Crocodile walked to the highest seat and sat down, his expression suddenly turning ruthless. Biting his cigar, his eyes filled with anger, he said in a deep voice.
Ms. All Sunday betrayed us!
Upon hearing this, the entire audience was shocked again.
How could this be?!
Ms. All Sunday doesn't seem like that kind of person?!
Didn't she always handle various matters for our Baroque Works before? Why would she... betray us?
Crocodile gestured with his eyes, and the two ominous figures who had entered with him distributed photos of the Straw Hat Crew members to everyone. These were the ones they had drawn back at Whiskey Peak.
While they were looking at the photos, Crocodile spoke.
Ms. All Sunday lost to this group of people and is now being held on their ship.
You should know, shouldn't you? Our Baroque Works does not allow failure!
When Crocodile said this, his voice was extremely low and cold. Everyone present couldn't help but shiver, feeling a lingering fear.
To them, this sentence also seemed to be directed at them.
Then, Crocodile continued.
It's because of this matter that I had to personally step in and handle the work that should have been Ms. All Sunday's.
After a few days of preparation, everything is finally arranged.
That's why I gathered you all here, ready to formally begin our Baroque Works' ultimate operation plan.
The operation name is utopia.
Upon hearing Crocodile's words, the executives were all full of doubts and asked,
utopia?
What kind of operation plan is this?
Crocodile said unhurriedly,
I'll tell you little by little!
My true purpose, and the full scope of Baroque Works' final operation.
Everyone pricked up their ears and listened carefully to Crocodile.
The purpose of me establishing this organization is not for money, nor for status.
It is for the military power hidden in this country!
Upon hearing this, all the executives were stunned, with confusion and curiosity in their eyes.
Military power...
Then, they heard Crocodile continue.
In this country, there is information about a weapon hidden that possesses the power to destroy the world.
The Ancient Weapon, Pluton!
As soon as this was said, the entire audience was shocked.
Everyone's eyes were filled with disbelief and astonishment.
Destroy the world?!
Is there really such a terrifying weapon?
Ancient Weapon... Pluton?
Crocodile nodded and said,
This weapon can destroy an island with a single cannonball.
As long as I obtain information about this weapon and master this power.
I can dominate the entire world and become the Pirate King!
Hearing Crocodile's description of Pluton, everyone present was shocked again.
One... one cannonball... can destroy an island?!
Is such a terrifying thing really in this country?
So you want to seize the entire country, right?!
This maid is getting goosebumps.
In other words, our mission this time... is to complete this grand plan!
After hearing everyone's words, Crocodile's mouth slowly curved upwards, his eyes filled with ambition, and he said,
That's right! Since the establishment of Baroque Works, all the missions you have carried out have been preparations for this operation.
Next, I will tell you the orders you need to execute for this operation.
With that, Crocodile began to assign detailed tasks to everyone.
Mr. 4, Ms. Merry Christmas. Your mission is to infiltrate the palace and secretly kidnap King Cobra.
Next is Mr. 2. After Mr. 4 and their mission are completed, use your ability to transform into Cobra, impersonate the King, and lead the army to cause destruction in the city, provoking the Rebel Army.
Then there are Mr. 1 and Ms. Doublefinger. The reason the Rebel Army has not launched an attack on the King's Army is due to insufficient weapons. So I secretly purchased a batch of weapons these past few days. When the Rebel Army is provoked, you two will inadvertently deliver these weapons into their hands.
At that time, the Rebel Army will launch a full-scale attack on the King's Army, and the entire Alabasta will fall.
In just one night, this country will become our utopia!
Gyahahahaha...
Crocodile laughed loudly, with absolute confidence in his eyes.
At this moment, Mr. 3 and Ms. Goldenweek, who had not been assigned tasks, were stunned. Mr. 3 opened his mouth and asked,
What about us? What should we do?
Crocodile stopped laughing upon hearing this, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. He looked at Mr. 3 and said,
This morning, I received a report from the Millionaires saying that someone spotted the Straw Hat Crew on their way to Alabasta.
Based on the time, they should arrive in Alabasta in about half a day.
They have Vivi on their ship.
Before the Rebel Army launches a full-scale attack on the King's Army, Vivi must not meet Kohza, the leader of the Rebel Army.
They know each other. If Vivi tells Kohza about our affairs, this war could very likely be stopped.
