Chereads / The New Dawn of Monkey D. Luffy / Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: The Desert King's Wrath

Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: The Desert King's Wrath

In the depths of Baroque Works' headquarters in Alabasta, Crocodile sat in his dimly lit office, his patience wearing thin. The Den Den Mushi in front of him remained silent, despite multiple attempts to contact Mr. 2 and Mr. 3.

"Tch," Crocodile exhaled a cloud of cigar smoke, his hook gleaming menacingly. "Those incompetent fools..."

Miss All Sunday's absence might connected. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he considered the implications.

"Mr. 1," he called out sharply.

Daz Bones stepped from the shadows, his expression stoic. "Sir."

"Take a team of millions and head to Little Garden. Find out what happened to those idiots... and eliminate any obstacles."

"Understood." Mr. 1's arms transformed into steel blades. "What about the princess?"

"Bring her alive. Kill the rest." Crocodile's face twisted into a cruel smile. "Especially that rubber brat."

Meanwhile, back on Little Garden...

"MEAT!" Luffy shouted, his mouth full of dinosaur steak.

"GABABABABA!" Dorry laughed, watching the rubber boy devour portions meant for giants.

"At least chew your food!" Nami scolded, though she couldn't hide her smile.

Robin sat slightly apart from the group, observing their interactions with interest. Vivi still cast suspicious glances her way, but the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed.

"Nami-swaaaan! Robin-chwaaaan! I made special drinks for you!" Sanji twirled over with tropical beverages.

"Thank you, Cook-san," Robin smiled, accepting the drink.

"By the way," Nami turned to the giants, "how long does it take for the Log Pose to set on this island?"

"GABABABABA!" Dorry laughed. "One year!"

"ONE YEAR?!" Nami's eyes bulged out comically. Her head slowly turned towards Luffy, a demonic aura surrounding her.

"Luffy..." she growled, her fist clenching. "You mean we're stuck here for a YEAR because you wanted to see DINOSAURS?!"

"Shishishi!" Luffy grinned, picking his nose. "Don't worry! Robin has an Eternal Pose to Alabasta!"

"Eh?" Nami stopped mid-punch, blinking in surprise.

"That's correct," Robin smiled mysteriously, pulling out the Eternal Pose. "As a former... employee of Crocodile, I happen to have this."

"YOU KNEW THIS THE WHOLE TIME?!" Nami bonked Luffy on the head, leaving a massive bump. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING SOONER?!"

"Because it was fun here! Shishishi!" Luffy rubbed his head, still grinning.

"YOU IDIOT!" The crew yelled in unison.

"Fufufu," Robin chuckled at their antics. "Shall we set sail then, Captain-san?"

"Yosh!" Luffy jumped up excitedly.

"To drum island! But first... MORE MEAT!"

"WILL YOU BE SERIOUS FOR ONCE?!" Everyone shouted as Luffy continued stuffing his face with dinosaur meat.

Vivi watched the exchange, still uncertain about trusting Robin but unable to deny the convenience of having the Eternal Pose. The crew's journey to save her kingdom could continue without delay.

"Wait, Drum Island?" Nami questioned. "Don't you mean Alabasta? We have the Eternal Pose right here!"

"Nope! We're going to Drum Island first!" Luffy declared between bites of meat.

"WHY?!" everyone shouted.

As the crew continued their heated discussion about their next destination, a groan from nearby caught their attention. Mr. 3 was beginning to stir, his wax-covered body cracking as he moved.

"Ugh... what happened?" Mr. 3 mumbled, his eyes slowly focusing on the scene before him.

"Oh, the wax guy's awake!" Luffy exclaimed, still chewing on a piece of meat.

Vivi tensed, her hand instinctively moving to her weapon. "Be careful, everyone! He's dangerous!"

Robin calmly sipped her drink, observing the situation with interest. "I wouldn't worry too much, Princess. He's hardly in a position to cause trouble now."

Mr. 3's eyes widened as he took in the sight of his former colleague sitting casually with the Straw Hats. "M-Miss All Sunday?! What's going on here?"

Before anyone could respond, another voice chimed in. "Ooh, my head... 3-chan, is that you?"

Mr. 2 Bon Clay sat up groggily, his makeup smeared and his swan coat disheveled.

"Mr. 2?!" Mr. 3 exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing!" Bon Clay retorted, then noticed the Straw Hats. "Oh my! It's Straw-chan and friends!"

Luffy grinned widely. "Bon-chan! You're awake too! Want some meat?"

"LUFFY!" Nami shouted, exasperated. "Stop offering food to our enemies!"

As the situation grew more chaotic, with Mr. 3 demanding explanations and Bon Clay happily accepting Luffy's offer of food, Zoro's voice cut through the commotion.

"what should we do with them kill them or what"

"Just leave them here," Luffy said nonchalantly, still munching on his meat.

"Are you sure that's wise, Captain-san?" Robin asked, her fingers tapping her chin thoughtfully. "They are our enemies, after all."

