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Chapter 96: What Kind of Calamity, Called the Overlord of the Sky
Chapter 96: What Kind of Calamity, Called the Overlord of the Sky
Alba and Rainland, one in the east and one in the west, are divided by the Sandora River.
The crocodile's speed was not as fast as the lizard's before, but compared to the camel, it was much faster. By nightfall, they had reached the Sandora River, and Sog even returned to the ship to rest for a while.
Such a large desert had soaked him in sweat, so of course, he returned to the ship to shower and change his clothes while he was at it. He also had a meal before continuing his journey, riding on the crocodile.
It wasn't that he had been bare-chested all this time. After his battle with Ace, his expensive shirt had been ruined, but over this period, he would have changed his clothes.
Fortunately, he had protected his even more expensive fur cape with his Haki. Otherwise, he would have lost that too, and he didn't know where he could find a second one.
Sog changed into a loose, sand-colored open-collar shirt, with black trousers that were tucked into his boots. With his subordinates, who had been tidied up, they set off again.
This crocodile was useful on both land and water, and it was very convenient for transportation. However, it was raised by Crocodile, and it didn't fit with Sog's aesthetics.
As the crocodile crossed the river, Sog suddenly said, "Why don't we also come up with some signature means of transportation?"
Renitia thought for a moment and said, "How about a motorcycle? I can make one directly."
"Shouldn't we also have those subordinates of ours shave their heads like mohawks? Don't joke around, Renie," Sog said, rolling his eyes.
She often made mechanical trinkets as experiments, but she focused solely on functionality and disregarded appearance. Unless there were hard requirements, her creations were generally rough and crude.
While there might not be any problems with the technology, Sog always got a post-apocalyptic feel from seeing too many of these crude things.
His style was that of a pirate, not a wasteland wanderer.
He knew what kind of motorcycle Renitia would come up with, and if his subordinates also shaved their heads like mohawks, what kind of calamity would he even be called? Perhaps the Overlord of the Sky would be more fitting.
"Mohawk."
Renitia's eyes lit up. "That does seem interesting."
"Oh come on, they'll look like little hoodlums," Marika laughed.
"But having a uniform appearance can also become a symbol of our pirate crew," Lily agreed.
"Let's talk about that later," Sog waved his hand. "You know the plan. We'll stay away from the central square of Alba and head directly to the royal palace. That area won't be affected by the bombs."
Whether or not the bombs that Crocodile had placed could destroy a royal capital was another question, but their power was definitely not to be underestimated. There was no need to take that risk, as all he wanted to do was rob the royal palace.
"A massive brawl of a million people? Can Alba even accommodate that many people?" Lily found it incredible.
According to the intelligence they had received from Crocodile, out of the million-strong Alabasta standing army, 700,000 soldiers had become rebels, leaving only 300,000 in the King's army. If they all gathered in Alba, it would truly be a sea of people.
Lily still remembered when they were in the East Blue, and Sog had faced two thousand soldiers alone. Even that number had been densely packed.
She couldn't even begin to imagine what a million people would look like.
With one hand supporting his chin and his head tilted, Sog smiled and said, "Whether or not it can accommodate that many, we'll know once we take a look."
The crocodile crossed the Sandora River and headed east into the desert, continuing toward Alba until the sun rose, and it became daytime. That was when they saw the massive structure.
Alba was a city that sat high in the desert, like a large island that had emerged from the sand sea. There were giant steps on all four sides, extending upward, and one had to climb these steps to reach Alba.
Just the sheer magnitude of these steps was enough to leave no room for doubt—this city could accommodate a million people in battle.
Beneath the steps of the west gate of Alba, a group of people were waiting.
A man with a sturdy build, wearing bizarrely heavy makeup, false eyelashes, and a swan ballet costume, had his eyes wide open in surprise. He was tiptoeing in the sand, continuously turning in circles, and his voice was hoarse and sharp:
"Will the princess really come? A massive brawl of a million people... To stop them, what a crazy joker!"
Beside him, a disheveled-haired woman in a spider swimsuit, holding a smoking pipe, quietly laughed and said, "Wouldn't it be better if she didn't come? Although even if she did come, it wouldn't be of much use. But compared to her, according to the message Miss Sunday sent, a big shot is also on the way and will become our guarantee."
"A big shot? What kind of big shot? How big? Who is it? Is it Crocodile? Hurry up and tell me, you're killing me here!"
Miss Merry Christmas spoke rapidly, stomping her feet as she spoke.
