Outside the wilderness between Rainbase and Alubarna, as Sakura and Tiger used the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape the city.
"Doll predicted it correctly, you really are trying to go after the royalty again!"
Doll, wearing a collar around her neck and a skull belt at her waist, charged towards Sakura.
Haki condensed on her arm, and sharp Shigan pierced through the air, aiming at the two of them.
[Shigan: Lotus]
"Do not even think about it!"
Tiger raised his arm, his fist clad in Armament Haki smashing back in retaliation.
Due to the arid desert environment, he found it difficult to manipulate the sparse water molecules in the air, so he relied on his own physical strength to counter Doll's Shigan.
[Fish-Man Karate: Shark Brick Straight Punch!]
The Fish-Man's formidable wrist strength erupted, and the resonant hum of Haki filled the air.
The brief contact of their attacks sent powerful shockwaves that immediately overturned all the surrounding Marines.
Boom!
Doll's strength was no match for Tiger's. In the clash, she was sent flying backward, crashing into Hina, who was pursuing close behind.
Seeing the outcome was decided, Sakura called out to Tiger: "Let's go, Tiger!"
"Stop right there!"
Doll struggled to lift her head from the ground. "Why would you, who was once willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with my superior to save the scholars of Ohara, do something like this now! Have you fallen?!"
"So you are a subordinate of an old acquaintance."
Sakura's forward momentum halted as she turned to look at her. "Believe it or not, the kidnapping of Alabasta's princess has nothing to do with me!"
After saying that, her gaze sharpened.
A burning will transformed into an overwhelming spiritual pressure that spread out. The Conqueror's Haki swept roughly over all wavering consciousness and hearts, then let out a high-pitched, soul-shaking cry.
Under the impact of that chilling, dominating intent, the previously resolute Marine soldiers instantly lost consciousness.
Sakura and Tiger then sprinted quickly towards Alabasta's capital, Alubarna.
Along the way, they casually caught a large Running Crab to hasten their journey.
Sitting atop the crab's head, Sakura turned to look at Tiger. "Any luck contacting Kuina and Leviathan?"
Tiger helplessly spread his hands, showing Sakura the completely unresponsive Den Den Mushi in his hand.
"Rainbase, a missing princess, we have lost two of our own as well...."
Sakura rapidly sorted through the chaotic intelligence, trying to find clues.
To capture Leviathan and Kuina without triggering a fight noticeable even to Sakura's Observation Haki... that was not something an ordinary person could do.
Moreover, the other party had also kidnapped Alabasta's princess and silently pinned this major crime on them.
"Is it our enemy, the royal family's enemy, or simply... the World Government!"
Sakura stroked her chin, gazing at the gradually emerging silhouette of the city in the distance.
Regardless of which scenario, at this stage, they needed to meet with Alabasta's current king to gather as much information as possible.
The swiftly running crab crashed through Alubarna's city gate, its massive body squeezing directly into the capital's streets.
The surrounding residents watched the three uninvited guests with mouths agape, their eyes wide.
"Make way, make way!"
The girl riding the crab shouted loudly as she charged recklessly down the road, sending the capital's residents scattering in all directions.
Thus, they smoothly crossed the palace plaza unimpeded and successfully barged into the inner court of Alabasta's royal palace.
"Damn pirates!"
The royal guards tried to raise their weapons in resistance, but the moment they got close to the crab, they would lose consciousness and collapse to the ground.
Breaking through the kingdom's main gate finally allowed Sakura and Tiger to intrude into the throne room.
"You two...."
Looking at the pirates standing before him, Cobra frowned, his hand moving towards the pistol at his waist.
"Cut the chatter. Two of our companions have been captured as well."
Sakura confiscated the firearm from him and tossed it onto the throne. "Give us all intelligence your kingdom has on pirates entering or leaving recently!"
"You... sigh!"
Cobra let out a heavy sigh. "After discovering Vivi had been taken, I ordered the army to blockade all sea exits. According to reports from various units, the only wanted criminals who have entered Alabasta by sea recently are you!"
"Not an enemy from the sea..."
Fisher Tiger pondered for a moment, then he, Cobra, and Sakura spoke simultaneously.
"The sky!!!" x3
…
High above Alabasta, floating at an altitude of nearly ten thousand meters, was an island.
At the center of this miraculous sky island stood a massive palace.
In the garden, separated from the wind and snow by a greenhouse, a burst of powerful music began to play.
Accompanied by the music, a golden-haired old man, a chimpanzee in a pink suit, and a clown in a white lab coat started dancing.
The old man's feet tapping the ground produced light metallic clinks against the stone, while the clown's steps made soft puffing sounds.
"Stop, stop, stop! Dr. Indigo, your footsteps are completely ruining the rhythm!"
The old man, holding a cigar in his mouth, waved his hand to shut off the music player. "Can not you do something about those annoying footsteps of yours?!"
The man in the white lab coat with clown makeup walked up to the old man and the chimp, his mouth opening and closing continuously but producing no sound, as he continued to gesture animatedly.
"Huh? What are you saying?"
The golden-haired old man raised a hand, wanting to scratch the back of his head, but when his fingers touched the ship's helm embedded there, his expression darkened, and he lowered his hand.
"Oh, I remembered! There is something I have not reported to you!" The previously mute fellow suddenly spoke loudly at this moment.
The golden-haired old man's eyes and tongue jutted out, trembling in mid-air. He stumbled back in fright. "You... you can actually talk?!"
"Ho ho ho ho ho!"
The chimpanzee in the pink suit kept clapping its hands, roaring with laughter, thoroughly amused by these two.
"Old... old lady?"
The golden-haired old man suddenly turned his head with a dazed look, staring straight at the chimp.
"Are you a chimpanzee too?"
Indigo, in his clown makeup, raised his hand and smacked the old man on the head.
After the group made a ruckus in the greenhouse garden for a while, the golden-haired old man, blowing smoke rings, remembered business. "Right, Dr. Indigo, you said earlier you had something to report?"
"Ah, I almost forgot the important matter!"
Indigo raised both hands and slapped his own face hard. "What you brought back from Alabasta are not rare beasts at all, they are Devil Fruit users, you idiot Shiki!"
"Devil Fruit users?" Shiki raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Two individuals with flight abilities... would not they be a perfect fit for my crew~"
"But you captured them outright, you know."
Indigo covered his mouth, snickering as he reminded from the side.
"True. In that case, would not that make me a kidnapper?!"
Shiki spat on the ground. Having originated from the underworld of the West Blue, he held kidnapping in the utmost contempt.
After all, in the underworld with its strict hierarchies, those engaged in that kind of business were at the very bottom, despised by everyone.
"Let us go, Dr. Indigo. Take me to see them. I am sure they will be won over by my charisma, Shihahaha!"
Shiki spread his arms wide, letting out a hearty laugh.
The chimpanzee and Indigo opened the glass door of the greenhouse for him. The three of them walked out together, disappearing into the wind and snow.