Chapter 103 A secret meeting

Author: Xiao Yifeng

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

In the vast desert, an unusual sight was moving swiftly: a turtle wearing a hat and puffing on a cigarette, pulling a carriage forward. This giant turtle, aptly named Banchi, was an "all-terrain" transport used by Baroque Works. Its current destination was Rainbase, a city in Alabasta.

In the carriage's compartment, five individuals were seated, but not comfortably. An old woman with a red afro, known as Miss Merry Christmas, was bickering with the man beside her. "Don't squeeze me anymore! It's all your fault that you are so fat, so I am tortured along the way," she complained. Miss Merry Christmas, whose real name was "Town-Collapser" Drophy, was a senior agent of Baroque Works. She was a stout, middle-aged woman with red hair, a Christmas tree-shaped necktie, large purple-lensed sunglasses, a basket strapped to her back, and sandals. Her Mole-Mole Fruit allowed her to transform into a humanoid mole, and she had a bounty of 14 million Bellys.

Beside her, the man she argued with was Mr. 4, her partner. Known as "Catcher-Killing" Babe, he was a large, strong man with big lips, dirty blonde hair, a green shirt, black pants, and gray running shoes. Despite his imposing size, Mr. 4's response to her complaints was timid: "Yes, of course, I'm sorry." His behavior seemed oddly cowardly for someone of his stature. Mr. 4, though lacking devil fruit powers, possessed supernatural strength.

His pet, Lassoo, was another remarkable aspect of the duo. Lassoo was a gun that had consumed the Mutt-Mutt Devil Fruit through some unknown method, allowing it to become a living dog.

Amid the bickering in the carriage, another voice chimed in. "Yo! Guys, just be patient a little longer," said Mr. 2, who had decided to assist Luffy and the others. For the time being, he was sitting in the carriage, part of the plan unfolding in the deserts of Alabasta.

In the carriage, along with Miss Merry Christmas, Mr. 4, and Mr. 2, there were two other individuals, both formidable senior agents and among the strongest in Baroque Works.

Miss Doublefinger, known as "Poison Spider" Zala, was a striking presence. She was a tall, slim young woman with curly dark-blue hair, thick lips, dark green eyes, and pale skin. Her curvaceous figure was accentuated by her exaggeratedly sensual way of walking. Zala possessed the powers of the Spike-Spike Devil Fruit, which allowed her to grow spikes anywhere on her body, a dangerous ability in combat.

The other was Mr. 1, or "The Killer" Daz Bonez, a former bounty hunter. He was a tall, tanned man with long, thin limbs and fingers, and a muscular build. His head was shaven, and his most distinctive feature was a black unibrow above his round eyes. He had big lips and wore an oriental-looking outfit, consisting of a sleeveless dark coat with golden edges, loose beige pants secured by a white sash, with some light brown fur. His pants were tucked into bandages wrapped around his calves and shoes. Daz Bonez wielded the power of the Dice-Dice Devil Fruit, enabling him to transform any part of his body into a blade, making even his ordinary punches as deadly as blade strikes.

These five individuals played heavyweight roles in Crocodile's plan. After Mr. 2's remark, they soon arrived at their destination. Banchi came to a stop, and they disembarked from the carriage. They found themselves in front of Rain Dinners, the most famous and luxurious casino in Rainbase.

Guided inside, the group was led to a secret room hidden beneath the Rain Dinners, known for its excellent sound insulation. The location promised privacy and discretion, ideal for the clandestine meetings and plans of Baroque Works.

In the secret room, the senior agents of Baroque Works were greeted by Miss All Sunday, whom they were already acquainted with. They had previously interacted with her, as she had managed their task assignments. Polite greetings were exchanged before Robin steered the conversation towards the matter at hand.

"First of all, I would like to thank everyone who traveled thousands of miles to gather here," Robin began, acknowledging the efforts of the agents. "This is also the first time that so many senior agents have gathered in one place. It's really important."

She continued, capturing the attention of everyone in the room, "The purpose of getting everyone together this time is very simple." She paused, glancing around the room before revealing, "That is to start the final battle plan."

