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The Strongest Frost Loli (175)
🕑 Added 2025-01-04 17:00:12 +0000 UTCChapter 175 - The Time Limit
The following morning, the male members of the Straw Hat crew sported a collection of lumps, a clear indication of Nami’s wrath following their late-night revelry. Even Gem and Igaram, who typically avoided such boisterous celebrations, bore similar marks, suggesting the festivities had been particularly rambunctious.
“Right, let’s review today’s plan.”
Nami unfurled a map across the Going Merry’s deck for all to see. Vivi and Mikita, still slightly aghast at the previous night's antics, looked on. Their destination was Rainbase, a casino town in Alabasta seemingly untouched by the current rebellion. It was also, they believed, Crocodile’s stronghold. Their course was clear.
However, Zepo and Pedro voiced their dissent.
“We can’t accompany you from here,” Pedro stated.
“What?! You were so eager to take down Crocodile!” Nami’s voice rose in alarm. The loss of their strongest fighters was a significant blow.
Zepo and Pedro exchanged a look of distress. Robin had contacted them during the night. Baroque Works had begun to make their move.
“Our partnership with Crocodile… was contingent upon finding something. Until we find it… we can’t afford to confront him,” Pedro explained.
Their involvement with Crocodile had been a means to an end. They had sought his assistance in locating a specific item, promising non-interference from Twilight in exchange for his cooperation. They had waited patiently for their opportunity.
Nami, however, was furious.
“That’s ridiculous! Do you even understand the gravity of the situation?!”
“We’re not taking this lightly. Robin aligned herself with Crocodile for this very reason. If we openly oppose him now, her life would be in danger,” Pedro retorted.
Despite the apparent callousness, they were committed to their objective. They wouldn't abandon a mission they had invested so much in. Usopp, intrigued by their unwavering determination, pressed them.
“What are you searching for? What’s so important?”
“…A Poneglyph.”
“What?! But… possessing those is a serious crime!” Igaram exclaimed.
While Usopp could infer its significance from Igaram’s reaction, the details remained elusive to him, Vivi, and the rest of the Straw Hats. Gem, seeing their confusion, offered a concise explanation.
Poneglyphs were indestructible stones inscribed with ancient glyphs, their origins and purpose shrouded in mystery. Deciphering these glyphs supposedly unlocked secrets of the past, though few, if any, could still read them. Even Gem was unaware of their true value.
“Crocodile sought Robin’s assistance because she can decipher these glyphs. He believes they hold the key to locating… an ancient weapon,” Gem revealed.
“A weapon?! Something like that actually exists?!” Usopp’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Its existence is unconfirmed. But Crocodile was convinced. Regardless of its authenticity, he wants the Poneglyphs,” Pedro added.
Vivi finally understood Crocodile’s motives. While Alabasta’s desert environment suited his abilities, simply usurping the throne wouldn’t grant him the power to defy the World Government or the Marines. A powerful ancient weapon, however, would be a significant deterrent. Alabasta wasn't a random target. It held the key to his ambitions.
“…I understand,” Vivi said quietly.
“Vivi, are you sure?! Without them, defeating Crocodile will be…” Nami’s protests were cut short by Luffy.
“I’ll take care of Crocodile.”
“You be quiet!” Nami snapped, silencing Luffy before turning back to Vivi. Vivi, however, raised a hand, stopping Nami. She had a plan.
“You want to decipher the Poneglyphs. But you need Crocodile’s help to find them,” she stated, addressing Zepo and Pedro.
“That’s correct,” Pedro confirmed.
“Then the solution is simple. We provide you with a Poneglyph,” Vivi proposed.
Zepo and Pedro stared at her in astonishment. Even Igaram looked shocked. The location of the Poneglyph was a closely guarded secret, passed down through generations of Alabasta’s royal family. Even Igaram, a long-serving advisor to Cobra, was unaware of its whereabouts. It was unlikely that Vivi, who hadn't yet ascended the throne, possessed such knowledge.
“I don’t know where it is, but the one who’s most likely to know is my father. I suspect Crocodile has reached the same conclusion.”
“…He is the most likely candidate. Otherwise, we’d have to search the entire country, or scour historical records for clues,” Pedro conceded.
