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Vivi and Igaram were brought aboard the ship.
Yamada Hanatarou attended to the injured, while Vivi spoke with Auguro about the current situation in Alabasta.
"Alabasta hasn't seen rain in over two years, and only the capital, Alubarna, is receiving normal rainfall."
"Though the people haven't taken action yet, their suspicion of the royal family is deepening. If we can't uncover the truth, Alabasta will likely descend into civil war!" As she spoke, Vivi's shoulders shook and crystal tears rolled down her face. As the princess and heir to Alabasta, her inability to solve the nation's crisis made her hate her own powerlessness countless times.
"Dance Powder!" Auguro suddenly declared.
Vivi was momentarily confused. "What is Dance Powder?"
Auguro explained, "Based on your description, Alabasta's current situation is likely caused by Dance Powder! It's a compound that forcibly steals water vapor to cause artificial rain. But because it negatively affects downwind regions, the World Government banned it long ago."
"As a World Government affiliate, your nation's database should have records of this! What exactly has your father been doing for the past two years?" Auguro's frustration with Cobra's lack of competence reached a new level. This man is truly unfit to be king!
"Th-this is true?" A shaken Vivi shot up, knocking her chair over.
"You can find out if it's true by simply checking the records, can't you?" Auguro rolled his eyes and continued to critique.
"Furthermore, the country hasn't had rain in two years, yet the capital is normal—it's obvious the problem lies in the capital!"
"Alabasta has a standing army of 600,000. Deploying fifty thousand to thoroughly search the capital should uncover some clues, right?"
"Instead, they send you, the princess, to go undercover and investigate. Has Cobra lost his mind?" Vivi looked embarrassed but forced herself to defend her father.
"My father is sympathetic to the people and didn't want to alarm them, which is why he hasn't deployed the troops for a search!"
"Hmph!" Auguro scoffed disdainfully.
"The price for that small reputation is two years without water for the populace and the nation constantly on the brink of turmoil! That's a classic case of sacrificing the greater good for a minor reputation!"
Vivi wanted to argue but couldn't find a reason. After a moment, Vivi's expression turned extremely serious.
"I will have the people in the capital check the records. If it's confirmed to be Dance Powder, I will personally mobilize fifty thousand troops to enter the capital and search!"
It must be said that Vivi possessed more resolve and courage than Cobra. With the rebel army not yet reaching its peak, Vivi's actions wouldn't face much resistance. The only thing to worry about was Crocodile! If his scheme were exposed, there's no telling if he'd go desperate and flip the entire country upside down!
Auguro's eyes flickered. If that were the case, it might not be a bad thing for him!
With Vivi possessing an Eternal Pose set for Alabasta, the group headed straight for the kingdom.
Alabasta, Rainbase Casino.
The door to Crocodile's office was pushed open again. Nico Robin entered and said, "Boss, the Life Cards for Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine have burned out!"
As a tool that indicates a person's location and status, a Life Card burning out meant the person was dead!
Crocodile's eyes turned cold.
"It seems I underestimated this fellow! He actually defeated my hand-picked Senior Officers!"
Robin calmly continued, "Survivors on site have reported back: Miss Wednesday is confirmed to be the First Princess of Alabasta, Nefertari Vivi!"
"She has now joined forces with Auguro and is heading toward Alabasta."
"Heh-heh..." Hearing this, Crocodile let out a chilling sneer.
"There's a road to heaven, but you choose the path to hell! You think you can kill my Senior Officers and still walk away unharmed?"
"Nico Robin, make the arrangements. I do not wish for these individuals to reach the capital!" Crocodile's meaning was clear: eliminate Auguro and Vivi at all costs!
Robin nodded. It seemed she would have to summon all the remaining Senior Officers this time. In the hallway, Robin pondered to herself.
"This Auguro seems quite powerful. Should I try to contact him beforehand?"
As the "Devil Child" who had a 79 million Berry bounty at the age of eight, she had experienced countless betrayals in her life. This had developed her habit of always keeping a contingency plan. Auguro was clearly heading to make trouble for Crocodile. To ensure her own safety, she naturally had to prepare in advance.
As a Warlord of the Sea, I hope you won't be too easily defeated. After all, I haven't found the Poneglyph yet! Robin's reason for aligning with Crocodile was his ambition to find the ancient text.
Seven days later.
Auguro and his group arrived at the port city of Nanohana (Rapeseed Flower) in Alabasta. This was once a thriving city renowned for its perfumes, but after the rain stopped two years ago, the city rapidly declined and lost its former glory.
As soon as they docked, they saw a robust man with a white turban and purple, four-pointed star face paint leading a group of man-sized ducks, waiting for them at the pier.
"Princess Vivi!" Seeing Vivi disembark, the man immediately bowed. The ducks behind him copied the gesture.
Vivi happily introduced him to Auguro and the others. "Everyone, this is Pell, the Guardian God of Alabasta and our strongest warrior! He's responsible for escorting us to the capital."
"And these are the Super Sonic Duck Squad! They are the fastest rapid-response unit in Alabasta. Riding them will save us a lot of time!" Vivi had called them ahead of time using a Transponder Snail (Den Den Mushi).
The group wasted no time, immediately mounting the ducks and setting off.
On the way, Pell reported to Vivi, "Your Highness, His Majesty the King has personally verified that the Dance Powder is indeed real! However, he is still hesitant about deploying fifty thousand troops to search the capital."
Vivi's heart sank with a complex mix of emotions. She recalled Auguro's appraisal of Cobra on the ship: kindhearted but weak, unfit to be an Emperor, especially the Emperor of a superpower.
Biting her lip hard enough to leave deep teeth marks, Vivi said with a cold face:
"Pell, deliver my command: have the nearest fifty thousand troops garrisoned in the capital! I will bear all the consequences myself!" The royalty of Alabasta carried the lives of tens of millions of people! For that sake, even earning some doubt or condemnation was worthwhile!
"Yes!" Pell's spirit was instantly reignited. In Vivi, he seemed to see a reflection of Queen Lily, the ancestor of the Nefertari family!
Auguro, with his mastery of Observation Haki, overheard every word of their conversation. It looks like once the Crocodile matter is resolved, Alabasta will be welcoming a new queen!