A while later, the agents accepted their new jobs and slipped back into their original personalities.
Mikita, formerly Miss Valentine, leaned against the wall and chewed a heart-shaped chocolate.
"So, what do we do now?" she asked, looking toward the man beside her.
Gem, her former partner and previous Mr. 5, adjusted his shades.
"You should ask Captain Smoker," he said. "Captain, we work for you now. Just tell us what we need to do. You're the boss."
Smoker stood casually with his coat draped over his chest. Two cigars burned in his mouth.
"When I first came to Alabasta, I didn't want to deal with Baroque Works," he said. "But they keep showing up and causing trouble."
"If I don't stop this now, they'll keep sending agents after me," he continued. "So I'm going to strike back."
He paused, looking at them both.
"I'm certain Baroque Works is behind the rebellion in Alabasta," he said. "But I need proof. You were their elite agents—give me something I can use."
Mikita and Gem exchanged a quick glance. Mikita stopped chewing her chocolate.
"Your guess is correct," she said quietly. "Baroque Works is causing the rebellion."
Gem rubbed the back of his head.
"We received orders to create unrest in the country," he said. "If you want real proof, it's at Rainbase."
Smoker stared at them for a moment, surprised that they actually had evidence.
"Alright," he said. "Then we move. We'll go to Rainbase now."
Mikita groaned. "Now?! Like right now? We almost died—can we at least catch our breath—"
"No," Smoker replied. "Now. The sooner I take down Baroque Works, the sooner they stop bothering me."
A decision was made, and the trio began traveling. The desert seemed endless, and the heat grew worse the farther they went.
But Smoker didn't seem to mind. His body turned into smoke, keeping him cool no matter how hot the sun was.
Gem also followed without breaking a sweat, whistling and tossing mini explosions into the air like fireworks.
"Heat like this doesn't even tickle me," he said with a cocky grin. "Perks of my powers."
"Stop making noise, Gem," Smoker said.
"Relax, Captain," Gem replied. "It's the middle of nowhere. My explosions won't attract attention."
Meanwhile, on the side…
"Ughhh, I'm melting!"
Mikita struggled behind them, dragging her feet and fanning herself with both hands.
Her torn umbrella hung limply. Her hat was crooked, and her face was flushed.
"My delicate skin!" she wailed. "How can anyone live here?! I swear I saw my soul evaporating!"
"You never had a soul to begin with," Gem muttered.
"Captain Smooookeer!" Mikita cried, running forward to cling to his arm.
"You're made of smoke, right? Let me stay inside you! I'll live in the protection of your manly cigar smoke!"
Smoker didn't even blink. "Let go, or I'll disperse and you'll fall."
"Ooh—dangerous. I like it," Mikita purred, still clinging.
Gem snorted. "You're unbelievable, Mikita."
"You're just jealous because Smoker's cooler than you," she teased.
"Yeah, and way less annoying than you," Gem replied.
Smoker suddenly turned into smoke. Mikita yelped and slipped through him, faceplanting into the sand.
"Bwaaah! Not the face!"
"Told you you'd fall," Smoker chuckled.
After a while, they reached Rainbase.
The noise of a casino drifted nearby, but the trio ignored it and slipped into an alley behind it.
"This place creeps me out," Mikita muttered.
Behind the casino sat an old pyramid that most people ignored.
The group entered and went down a hallway. Mikita wiped her brow and leaned against the wall.
"Finally. Some shade. I'm not dead."
"This is the place," Gem said. "Our old hideout. We used to meet here."
They led Smoker deeper inside, down a staircase into a chamber filled with crates.
Gem popped open one. Green powder spilled out like sand.
Smoker narrowed his eyes. "This is…?"
"Dance Powder," Mikita said. "Contraband. We used it to control rainfall in Alabasta."
"We made it rain in Rainbase," Gem added. "While the rest of the country stayed dry."
"Then we told the people the king was hoarding rain using Dance Powder."
"They believed it," Mikita continued. "We exposed a crate on purpose, made it look like the king was stealing rain. That's when the rebellion started."
Smoker crouched beside the powder and rubbed some between his fingers.
"So that's how the rebellion began."
"Yeah," Gem said. "It's all part of Project Utopia. Mr. 0's plan to 'save' the country by taking it over."
"He wants to rule Alabasta," Mikita said, arms crossed. "Turn it into his version of an utopia."
Smoker stood up, his expression unreadable.
"And who is this Mr. 0?"
Gem shrugged. "Beats me. We never saw his face."
"Never even heard his real name," Mikita added. "He always stays in the shadows. Our orders came through calls and codes."
Smoker stared at the crate, thinking.
'Of course he didn't tell his henchmen who he was,' he thought. 'That guy's one of the smart villains in One Piece.'
Meanwhile in Nanohana, Tashigi tied ropes around two struggling agents—Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9.
"Stop wriggling," she muttered, tightening the knot.
"Let go!" Miss Wednesday shouted. "You don't understand! I have something to say!"
"You tried to stab me," Tashigi said, adjusting her glasses. "You're not in a position to say anything."
"I only did that because—okay, fine. Listen!" she cried. "I'm not just Miss Wednesday. I'm Princess Vivi of Alabasta!"
Mr. 9 froze. "Wait… what?!"
Tashigi stopped mid-knot. "You're… who?"
Vivi took a deep breath. "I am Vivi Nefertari. I've been working undercover in Baroque Works for a while."
"I joined to learn the truth behind the rebellion," she continued. "I'm sure they're behind the unrest in my country. I was just collecting proof."
Tashigi's eyes widened. Baroque Works wasn't just spying on Marines... they were behind the rebellion too?
She reached for her sword and cut the rope.
Vivi sighed in relief.
"Thank you for believing me," she said. "I'll show you what I found. Please come with me—I'll take you to a place."
A while later, the duo rode on Vivi's pet super-sonic duck, Karoo, and headed toward Rainbase.
Inside the Rainbase casino, Vivi and Tashigi sat at a table.
"Look around," Vivi whispered. "This is a Baroque Works base. There's money, water, and rain here."
Tashigi frowned. "But Alabasta is suffering a drought. Why is it raining only here?"
"That's the point," Vivi said. "This place didn't have water before. But a few years ago, it started raining regularly."
"The rain attracted people. The people brought money. In just a few years, this place became rich."
"I see," Tashigi muttered. "That's why you believe it's man-made."
"Who does this casino actually belong to?" she asked, though she wasn't prepared for the answer she'd receive.
"Sir Crocodile," Vivi said. "The Warlord of the Sea. Everyone calls him a hero. But I believe he's Mr. Zero."
Tashigi gasped. "Crocodile?! He's behind Baroque Works?"
The girls secretly discussed their findings—unaware that beneath their table, a small human ear was growing and listening.
Above the casino, in a nice room, Nico Robin sat on a couch, flipping a page in her book.
"Crocodile," she said. "Miss Wednesday was Princess Vivi. Now she's working with a Marine."
Across from her, Crocodile sat in a chair, a cigar between his fingers.
"They seem quite sharp," Robin continued. "They're getting close to figuring out your identity."
Crocodile smirked. "Are they now?"
He stood up and flicked ash onto a nearby tray.
"Then I suppose it's time."
Robin tilted her head. "Time for what?"
Crocodile turned toward the window, watching the Rainbase casino below.
"Time to welcome our guests."