Searching Alabasta, a vast kingdom, would take years. They didn't have that kind of time. Crocodile would be defeated soon, and Twilight and the Marines would inevitably intervene once the situation in the New World was resolved. Their options were limited.
“Very well. We’ll assist you, on that condition. And… we have no intention of misusing any weapon we might find. Let’s be clear on that.”
“Thank you…” Vivi breathed a sigh of relief. Retaining their strongest allies was crucial. With their assistance secured, they prepared to depart for Alubarna.
The desert air, still cool in the pre-dawn hours, offered a brief respite from the scorching daytime heat.
“We’ve imposed on your generosity. It’s only right that we offer you some compensation,” Vivi said, turning to Luffy and his crew.
“Compensation?” Luffy tilted his head, puzzled.
“Is there anything you’d like?”
“Food,” Luffy declared instantly.
“Sake,” Zoro added.
“Alabasta cuisine recipes,” Sanji chimed in.
“Gunpowder and tools would be nice,” Usopp suggested.
“Books! Medical textbooks!” Chopper exclaimed.
Nami’s eyes gleamed. “How much can you offer?” she asked Vivi.
“Are you trying to extort her?!” Zoro and Usopp exchanged horrified glances.
Gem intervened. “Alabasta is slated to receive reconstruction aid from Twilight. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”
“Really?” Nami’s interest was piqued.
“Cobra and Kanata are old acquaintances. It might take some time, but…” Gem trailed off, implying a substantial sum.
Nami nodded decisively.
“Then that will do.”
“You’re planning to embezzle the aid money?!” Gem’s jaw dropped.
“We’re risking our lives for this country. The least you can do is offer some compensation,” Nami retorted. While their involvement was voluntary, she wasn't about to let a lucrative opportunity slip through her fingers.
“I have about 500,000 berries saved…” Vivi offered hesitantly.
“Don’t bother. She’ll take everything you have.” Mikita’s dry observation made Vivi reconsider.
“It’s beyond my authority. I might be able to secure a reward for your cooperation, but…” Gem said, considering his options. Judging by Kanata's recent communication, she seemed surprisingly amenable to Luffy and his crew. Securing a reward wasn't impossible, though the psychological barrier was considerable.
“Then that will do,” Nami declared.
“I’ll try, but don’t get your hopes up… How much are we talking about?” Gem asked.
“Let’s see… about a billion berries,” Nami replied casually.
Gem nearly fainted.
***
Several hours later, having travelled along the Sandora River, they reached Rainbase. The desert sun beat down on them, making their earlier pre-dawn coolness a distant memory. They couldn't afford to rest. Locating Crocodile was their immediate priority.
“Where’s Crocodile?” Luffy asked.
“He should be at the casino in the town center. But something’s… off,” Vivi replied, observing the unusual atmosphere. While Rainbase was typically bustling, today the town seemed strangely agitated.
Vivi and Igaram, concealed by their cloaks, moved quickly through the crowds. Gem, approached a nearby townsman and inquired about the situation.
“Excuse me, I have a question.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“The town seems… restless. Has something happened?”
“You haven’t heard?!” The man looked at Gem in surprise.
He recounted the morning’s events. Royal soldiers had attacked Nanohana, setting fire to the town. King Cobra was reportedly responsible. A massive weapons transport had crashed into the harbor, and the rebel army had seized its cargo. Outraged citizens were marching towards Alubarna.
“That’s… impossible…!”
“I was shocked too. But there are also reports of the king being at the palace… It’s hard to tell what’s true and what’s not.”
“I see… Thank you.”
Gem relayed the information to his companions. Vivi and Igaram’s faces paled. While they had anticipated Crocodile impersonating Cobra, his actions were swift and decisive. They had been outmaneuvered. Recovering from this setback would be difficult.
“The rebel army’s main force is in Katorea. Assuming they regroup and march towards Alubarna… it will take them at least eight hours,” Gem calculated.
The incident had occurred around 7:00 am. Even accounting for the time required to disseminate the information, their window of opportunity was closing rapidly. It was already past noon. Retracing their steps, returning to the ship, and sailing upriver would take too long. They wouldn't reach Alubarna in time.
