A surge of activity erupted worldwide.
Among the Four Emperors, some organized their forces and prepared to set sail for Alabasta.
Even among Shichibukai, some were rushing towards Alabasta.
It wasn't just these influential figures; many pirates also harbored the idea of venturing into Alabasta.
At Marineford, Admiral Sengoku solemnly assigned Admiral Kizaru to go to Alabasta and bring back Nico Robin, Crocodile, and the poneglyph hidden in Alabasta.
Initially, Admiral Akainu had volunteered to go himself, aiming to settle the unfinished business of capturing the fugitives that had slipped through his fingers.
Aokiji felt the same way; he wanted to resolve this matter. While he planned to offer a chance for Nico Robin to escape, if she posed a threat to the world's safety, he couldn't afford to be lenient.
However, Sengoku rejected the voluntary requests from both of them.
Admiral Akainu's public image was currently not favorable, and his presence in Alabasta might cause panic. With the precedent set by Ohara, any further incidents in Alabasta would completely ruin the reputation of the Marines.
As for Aokiji, he had already let Nico Robin go in the past. Even if Sengoku trusted him, others didn't. They couldn't risk it.
So, he sent Admiral Kizaru instead. But before Aokiji left, Sengoku warned him sternly, emphasizing the importance of the world's safety and urging him not to repeat his past actions.
Admiral Kizaru, accompanied by two Vice Admirals, immediately set sail and headed to Alabasta.
The Five Elders also contacted Spandam, who could quickly arrive in Alabasta from Water 7. They instructed him to prioritize retrieving the poneglyph and capturing Nico Robin over the blueprint of Pluton.
This incident not only alarmed pirates and Marines but also stirred action from the Revolutionary Army.
The Revolutionary Army had been waiting for an opportunity to find a force to oppose the World Government. This time, they saw it in the form of the Ancient Weapon, Pluton. Additionally, Nico Robin was the revolutionary flame they had long been seeking.
This event would surely attract the attention of the World Government and the Marines. The Revolutionary Army couldn't allow her to fall into the hands of the World Government.
Alabasta had become the center of the world's attention. Even some allied kingdom rulers wanted to wade into this muddy water. If anyone managed to obtain Pluton, they might establish a new World Government and no longer be subject to the World Government's control.
The power of a single question was horrifying. It mobilized the entire world.
Though people around the world didn't yet know what had happened, they had a vague sense that this question would undoubtedly trigger a bloody storm.
Meanwhile, in Alabasta's Rainbase,
Crocodile's face turned incredibly grim. Things were gradually slipping out of his control. He never expected that his search for Pluton would be exposed in the QnA Live Broadcast.
He could imagine what would happen next.
However, he only had two options before him: escape and completely abandon the pursuit of Pluton, rendering all his previous efforts futile, or continue waiting. He would wait until Nico Robin finished the QnA Live Broadcast, then secure the poneglyph and find the whereabouts of Pluton before anyone else arrived.
Crocodile stood still, contemplating for a long time. In the end, he made his decision.
A crazy glint flashed in Crocodile's eyes. This was his greatest chance to turn the tables. He would not have such an opportunity again.
Fortune favors the bold. It was time to go all out!
"Correct answer. So far, you have answered six questions, all of which you were correct. From now on, the difficulty will increase.
Please listen to the next question.
7thQuestion: Did Crocodile's plan succeed?"
Here it is!
Robin's eyes slightly narrowed. As expected, it had come.
The previous questions were about past events, and she only needed to answer truthfully to get them right.
However, she knew this was not the whole picture. Future questions would follow, and for those, she would have to rely on her own deduction to come up with answers.
Because the previous questions were too easy, she suspected that the value of the rewards was actually closely related to the later questions. The ones before were just appetizers with no significant rewards. The real prize was yet to come.
But Robin was mistaken about this.
For Luke, answering the questions was not the main point, nor was it about being right or wrong. The focus was the information contained within the questions themselves. Luke used this to influence the world and free himself from the seal.
As for the rewards given to the participants after answering correctly, Luke saw it as a divine bestowment, enhancing the strength of the believers and allowing it to expand his influence, thereby increasing the number of followers who believed in him.
By rewarding the participants and making them stronger, they would naturally have an impact on the world. The butterfly effect would bring about significant consequences, and with this Luke can be free himself from the seal
In simple terms, Luke had two ways to obtain unsealing progress.
Answering the questions would give Luke a substantial amount of unsealing progress all at once. Simultaneously, the subsequent actions of the participants would continue to provide Luke with unsealing progress, although relatively less than the QnA Live Broadcast.
Every little bit counts. The combination of both methods would allow Luke to break free from the seal earlier.
...
Did Crocodile's plan succeed?
Many people wanted to know the answer to this question because if his plan succeeded, it meant he had successfully stolen the country of Alabasta, and the Ancient Weapon, Pluton, would fall into his hands.
He would obtain the power to destroy the world.
Even in this situation, if he wished, he could directly attack Marineford and Mariejois, the seat of the World Government.
This world would be completely changed.
Thinking about this, people couldn't help but feel helpless. Why were there so many terrifying individuals with such ambitions in the world of pirates?
The incident with Blackbeard Teach was already terrifying enough. The day they watched the footage of Blackbeard gaining power and heard his maniacal laughter while claiming his intention to rule the world, they couldn't sleep well that night.
Fortunately, Luke destroyed Blackbeard's conspiracy, preventing the world from being engulfed by his ambitions.
However, it hadn't been long since the incident with Blackbeard, and now there was Crocodile, who wanted to find the Ancient Weapon, Pluton, and establish an ideal military power.
Everyone understood what a military power meant.
Which is the strongest military power in the world?
Naturally, it was the World Government, with its worldwide presence of the Marines and top-notch combat strength.
Crocodile wanted to obtain such power, undoubtedly seeking a confrontation with the World Government.
Once again, here was someone ambitious, seeking to rule the world.
These pirates may not have good character, but their ambitions are truly immense.
Ordinary people would like to ask these ambitious individuals, have you ever considered their feelings?
Have you thought about how you would treat them after you rule the world?
I'm afraid you haven't. These pirates only have ambition in their hearts and don't care about the lives of others.
This is what terrifies ordinary people. They can't imagine what life would be like under the rule of these ambitious individuals.
Just the thought of so many ambitious individuals existing in this world, while the World Government doesn't see them as human and the Marines aren't the ideal justice force they envision, makes people feel that their lives and future are bleak.
Is there really a way to let them live a peaceful and stable life?
...
While people worry about their future and lives, the Marine are contemplating the answer to this question.
They never expected Crocodile, whom they had never taken seriously, to have a big move planned in Alabasta.
This time, they couldn't help but feel grateful to Luke. If Crocodile were to unleash this big move, they wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
They never expected there would be so many troubles waiting for them in the future. One Blackbeard was already unbearable, and now there's Crocodile as well.
Did Crocodile succeed or not?
That is the question.
Suddenly, in their minds, the marine recalled the first time they watched the footage of the Summit War. They seemed to have seen Crocodile's figure in the war, although he didn't appear frequently. They particularly remember that Crocodile and Luffy's group made an appearance together.
Wait... Sengoku felt like he had discovered a blind spot.