บท 20: Chapter 21: Rebels and Deals in the Desert
Vivi was already on her way back to Alabasta, moving stealthily as she processed the shocking information Josh had given her. The young princess, only 15 years old, had learned of a large-scale weapon deal with the rebels, orchestrated by someone pulling the strings behind the scenes.
For her, this news was devastating. Her homeland was in real danger, and the thought that the rebels were being manipulated like pawns in a larger game was almost too much to bear. But according to Josh, it would still be at least a year before the full effects of this plot would come to pass.
*Who is Mr. 7 really?* she wondered. Despite his calm exterior and his apparent indifference to the political turmoil, Josh seemed to know far more than any ordinary agent. He even knew her true identity and the reason she had infiltrated Baroque Works, yet he hadn't exposed her. Instead, he had told her to "bet on him," a statement that seemed surprisingly honest for someone whose motives were still unclear.
Trusting a stranger with such an unknown power level was risky, but at least he had been straightforward with her so far. Vivi sighed, patting the giant bird beside her as she stared out at the vast blue sea. She was heading home, using the Eternal Pose that pointed the way to Alabasta.
---
Yawning and stretching his arms toward the sky, Josh stood on the deck of the ship, gazing at the endless expanse of yellow desert stretching before him. The sun beat down relentlessly, making the heat almost unbearable.
"I need water," Josh muttered.
"Try lemon water," Mikita suggested, tossing him a bottle. She was dressed in a yellow dress adorned with lemon patterns, her lemon-shaped earrings swaying as she moved.
Josh took a sip and immediately winced at the sour taste. "Well, it's better than nothing," he admitted, though the acidity made him shudder. "Let's hope I don't dry out like a raisin."
Mikita laughed. "Same here. I don't want my skin cracking from this heat." She opened her umbrella and offered Josh some shade as they sailed across the desert.
"Thanks," he said, glancing at her. "I should be the one holding it, though."
"The taller person holds it," Mikita replied, grinning.
"Only because you're wearing heels."
"Stay close, unless you enjoy the heat," she teased.
"Things always feel hotter around you," Josh shot back with a smirk.
They continued on until they reached a desert city in Alabasta. This was the staging area for their mission: ensuring a shipment of weapons reached the rebels. The weapons were supplied by Crocodile, or Mr. 0, and sold at a discount to fuel the rebel forces. Josh and Mikita's job was to protect the delivery.
Josh rubbed his ears, annoyed by the sand that was getting everywhere. "The sand's worse than the heat," he grumbled.
"Not by much," Mikita replied, frowning at the relentless sun. "I hate deserts."
"Agreed," Josh said, walking beside her as they approached the city. "At least we'll be undercover."
---
Josh and Mikita had changed into their disguises. Mikita wore a long white dress with a veil covering her head, while Josh dressed more casually in an open shirt, loose white pants, and sandals. He had a black mask covering the lower half of his face and sunglasses to hide his identity.
"How do I look?" Josh asked, glancing at Mikita.
"Who are you again?" she joked.
"Just someone," Josh shrugged. "You?"
"Someone else," Mikita replied with a smile.
Their mission was to blend in and ensure that no one recognized them as Baroque Works agents.
They moved toward the rendezvous point, where a group of camels laden with boxes was waiting. Each box contained rifles, but not the modern kind. These were old-fashioned firearms, the sort you'd expect to see in a pirate movie—rudimentary but still dangerous.
Rey, a short man with a scar across his face, was in charge of the transaction. He stood by, overseeing the group of merchants and criminals as they prepared to hand over the weapons.
In the distance, Josh could see the rebel leaders approaching. The sun was setting, casting a reddish glow over the desert.
As the rebels gathered, their leader stepped forward. "The price seems too high," he said, his voice filled with frustration.
Rey scoffed. "In the underworld, you don't negotiate prices. You either buy or walk away."
"But… we barely have enough to feed ourselves," the rebel leader protested.
"That's your problem, not mine," Rey replied coldly.
Josh sighed, slapping his forehead in exasperation.
What's wrong with these rebels?
Crocodile had already lowered the price for them, and yet they had the audacity to complain. Negotiating with criminals was never wise, and Josh knew this wasn't his battle to fight. Whatever happened now was their problem.
As the rebels hesitated, Rey waved his hand, signalling the merchants to pack up and leave.
"Wait!" the rebel leader called out, realising he had no leverage. Defeated, he agreed to the deal.
Josh and Mikita, who had been watching from the sidelines, shared an amused glance.
"Are you entertained?" Mikita asked, noticing Josh's relaxed posture.
"Yes. You?"
"It's funny," she replied. But then her smile faded as she spotted something in the distance. "Josh…"
"I see it," Josh said, his tone growing serious.
A group of mounted figures appeared on the horizon, silhouetted against the setting sun. Leading them was a man dressed in royal armour, his soldiers armed with swords and guns.
"In the name of the king, halt!" the man shouted, as his force of forty men rode toward the rebels.
Mikita shot Josh a questioning look. "Do you know why they're here?"
Josh played dumb, his face betraying nothing. "I have no idea. Do you?"
"Nope," Mikita replied, her voice low. "So, what do we do?"
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