"Kuhahahahaha! A savior? This is clearly a destroyer!"
Crocodile's sinister laughter echoed across the desert winds as King Cobra stared at Shirogai in disbelief.
"Could everything he said… be true?"
Shirogai blinked with a faint, amused expression. "Don't worry, I won't destroy Alubarna," he said softly.
But Cobra, eyeing the towering sandstorm and the dozens of massive tornadoes closing in from the horizon, trembled. "But these sandstorms and tornadoes… they'll swallow the capital whole."
Shirogai clenched his hand. The distant storm momentarily halted midair. With a faint smirk, he replied, "What I meant was, I won't completely destroy Alubarna."
Cobra froze. "So you really do plan to destroy this place…?"
Shirogai gave no answer—only a knowing look aimed at Crocodile.
"Hmph…"
Crocodile, watching Shirogai closely, narrowed his eyes. What is this monster planning? Destroying Alubarna… is he really trying to pin this all on me?
Dark suspicion grew in his chest. "You're using the Sand-Sand Fruit's power to create these sandstorms and tornadoes…" he said grimly. "Shirogai, are you planning to place the blame for all this destruction on me?"
Shirogai turned back to Cobra, his smile sly. "See? The one behind Alubarna's ruin already understands my plan."
Cobra stepped back, stunned. "You… you want to destroy the capital, then shift the blame onto Crocodile? To confirm him as the mastermind?"
Shirogai grinned. "Clever."
"You're underestimating me!" Crocodile's voice grew darker. "Do you think I'll just accept this? Are you not afraid I'll fight you to the death?!"
Crocodile's pride was shattered. He was always the one orchestrating the downfall of others—never the scapegoat.
But this time… he was the scapegoat.
Shirogai's eyes narrowed. "Are you going back on your word?"
The Warlord of the Sea, the Desert King, remained silent. "…"
Crocodile knew exactly what Shirogai meant—his deal with Vespera. The monster before him likely already witnessed everything that transpired here. If he dared break their agreement…
Shirogai would not hesitate to kill him.
Though Crocodile believed he could escape, doing so would destroy all his plans—and put him at odds with someone who had potential to rival the Four Emperors.
"I'm not going back on my word," he muttered coldly.
He had no choice but to accept this fabricated accusation.
Shirogai clapped his hands and smiled. "I'm glad we've reached an understanding."
"No!" Cobra stepped forward, voice firm. "Absolutely not! The people who left the royal city didn't take much with them. They still have homes to return to!"
Shirogai cut him off. "Don't be naïve, King."
"I—"
Shirogai's smile remained, but his tone turned icy. "Do you truly think that after three years of suffering, hunger, and death, your apology and some half-hearted clarification will make everything go back to how it was?"
"They're good citizens. They'll understand the truth," Cobra insisted.
"Naïve," Shirogai said again, this time colder.
"Even if Crocodile caused the drought, you can't escape the blame. For three whole years, you were blind to what was happening. Your capital never ran out of food or water, but your people—"
He paused, his voice heavy.
"They died, Cobra. Of thirst. Of starvation. Of despair. Do you think they won't resent the man who wore the crown while they buried their children?"
"I…" Cobra faltered, his voice caught in his throat.
Shirogai's tone deepened. "Unless the people see the capital fall with their own eyes—see the cost of Crocodile's deception—there's no way to transfer their hatred."
"I despise your kind of foolish mercy."
Crocodile scoffed. "Oh, noble King… you act like I alone caused their suffering. But your palace remained untouched, your courtiers safe. Meanwhile, those ants lost everything."
"You think your words will soothe them? That they'll embrace you after everything they've lost?"
He leaned forward, his voice dripping with venom. "You should be worrying about hundreds of thousands of sharpened blades instead."
Cobra's shoulders slumped. He had no reply.
Shirogai smiled faintly. "Under heaven, all kingdoms are like this: if they flourish, the people suffer. If they perish, the people suffer. The only difference… is what you choose."
Cobra's breath caught. "Flourish, and the people suffer… perish, and the people suffer…"
He repeated it like a prayer.
After a long, silent moment, he fell to his knees.
"Then let it be as you wish. I will bear whatever follows."
Shirogai nodded. "So you've made your decision."
He clenched his fist.
The storms began to stir again, slowly drifting toward Alubarna.
"This is the only way to end it now."
To Shirogai, the original tale from this part of One Piece had always seemed like a children's story. Hundreds of thousands who had risen in rebellion for three long years, only to calm down at the sight of the princess's tears?
Just because Koza surrendered, all the others dropped their weapons?
Absurd.
Wasn't anyone concerned about being executed for treason?
But that's what made One Piece beloved, perhaps.
Because the author, in his pure heart, gave adults a dream—a tale too clean for the real world.
But Shirogai… who had lived long enough in his brutal world, who had seen its cruelty and madness—
He had no illusions.
"Fairy tales?" he muttered. "Just a filter adults use to avoid the truth."
"All I want… is to shatter that lie."
---
Inside Alubarna, unseen by all, Shirogai's spiritual presence infiltrated every soldier in the Rebel Army. Fragments of his power slipped into their minds, embedding themselves silently.
With the ability of the [Whisper-Whisper Fruit · Modified Second Form: Mind Lurker], he could peer into all their thoughts.
Inside the massive spiritual world formed by the Rebel Army's collective mind, the air was thick with desire and madness.
Black and red auras swirled as twisted souls hissed and writhed, whispering their true thoughts:
"Kill them! We'll rule this kingdom!"
"Kill the King! Take the royal vaults!"
"If the King dies, Koza takes the throne. We'll move into the palace, away from the drought!"
"My family can die—I'll build a new one as a noble!"
"Burn it all! Let the nobles choke on blood for what they've taken!"
"Die, die, die, die… everyone must die…"
Shirogai stood in the heart of this deranged psychic storm, smiling faintly.
"Simple people? Maybe… once."
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I've started uploading two new fanfictions on my Patreon (they're free to read!).
One is based on One Piece and the other on Naruto.
patreon.com/Zphyr_
I'd love to hear your thoughts, should I keep going with them or stop?