Alabasta Kingdom.
The Danaan went north along the Sandora River, it sent Luo Lan and the others from the west shore of the royal capital, Alubarna.
Late at night.
Within the royal palace, King Cobra, exhausted from a day of affairs, dragged his weary body into the bedchamber.
"Who's there?"
Just as he was about to collapse onto the bed for a good night's sleep, he suddenly sensed—
He wasn't alone.
By the pale moonlight, he saw four silhouettes.
"King Cobra, please don't be alarmed. It's me."
Luo Lan stepped out from the shadows and removed his mask.
"You... you're Luo Lan?"
Cobra squinted, trying to remember.
Yes, they had met once before—ten years ago.
Back then, Cobra had visited Marine Headquarters for diplomatic reasons. He'd shared a meal with Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and Luo Lan had been present at the time.
At that point, Rosinante had already gone undercover, and Luo Lan—being Sengoku's adopted son—naturally filled in his place on such occasions.
The reason Cobra still recognized Luo Lan at a glance after ten years was because—
Luo Lan had once said something to him that left a deep impression:
"Your Majesty Cobra, you are a kind ruler. But kindness taken too far leads only to the downfall of a kingdom."
Luo Lan had only been ten years old at the time.
Sengoku scolded him harshly afterward and even kicked him off the dining table, forcing him to reflect on his words.
But regardless, that moment had seared Luo Lan's face and words into Cobra's memory.
"Yes, I'm Luo Lan. It's been ten years, hasn't it?"
"Exactly ten. Did Sengoku send you here?"
At those words—
Luo Lan's three companions showed no reaction. But Nico Robin—
She trembled slightly.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku?
Could it be… Luo Lan is with the Marines?
"No. Sengoku didn't send me. He kicked me out of Marine Headquarters long ago."
"What?"
Cobra couldn't believe what he was hearing.
In his mind, Luo Lan was Sengoku's son.
He remembered clearly—Sengoku had introduced Luo Lan using the term "my son," not "adopted son."
So Cobra had always believed Luo Lan was Sengoku's biological child.
Which is why this revelation hit hard.
After all, it was akin to abandoning one's own child.
Cobra couldn't imagine ever turning his back on Vivi.
"Let's put that aside for now. Your Majesty Cobra, are you aware that Alabasta is already under someone's eye? If I hadn't come—"
"Within two years, this kingdom would fall."
Cobra's eyes widened in shock.
While there had been troubles recently, surely things weren't that dire?
"Luo Lan, you—"
"Hold that thought. This woman here was once Crocodile's right hand. I'll let her explain what's about to unfold in Alabasta over the next two years."
Luo Lan cut Cobra off and patted Robin on the shoulder.
She removed her mask.
"You're—!"
Cobra's eyes widened again, clearly recognizing her.
"Heh, it seems His Majesty knows who I am."
Robin smiled faintly.
She didn't mind being recognized. After all, she had quite the reputation back in the day.
One of the Devil's Children at just eight years old.
How could someone like that not be infamous?
Then, Robin spent the next thirty minutes detailing every step of Crocodile's plan.
By the end—
Cobra looked pale.
In his mind, he went over every scenario—every possible response he might have taken against those moves.
And he had to admit:
Crocodile had him completely cornered.
As Luo Lan said, barring a miracle, in two years' time…
Alabasta would collapse, and Crocodile would rule from the shadows.
"Luo Lan, does Sengoku know about this?"
"He doesn't."
"Then you must tell him!"
"You... don't have any proof!!"
Cobra froze at those words.
That's right—he had no evidence.
And he couldn't inform the Marines or the World Government that Crocodile was after Pluton, the ancient weapon.
Otherwise, even if Crocodile was stopped—
The next one to covet Pluton would be the World Government itself.
The outcome wouldn't improve.
"But if we can't inform Sengoku, how can we stop Crocodile?"
Cobra held his head in frustration.
Alabasta had the largest standing army in the world—hundreds of thousands of ground troops.
But it lacked strong individuals who could take on someone like Crocodile.
"That's precisely why I've come, Your Majesty."
"I'll take care of Crocodile. In return... I want you to help me recruit soldiers across Alabasta under the banner of royal conscription."
"Give me two years. I will train them until every last one is stronger than Chaka and Pell."
"Yes—each and every one of them, far beyond even those two!"
"In return, I'll give you back 20% of the soldiers. How does that sound?"
Hiss—
Let's ignore the rest for now.
Cobra heard that part loud and clear:
Luo Lan said he could make soldiers stronger than Chaka and Pell—in just two years.
Was he serious?
Ten thousand men, and two years later, you'll return two thousand who are stronger than Pell?
No—Luo Lan even said far stronger.
"Luo Lan, are you serious?"
"I am."
"Then forget conscription. I'll just pull troops directly from the Royal Guard. They're already elite—you won't need to train them from scratch."
"Absolutely not!"
Luo Lan rejected it outright.
Was he joking?
The Royal Guard were Cobra's most loyal men.
If he took them, how long would it take to re-educate or re-condition them?
And even then, there was no guarantee they'd be loyal to him.
Cobra always acted like a kind-hearted, honest man—
But who knew he'd pull something like this?
Actually, Cobra really wasn't being manipulative.
He just thought it'd be easier if Luo Lan worked with trained, disciplined soldiers.
"Your Majesty, I want new recruits—only fresh ones!"
"Fine. How many?"
"Five thousand for the first batch."
"No problem. And what about Crocodile—"
"Don't worry. He'll be back in Alabasta very soon."
"And I'll be here—waiting for him."
Luo Lan made a cutting gesture to silence Cobra.
But there was one thing he didn't say out loud:
He would be waiting for Crocodile, yes...
But not in the desert.
No—
He would intercept him at sea, before he even stepped foot back on Alabasta.
---
Advance chapters on Ko-Fi
(Currently at chapter 375 on Ko-Fi)
https:// ko-fi.com/sami27