Regarding Luo Lan
Using the old method to bring people back to the branch...
One problem was efficiency. Hina and Smoker had to take turns going out, and it took almost half a month to complete one round. In the end, they only brought back around a hundred or two people.
The other problem was the risk of being noticed by the World Government or Navy Headquarters.
As Jun Lin's appearances increased, they would inevitably start tracing Jun Lin's movements. And wherever Jun Lin acted, lots of civilians disappeared.
How could that be acceptable?
It might even be used as bait by the World Government to infiltrate the 157th Branch in the future.
So, Luo Lan needed a secure source of soldiers.
If you asked where in the world you could recruit thousands of soldiers without attracting attention, the obvious answer was Alabasta.
As the largest kingdom in the pirate world, Alabasta had tens of millions of people and a standing army of hundreds of thousands.
Every year, the kingdom recruited tens of thousands, sometimes even over a hundred thousand.
Recruiting a few thousand more in the king's name would not raise any eyebrows.
It was simply the perfect place for recruitment.
That night, Luo Lan and Cobra discussed many details and finalized the plan.
In the end, Luo Lan agreed to an extra request from Cobra:
To bring Pell along.
Cobra's logic was simple: Luo Lan could train ordinary people to become stronger than Pell.
So, if Pell went along too...
In two years, wouldn't Pell become even stronger than the others?
Alabasta was a kingdom constantly plagued by pirate raids, so Cobra was eager for strong warriors.
Especially someone like Pell, who was 100% loyal to the royal family — how could he refuse?
If Luo Lan hadn't shown strong resistance, Cobra might even have sent Igaram and Chaka along.
That said, Luo Lan eventually agreed because of Pell's abilities.
Pell was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user — Bird-Bird Fruit, Falcon Model.
Once trained, Pell could serve as a scout for the Jun Lin fleet, or even assist with long-range artillery targeting...
That made him very suitable.
---
Seven days passed quickly.
On the bridge of the Danaan, the main screen displayed the observation haki radar results.
Though the screen was filled with countless blips, one cluster of blips caught everyone's attention.
Among them, several blips were noticeably brighter.
This was the sailing ship returning from the volcanic island, the one Crocodile was on.
This was already confirmed.
Now, they just waited for it to sail right into the ambush zone.
Currently, Hina was hiding with four ironclad warships behind a small, uninhabited island.
Perfectly concealed from ships traveling on the main route.
---
"Luo Lan, are you sure this will work?"
Robin, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel her worldview shaken — natural types had weaknesses too?
This Robin was not the two-years-later Robin, who believed natural types were invincible.
She didn't know Crocodile's weakness, so this reaction was understandable.
Luo Lan smiled faintly.
"Every Devil Fruit has its weaknesses."
"Of course, the best way to find a Devil Fruit user's weakness is to study them!"
"Nowadays, knowledge is power!"
Though Robin was considered a scholar, her studies were archaeology, physics, and chemistry.
In that sense, she was basically illiterate!
When they returned to the 157th Branch, someone would have to tutor Robin in the basics — just like Kaya.
---
"Captain, the target has entered the ambush zone!"
"Immediately order Hina to commence the attack as planned!"
"Yes, Captain!"
---
A sailing ship bound for Alabasta.
Crocodile stood at the bow, his expression grim.
Originally, he only sent Robin to eavesdrop on Jun Lin's people, to figure out where they came from.
But the result?
Robin was gone!
Robin was the key to his entire plan — without her, it was useless.
Even if he took Alabasta and obtained the stone tablet, it was meaningless.
No one could read what was written on it.
Damn it...
He should never have let Robin go!
---
"Boss, we're almost at Alabasta!"
"Once ashore, immediately contact all agents and have them come to meet me at the Rain Banquet!"
"No problem. But Miss All Sunday isn't here, and none of the other agents have met you. I'm worried you won't be able to prove your identity!"
Daz Bonez himself hadn't known Crocodile's true identity until Robin was present on the volcanic island.
Now that Miss All Sunday was missing, no one could vouch for the boss's identity.
Even if Daz spoke up, no one might believe him.
After all, Baroque Works agents were used to taking orders and communicating through Robin.
This was very troublesome.
---
"Proof of identity?"
"No need!"
"Anyone who refuses to obey my orders, kill them!"
A murderous aura burst from Crocodile.
To him, it didn't matter if the agents recognized him or not.
Disobedient?
Kill a few. The rest will listen.
That was all.
Even if he really wasn't the Baroque Works boss — so what?
---
Suddenly, a series of sharp whistles pierced the air.
Then...
More than a dozen cannonballs fell rapidly, one even striking the ship's stern directly.
In an instant, splinters and debris flew everywhere.
The entire stern was blown apart, seawater rushing in uncontrollably.
---
"Damn, who's attacking us?"
"Boss, the cannon fire came from behind that island!"
"That's impossible — we're at least three kilometers away from that island. That means the enemy firing from behind it is at least five or six kilometers away?"
Crocodile refused to believe it.
Who had cannons capable of firing five to six kilometers?
That was impossible!
---
"Boss, as unbelievable as it sounds, the cannonball trajectory definitely points there!"
"Mr. 1, launch the small boat immediately! We're heading to the island!"
"Yes, boss!"
Although it was three kilometers away and someone was attacking them, Crocodile had no choice.
Both he and Daz Bonez were Devil Fruit users.
If the ship sank, others might survive by clinging to debris.
But they would surely drown.
---
Soon, Daz Bonez carried a small boat and tossed it into the sea.
The two jumped aboard.
"Mr. 1, row. I'll handle intercepting the cannonballs!"
"Got it, boss!"
Daz grabbed two oars and rowed furiously.
At the same time, a second volley of cannonballs fell.
---
"Sandstorm!"
Crocodile flipped his palm, instantly forming a mini sandstorm in his hand.
He hurled it forward.
After leaving his hand, the sandstorm rapidly expanded hundreds of times over, blocking the cannonballs' paths and forcing them off course.
None landed within a hundred meters of the small boat.
Earlier, Crocodile hadn't been prepared and missed his chance to react.
But now, he was ready.
His power was perfect for interception.
Not only could he intercept from afar, but his attacks dealt wide-area damage.
He didn't need pinpoint accuracy — just a general direction was enough.
---
"Hmph, it's true that using this ability at sea is at least ten times weaker than in the desert!"
Watching the sand tornado in front of him, Crocodile was clearly dissatisfied.
But there was nothing he could do — after all...
He was at sea now.
---
Advance chapters on Ko-Fi
(Currently at chapter 380 on Ko-Fi)
https:// ko-fi.com/sami27