บท 95: Plans and Revelations
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General POV.
The activity of the Straw Hats brought an end to the period of resistance in Arabasta, much to Crocodile's dismay.
His plan, which centered around seizing control of Arabasta to obtain the ancient weapon Pluton, went completely awry.
Unlike Doflamingo, whose interest lay in controlling structures like countries, Crocodile had a singular goal from the outset.
He coveted Pluton, a super warship rumored to be capable of decimating entire islands with a single shot, and to acquire it, he needed access to the tomb of the royal family.
Crocodile knew that the more chaos he could sow in Arabasta, the smoother his operations would run.
"Now, Nico Robin, that woman betrayed me and went to play pirates with those guys," Crocodile seethed with frustration. "And that Ron, he even dared to provoke me. This plan needs to be terminated."
Initially, Crocodile planned to use the chaos to blackmail the king, but with the rebels now seemingly convinced his strategy required adjustment.
"That princess, yes, we'll use her to threaten the king," Crocodile decided, an evil smile creeping onto his face.
"Then, arrange for me to capture this princess," he commanded MR.1, a formidable man with dark skin, who showed a serious expression.
At this critical juncture, Crocodile needed strong subordinates, and he needed them now.
"Don't worry, those guys may be low-level pirates, but there's one among them who's formidable," Crocodile reassured his subordinate.
"He's even capable of besting Hawkeye. If you were to face him, I'm afraid you wouldn't stand a chance," Crocodile added, shaking his head as he rejected a certain decision.
Bonez's strength and loyalty were commendable, and Crocodile held high regard for him. Bonez was like a sharp blade in Crocodile's hand, not to be wielded indiscriminately.
However, the task of kidnapping Princess Vivi from under the Straw Hat gang's noses wouldn't be easy.
"Moreover, even if I could lay eyes on those ancient texts, I wouldn't be able to decipher them," Crocodile mused, his expression growing more and more troubled as he held his cigar.
Regardless, Crocodile believed that someone, somewhere, could interpret those texts. But for now, his focus remained on kidnapping the princess.
Surveying the Baroque Works organization he had assembled, Crocodile's expression soured.
"How can we accomplish anything significant with this bunch of insects?" he muttered to himself.
While some members showed promise, the organization was largely composed of expendable assets, with only a few individuals boasting true combat effectiveness.
"Perhaps Bon Clay and his Mane Mane no mi are reliable," Crocodile conceded, "but there are too few capable fighters among us."
As for MR.3, Crocodile regarded him as little more than a waste of resources.
Frustrated, Crocodile rubbed his temples. "Let's lay low for now. I've received intelligence that several naval officers have infiltrated Alabasta."
Despite his status as a Shichibukai, Crocodile was wary of the Navy's intentions and suspected his plans may have been compromised.
Feeling overwhelmed, Crocodile grabbed at his hair, his thoughts in disarray. "What am I going to do?"
Bonez, standing nearby with his arms crossed, was not known for his strategic thinking. Crocodile often gave instructions, and Bonez followed suit.
"Contact Germa 66. If they're mercenaries, they can assist us in combat," Crocodile instructed a hint of determination in his eyes.
Despite their similarities to Jerma 66, Crocodile felt he had no other option but to reach out to them. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and expanding his combat capabilities was paramount.
The combat prowess of the North Sea Evil Corps is indeed impressive.
"That's a solid plan," Bonez agreed, recognizing the need to recruit more manpower in the current situation.
"And my hero title still holds weight," Crocodile remarked, acknowledging the usefulness of his title in rallying support for the country of Alabasta and dealing with the resistance army.
Crocodile felt a surge of satisfaction as he opened up to the idea of leveraging his title for assistance.
He had acquired the "Hero" title through cunning means in the past, and now it proved to be a valuable asset, symbolizing the king's authority and righteousness.
Grabbing the Den Den Mushi, Crocodile initiated a conversation with Vinsmoke.
"Ah, this is unexpected," Judge's voice crackled through the phone bug, indicating the strained relations between their factions due to previous conflicts.
"I require mercenaries, and money is no object," Crocodile stated bluntly, emphasizing the urgency of the situation in Alabasta.