So... the mission I'm giving you is... to lead all the Billion Members and Millionaires who are coming to Alabasta, and by any means necessary... prevent them from meeting.
After assigning tasks to everyone, Crocodile's gaze swept over everyone, and he said solemnly,
This is Baroque Works' final and largest utopia operation plan!
Failure is absolutely not allowed!
The operation is set for tomorrow morning at seven o'clock!!
After you all complete your respective missions, gather at the capital, Alubarna, to prevent the Straw Hat Crew from bringing Vivi to stop this war.
Did everyone understand?
Everyone responded simultaneously,
Understood!
Only then did Crocodile's mouth curve into a smile, his eyes filled with ambition and confidence, and he laughed,
I wish you success!
...
On the sparkling sea, the merry go slowly advanced towards Alabasta.
On the deck, Luffy was using his heaven-defying comprehension to help Chopper understand his transformation ability.
At this stage, Chopper, due to his unfamiliarity with the Devil Fruit, still required the assistance of a Rumble Ball for his transformation enhancement.
However, this Rumble Ball has side effects; its duration is limited, and it can gradually make one's consciousness violent. Eating too many can lead to loss of control.
That's why Luffy wanted to help Chopper master this independent transformation ability in advance.
Since he could already transform into the corresponding forms by eating Rumble Balls, Chopper had a certain understanding and familiarity with the waveform of that transformation.
With the help of Luffy's heaven-defying comprehension, remembering that waveform and transforming it out was not difficult.
After some time of assistance from his heaven-defying comprehension, a prompt appeared in Luffy's mind.
Your comprehension is heaven-defying. Through sensory transmission, your transmitter's mastery of his own abilities has improved, allowing for six stages of independent transformation, and the mastery of the seventh stage transformation has increased.
Upon receiving the prompt, both Luffy and Chopper's eyes lit up simultaneously.
Chopper was even more excited, looking at Luffy with starry eyes, and said in surprise,
sugei! Luffy!
I can now perform six stages of normal transformation without the need for a Rumble Ball!
Although I still can't independently transform into the seventh stage, the number of Rumble Balls needed has also decreased, and I won't lose control anymore.
sugei! sugei...
Chopper couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, and began to freely use his transformation ability on the deck, immersed in the joy of his improvement.
Luffy was also very satisfied with this result.
Chopper's seventh-stage transformation is into that gigantic form.
At this stage, he originally had to eat three Rumble Balls, at the cost of entering a berserk state and losing self-awareness, to achieve it.
But now, with his assistance, he only needs to eat one Rumble Ball to maintain it for three minutes, and he can maintain self-awareness.
Luffy looked at the excited Chopper, smiled, and said,
These are abilities you inherently possess. In reality, your combat power hasn't truly increased yet.
You also need to diligently practice the Ultimate Body Forging Technique and Haki that I taught you.
Once your basic abilities improve, the enhancements you gain after transforming will be even greater.
Moreover, once you improve yourself to a certain extent, you will be able to complete the seventh-stage transformation without a Rumble Ball.
Chopper was still immersed in the joy of free transformation, and while constantly experiencing it, he replied to Luffy,
I know!
I will train hard. I want to become a monster like Luffy on the sea!
Chopper's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.
Ever since Luffy redefined the meaning of a monster for him, Chopper had dreamed of becoming a monster like Luffy.
Luffy smiled and let Chopper continue his excited practice.
Just as he had leisure time, Vivi walked over.
As they got closer to her country, Vivi's eagerness to save it grew stronger.
So, with a hint of curiosity and worry, she asked Luffy,
Luffy, we're about to reach Alabasta now.
Can you tell me about the plan you mentioned earlier?
Luffy thought for a moment upon hearing this; it was about time.
So he called everyone over.
After everyone had arrived, he began to tell them the entire plan for saving Alabasta this time.
To save Alabasta, there are three key points.
The first point is to defeat Crocodile.
The second point is to stop the war between the Rebel Army and the King's Army.
The third point is to tell the entire nation the truth about Alabasta, which is the fact that Crocodile is the real culprit behind Alabasta's troubles.
After explaining the three key factors, Luffy began to introduce them one by one in detail.
"Leave defeating Crocodile to me."
"As for stopping the war between the Rebel Army and the King's Army, leave it to Uta!"
Upon hearing Luffy say that he would leave the task of stopping the war to Uta, Vivi immediately looked puzzled and asked, "Uta? She's an outsider, how could she possibly convince the Rebel Army to stop the war?"
