A colossal sand wall rose with a roar, blocking all sight. The sky-high yellow sand, like a thick curtain, separated the Rebel Army's surging offensive from Alabasta.
Only the sound of sand falling could be heard. When visibility was restored, what appeared before everyone was a massive crater in the desert.
"Oh dear, oh dear, I'm covered in sand. I guess I overdid it."
Sabo stood at the edge of the crater, brushing off the sand clinging to his robe while muttering with a hint of helplessness on his face.
But his objective was achieved; the frenzied charge of the Rebel Army's vanguard was instantly extinguished.
The Rebel Army soldiers, who had been charging like a tsunami, were now noticeably slowing down, and murmurs immediately spread through the crowd.
"What… what is that thing?"
"What kind of bomb could have such power?"
Mr. 2, disguised as Koza, sat atop his horse, his heart far from as calm as his exterior suggested.
Something was wrong, completely wrong; this was entirely different from what he had envisioned!
His original script involved an immediate clash between the two sides, followed by a charge into Alabasta, after which he would slip away in the chaos. What was happening now?
If they stopped here, his disguise would become increasingly difficult to maintain over time.
He cleared his throat, attempting to reignite the crowd's fury with Koza's voice:
"Everyone saw it! This is merely a tactic by the Royal Army to hinder our advance, to make us afraid. We must…"
"Koza, no."
Beside Mr. 2, Kebi, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up, interrupting him.
Ever since their reunion at Nanohana, he had subtly felt that the Koza before him was somehow different.
He couldn't quite pinpoint it, but he had spent so much time with Koza that even with the exact same face and voice, he still sensed it.
Kebi raised his hand, pointing to the sole figure standing in the giant crater, "Look, there's a person there. He doesn't look like he's from the Royal Army. He… seems to have something to say."
"A person?"
Mr. 2 narrowed his eyes, suppressing his impatience, and looked in the direction Kebi pointed, seeing the young man wearing a top hat and carrying a pipe.
An ominous premonition spread through his heart.
Just as the atmosphere became delicate and everyone's attention was drawn to Sabo, in that instant—
Boom!
A sudden cannon shot erupted from the walls of Alabasta! A cannonball flew straight towards Sabo in the crater!
Though his back was turned, Sabo sensed it. With a light leap, he dodged the attack, stirring up a small cloud of dust behind him.
He turned to face the wall, his eyes fixed on the soldier who had fired the cannon.
"What are you doing!?!?"
Almost simultaneously with the cannon shot, Chaka's roar exploded on the battlements. He immediately rushed to the soldier who had fired without permission, his face ashen.
"Who told you to fire without my command!?"
The soldier's face was filled with panic. He hastily stood at attention, stammering an explanation:
"Re… report, Lord Chaka! I… I was too nervous, my hand slipped by accident…"
Vivi, who had been closely watching the situation, felt her heart nearly leap out of her chest. As the soldier raised his arm in a flustered explanation, she clearly saw a skull branded on it, with the word "BAROQUE" printed next to it.
It was the mark of Baroque Works!
She suppressed her surging emotions, quickly walked to Chaka's side, subtly tugged at his sleeve, and when he lowered his head in confusion, she whispered in his ear:
"Chaka, look at his arm, the Baroque Works symbol! We have their people inside! More than one!"
Chaka glanced at the soldier's arm, his face growing even darker. He also lowered his voice: "Princess, what do we do now?"
"Trust me, Chaka. Give the order: everyone, raise your hands! If you have white flags, raise them too!"
"Assume a posture of surrender! We must first make them stop, make them confused."
Chaka saw the resolve in Vivi's eyes and hesitated for only a moment.
He chose to trust the Princess he had watched grow up unconditionally. Taking a deep breath, he turned to face all the Royal Army soldiers on the walls, who were holding their breath:
"Princess Vivi has ordered! Everyone! Raise your hands! If you have white flags, raise them as well!"
This order immediately caused an uproar, leaving all the soldiers unable to comprehend.
"What?!"
"Lord Chaka?! What did you say?"
"Surrender? Why should we surrender!?"
The soldiers were in an uproar, their faces filled with shock and confusion.
Vivi's heart tightened, but she knew she couldn't back down at this moment. She gestured again to Chaka beside her.
Chaka immediately understood, and roared again, his voice overriding all questions: "Execute the order! This is Princess Vivi's decision! Raise your hands immediately! Disobey, and face military justice!"
Silence, a deathly silence.
Then, one by one, with faces full of confusion and struggle, someone slowly raised their hands.
Then came the second, the third… The Royal Army soldiers on the battlements, one by one, raised their hands.
White flags were also raised in scattered places, fluttering weakly in the dry wind.
Chaka then immediately transformed into his jackal form, running along the battlements, his gaze sweeping over every soldier's arm… Meanwhile, at the front of the Rebel Army, this sudden turn of events stunned everyone.
"Koza, look! They… they're raising white flags!" Kebi pointed at the wall in disbelief, his voice filled with astonishment.
Mr. 2 was dumbfounded again. He gaped, his brain almost completely stopped working.
What… what was going on now?!
Surrender? The Royal Army surrendered? Then what was he supposed to fight for? This wasn't in the plan at all! How was he supposed to react to this?
If the fighting didn't start, how could he complete his boss's mission?
He looked at the Rebel Army soldiers beside him; the anger on their faces was gradually fading, replaced by even some confusion.
No! He absolutely couldn't stop now!
"They must be playing some trick!"
Mr. 2 shouted towards the Royal Army: "The Royal Army's true nature cannot change; this must be a conspiracy from the other side. I'll go see what's going on with that guy."
He couldn't wait any longer; he had to go forward himself now and find a way to reignite this war.
Then he dismounted, pushed aside the somewhat hesitant soldiers in front of him, and strode towards the giant crater, towards the figure in the top hat at the other end of the pit.
"I'll go see what these guys are up to! Don't let them fool you, everyone!"
As he walked closer, he could more clearly see the young, scarred face beneath the other man's hat brim, and the pair of eyes that were now calmly watching him.
Before Mr. 2 could even think of how to provoke him, the man with the pipe spoke first:
"Koza, long time no see."
This guy… knows the real Koza?
Mr. 2 could only force out a stiff smile and, using Koza's voice, dryly responded:
"Ye… yeah, long time no see."