Providing Pillows for Sleepiness

Chapter 47: Providing Pillows for Sleepiness

(TL/N: Is a metaphorical phrase used to describe a situation where someone is offering comfort and support to others when they are feeling tired, sleepy, or overwhelmed.)

Rodney thought for a moment. He didn't have a direct sense of Yuba's water shortage; after all, it was far less severe than Alubarna's. However, they had sandstorms here. If not for Toto and the others' efforts, Yuba might have faced the same fate as Erumalu.

But judging from the recent sandstorm situation, this place might dry up in less than half a year.

Since Crocodile was still around, it meant the situation hadn't deteriorated to the point where he had to join the rebel army. This showed his confidence in Cobra. However, Crocodile was causing trouble; he wanted to erase Yuba, this oasis city, from the map.

However, there was something strange in the atmosphere here...

Never mind, that wasn't his concern. As long as he could dissolve the Baroque Work Society before the rebellion and defeat Crocodile, everything would be fine. The Sand-Sand Fruit, huh...

He bid farewell to Toto, not asking why the old man was here. Perhaps he was nocturnal?

Standing by a narrow window, he looked out into the quiet desert night. If only Shukaku or Gaara's sand were here, he wondered what kind of expression that Tanuki guy would make when facing Crocodile. It would be interesting, for sure.

But sand against sand was pointless. Crocodile's weakness was too obvious—he depended too much on his Devil Fruit. Relying on the favorable conditions here, he could unleash dreadful power. But once he touched water, the sand would solidify, and he would temporarily lose his Devil Fruit abilities, greatly weakening him.

At that point, Crocodile's strength would surely be much weaker than Rodney's. He couldn't help but smirk at the thought of how easily he could handle Crocodile then.

Thinking about it, he couldn't help but chuckle like a villain, his face looking quite sinister.

......

Early the next morning, before the sun had risen, and while the sky was still dim, Rodney woke up and had breakfast. Then, he came across Koza carrying a shovel.

Curiously, Rodney asked, "Koza, since the sandstorm hasn't arrived, what are you doing with a shovel?"

Koza explained, "Digging a well. Yuba can't solely rely on water channels; otherwise, everyone will die here."

 Water was precious to this place, as essential as life itself. In this arid desert, it was especially vital. The water in Yuba was indeed running low, and they couldn't rely solely on the water channels.

"I'll help too," Rodney said with a smile.

"How can I let you do that? You've already helped us a lot," Koza replied.

"It's fine. I don't have anything else to do anyway, so I'll rest here for a while," Rodney shook his head and said, "Get me several more shovels; I can use many."

Remembering how Rodney used his power during the sandstorm, Koza nodded and had some shovels brought over.

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

He created more than a dozen clones and, along with Koza's group, found a nearby place with vegetation and started digging.

"Hey, everyone, let's work hard to dig for water!"

"Okay, okay, hooray!"

With shovels in hand, the clones worked in groups of two or three. With chakra and brute strength, they dug quickly. Some clones even felt the shovels were inadequate and used Earth Release directly.

Koza stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do with all the sand the clones had piled up.

Rodney threw some sand out and crouched down, touching the soil. It was somewhat moist, not completely dry. He felt he had found the right place and asked, "Koza, Koza!"

"Mr. Rodney, I'm here," Koza crawled to the edge of the pit and looked down.

Rodney said, "I've dug in the right place; there should be water here."

"That's fantastic!" Koza clenched his fists in joy, unable to contain himself.

"Get me some tools to transport sand; I've already compacted the area around the pit. It's too hard to pat down the sand myself."

"Understood. Please wait a moment," Koza realized and had someone fetch tools to transport the sand.

Afterward, the clones and Koza's group started transporting the sand. As they carried more sand, it grew heavier. As the sand contained water, they didn't stack it to the side but instead planned to distill the water from it for drinking.

When resources are scarce, one finds a way. If Yuba wasn't located in the heart of the desert, they might have already figured out how to distill seawater.

"Hey, we've dug it! There's water! Wait! Stop digging!" A person heard Rodney's call and rushed over, seeing Rodney standing on murky water. The clones were still digging, and the water level kept rising.

"Water! There's water! Hahaha! Yuba can regain its former vitality! Great!"

"Thank heavens! We will definitely defeat the sandstorm! As long as it rains, Yuba will return to its former glory!"

Digging up freshwater was undoubtedly a powerful stimulant for everyone here. Water meant life; Yuba now had blood pumping through its veins, and they could restore the city's former prosperity.

"This is fantastic! There's water!" 

Koza clenched his fists tightly; Yuba could support itself for a while longer. Rodney returned to the edge of the water pit with three clones and used the Earth Release: Earth Flow Wave, enclosing the area. He said, "Get a few people to rebuild this place to avoid direct sunlight, preventing the water from evaporating meaninglessly."

"Okay, Mr. Rodney." 

Koza understood and had someone find Yuba's best bricklayers to build a sunshade and a gate to prevent sandstorms from flooding the pit easily.

Although drawing water might be troublesome, it was better than wasting it. If Yuba weren't situated in the desert's interior, they would have probably figured out a way to distill seawater by now.

"Hey, why now of all times?" 

Rodney stood on the path where a Banchi passed and intercepted it.

The door of the carriage opened, and a group of people stepped out. From the crowd, a bald man with crossed arms and the number "壱" on his chest emerged. He was tall, muscular, and wore clothing resembling a martial monk. Two snake patterns were on either side of his chest. His expression was cold, not one for small talk.

But what caught Rodney's attention more was the person leaning on his legs—a person dressed in a pink swan outfit with the words "Bon Kurei" on the back. Two large hairy legs stuck out, and their face was painted with enchanting makeup. 

One leg was raised, and the other foot pointed to the ground like a ballet dancer. He kept shouting, "1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1..."

Mr.2, an advanced agent of the Baroque Work Society, was the only one without a partner, and his gender was... a transvestite.

The world had all sorts of wonders, including transvestites. Moreover, there seemed to be a country where they came from. In the plot, Sanji had spent two years there, living miserably. For a lecherous man like him, it was the worst torment, and he had almost been assimilated there...

While Bon Clay was a pervert, he was honorable and not entirely a bad person.

Never mind; he would spare him when the time came. He glanced at the other people and fixed his gaze on a man with "1" on both sides of his face.

Mr.11, Kashu, one of the fifty Skillful Grade Blades!

If he wanted weapons, people were coming to deliver them to him.