Nami nodded in agreement. "Robin's right. They could cause trouble for us later."

"Shishishi! It's fine!" Luffy grinned. "They're not bad guys, just on the wrong side."

Vivi looked conflicted. "But Luffy, they work for Crocodile. They've been trying to kill us!"

"Bon-chan's my friend!" Luffy declared as if that settled everything. "And wax-guy... well, he's kinda funny!"

"OI!" Mr. 3 shouted indignantly.

Robin chuckled softly. "I must say, Captain-san, your ability to see the good in people is quite remarkable."

"Besides," Luffy continued his face suddenly serious, "we don't have time to deal with them. We need to get to Drum Island quickly."

"You still haven't told us why!" Usopp interjected.

Luffy's grin returned. "Because we need a doctor for our crew! And I know just the one!"

The crew exchanged glances, a mix of exasperation and curiosity on their faces.

Luffy's grin faltered for a moment as he realized he hadn't thought that far ahead. "Uh... I don't have an Eternal Pose for Drum Island."

"YOU IDIOT!" Nami shouted, bonking him on the head again. "How are we supposed to get there without a way to navigate?!"

Robin chuckled softly. "Perhaps I can be of assistance, Navigator-san."

Everyone turned to look at her curiously.

"As a former high-ranking member of Baroque Works, I have some knowledge that might be useful," Robin explained. "Drum Island is known for its exceptional doctors, and it's not too far from our current location. We can use the Log Pose to navigate there."

Nami's eyes lit up. "Really? That's great! But wait, how do you know about Drum Island's doctors?"

Robin's smile turned mysterious. "Let's just say I've done my research. It's always good to know where to find medical help in the Grand Line."

Vivi still looked skeptical. "Can we trust her information?"

"Of course we can!" Luffy declared, his faith in his new crew member unwavering. "Robin's our nakama now!"

"Well, I suppose it's our best option," Usopp said, scratching his head. "But Luffy, who's this doctor you're talking about?"

Luffy's grin widened. "You'll see when we get there! He's amazing!"

"Yosh!" Luffy shouted, jumping to his feet. "Let's set sail for Drum Island!"

"Well, I suppose we should get going then," Sanji said, lighting a cigarette. "What about these agents?" He gestured towards Mr. 3, Mr.5, and Bon Clay.

"Like I said, leave 'em here!" Luffy laughed. "The giants can keep an eye on them. Right, Dorry? Brogy?"

"GEGYAGYAGYAGYA!" The giants roared in laughter. "Leave it to us, little humans!"

As the Straw Hats prepared to depart, Mr. 3 and Bon Clay watched in bewilderment, unsure of what their future held on this prehistoric island.

As the Straw Hats prepared to set sail, a massive shadow suddenly loomed over the Going Merry. The crew looked up in shock to see an enormous goldfish, its scales glittering in the sunlight, its mouth wide open and ready to swallow their ship whole.

"What the hell is that?!" Usopp screamed, his eyes bulging out of his head.

"It's the Island Eater!" Dorry shouted from the shore. "A monstrous goldfish that's devoured countless ships!"

"SUGOI!" Luffy exclaimed, stars in his eyes. "It's huge!"

"This is no time to be impressed, you idiot!" Nami yelled, panic evident in her voice.

As the goldfish descended upon them, Brogy's voice boomed across the water. "Little humans! Sail straight ahead! Don't change course!"

"Are you crazy?!" Nami cried. "We'll be eaten alive!"

But Luffy's grin only widened. "You heard the giant! Full speed ahead!"

"Aye aye, Captain!" Zoro replied, adjusting the sails.

The Going Merry surged forward, directly into the gaping maw of the Island Eater. Just as it seemed they were about to be swallowed, a thunderous battle cry echoed across the sea.

"HAKOKU!"

In perfect unison, Dorry and Brogy swung their massive weapons. Their blades sliced through the air, creating a shockwave that split the sea itself. The attack struck the Island Eater with devastating force, cleaving straight through its enormous body.

The Straw Hats watched in awe as the goldfish was cut clean in half, its massive body falling away on either side of their ship. They sailed through the gap, emerging unscathed on the other side.

"GABABABABA!" The giants' laughter shook the island. "That's the pride of Elbaf for you!"

"AMAZING!" Luffy shouted, his eyes shining with admiration.

As they sailed away, the crew could still hear the giants' booming voices.

"Remember, little humans! Carry the spirit of Elbaf with you!"

"We'll never forget this!" Luffy called back, waving enthusiastically. "Thank you, giant ossan!"

With the Island Eater defeated and Little Garden fading into the distance, the Straw Hats set their course for Drum Island, their hearts filled with excitement for the adventures that lay ahead.

In the depths of Baroque Works' headquarters in Alabasta, Crocodile sat in his dimly lit office, his face contorted with rage as he listened to Mr. 1's report. The room was thick with cigar smoke, matching the dark mood of its occupant.

