The scorching desert winds whipped across the dunes as the camel caravan approached Yuba's outskirts. Dust swirled around their hooves, painting the air golden. At the head of the procession, Mr. 2 Bon Clay adjusted his lavish blue robes, turning to address his disguised Baroque Works agents.
"Are the explosives and fuel prepared?" His voice carried the crisp authority of a commander. "And have our infiltrators in the city received their orders?"
A subordinate snapped to attention. "Everything's arranged, sir! This operation will plunge Alabasta into chaos—"
Bon Clay's laughter cut him off. "Excellent! Let's burn this kingdom to the ground!"
With a theatrical flourish, he raised his hand to his face. The Mane-Mane Fruit's power surged through his fingertips, reshaping his features. His jawline sharpened, his nose straightened—within seconds, he'd become King Cobra's perfect double. Not just in appearance, but in posture, voice, even the way he held himself.
No one would suspect the truth.
This flawless mimicry was why Crocodile had chosen him. With Bon Clay impersonating Cobra, they could commit atrocities in the king's name, stoking the flames of rebellion.
The caravan reached Yuba's gates. As they dismounted, a rebel sentry gaped at the approaching figure. His hands trembled as he snatched up the den den mushi. "Leader Koza!" he barked into the receiver. "King Cobra's forces are here!"
Minutes later, a young man in a russet coat pushed through the gathering crowd. Koza's green hair was tousled by the wind, the scar over his eye stark in the sunlight. Behind him, rebel commanders formed a tense semicircle.
Civilians edged closer, murmuring. The air thickened with anticipation.
Koza bowed, though his shoulders remained rigid. "King Cobra," he said carefully, "we appreciate you coming to negotiate. Let's continue this discussion inside—"
The fake Cobra waved a dismissive hand. "Unnecessary."
Koza's jaw tightened. Cobra's reputation still carried weight—before Baroque Works' interference, most citizens had adored him. The recent rains had even cast doubt on the dancing powder accusations. Many rebels now questioned whether they'd been manipulated.
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Some rebels clutched their weapons tighter; others avoided eye contact entirely.
Koza exhaled. His people were exhausted. If they surrendered, could they return to their farms? Their families? But rebellion meant treason, and treason meant death. Unless...
He straightened. "Then name your terms."
The impostor's lips curled. "Terms? You misunderstand. This isn't a negotiation."
Koza's hand twitched toward his sword. Around him, his commanders exchanged uneasy glances.
The fake king's voice dropped to a venomous purr. "You rebelled. You chose this path. Now face the consequences."
A woman in the crowd gasped. A child whimpered.
Koza's fingers clenched. They'd been prepared to atone—to offer their lives so their followers might be spared. But this?
"Let's just negotiate here!" Koza's voice cracked like a whip. "Regarding Koza's suggestion, the..."
Among the gradually gathering crowd, some people's actions seemed somewhat furtive, as if they were setting up something around. In addition, some people took out Tone Dials or livestream den den mushi and began recording the conversation between Cobra and Koza. "You all know that you have committed the great crime of rebellion and treason, right?"
The fake Cobra said with a serious expression, looking at Koza and the others opposite him. Upon hearing this, Koza immediately showed a look of shame and lowered his head slightly. He said in a somewhat hoarse voice:
"Yes, His Majesty the King! We, the high-ranking rebel army officials, are well aware of our crimes and are prepared to accept your corresponding punishment.
However, we hope that you can mercifully pardon the crimes of the other rebel army members; they were merely instigated..." "Enough! What nonsense are you spouting here! If you make a mistake, you must accept punishment. Isn't that a truth even a three-year-old understands? How could a great crime like rebellion and treason simply be brushed aside by admitting fault and apologizing.
If so, where would the dignity of the Alabasta royal family be!" The fake Cobra sharply rebuked, interrupting Koza's words. "Then how do you plan to punish us?" Cobra waved his sleeve, his face gradually becoming twisted and angry:
"Hmph! It is always my kindness and tolerance that has allowed you lowlifes to act recklessly, even committing the heinous crime of rebellion and treason.
