"Cough..."
The cough echoed through the empty hall, jolting Smoker from his thoughts.
"Who's there—? Wait, you're King Cobra? You're still alive?!"
Seeing King Cobra open his eyes left Smoker both relieved and speechless.
He should've expected such tenacity. Cobra had taken Imu's attack head-on, while confined to a wheelchair.
"Cough... Are you a Marine?" Cobra asked weakly.
As Cobra tried to rise, Smoker dissolved into smoke and reformed beside him, quickly supporting his body.
"Yes. Captain Smoker," he said. "I believe you've already realized that Crocodile is behind the rebellion—and that he's after your royal 'treasure.'"
"I cornered him once, but he escaped. Tell me where he is. I'll finish this."
Smoker meant it. Crocodile had been making his life miserable, and he wanted him gone.
With Smoker's help, Cobra stood. He gripped Smoker's arm, staring at him with grave intensity.
"Crocodile has gone to the Tomb of the Kings. I can't tell you what he's after—but you must stop him from reaching the deepest chamber."
"Please don't think I distrust you," Cobra added quickly. "For your own safety, it's better if you don't know what the 'treasure' is."
He bowed his head slightly in apology. Smoker didn't mind. He already knew plot.
"It's fine," Smoker said calmly. "My job is to arrest Crocodile—not to uncover Alabasta's secrets."
Cobra visibly relaxed—but then his expression tightened.
"Captain Smoker, one more thing. Do you know where Princess Vivi is?"
He didn't expect an answer, but he had to ask.
"Vivi?" Smoker replied. "She infiltrated Baroque Works. She's with my crew now, fighting Crocodile's agents."
"They're near Rain Dinners. Now excuse me—I have to defeat Crocodile quickly. My crew can't hold out much longer."
With that, Smoker rushed out of the palace.
Cobra's eyes bulged in shock.
He knew Vivi had been investigating the drought—but he never imagined she'd uncover the truth.
"That girl…!" Cobra muttered. "She can't fight Baroque Works agents. She's not a fighter—and she doesn't even have a Devil Fruit."
Frustration welled up inside him. He had to help somehow.
Scanning the room desperately, his gaze stopped on two mummified figures.
Cobra narrowed his eyes.
Meanwhile, Smoker sped toward the tomb, traveling swiftly in his smoke form. He found Crocodile and Nico Robin without difficulty.
They had already reached the deepest chamber and were standing before an ancient stone tablet.
"What?!" Crocodile roared. "The poneglyph doesn't mention Pluton?! Are you messing with me, Nico Robin?!"
He KNEW Alabasta possessed a poneglyph containing Pluton's location. That was the treasure he'd spent years chasing—everything he'd built depended on it.
And now Robin was telling him it was all for nothing.
"You're looking for Pluton?" Smoker's voice drifted casually from behind them. "Is this the Pluton I think it is?"
Both Crocodile and Robin froze. They hadn't sensed his approach at all.
Robin recovered first. She stepped away from Crocodile and smiled faintly at Smoker.
"Yes. Crocodile was after the battleship Pluton—one of the three Ancient Weapons. Unfortunately for him, this poneglyph contains no such information."
She shrugged, betraying Crocodile without hesitation. Her smile made it obvious—she was lying.
Crocodile knew it too.
His eyes darkened.
"I've already lost my chance to rule Alabasta," he said quietly. "Soon I'll lose my reputation, and my title as a Warlord."
"But if I'd learned Pluton's location, it would've all been worth it. The answer is right in front of me—and you betray me now?"
"You won't tell me where Pluton is," he continued coldly, "after everything I sacrificed?"
Robin felt a chill run down her spine—but she kept her composure.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said. "This poneglyph says nothing about Pluton."
Her eyes sharpened.
"And even if it did, not everyone is worthy of wielding an Ancient Weapon, Crocodile."
Crocodile chuckled.
"Is that so?"
Then he laughed loudly, and unhinged. Veins throbbed at his temples. Sensing danger, Robin turned and ran.
"Sand Tsunami!!"
The ground erupted.
Waves of sand burst upward, flooding the tomb in seconds. Robin couldn't escape.
Neither could Smoker.
Six feet of sand swallowed everything—the chamber, the poneglyph, and everyone inside.
Crocodile, being sand himself, emerged unharmed. He stood outside the buried tomb, staring down at it.
Everything was gone.
Including his dream.
"Soon the Marines will hunt me," he muttered. "The World Government won't tolerate this either."
Rubbing his aching forehead, Crocodile turned to leave.
"You got one thing right," a voice said behind him. "The Marines will hunt you."
Smoke seeped out the sand, condensing into Smoker.
"But that hunt starts now."
Crocodile clenched his fist. He'd known Smoker wouldn't die—but he'd hoped for more time.
Then he noticed something.
A grin spread across his face.
"What happened to your seastone weapon?" Crocodile asked. "Don't tell me it's buried under all that sand."
Smoker clicked his tongue. He'd escaped by turning into smoke—but his jitte hadn't been so lucky.
"Hahaha!" Crocodile laughed. "You lost your seastone jitte? What a pleasant surprise."
"How do you plan to fight me now, Captain, when you can't even touch me?"