The wind howled like a beast on fire.
Sand whipped through the ruined remains of Yuba, a once-proud oasis town now half-buried under wave after wave of desert fury. Buildings leaned with broken beams, windows sealed by sand, and the well — dry. Not a soul moved outside.
The Straw Hats stood near the entrance, scarves tight around their faces.
Vivi's voice trembled. "Yuba's gone…"
Nami pulled her hood tighter. "This wind could rip your skin off."
Usopp ducked behind Zoro. "We should camp somewhere with fewer sand bullets!"
Sanji narrowed his eyes. "I don't see any rebels."
"No," Vivi said quietly. "Koza isn't here."
"Then where is he?" Luffy asked.
Everyone turned to Vivi.
But she looked down, lost.
Rex stepped forward.
"I'll find him."
Vivi blinked. "But how?"
Rex dropped his pack, knelt on one knee, and pulled out a worn parchment — a sand map, nearly blank except for magnetic vectors and trade paths. He laid it on the stone slab, anchoring it with coins.
Then his fingers started moving — fast.
Not random.
Patterned.
Like chess moves.
[…Pattern triangulation activated. Sandstorm frequency overlay enabled. Civilian movement detected in the last 72 hours: confirmed. Rebels not in Yuba. Route divergence occurred southwest quadrant. Hidden caravan trail suggested. Probability of decoy route: 60%.]
The crew watched in silence.
Even Zoro raised a brow.
"What's he doing?" Sanji whispered.
Nami leaned in. "He's building a route net. Like a… trap map."
Vivi stepped forward. "Michael is helping?"
Rex smirked, without looking up. "Michael analyzes. I plan."
[…Tactical mode engaged. Personality directive: calculated charisma restored.]
"Good to have you back," Rex muttered.
He pressed two fingers on the lower right of the map.
"There. That's where Koza is likely headed."
Luffy squinted. "It's just more sand."
Rex stood and brushed the map off. "Not just sand. Abandoned mining tunnels. They run underground — routes the rebels would use to avoid the storm."
"You're sure?" Vivi asked.
"Not yet," Rex said. "But I'm about to be."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded Baroque Works armband — taken from the scout he'd defeated in Nanohana.
Then he did something no one expected.
He wrapped it around his arm.
Luffy blinked. "Wait… you're pretending to be one of them?"
"Exactly."
"Why?" Sanji asked.
"Because if Crocodile's agents are watching — and they are — they'll trust one of their own."
Rex turned toward the south, where the storm hit the dunes like a god's breath.
"I'll walk into the sandstorm. Alone."
Nami stepped forward. "Rex—"
He looked at her.
His eyes were calm.
Focused.
But now, warmer.
"If they believe I'm hunting rebels… they'll lead me to them."
"And if they don't?" Vivi asked quietly.
Rex smiled. "Then I make them."
Later – Desert Interior
The sandstorm was blinding.
Rex moved like a shadow across the dunes, his Baroque armband visible, his posture straight but casual. Two figures appeared from the haze ahead — desert scouts in cloaks.
"Halt," one said. "Baroque Unit?"
Rex nodded. "Tracking rebel activity. Yuba's dead. Heard movement southwest."
The other stepped forward. "ID code?"
Rex smiled thinly.
"Code: X72-Gold-Finger."
The first man hesitated.
"…Never heard of that one."
"Exactly," Rex said — and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backward.
The second man pulled a blade.
Too late.
Rex twisted, blocked, and knocked the weapon from his hand before slamming the hilt into the man's temple.
Both down.
[…Signal trace captured. Communication Den Den Mushi call in progress. Tracker beacon transmitting.]
Rex picked up the dropped snail-phone.
A voice crackled through.
"Unit 27, status report. Are the rebels there?"
Rex held the snail close.
"They will be soon," he said, changing his voice to a cold whisper. "Tell the others to close in from the southern path."
"Copy. Southern approach confirmed."
Rex dropped the receiver.
Turned.
Smiled.
"They'll chase the wrong trail."
Elsewhere – Straw Hats' Camp
Luffy paced. "He's been gone too long!"
"He'll be fine," Zoro muttered.
Vivi looked toward the storm. "But what if he—?"
A voice echoed behind them.
"Miss me?"
Rex stepped out of the dunes, coat covered in sand, armband gone, map updated with fresh symbols.
"You found them?" Nami asked, surprised.
"No. I made them find me."
He dropped the new map onto a blanket and pointed.
"They'll swarm this canyon. We go the opposite way. Straight to the capital."
Sanji exhaled. "That's what I call a mind game."
Vivi stared at him.
"You could've been captured. Or killed."
"I could've," Rex said.
Then winked.
"But then you'd miss my voice."