Yet Sakazuki, standing rigidly before the Fleet Admiral's desk, was far from satisfied with those words.
His brows knitted tightly as he spoke, voice low and edged with dissatisfaction. "No. Smoker is too weak. He was already crushed by that lunatic Will once before." "Even if he does manage to locate the man, Smoker won't be able to take him down on the spot." "By the time we get the report and send a Vice Admiral, the target will have slipped away again."
He took one step closer, magma-like heat practically radiating from him. "Let me go, Sengoku. I'll drag that bastard back in chains."
At being addressed by name a second time—and with such brazen defiance—Sengoku's own brows drew together. He lifted his head, eyes sharp. "Enough, Sakazuki." "For now, Smoker will track him. You are to stand down."
"But—"
Sengoku's patience snapped. He shot to his feet, palm crashing against the desk with a thunderous bang. "I said enough!" he roared, voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Need I remind you who the Fleet Admiral is here?" "I give the orders. You obey them. Is that clear?"
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
The veins on Sakazuki's forehead throbbed. Two seconds—three—then, through gritted teeth and barely-contained fury, he forced the words out. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku… mark my words. You will regret this."
Without waiting for a reply, he spun on his heel. His Marine coat flared like molten wings as he stormed out.
BANG—!
The door slammed shut hard enough to splinter the frame.
Sengoku stared at the fresh cracks spider-webbing across the wood, then slowly sank back into his chair. He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled a long, weary breath.
A moment later he reached into a drawer and withdrew a wanted poster.
Dead or Alive Madman Will Bounty: [redacted] Berry
He studied the face on the paper for several silent seconds, then extended it sideways.
The little white goat that always lingered near his desk trotted over without hesitation, delicately took the poster between its teeth, and began methodically chewing it to shreds.
The next morning.
Will, Issho, Nami, and the rest of the crew had been invited by King Nefertari Cobra to share breakfast in the palace. Robin, however, was absent; after reuniting with Will in Alubarna the previous day, she had slipped away alone, asking only that he contact her by Den Den Mushi once the royal family honored their earlier promise.
When everyone gathered in the grand dining hall and took their seats around the long table, head chef Tigotan immediately began barking orders. Platters of food started flying out of the kitchen at top speed.
Koza, who had arrived in the capital the night before, had spent the entire evening in talks with Cobra. By dawn they had reached an agreement: the rebel army and the royal family would work together to rebuild every city ravaged by the three-year drought. Before the sun had even fully risen, Koza had already hurried back to Yuba to deliver the joyous news to his people. Thus he, too, was missing from the table.
Among those now tearing into the feast, Will, Issho, and Chopper were—predictably—leading the charge.
Will especially ate like a man possessed. Food vanished into his mouth at terrifying speed, yet his stomach barely swelled before flattening again, as if everything were being funneled straight into another dimension. The crew had long since stopped being surprised.
The palace staff and guards, however, gawked in open-mouthed horror.
Tigotan broke into a nervous sweat. "As expected of Mr. Will… even the way he eats is overwhelming!" Sparks of professional pride flared in her eyes. "This chef refuses to be outdone!" She spun around and bolted back to the kitchen to personally oversee an even faster barrage of dishes.
Pell and Chaka, captains of the royal guard, were equally stunned by Chopper's bottomless appetite despite his tiny frame. Issho, quietly working through mountain after mountain of soba bowls, seemed almost normal by comparison.
Vivi watched the chaos with a soft, relieved smile. The nightmare was finally ending. Koza and her father had reconciled; the kingdom would live. She glanced across the table at Will and thought, If I had actually managed to sneak away back at Reverse Mountain like I once planned… I would have destroyed everything with my own hands.
At the head of the table, King Cobra—despite having barely slept—sat tall and invigorated. Once the initial shock of Will's eating wore off, he turned solemnly toward the young man who had saved his nation.
"Mr. Will."
Will paused mid-bite, cheeks stuffed, and looked over with mild confusion.
Cobra swept his gaze across everyone present, then placed both palms flat on the table. He bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the wood.
"From the bottom of my heart—thank you. You saved this country from the abyss. You exposed Crocodile's conspiracy and prevented a civil war that would have torn our people apart."
Igaram, standing at attention nearby, blurted out in alarm, "Your Majesty! A king does not bow so easily—your dignity—"
"Igaram." Cobra's voice cut like steel even as his head remained lowered. "Dignity is a decoration. Compared to the survival of this kingdom, it is worth less than sand."
He bowed still lower, voice trembling with sincerity. "As king, as a father, and as a citizen of this desert—I thank you all from the deepest part of my soul. Thank you… truly."
Vivi rose quickly beside him, hands clasped over her stomach, and bowed just as deeply. "As princess of Alabasta—and as your temporary crewmate—I offer my deepest gratitude as well!"
Pell, Chaka, Igaram, and every guard in the hall followed suit in perfect unison. "Thank you!!"
Nami, Carina, and Chopper froze with food halfway to their mouths. Issho set down his chopsticks, expression solemn beneath his ever-closed eyes; the sincerity rolling off everyone in the room was almost tangible to him.
Will chewed thoughtfully for a moment, swallowed, then spoke with his usual blunt honesty.
"I'll accept your thanks. But let's be clear—I came here to mess with Crocodile. Saving the kingdom was just a side effect." He shrugged. "You already paid us more than enough gold for that. So relax."
Then he grinned. "Just… treat your people right from now on. Listen to them. If something like this ever happens again, getting overthrown is the least you'd deserve."
Cobra straightened, eyes shining with resolve. "Understood. I will never again grow complacent. You have my word."
"Good." Will's grin widened. "Now quit standing around—food's getting cold, and eating is the most important thing in the world."
With that, he dove back into his mountain of plates like nothing had happened.
Cobra and Vivi exchanged warm, genuine smiles as the hall gradually returned to cheerful noise.
After the meal, Cobra did not forget the promise made to Nico Robin. Despite her past with Baroque Works, she had ultimately betrayed Crocodile and even revealed the location of the massive bomb he'd hidden beneath the palace square. A deal was a deal.
He quietly informed Will of the hidden Poneglyph's location and the mechanism to reach it. Will stepped outside the palace alone and dialed Robin's Den Den Mushi.
The snail's eyes morphed into her gentle smile as her voice came through, soft and teasing. "Yes, Boss? Finally ready for me?"
Will smirked. "Where are you right now?"
"Still in Alubarna. I never left the capital."
"Good. The king kept his promise. The Poneglyph is beneath the royal mausoleum in the western district—you know the place."
Robin's breath hitched almost imperceptibly. "Yes… I know it."
"Meet me there. He's already cleared the guards. We're going straight in."
A soft laugh. "My, our king trusts you quite a bit now, doesn't he? He's not even coming himself."
Will snorted. "Doesn't matter if he trusts me. He gave his word. And honestly, once he decided to let us see it, his presence wouldn't change a thing."
"True enough," Robin agreed, amused.
"See you soon." Will hung up, pocketed the snail, and headed west.
Minutes later, beneath the shade of twin rows of date palms at the mausoleum entrance, a lone, elegant figure waited.
Will didn't slow down. As he passed her he tossed over his shoulder, "Come on. Let's go see this Poneglyph you've been chasing your whole life."
Robin's lips curved. "Yes, Boss."
Side by side they strode between towering stone pillars and into the cool darkness of the tomb.
Will stopped at what looked like an ordinary section of wall. Following Cobra's instructions, he located a concealed switch and pressed it.
Rrrrrmmmmm—!
With a deep, grinding rumble, a massive stone slab in the floor slowly lifted, revealing a long, sloping staircase that disappeared into shadow below.
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