"Luffy, I know Kohza, the leader of the Rebel Army. If I tell him Crocodile's secret, he will definitely believe me, and then we can stop the war."
"Leave this matter to me!"
Looking at Vivi's anxious and worried expression as she desperately wanted to save her country, Luffy shook his head and said, "Vivi, you are too naive."
"The news that we are about to arrive in Alabasta must have already reached Crocodile."
"How could he possibly let you meet Kohza?"
"With so many people in the King's Army and the Rebel Army, do you think Crocodile wouldn't have infiltrated members of Baroque Works among them?"
"If you make contact with Kohza, these people will do everything they can to stop it."
"It might even threaten your lives and Kohza's."
Luffy's words made Vivi pause. She had only thought that as long as she could meet Kohza, he would surely believe her words.
She really hadn't considered such a thing.
If it was as Luffy said, even if she met Kohza, she might be assassinated before she could say anything, or Kohza might be assassinated after she informed him.
In short, it wouldn't be as simple as she thought.
Upon hearing these words, Robin also silently praised and approved of Luffy in her heart.
She had originally been by Crocodile's side, so she naturally knew that a large number of Baroque Works members had indeed been infiltrated into both armies, with the purpose of preventing any unexpected incidents.
At the same time, she also became curious about Uta, whom Luffy had mentioned, and turned to look at Uta.
How could this girl stop this war?
Looking at Vivi, who had fallen silent, Luffy said seriously, "Vivi, do you believe I can save your country?"
Vivi looked at Luffy upon hearing this. She saw boundless confidence in his eyes.
Having spent so much time with Luffy, she had long developed a strong trust and reliance on him.
Even if she herself wasn't aware of it, as long as Luffy spoke, she would feel at ease.
Looking into Luffy's eyes, Vivi nodded heavily.
Luffy smiled slightly upon seeing this and continued, "Since you believe me, then let's follow my plan!"
"And regarding the second point of the plan, I actually still need your help."
Hearing that there was a way she could contribute to saving her country, Vivi quickly asked, "What do you want me to do?"
Luffy said word by word, "I want you to stop the King's Army from resisting, and allow the Rebel Army to smoothly enter the capital."
As soon as Luffy said this, not only Vivi, but everyone else present was puzzled.
"Luffy, what are you talking about?"
"Aren't we supposed to stop the war? If the Rebel Army enters the capital, wouldn't that mean the war has already started?"
"That's right, Luffy! The King's Army is already outnumbered by the Rebel Army. If you let the Rebel Army enter the interior, then the King's Army won't be able to resist anymore."
Those who expressed these concerns were the ones who didn't understand Uta's abilities.
But even those who understood Uta's abilities, including Uta herself, didn't know why Luffy wanted the Rebel Army to enter the capital.
As long as Uta's ability was used before the two armies engaged in war, the war could be stopped.
Why did he insist on letting the Rebel Army enter the capital?
Everyone's eyes were filled with various doubts. Luffy scanned them with his gaze, then suddenly smiled and explained, "Actually, this is precisely the third step of saving Alabasta, and also the most crucial point."
"It is to expose Crocodile's true face to the people of Alabasta."
Upon hearing Luffy mention the third point of the plan, everyone immediately perked up their ears and listened carefully.
Luffy continued, "Why do you think Crocodile, despite manipulating so many things behind the scenes, has been able to maintain his good image as a national hero and receive the support of the people?"
Vivi had already informed everyone about Crocodile's affairs.
Crocodile had always protected the citizens from pirate invasions, and had long become a hero in the hearts of the people.
Everyone looked at Luffy, making their own guesses in their hearts.
Luffy didn't wait for their answers and continued, "That's because he has always hidden himself very deeply, never exposing his unknown side to the public."
"What he shows to the people is always his glorious and positive image."
"That's why he can gain the support of the people and become a national hero."
"And now, if we want to expose his true face, we have to make him stop hiding himself."
"When do you think he will stop hiding himself?"
Luffy looked at everyone. Everyone looked at each other, as if they were called upon to answer a question in class after not paying attention, with "confused" written all over their faces.
Only Vivi suddenly seemed to realize, and said excitedly, "When he achieves his goal?!"
Crocodile had always disguised himself to achieve his goal.
Once the goal was achieved, he naturally wouldn't need to disguise himself anymore.