Chapter 104 Too noisy for Luffy
Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Crocodile's voice echoed in the secret room, he revealed the depth of his ambition. "My purpose has never been money or status." Unknown to those present, their meeting was being broadcast live, exposing Crocodile's intentions to a much larger audience.
Perhaps the near completion of his long-conceived plan had led Crocodile to become slightly carried away. In that moment, he seemed lost in his own grandiose thoughts, engrossed in the vision of his ultimate goal. He believed he had discovered the location of the ancient weapon Pluton from historical texts. The only thing left for him was to actually acquire Pluto.
As Crocodile ran his hand over his golden hook, a sense of determination and underlying anger built within him. His voice grew more forceful and impassioned as he spoke of his singular desire. "I want only one thing!" he announced with rising intensity. "That's what's buried beneath the kingdom, something powerful enough to change the world..." He then revealed the true target of his aspirations, "...ancient weapon - Pluton!!"
This confession shed light on the real objective behind Crocodile's elaborate scheming. Rather than pursuing mere wealth or power, he was after an ancient artifact of immense power, capable of altering the course of the world itself.
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In the bustling rebel camp at Yuba's square, a moment of revelation struck. An old man, known to be Koza's father, called out to his son, who was the leader of the rebel army. "Koza! Did you hear that?" he exclaimed. "King Cobra, King Cobra, he did not abandon us!!" From the beginning, Koza's father had been against the idea of his son leading a rebellion, firmly believing that the king of Alabasta would never harm his own people.
Amidst the unfolding drama, the rebels surrounding them were filled with doubt and confusion. "Leader? Could it be a conspiracy by the royal family?" some wondered, suspecting that the broadcast might be a ruse orchestrated by the royal family itself.
Before Koza could respond, another rebel, Erik, interjected, "Do not make jokes!" He was certain of what he had heard. "Although there are only a few words, I can be sure. That's Crocodile's voice." But even as he spoke, Erik hesitated, uncertain about how to proceed. The implication that the Dance Powder incident could have been engineered by Crocodile suggested a grave mistake on their part. Their actions, aimed at overthrowing a king, might actually be tantamount to treason.
This thought wasn't unique to Erik. Koza too arrived at the same realization and quickly stood up. Addressing his confused troops, he shouted with renewed vigor, "You have heard it! The culprit has been found!" His excitement was palpable. "I know what you are thinking, but everyone should be clear about our army's purpose!" Koza gestured towards the sky, emphasizing his point, "It's to punish those who deserve it, isn't it? Then do you still need to hesitate?"
His words resonated with the rebels, clarifying their mission and reigniting their determination. Many stood up, looking at Koza with renewed excitement and agreement. "Next, let that guy Crocodile pay the price!!" Koza declared. In that moment, the entire rebel force of 300,000 people was galvanized, ready for action, as they responded in unison, "YES SIR!!" The revelation had shifted their focus, uniting them against the true enemy, Crocodile.
As the rebels were preparing for action, a voice suddenly echoed from the sky: "Stop!!" It was Pell, the falcon, who swiftly descended from above. Flapping his wings, he landed gracefully and transformed back into his human form. Looking at the rebel army, which was poised to fight the royal family just half a month ago, Pell felt a surge of emotion. He pondered the disastrous war that could have erupted in Alabasta if not for Princess Vivi and her friends' intervention.
The rebels felt somewhat awkward upon seeing the adjutant of the Kingdom Guard at such a crucial moment. They were unsure how to greet him. Pell, sensing their hesitation, quickly stated, "Princess Vivi asked me to come." These words struck a chord with Koza, who looked at Pell with a mix of surprise and guilt. As children, Koza and Vivi had been close friends, but now, leading a rebellion, he had sought to overthrow her father.
"Princess Vivi knows that you will go to fight against Crocodile," Pell continued. "That's why I came here to stop you." The rebels, including Koza, were taken aback. "How?!" they exclaimed. Pell replied firmly, "You are not Crocodile's opponents. Alabasta doesn't need your fearless sacrifices either. Drop your arms and be a part of this country again." He then added, "These are the original words of Princess Vivi. Alabasta doesn't blame you, quite the opposite. This country is eagerly looking forward to your return."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound of weapons being dropped to the ground resounded, signifying a significant shift. Three hundred thousand rebels were ready to return to the kingdom! Koza, still puzzled, asked Pell, "Can I ask a question? Vivi... Princess prevents us from attacking Crocodile. But as far as I know, the strength of the king's army is not enough to deal with that guy."
Pell responded with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Crocodile will pay the price he deserves. This group is very strong!" He looked towards Rainbase, adding thoughtfully, "Calculating the time, they should have arrived there."
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At Rain Dinners, the largest casino in Rainbase, confusion reigned among the hundreds of Baroque Works agents gathered there. The casino, normally bustling with guests, had been emptied earlier, leaving only the members of Baroque Works. But now, they were all in a state of shock after a startling revelation broadcast live through Den Den Mushi. Their boss, the leader of their organization, was none other than the Warlord of the Sea, Sir Crocodile. Moreover, they learned that the ultimate goal of Baroque Works was to usurp the kingdom of Alabasta and seek the ancient weapon Pluton.
Most agents, petty criminals without significant bounties, found it hard to grasp the enormity of their organization's true purpose. But their confusion quickly turned to debate and questions. "Why did it all go live?" some wondered. "Should I report the situation to the boss?" others pondered.
As a sense of intrigue filled the casino, a group of people entered, attracting immediate attention. "Hey, look, who are those guys?" someone from the crowd of agents remarked, noticing the figures approaching the entrance. The newcomers moved in a steady, methodical line, creating a sense of purpose with each step.
Speculation quickly spread among the agents. "They could be someone from the King's Army," one agent guessed. Another countered, "It can't be. They don't have the uniform of the King's Army." The conversation took a dismissive turn as someone else suggested, "They're probably idiots who listened to the broadcast and are going to settle accounts with Crocodile, hahaha." This comment sparked laughter and a sense of superiority among the crowd.
Feeling empowered by the revelation that their boss was Crocodile, the agents exuded arrogance. In their minds, even with the plan exposed, they believed their boss could manage any situation. To them, the approaching figures were merely overzealous fools.
One agent yelled out in a challenging tone, "Hey! Get out of here, this is no place for you!" Another, more aggressive, suggested, "Just shoot them, and then go and notify the boss." Following this advice, an agent raised a musket, aimed at the person at the front of the approaching group, and fired.
In an instant, the atmosphere changed dramatically. CLINK! The shooter was left in shock, his mouth agape. The surrounding agents' eyes widened in disbelief. The bullet had been caught barehanded! It was Luffy, who nonchalantly let the bullet slide off his artifact glove. Lowering his straw hat with one hand, he stepped forward, his expression blank but commanding. "It's so noisy here," he said calmly.
Suddenly, Luffy unleashed his Supreme King Haki. THUD! THUD! THUD! One after another, the agents fell to the ground, overcome by Luffy's overwhelming presence, unable to comprehend what had just occurred. Luffy's display of power sent a clear message to everyone in the casino: he was a force to be reckoned with.