The sea near Alabasta.
"Reporting, Captain Hina!" a Marine Soldier saluted and said loudly. "There is a situation; the scout in the watchtower believes it needs to be reported to you."
"Hmm? What is it?" Captain Hina was gazing at Taro with delight; the Marine Soldier's interruption brought a look of irritation to her face.
"Uh, our ship has encountered five vessels from the same company this morning. They also seem to be heading toward Alabasta. The lookout thought the situation was suspicious, so..."
Hearing the name "Alabasta," Taro, who was leaning over a table studying a map of Alabasta, looked up. "Which company?"
The Marine Soldier first looked at Captain Hina. Seeing her expression souring further, he immediately saluted Taro. "They are flying the flag of 'Baroque Works'."
Taro nodded. It seemed Crocodile was already gathering his subordinates; the final battle was about to begin.
"Bulu bulu bulu..."
Captain Hina's den den mushi rang at that moment. She gestured for the Marine Soldier to leave and then picked up the den den mushi.
"Hina, change the rendezvous point. We'll meet directly in Alabasta."
Captain Smoker's voice came through the den den mushi.
"My warship will be docking in Alabasta shortly. Just come on your own." Hina stole a glance at Taro's expression and then responded to Smoker in a stiff tone.
Smoker was taken aback. Ignoring her tone, he asked urgently, "You're already near Alabasta? Did you know something beforehand?"
"Know something?" Hina frowned. "What are you talking about? Hina doesn't understand."
"I caught someone codenamed Mr. 11..." Smoker shared the intelligence he had gathered, then finally asked, "And why are you going to Alabasta?"
Captain Hina was also greatly surprised by Smoker's words. She looked at Taro with bewildered astonishment.
Taro felt a headache coming on. How was he supposed to explain this?
"Cough, cough." Taro thought for a moment and cleared his throat twice. "Captain Smoker, that criminal organization you mentioned is called 'Baroque Works'."
Then he met Hina's gaze. "Yes, the same company the Marine Soldier just reported."
"Hina, who was that speaking just now?" Captain Smoker's voice on the other end was filled with shock.
"Captain Smoker, I am Taro, a Marineford Lieutenant." Taro introduced himself.
"Ah, it's Lieutenant Taro!" A woman's voice suddenly came through the den den mushi. "Hello, Lieutenant Taro! I'm Tashigi. I heard you're a Great Swordsman who can rival Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk! Please, you must... Ouch!"
Tashigi cried out in pain, followed by a "thud" as something hit the deck.
"Dammit, Tashigi, are you an idiot? Is this the time for that?" Captain Smoker's angry voice boomed through the den den mushi.
It looked like Tashigi had been disciplined.
"Well, Taro, you certainly are famous," Captain Smoker said mockingly. "How did you come across this information?"
Smoker had always believed Taro was a figurehead manufactured by the World Government, so he naturally had no good feelings toward him.
Taro wasn't aware of this, but he could hear the sarcasm in Smoker's voice and felt a flicker of anger. 'This guy gets beaten like a dog two years from now, and he thinks he can be snide with me?'
"I have my own sources of information," Taro said coldly.
Seeing that Taro was dissatisfied and hearing Smoker's inappropriate tone, Captain Hina was even less pleased with Smoker. "Smoker, since we're done talking, let's leave it at that."
With that, she hung up the den den mushi.
Smoker heard a "click" and stared blankly. What was with Hina today?
"Um, Smoker and I are actually..." Hina began, looking at Taro a bit sheepishly.
"Ah, you joined the Marines in the same year. It's no secret; I know." Taro interrupted her and pointed to the map. "I'll be going ashore here."
Hina leaned over to look. It was the port city of "Nanohana" in Alabasta, also known as Canola. It was the largest port city on the kingdom's southeast coast... Taro changed into his civilian clothes and jumped off the ship. As he was about to leave, he saw Hina jump down as well. She was wearing a form-fitting black suit under a light pink robe, with a veiled hat on her head.
Under Taro's puzzled gaze, Hina gently draped a sea-blue outer robe over him and handed him a matching veiled hat.
"The sandstorms in Alabasta are quite strong. This will effectively protect you from the wind and sand while also conserving your strength."
Hina said softly.
Taro stared at Hina blankly. 'older sister figure, you've really got the wrong idea, haven't you?'
However, he had a lot to do right now. He decided he would clear things up with Captain Hina after the Alabasta incident was resolved.
"Have the warship wait for Smoker out at sea. A Marine vessel docked here would be too conspicuous."
Taro said to Hina.
Hina nodded and turned back to instruct the Marine Soldiers on the ship... The terrain of this desert kingdom was very similar to the Egypt of his past life, with a great river running north to south, dividing the country in two.
Walking through the city streets, Taro seemed curious about everything. Exotic scenery! The country bumpkin from his past life, who had never been abroad, looked around with boundless energy.
"According to intelligence, the situation in Alabasta is chaotic. The Rebel Army could clash with the Kingdom Army at any moment. Lieutenant Taro, it's better for us to be careful."
Captain Hina said seriously, taking the opportunity after Taro had finished haggling with a roadside vendor.
"Now, now, Hina, just call me Taro," he said, handing her a tangerine. "Let's not reveal that we're Marines."
Taro gave a disdainful click of his tongue. "After all, the World Government hasn't ordered the Marines to intervene in this civil war."
Hina took the tangerine, failing to catch the mockery in Taro's voice toward the World Government. Instead, she nodded. "Yes, we indeed cannot interfere."
Taro: "..."
This older sister figure, who strictly followed orders, was truly a world apart from that Smoker Smoker... Just as Taro was grumbling internally, a man walked up to them, held out a piece of paper, and asked:
"Excuse me, have you two seen the person on this paper?"
Looking at the Bounty Poster of Straw Hat Luffy, Taro was stunned.
The man in front of him was about the same height as Taro, wearing an orange cowboy hat. He had black hair, playful freckles on his cheeks, and was shirtless, revealing a tattoo that read "ASCE" with the'S' crossed out on his left arm. He wore black shorts and had a dagger tucked into his left waist.
Taro stared dumbfoundedly at the polite man before him, his mind going completely blank.
Holy crap!
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