Chapter XXV: Under the Undercover

"Guys, what the hell are we doing here?"

"I can't believe we're here right now…"

"He's going to kill us. We're so dead."

"What!? I don't wanna die!"

"Shut up you idiots!"

The two complaining voices were silenced by the third, but their defeated expressions conveyed what they thought of the current situation perfectly fine.

"Mr. 3," a fourth voice spoke up, "They have a point. What makes you think the boss will spare us? Shouldn't we get far away from here?"

"You're talking a lot more now that our lives are on the line aren't you, Miss Goldenweek? And I already told you, it doesn't matter where we go. He'll find us. Our only choice is to ask for a second opportunity to get rid of the Strawhats."

"Hey, isn't that jumping the gun a bit?" asked Mr. 5. "Even assuming that he'd give us a second chance, he hasn't contacted us since he gave you those orders! That means he probably thinks you're dead. We could escape right now and he'd never know we survived."

"No, he'd find out," Mr. 3 said somberly. "Don't underestimate the boss' ability to gather information. Especially when he has Miss All Sunday working for him. He won't leave any loose ends."

"This is crazy," Miss Valentine said. "You're just going to walk up to him and say sorry I failed the mission, let me try again? This is Mr. 0 we're talking about!"

"I didn't ask for your opinion!" Mr. 3 hissed. "If you want to run, go ahead. I never asked you to come with me anyway!"

Miss Valentine gulped. She knew he had a point, but she also knew their chances of evasion, and by extension survival, were quite a bit higher with Mr. 3 with them.

"That's what I thought. Now let's get going. The more time we spend here, the more time we give the Strawhats to arrive in Alabasta. If they interfere with Mr. 0's plans, we'll never escape his wrath."

On cue, the four undercover agents scurried down an alley towards the center of Nanohana.

"Are we getting close, Chopper?" Vivi asked in mid-run.

"Yes," the human reindeer confirmed. "The scent of gunpowder is getting stronger. I'm certain there's a high concentration of it up ahead." Vivi nodded as she panted heavily. They had completely left Nanohana and were now in the neighboring oasis town of Katorea, to the east. Vivi was surprised Chopper's nose had picked up whatever scent they were following.

"Hey Vivi-chan, the rebel army would be trying to stay hidden right?" Sanji asked.

"Yes, that's right."

"So they'll probably have guards on the lookout won't they?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Because I just found some of that gunpowder."

"You two! Stay right where you are!" a voice spoke up from above them. Vivi and Chopper looked up to find a man on a nearby rooftop aiming a rifle at them. Sanji was not-so-coincidentally standing in between the man and Vivi, whose eyes widened in recognition.

"Kebi!?" she practically shouted. This caused the man to temporarily lose his rigid demeanor, but he quickly composed himself.

"How do you know me? Identify yourself." Vivi removed the white hood from her head, and this time the man's eyes widened. He immediately lowered his weapon. "Vivi!?"

Vivi was smiling in relief. She never thought she'd run into another member of the Suna Suna clan. Well, other than Kohza. This made things much easier.

"Vivi, what in the world is going on? You've been missing for over two years and now I find you sneaking around in an alleyway? What happened?"

"There's a reason I've been missing. I've been acquiring information, and it's crucial that I give it to Kohza. He is here isn't he? Could you please take me to him?"

Kebi considered this for a moment. Vivi was the daughter of the man they were most likely going to war with soon. But she was also one of them. They had long since thought her dead, but if she was alive, then he was sure they could trust her. She had nothing to do with the origins of the civil war to begin with. "Come with me," he said, before quickly jumping off the roof and leading them through the streets.

They finally came to a run down building in a less crowded district of Katorea. Kebi knocked six times on the door, and they were let in.

"Kohza-san, you're not going to believe who I stumbled across."

"Who is it?" came a voice beyond the wall, one that instantly caused Vivi to inhale sharply. She decided to forego all formalities and ran into the room where the voice had originated from.

Kohza sat up in the bed in shock, his eyes glued to the new arrival.

"Vivi...how…?"

"Kohza, I know this is sudden after all this time, but you have to put an end to this civil war! You're being manipulated. My father wasn't the one behind the Alabasta's ruin!"

"Whoa, Vivi, slow down alright? Just start by telling me where you've been all this time."

Vivi took a deep breath. "I've been in hiding so that I could find out who was really responsible for the current state of affairs in this country. The one behind this civil war, the one who really stole the rain...he's the leader of a criminal organization that's been working in Alabasta from the shadows. Two years ago, I infiltrated the organization to gather information and find out who the leader was-"

"You what?" Kohza asked in shock.

"I went undercover as a member of Baroque Works so that I could find out what their motive was from the inside," Vivi said impatiently, wanting to get to the point.

"Vivi, how could you do something that reckless? You could have been killed!"

Vivi was taken aback by the audacity of his question. She gritted her teeth "And you're any better? Here you are, about to lead our country into a civil war, tear it to ruins, and play right into his hands, and you have the gall to tell me I was being reckless?"

Kohza was pale. "What do you mean I'm playing into his hands?"

"His goal is to seize the Alabastian throne. That's why he framed my father and planted the dance powder in his palace. His organization has been behind everything so far, and the war will give them the perfect opportunity to take control of the country during the chaos."

Kohza was silent for a moment. "Who is he? The leader?" he finally asked.

Vivi sighed in relief. Now they were getting somewhere. "Crocodile of the Seven Warlords," she replied. Kohza's eyes widened.

"This country's hero is the one leading it to ruin?"

"He's no hero," Vivi spat. "He just knows how to keep up a good public image. He knows that not even my father will suspect him if he pretends to have Alabasta's interests at heart."

"This is a lot to take in, Vivi," Kohza said, rubbing a hand over tired eyes.

"I know, but you have to believe me. If you don't call off the rebel army-"

"I believe you," he said quickly. "It's just that I can't tell them what you've just told me and expect them to believe me. But we haven't made a move yet, so there's still time. Does your father know about this?"

"No, but I can send a message to him," Vivi replied.

"Good. Tell him everything you just told me. I'll send a request to the royal army to meet with King Cobra for negotiations. We'll make an announcement to the public that we're signing a treaty. That should throw a wrench in Crocodile's plans. Until then," he turned to Kebi. "Nothing leaves this room." Kebi nodded.

Vivi let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Thank you," she whispered.

Kohza was silent again before speaking. "I'm sorry, Vivi. For everything."

Vivi leaned forward and hugged him. "It doesn't matter," she said. "All that matters is that we can fix this and prevent the bloodshed."

"What will you be doing in the meantime?" Kohza asked.

"I'll be keeping an eye on Baroque Works. Actually, I was brought here by the Strawhat pirates. Without them, I wouldn't have even made it this far. But with their help, I have faith that we can put an end to Crocodile's plans."

Kohza raised an eyebrow. "I'll take your word for it. But be careful, Vivi."

Vivi smiled. "I will." She exited the room to meet Sanji and Chopper, and Kohza followed after them. During the entire encounter, no one looked towards a certain dark corner of the dimly lit room.

If they had, they would have noticed a lone crystal blue eye on the wall, watching them from the shadows before it blinked out of existence.