"The enemy is the rebel forces and a band of pirates," he added, stressing the need for immediate action.
Judge, perceptive as ever, quickly connected the dots and identified Crocodile as the mastermind behind the Baroque Works organization.
"The desert kingdom? Dealing with rebels," Judge mused aloud, his sharp mind quickly piecing together the situation.
"It seems you're involved, Sir Crocodile, am I right?" he inquired, his tone laced with shrewdness, revealing his astute deduction.
Judge's insightful observation led to the revelation of the enigmatic leader behind the Baroque Works organization.
Crocodile, unperturbed, responded with a hint of sarcasm, "Well, it seems money talks, doesn't it?"
"Indeed, no problem. We have a capable fighting team nearby," Judge assured, acknowledging the lucrative opportunity.
"But I'm intrigued, what's your interest in that desolate desert kingdom?" Judge's curiosity piqued, knowing that a Shichibukai's involvement implied deeper motives than mere financial gain.
After all, a pirate's agenda is rarely straightforward, and Judge sensed there was more to Crocodile's operation than met the eye.
"If you don't need to know, then don't bother asking. I'll provide the location later," Crocodile retorted dismissively.
"Money isn't an issue. I expect your combat effectiveness to match the price," he asserted, emphasizing the importance of competence.
"I'll initiate the attack, and you can follow through immediately," Crocodile concluded before abruptly ending the conversation in frustration.
Judge, feeling puzzled by Crocodile's demeanor, couldn't shake off his involvement in the matter. Resigned to the situation, he promptly reached for his Den Den Mushi to contact his daughter.
POV END.
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Future General POV.
Later that day
Ace emerged from Alabasta, his determination burning as brightly as the desert sun. Aboard his fast ship, he was sailing at full speed towards the next destination in his quest for revenge against Blackbeard. The wind blew his hair and the salty sea breeze filled his lungs as he moved forward with determination.
Suddenly, in a flash of dazzling light, Ace found himself somewhere else. Confused and disoriented, he found himself on the deck of his crew's ship, the Moby Dick, Whitebeard's flagship. He looked around in amazement, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
Whitebeard, who was on the deck at the time, approached Ace with a look of surprise and curiosity. "What the hell is going on here?" Ace muttered to himself, as he tried to catch his breath.
Whitebeard was surprised by the situation that had just occurred but quickly set it aside and welcomed Ace aboard with a friendly smile. "Welcome, Ace. It seems like you've had an interesting journey," he greeted warmly. Ace was taken aback, but he also felt grateful to have been received so kindly.
"Dad? What happened? Why am I back on the ship? I was supposed to have just left Alabasta, and now I find myself back in the New World," Ace said, somewhat stunned by the situation in which he found himself.
"I met the crew of my brother Luffy. I had a conversation about Blackbeard with his deputy captain, and after a while, I said goodbye and went out to sea," he explained, recounting everything he did in Arabasta.
As Ace explained what had happened, Whitebeard listened carefully. When Ace mentioned his search for Blackbeard, Whitebeard nodded solemnly. "I understand your thirst for revenge, Ace, but you'd better give up your pursuit. Facing Blackbeard is dangerous, and I don't want to see you fall into his trap."
"I know you want to avenge Thatch, but Teach is on a much higher level than you. Whitey got a lot of information about him, and it seems that all this time he was in the crew with the sole objective of obtaining a specific Devil Fruit," Whitebeard added.
Ace's eyes widened in realization. "You mean... the fruit that Thatch discovered?" he inquired.
"That's correct. The fruit in question is the Yami Yami no Mi. It's not just any ordinary logia fruit. Teach didn't kill Thatch for a run-of-the-mill power. He sought the unique ability granted by this fruit," Whitebeard elaborated.
"The Yami Yami no Mi's distinctive ability is to nullify other devil fruit powers. Moreover, there's a rumor circulating, as Whitey heard, that Teach was responsible for the scar on the Red-Haired Pirate," he continued.
Ace absorbed this information, feeling a mix of shock and determination. While his thirst for vengeance still raged within him, he understood the folly of directly confronting Teach.
POV END.
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