Miss Merry Christmas and Mr. 4 appeared a little excited upon hearing this. Mr. 2 wore an expectant expression, although a hint of disdain lingered in his eyes. Mr. 1 leaned back in his chair, his face expressionless, but internally he was restless. The long-awaited final battle was about to commence.

Observing the varied reactions of her audience, Robin smiled with the grace of a true lady. "And before that, let me introduce someone to you. The boss you have never met."

Following her introduction, the sound of footsteps echoed in the room.

Tap... Tap... Tap...

"He is Mr. 0, and he is also one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea," Robin announced.

The footsteps drew nearer, and a figure emerged before them. A tall man with a wide chest, broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs, and a thick neck. His pale skin contrasted with his neatly slicked-back, nape-length black hair. A long-stitched scar ran across the bridge of his nose, and his left hand was replaced with a large hook made from a tough gold alloy. His attire, an orange, black-striped vest over a long-sleeve peach shirt, a blue scarf, dark brown suit pants, and polished black shoes with gold buckles, gave off the aura of an Italian mafia boss.

Robin introduced him, "Please meet the 'Desert King,' Sir Crocodile." The man took the main seat, grinning at the gathered crowd. He then slowly opened his mouth and said, "The time has come for the final operational plan to be formally launched. It's called Operation Utopia." The room filled with a palpable sense of anticipation and intrigue as Crocodile unveiled the name of their final plan.

-----

In Yuba, the base of the Alabasta rebels, a crowd of 300,000 people gathered in the square, waiting for a message they had long anticipated. Finally, the voice they had been yearning to hear resonated from the transmitter. "All the people of Alabasta," it began. "I am the princess of this kingdom, Vivi. I'm sorry that this kingdom has encountered such a bad time."

In Alabasta's capital, Princess Vivi stood atop the tower of the palace. Facing the multitude gathered before her and those listening through transmitters, she showed no signs of panic. Speaking into the Den Den Mushi, she continued, "On behalf of the royal family, I sincerely apologize to everyone. Everyone, you have suffered." Even though many could not see her, Vivi bowed solemnly, a gesture of deep respect and regret.

Her action of bowing reverberated through the crowd. Not only were the people in front of the palace taken aback, but even King Cobra, her father, who stood behind her, was surprised. Cobra couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Vivi, she is already like a qualified king." Igaram, standing nearby, hesitated. In his heart, he believed that the current Vivi seemed more suited to be a ruler than Cobra himself. She was, in essence, more of a queen than a princess.

Unaware of her father's thoughts, Vivi was focused on her next move. She carefully took out a different Den Den Mushi from her pocket, already connected to an undisclosed location. "Next, I will let everyone hear the person who wants to destroy this country from the shadows," she announced. With that, she placed the new Den Den Mushi in front of the one transmitting her speech, ready to reveal the hidden truths and the nefarious plans against Alabasta to all its people.

At that critical moment, a voice came through the Den Den Mushi, capturing the attention of everyone listening. Miss Merry Christmas, with a tone of disbelief, said, "I didn't expect you to be such a big shot, Warlord of the Sea - Crocodile." The revelation that Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea, was behind everything sent shockwaves throughout the entire country. Every ear was tuned in, hanging on to every word.

After Miss Merry Christmas expressed her astonishment, Mr. 1 posed a pivotal question that was on everyone's mind. "So you are our boss?" he inquired. Crocodile, with a commanding presence, leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. He fixed Mr. 1 with a gaze that exuded power and dominance. His eyes seemed to exert an oppressive force, making Mr. 1 visibly uneasy.

As Mr. 1's bald head began to glisten with cold sweat, Crocodile responded slowly and deliberately, "Surprised? Or, are you unconvinced?" His voice, though soft, carried a chilling effect, making everyone feel as if they had been plunged into a deep, icy cellar.

Mr. 1 quickly assured him, "No...no, I am very convinced, boss." But then, he shifted the conversation to another point of confusion. "We just don't understand," he said. "Warlord of the Sea is clearly a legal pirate recognized by the world government. Why create an organization like Baroque Works?"