Rainbase.
Inside the secret hall of the Rain Dinners Casino, Robin, who had rushed back from Katerea, stood by the head of the conference table.
The Advanced Agents of Baroque Works, who had returned from Spider Cafe, sat on either side of the conference table.
The chair at the head of the table swiveled around, and a voice drifted over, "It is time for Operation Utopia..."
"Crocodile?!"
The agents let out a shocked low cry. With a smirk on his face, Crocodile raised the paper in his hand. "This is Baroque Works' final operation plan..."
Crocodile laid out his entire plan to the Advanced Agents, finally concluding, "The time has finally come for the Kingdom of Alabasta to disappear."
"Overnight, this country will become our 'Utopia'."
Just then, the door to the meeting room was pushed open, and a man walked in. He wore a pair of glasses and a blue and white striped shirt. The hair on top of his head was styled into the shape of the number "3," with a flame still burning at the tip.
"Boss, it's our first time meeting. Although I failed my mission, I would like to ask you to give me another chance!"
"Hmm? What did you say?" Crocodile's gaze turned cold.
Mr. 3 hurriedly explained, "It was on Small Garden Island. I failed to take care of the Straw Hat crew and Princess Vivi!"
"Because the intelligence was incorrect, there were actually four people in that group. There was a long-nosed fellow..."
Crocodile stared at Mr. 3 for a moment and interrupted him. "It wasn't four, it was five. I encountered a young man before..."
"I originally thought that young man was sent by the King, but now it seems he's also part of the Straw Hat crew. He must be the one who spoke to me using your den den mushi!"
Crocodile said coldly.
Once Mr. 3 drew the four members of the Straw Hat crew he had seen, a man among the Advanced Agents with a very strange appearance and clothing cried out, "I—I've seen them."
Then, he touched his face with his right hand, and he actually transformed into Luffy's likeness, followed by Nami, Zoro, Usopp, and even Chopper.
"So they were our enemies after all."
This man's code name in Baroque Works was Mr. 2 Bon Clay. His ability allowed him to transform into anyone he had touched, including their appearance and physique.
Crocodile's mind raced, and only after a long while did he say with a gloomy face, "Indeed, the person I mentioned is not among those you transformed into."
He paused. "As expected, the Straw Hat crew has a fifth member, the guy I met."
"That's right, he knows my true identity, which is why he reacted that way back then."
"If they are left alone, they will interfere with my plan."
Crocodile finally added, "Not counting that pet, and including Princess Vivi, there are six of them in total. They should have all entered Alabasta's borders by now."
"Boss, this time I will definitely handle it personally..." Mr. 3 said tremblingly, but Crocodile instantly stood up and grabbed him by the neck.
"Shut up, you useless fool. Mr. 3, in terms of combat strength, you're not even as good as Mr. 4. What I valued was your obsession with completing missions by any means necessary, but you have disappointed me too much."
As Crocodile spoke, he gradually increased the pressure in his hand. Mr. 3 screamed in terror, his struggling strength growing weaker and weaker. Soon, his entire body seemed to have its moisture sucked dry, shriveling up.
Crocodile released his grip and tossed him onto the floor. He pressed a hidden button on his chair, and the floor parted to reveal a deep tunnel. Mr. 3 fell straight in.
The Sand Crocodile's methods intimidated all the Advanced Agents. Only Robin, who was accustomed to the world's evils, remained relatively calm. She heard something amiss in Crocodile's words.
Because when Robin met Taro, the agents had not yet returned to Alabasta, meaning it was impossible for Taro to have had the chance to access Mr. 3's den den mushi.
Furthermore, Robin knew that Taro was a Marine, so the fifth member of the Straw Hat crew could never be Taro.
However, Robin did not intend to tell Crocodile this. She worked for Baroque Works for the sake of the poneglyphs that existed in Alabasta.
For this, what did it matter if she made a deal with a heinous demon?
But in the end, she thought of Taro's figure standing on the sea, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Don't you want to stop this war? I'll give you a chance to see just how far you can go!"
...The sky gradually darkened, and the only sound around was the "creak" of seawater lapping against the wreckage of the ships.
Taro was already very weak. Having had no food or water and being exposed to the scorching sun all day without cover, he was exhausted physically and mentally. Yet, he still held his blade, standing firmly on the small boat.
The blade in his hand was covered with dense cracks. Taro was certain that with just one more swing, the sword would shatter into pieces.
Sigh, although Mihawk's sword skills are powerful, they're a bit hard on the blade!
Only three slashes.
In such a state, Taro still had the mind to consider these things. His lips twitched, finding himself a bit ridiculous.
Then, he heard the sound of oars paddling through the seawater from behind.
Taro frowned. He couldn't understand why anyone would dare to leave the port after he had already sunk three weapon ships.
Stretching his somewhat stiff limbs, Taro turned around; it was actually Koza rowing a small boat toward him.
Koza looked at the man before him, who was so dehydrated he barely looked human, with a complex expression. He spoke softly, "Go back. I won't be receiving any more weapons."
Seeing that Taro didn't respond, Koza didn't mind. He threw over a bundle. "You look like you're in bad shape. Eat something first."
Taro stared at Koza for a long time before bending down to take some food. Unexpectedly, his weak body caused his knees to buckle, and he was about to fall. Taro instinctively leaned on his sword to support himself, but with just that one movement, the blade in his hand shattered with a bang.
However, that brief delay gave Taro time to adjust. He steadied himself, sat cross-legged on the small boat, opened the bundle, drank some water first, and then began to eat.
Koza looked at the sword that had crumbled into powder in shock, sighing inwardly. But he quickly withdrew his gaze and said in a low tone, "You have no idea what we've been through. We..."
After eating some food, Taro's spirits recovered a bit. He took a swig of wine. "I know more than you think."
He gave a cynical laugh. "The 'Hero' of the Kingdom, Crocodile?"
"Baroque Works?"
"Or you, the leader of the Rebel Army, Princess Vivi's childhood friend, the captain of the Suna Suna Clan?"
Koza stepped back two paces in surprise, his voice filled with trepidation. "Who... who exactly are you?"
"How do you even know about Vivi and the Suna Suna Clan?!"
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