Mr. 4, who was standing on a stone nearby and observing through a telescope, revealed a slow, honest smile.
"We'll know when we get there. Besides, that's not our mission."
The man leaning against the stone spoke up in a cold tone, "Our task is to deal with anyone who gets in our way, especially you, Mr. 2. Stop goofing around."
This man had shaved his head bald, revealing a scalp tattoo, and he wore an open-collared martial arts outfit with a large 'One' character emblazoned on his chest.
He was Mr. 1, the top agent of the Baroque Works.
"Huh? Do you have a problem with me? Do you want to taste my kicking technique, wah yo!" Mr. 2 turned his head and glared at him.
"You two, stop quarreling and calm down." Miss Doublefinger sighed and tried to mediate between them.
Just as the two agents were about to come to blows, Mr. 4, who had been standing on the stone observing through a telescope, slowly turned his head. Then, with deliberate slowness, he raised his finger and said, "They're here."
As his words fell, a group of ten crocodiles pulled up, kicking up a cloud of dust as they came to a stop in the empty lot below the west gate's staircase.
From the cabin on the back of the lead crocodile, several dozen pirates, led by Ajin and Palu, disembarked and gathered together.
After they had all alighted, the door to the cabin on the lead crocodile slowly opened.
A pink-haired little girl appeared on the crocodile's back and slid down as if on a slide, then turned back and slapped the crocodile's back, complaining, "Your skin is too rough! It's no fun as a slide!"
"This little girl..."
Miss Doublefinger was taken aback. "Renitia, with a bounty of 23 million berries?"
The Baroque Works valued information, especially Miss Doublefinger, who was the partner of the top agent. She focused even more on intelligence gathering and was usually responsible for communications with the higher-ranking agents.
As such, she was quite familiar with Renitia; a little girl with a bounty of over 20 million was certainly someone worth paying attention to.
"Oh, I already told you, crocodiles aren't meant for sliding."
A woman with a perpetual smile on her face jumped down from the crocodile's back and cheerfully addressed Renitia.
Her gentle smile reminded one of Miss Sunday, but it was much softer and warmer.
"Marika..."
Miss Doublefinger continued, "...with a bounty of 30 million berries."
Lily was the third to disembark. She adjusted the sword at her waist and, upon seeing this woman, Mr. 1 couldn't help but reveal a look of surprise, instinctively giving her a second glance.
There was something about this swordsman that exuded a sharp edge.
"Biendata Lily, with a bounty of 36 million berries."
Miss Doublefinger turned her attention to the group of pirates and paused on three of them, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead. "Ajin, Palu, Miote... with bounties of 15 million, 10 million, and 6 million, respectively."
"Aside from that swordsman being worth noting, the rest are just small fries."
Mr. 1 glanced at her and calmly stated, "Is there anything surprising about that, Miss Doublefinger?"
"Haven't you been reading the newspapers?"
Miss Doublefinger stared at the cabin on the crocodile's back and swallowed before continuing, "These people are members of the Blight Pirates. If they're all here, then that big shot..."
From within the cabin, a figure slowly emerged.
His fur cape billowed in the wind, lifting his white hair and also bringing up a dazzling gleam that obscured his face.
It was the jewelry on his body, glittering in the sunlight.
"Are you the agents that Crocodile mentioned?"
A voice slowly sounded from atop the crocodile.
Miss Doublefinger stared intently at the man, and as the glare lessened, she saw his face, which bore an air of wild arrogance.
Indeed, the bounties of those people weren't very high, with the highest being similar to her own, at 36 million.
Miss Doublefinger, whose real name was Pola, was not a pirate. However, those who defied the world government and the local kingdom's edict by venturing out to sea weren't just limited to pirates.
Having a bounty didn't necessarily mean one was a pirate.
But there was no doubt that this group was made up of pirates, and dangerous ones at that, especially their leader...
"Blight! Norton Sog!" Miss Doublefinger's voice carried a hint of trembling.
At this moment, all the agents fell into a state of stagnation, and even Mr. 1 couldn't help but wear a solemn expression.
They weren't like those billionaires and millionaires below who, upon seeing someone with a high bounty, would want to take a chance and fight them in hopes of gaining fame.
They understood that the higher the bounty, the greater the danger.
While this didn't necessarily reflect one's strength, when it reached a certain level, no one would dare to underestimate that person.
A bounty of 270 million berries was, in their eyes, a true big shot!
(End of Chapter)
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