“That’s… that’s impossible…!”
“Can’t we do something?!”
“I don’t know! Koza promised he wouldn’t act for a few days…!”
If Cobra, leading the attack on Nanohana, had been seen by numerous witnesses, then Vivi's earlier claims would be dismissed as lies. The situation was dire.
“Mr. 2…!” Gem muttered through gritted teeth.
Even if the real Cobra was at the palace, witnessing the king leading a destructive rampage would convince anyone that he was the culprit. There was no way to distinguish the real king from the imposter.
“We have to stop the rebellion.”
“But how?!”
Even if they could reach Koza, regaining his trust would be difficult. He had been deceived once.
Confronting Crocodile was also unavoidable. As they pondered their options, Zoro spoke, observing the town’s activities.
“Is Crocodile even here? Could he have already left?”
Vivi’s eyes widened. Crocodile’s objective was the Poneglyph. With the rebellion underway and Cobra’s potential demise, he had no reason to remain in Rainbase. He was likely already en route to Alubarna.
“We have to reach Alubarna immediately! Even if we’re too late, we can’t give up!”
“Right, let’s move–”
Just as they were about to depart, multiple sandstorms erupted outside the town.
“Sandstorms?! So close?!”
“…Crocodile’s a sand Logia. He’s had decades to hone his abilities. This is well within his capabilities.”
“Could it be–”
“It’s Crocodile. He’s still nearby.”
Gem, familiar with Crocodile’s powers from his encounters with Junshi, concluded that Crocodile was engaged in combat with someone.
“He’s in the sandstorm?!”
“He should be! But confronting him in the desert–”
“I’m coming for you, Crocodile!!!”
“Wait!”
Ignoring Gem’s warnings, Luffy charged towards the sandstorms. Knowing the sandstorms wouldn't reach Rainbase, Pedro and Zepo followed.
“We’ll go after Luffy! You head straight for Alubarna! We’ll catch up!”
“…Please!” Vivi’s voice was laced with desperation. She had to trust them.
“But travelling on foot will take too long! We need another option!” Sanji exclaimed.
“Another option?” Zoro looked at him skeptically.
“We can’t risk arriving after everything’s over! We need a faster way to cross the desert!”
“Do you think something like that just magically appears, you damn cook?”
“That’s why I’m asking! Use your brain, you moss-head!”
“Stop fighting, both of you!”
Sanji argued for a faster mode of transport, while Zoro insisted on immediate departure. Nami tried to mediate, while Usopp and Chopper watched anxiously. Igaram and Mikita suggested several options, but none allowed them to cross the Sandora River. As Vivi desperately searched for a solution, a woman approached.
“You’re still here?”
Long, dark hair swayed as the beautiful woman drew closer. Sanji’s jaw dropped, while the others, except for Chopper who had never met her, stared in surprise.
“You…”
“Miss All Sunday!”
“Do you understand the situation? Then let’s go. We’re running out of time.”
Having just encountered Pedro, Robin wasted no time in explanations. With Pedro and Zepo openly defying Crocodile, her betrayal was exposed. She could now openly assist Vivi without jeopardizing her mission.
As they followed her, slightly bewildered, she continued.
“I’ve been preparing for this as Crocodile’s advisor. Naturally, I’ve arranged transportation.”
She reassured them. There was still time.
“You’re going to save Alabasta, aren't you? Then we can’t afford to stand still.”
“…You’re right!” Vivi had learned from Luffy. She wouldn't give up until the very end.
Robin smiled faintly, leading them to a large creature waiting outside the town. A crocodile, with a peculiar banana-shaped hump on its head.
“What is that… a crocodile?!”
“It’s huge…!”
“It’s a Bananadile. They’re incredibly ferocious, capable of preying on Sea Kings. But this one’s been trained,” Robin explained.
This particular Bananadile was renowned for its speed, having placed second in an Alabasta race. It was also amphibious, a crucial advantage. Robin, already seated inside the covered section on the creature’s back, gestured for them to join her. They would share information en route.
Once everyone was secured and buckled in, she gave the signal.
“Hold on tight! We’re going!”
The Bananadile lurched forward, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. Two hours remained before the rebel army reached Alubarna.
