consider this man my gift to you, a token of my sincerity."
With that, Allen kicked Crocodile like a ball, sending him rolling to Cobra's feet.
"This... I'm not sure what you mean?"
Cobra looked down, his heart pounding. Was this really Crocodile, the so-called hero of Alabasta, the mastermind Vivi had been investigating, and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?
The once-slicked-back hair was now disheveled, covered in sand. His golden hook arm was gone, and though Robin had bandaged the wound, it still bled from Allen's kick. One of his legs was twisted at an unnatural angle.
Even the most hardened criminals in Alabasta's prisons weren't in such a pitiful state!
"I'd like the lady beside me to take a look at Alabasta's Poneglyph. Please lead the way."
At Allen's words, Cobra's face paled, his expression one of disbelief.
Although the Nefertari family had guarded the Poneglyph for generations, this was a closely guarded secret. How did the man before him know about it?
"I'm very sorry..."
Cobra instinctively wanted to refuse, but he was interrupted by a shout.
"Your Majesty, this is a new bounty poster from the World Government. Would you like to take a look?"
Bell, the captain of the royal guards, rushed up from behind Cobra, his face filled with fear as he stole a glance at Allen standing at the door.
Cobra took the bounty poster from Bell, his hands trembling slightly.
The poster depicted a man with his upper body bare, standing amidst the ruins of a smoking battlefield. Allen glanced at it casually, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
He recognized the photo—it had been taken during the destruction of the Endless War.
Cobra's eyes widened as he looked at the bounty, then back at Allen, then at the poster again.
"Are you... Mr. Allen?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
With Allen's confirmation, Cobra's hands shook, and the bounty poster slipped from his grasp. Robin bent down to pick it up, her eyes widening as she read the details.
"Al... Allen, this bounty poster... it's yours. Your bounty is..."
Allen raised an eyebrow, his lips curling in disdain.
"Still the same as before. It seems that old man Garp isn't worth much. Don't worry, I'll take you to a big event soon. Your bounty will skyrocket after that."
"That's not the point! Your bounty is... 5.5 billion Berries!"
The room fell silent. Everyone at the palace gates stared in shock.
5.5 billion Berries?
If they remembered correctly, that was the same bounty as the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!
"King Cobra, the bounty is irrelevant. Let's get to the matter at hand. Take my companion to see the Poneglyph."
Allen was unfazed by their stunned expressions. Thirty years ago, such bounties weren't uncommon in the New World. It didn't faze him in the slightest.
"Sir Allen, why don't you come with me to the palace to rest for a while?"
Without directly answering Allen's request, Cobra respectfully invited Allen and Robin into the palace. As for Crocodile, guards quickly arrived with Seastone cuffs and hauled him away.
The two didn't refuse. Allen sampled the food and fruits brought by the maids, then waved his hand casually.
"I'm fine here. Robin, go with King Cobra to see the Poneglyph."
"Yes."
After learning of Allen's bounty, Robin felt completely at ease. Whether it was Aokiji or CP9, she no longer felt worried.
If this man couldn't protect her, then she might as well accept her fate.
"Sir Allen, I don't know how you learned about the Poneglyph in Alabasta, but this is a secret of the Nefertari family..."
"I don't want to hear excuses. I know it's in the palace basement. Either you take Robin down there now, or I'll tear this palace apart and find it myself."
Allen's eyes remained fixed on the dining table, but his words sent a chill through Cobra.
If even Crocodile couldn't stand against him, what chance did Alabasta have against a pirate with a 5.5 billion Berry bounty?
If Allen wasn't bluffing, he might very well carry out his threat.
And... the Poneglyph was indeed beneath the palace. How had Allen uncovered such a secret?
"Father! Father! I heard Crocodile was captured!"
A figure burst into the room, her blue hair disheveled and her eyes wide with excitement. Despite the dust covering her, her noble bearing was unmistakable.
"Vivi, you're back?"
Cobra was momentarily stunned before rushing to greet her.
"This is Sir Allen. He's the one who captured Crocodile. He's now locked up in our prison."
"Thank you, Sir Allen!"
Vivi was still catching her breath. When she'd heard in Rainbase that Crocodile had been captured and taken to the capital, she'd rushed back to confirm the news.
Now, with Cobra's confirmation, she felt a wave of relief.
However, when she noticed Robin standing beside Allen, Vivi's expression faltered. But she quickly swallowed her questions.
As long as Crocodile was defeated, that was all that mattered. The rest could wait.
Seeing Vivi's delicate features and her status as the sole heir to Alabasta, Allen felt a sudden urge to claim her.
While he hadn't collected Vivi figurines in his past life, collecting the real thing now wasn't out of the question.
"King Cobra, I may need to amend my earlier statement. Not only does Robin need to see the Poneglyph, but Princess Vivi will also be coming with me. I require a qualified maid on my ship."
? ? ?
The room fell silent, everyone staring at Allen in stunned disbelief.
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