The Kingdom of Alabasta.
A Marine warship was docked beside Baroque Works' artificial rain ship, the Raindrop.
All Baroque Works members aboard were tightly bound under the strict watch of the Marines—clear and undeniable evidence of Crocodile's crimes and King Cobra's innocence.
"Hmph! Hina is very angry! Smoker, what's going on with this rain? Did you seriously use Dance Powder?!"
Colonel Hina, with her signature pink hair and Justice coat draped over her shoulders, crossed her arms and glared at Smoker with visible annoyance.
"How could I?" Smoker replied calmly, puffing on his cigar, seated casually in Hina's chair.
Staring out at the heavy downpour, his expression grew distant as he muttered to himself, "Could it be... that guy?"
…
Above the Royal Palace—
Following Luffy's victory, the Straw Hat crew had rushed into the palace, leaving Vivi in the care of the King's Army, eager to check on their unconscious captain.
"Luffy's heart is racing!" Chopper shouted in a panic, spinning in place after listening through his stethoscope.
"Doctor! Help Luffy already!"
"Who's there?!"
Zoro, who had been lying on the floor, suddenly opened his eyes. He gripped his sword's hilt, alert.
Sanji, noticing the tension, lifted his gaze lazily, a cigarette still between his lips.
A figure descended from the sky, laughing as he dropped.
"Heh… relax, Chopper. So you're the doctor, huh?"
"Phew…"
Zoro released his grip and collapsed back onto the ground, falling into a deep sleep with no worries.
"Shirogai!"
Sanji blinked and cracked a grin. "Where the hell did you vanish to? You look half-dead."
Shirogai retracted the black six wings on his back and smirked. "I figured out how to make it rain in this country. Tired? Yeah... probably just starving."
"Hmph. I'll go see if this palace has a working kitchen," Sanji muttered as he rolled up his sleeves. But as he took just a few steps forward, he collapsed.
Lying on the wet floor, Sanji chuckled dryly, "Tch, I underestimated that okama's kicking technique…"
Shirogai shrugged. "Get some rest. Your mission's done. I've got it from here."
"Thanks. Then I'm clocking out." Sanji closed his eyes and instantly fell asleep.
With a casual touch to Chopper's pressure point, Shirogai said, "Sleep well."
"Huh? So sleepy…"
Chopper's eyes fluttered, and he too dozed off.
Usopp was already lying face-first in a puddle, snoring loudly.
Nami leaned against a wall, forcing herself to stay upright. She staggered toward Shirogai, concern in her eyes.
"You okay? You look... awful."
Even Nami noticed.
Seems like switching between multiple Devil Fruit powers nonstop still pushes my limits. Once I cross paths with Blackbeard and understand that cheat's body, I won't need to strain this hard.
Shirogai blinked briefly before smirking and crouching beside Luffy.
Activating the [Germ Germ Fruit], red mycelia sprouted from the scorpion venom-tainted blood. Mushrooms grew—antidotes forming instantly.
"That should do it."
Nami suddenly pulled out her Wand, furiously swinging it toward Shirogai's head.
"Damn you! Why didn't you warn me that this wand could blow fire in my face?!"
"Whoa—hey!" Shirogai tilted his head casually, dodging with ease. "I did warn you!"
"You did not!"
"I did," he said, grinning. "Remember when Usopp gave it to you? Didn't I tell you to use it carefully?"
She froze.
He did… I thought he meant it was fragile!
"Seriously?! That was your warning?!"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
Ignoring her grumbles, Shirogai placed the antidote mushroom into Luffy's mouth.
Almost immediately, Luffy's breathing steadied. His pulse normalized.
Shirogai narrowed his eyes.
Using [Second Form] like that probably shaved a year off his life. That's the price of life-sapping techniques, huh?
Suddenly—rushed footsteps echoed.
A group of Marines burst in.
"Don't move! You're under arrest!"
Nami ducked behind Shirogai, clutching her Wand.
"Back off! We're not easy targets!"
In the rain, Shirogai calmly brushed his wet black hair back and looked at the Marines.
"So this is the Marines' justice? Arresting the ones who stopped a rebellion? Sounds more like opportunism to me."
A voice responded from behind the troops—one Shirogai didn't recognize.
"Justice? With pirates? Kill them all!"
The Marines stiffened, standing at attention.
"Welcome, Colonel Crab Claw!"
A ridiculous-looking Marine entered the rooftop—crab-like hair, dressed in bright yellow, two massive wrench-shaped claw weapons on his back.
Colonel Crab Claw marched straight to Shirogai.
"You're Shirogai Yamikuro, 'The Plunderer'? A bounty of one hundred million Berries?"
Crab Claw looked at the unconscious Straw Hats. "So you're the ones who took down Crocodile?"
Shirogai smirked.
"Our captain, Straw Hat Luffy, did."
"Straw Hat Luffy," Crab Claw sneered. "With a bounty of thirty million. And now charged with assaulting a Warlord of the Sea and attempting to rob the royal treasure. Clear charges, undeniable evidence. Pirates, you're sentenced to death."
Click—click—
Guns were raised, aimed at Shirogai, Nami, and the crew.
Nami shouted, "We saved this country! Crocodile was the villain!"
Crab Claw grinned wickedly.
"Who's gonna believe a pirate?"
He waved his hand. "Fire!"
Dozens of bullets flew. Some headed for Luffy and the others. More aimed at Shirogai and Nami.
Nami closed her eyes instinctively.
But instead of pain—she heard a muffled sound, then Shirogai's icy voice:
"[Prison Sand Burial]."
She opened her eyes.
The rooftop was empty. All the Marines had vanished.
Shirogai, holding Luffy in his arms, looked over and smiled.
"Nami, help me carry the others inside. We don't want them catching a cold."
"Y-Yeah…"
She blinked, stunned. Had she just imagined all that?
…
Three hundred meters underground.
The Marines, now buried and twisted in suffocating sand, lay motionless.
Crab Claw, his face frozen in a smug expression, still clutched his pincer wrench—but his heart was full of regret.
Why the hell did I provoke him...
…
Colonel Crab Claw was later listed as missing in the Alabasta incident.
Rumors circled, but no evidence ever surfaced.
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