I merely used dancing powder to plunge this country into drought; the entire country belongs to me... Therefore, how I treat this country is my freedom. How dare you lowlifes resist." As soon as these words were spoken, Koza and the other high-ranking rebel army officials, as well as the surrounding onlookers, all changed color, their expressions filled with surprise and disbelief. "Wait!
King Cobra, do you know what you are saying? You must be joking, right!? Regarding the dancing powder matter..." "Hmph! I admit, I did use dancing powder. I am the king of this country, and I can do whatever I want. That is my freedom!"
Bon Clay, still wearing Cobra's face, spoke those extremely selfish words, making them completely unacceptable to everyone, yet he continued to speak to himself:
"To warn those who are dissatisfied with me, I have decided... Anyone in the rebel army, as well as their related relatives, will be sentenced to death without exception... I will exterminate your nine generations!" Whoosh-!
Compared to the idiotic self-incriminating remarks just now, the destructive power of these words was undoubtedly even greater. If the nine generations of all 120,000 rebel army members were exterminated, the number of people implicated would likely reach over a million. "King Cobra, are you crazy!!! Why would you do this!" Koza roared. "Hmph!
Of course, it is to establish my authority as king, and I will also completely destroy Yuba, this sinful place, the headquarters of the rebel army!" As he spoke, Cobra directly pulled out a pistol, aimed the dark muzzle at Koza, and pulled the trigger. Bang-! A sharp pain suddenly came from his right chest. Koza was stunned for a moment before looking down at his chest. "No! This isn't right...
You are not..." Bang-! Before he could finish speaking, Cobra, impersonated by Bon Clay, pulled the trigger again, causing another burst of blood to bloom on his chest, making him lose consciousness instantly and fall into a pool of blood. Boom-! Boom-! Boom-!...
While everyone was still in shock and confusion, before they could recover, a series of explosions and fire broke out throughout the city, scaring everyone into scattered flight and plunging them into extreme chaos. "It's the King and the Kings Army, they really want to kill us!" "Damn it! We trusted him so much." "So the dancing powder incident was really orchestrated by King Cobra."
...
"Brothers! If the King won't give us a way out, then we'll tear this damn country down ourselves!" One rebel shouted, his voice raw with fury. "Right! Death to Cobra!" Another roared, raising his blade. "Where are those royal bastards hiding?" someone else demanded. "The King's Army lit fires and set off explosions, then fled like cowards!"
As chaos erupted, the Baroque Works operatives Bon Clay had planted among the crowd saw their mission was complete. They melted into the throng, vanishing without leaving a trace. Bon Clay himself shed his disguise, reverting to his original appearance. He quickly changed into fresh clothes, ensuring no one could connect him to the recent events.
"I captured photos and video of that entire exchange," he muttered to himself, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Time to spread this footage far and wide. Let everyone see Cobra's true colors!"
"Damn right!" a rebel snarled, his voice carrying over the growing din. "That bastard King's reign ends today!"
"Yes! We've been blind, trusting the wrong man all along!" The crowd's murmur grew louder, angrier. Spurred on by the planted Baroque Works agents, the common folk—unaware of the truth—were quickly whipped into a frenzy. Their anger spread like wildfire, carried through whispers, shouts, and hastily scrawled messages.
The rebel army, which had been ready to accept the King's punishment moments earlier, now surged with renewed purpose. News of the failed negotiations spread like wildfire, igniting their resolve. They called out to anyone who would listen, urging more citizens to join their cause and rise against the tyrannical King.
Due to "Cobra's" self-incriminating remarks and the decision to exterminate nine generations of the rebel army, more and more people chose to join the rebel army. Since rebelling meant death, and not rebelling also meant death, it was better to take a chance and completely overthrow that mad King Cobra!