"So," Crocodile growled, his hook gleaming menacingly in the low light, "Miss All Sunday has betrayed us for a group of insignificant pirates."

Mr. 1 stood stoically, his face impassive as he delivered the news. "Yes, sir. According to our intelligence, she's now traveling with the Straw Hat crew."

Crocodile's fist slammed onto his desk, causing the wood to splinter. "That treacherous woman! I should have known she couldn't be trusted."

He stood up abruptly, pacing the room with barely contained fury. "And what of Mr. 3 and that buffoon, Mr. 2?"

"Left behind on Little Garden, sir. The giants are keeping them under watch."

"Useless, all of them!" Crocodile snarled. His mind raced, considering the implications of this betrayal. Miss All Sunday knew too much about their operations, about his true goals in Alabasta.

Crocodile paced his office, his mind racing. He turned to Mr. 1, who was still awaiting further instructions.

"We need to move faster. Double our efforts to incite rebellion among the people. Spread more rumors about the king hoarding water. I want chaos in the streets within days, not weeks."

Mr. 1 nodded, "Yes, sir. What about the Straw Hats?"

Crocodile's eyes narrowed. "If Robin's with them, they're more dangerous than I initially thought. She wouldn't align herself with ordinary pirates."

He walked to a large map of Alabasta on the wall, studying it intently. "Find out everything you can about them. Their abilities, their goals. I want to know why they're here and what connection they have to Robin."

"And the princess?" Mr. 1 inquired.

"Vivi?" Crocodile smirked. "She's still our unwitting pawn. But now, we'll use her to draw out the Straw Hats. Send word to our agents in Nanohana. I want them found the moment they set foot in Alabasta."

He turned back to Mr. 1, his face set in grim determination. "Prepare our elite agents. We may need to deal with these pirates ourselves. And increase security around here. If Robin's led them here, she knows almost everything."

As Mr. 1 left to carry out his orders, Crocodile looked out over the desert once more. "What are you planning, Nico Robin?" he muttered. "And what makes these Straw Hats so special?"

On board the Going Merry, the Straw Hat crew found themselves puzzled by their captain's erratic behavior. Luffy's emotions seemed to be on a wild rollercoaster, swinging between extreme happiness and profound sadness without any apparent reason.

One moment, Luffy would be sprawled on the deck, clutching his sides as he roared with uncontrollable laughter. His infectious giggles would echo across the ship, causing some of the crew to smile despite their confusion.

The crew worried, Nami stood up to go ask him what the problem, was but was stopped by Robin who said "Navgaiter-san, I think it best that I talk with him,"

Nami raised her eyebrow" And why is that"

Robin"Because I know why he knows what he Knows"

The crew's eyes widened in surprise at Robin's statement. Nami hesitated, then nodded, allowing Robin to approach Luffy.

Robin approached Luffy, who was alternating between laughter and tears. The rest of the crew watched curiously from a distance.

"Captain-san," Robin said softly, "what's the problem? Why are you laughing one moment and crying the next?"

Luffy looked up at her, his eyes wide and grinning. "Robin! It's so cool! The future's all mixed up now! Bon-chan wasn't supposed to be on Little Garden, but he was!"

Robin nodded a small smile on her face. "I see. The future you saw is changing."

"Yeah!" Luffy exclaimed, bouncing with excitement. "It's gonna be a whole new adventure! I don't know what's gonna happen next! It's so exciting!"

Robin chuckled. "Fufufu, I suppose it would be for you, Luffy-san."

"Shishishi! Yeah! But..." Luffy's grin faltered for a moment. "I still wanna save everyone. That's not gonna change!"

Robin placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Of course, Captain-san. Perhaps sharing this with the crew might help?"

Luffy's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah! They should know too! It'll be fun to see their faces! Oi, everyone! Come here! I've got something super cool to tell you!"

As the crew gathered around, with looks of confusion and curiosity on their faces, Luffy was practically vibrating with excitement. He couldn't wait to share his secret and embark on this new, unpredictable adventure with his nakama.

As the crew gathered around Luffy on the Merry Go, their expressions ranged from curious to concerned.

Nami spoke up first, "Luffy, what's this all about? You've been acting strange since we left Little Garden."

"Yeah," Usopp chimed in, "and what was that about Bon Clay? We've never even met him!"

Luffy took a deep breath, his grin stretching from ear to ear. "Okay, guys, you're not gonna believe this! I've seen the future!"

There was a moment of stunned silence before the crew erupted.

The crew huddled around Luffy, eyes bulging and jaws dropping.

Usopp, his knees shaking, screeched, "EHHHHH?! Luffy saw the future?! That's impossible!"

"Shishishi! It's true!" Luffy grinned, digging for gold in his nose.

BONK! Nami's fist connected with Luffy's head, leaving a steaming bump. "Don't be so casual about this, you idiot!"

"Owwww! Nami, that hurts!" Luffy whined, rubbing his head.

Zoro, one eye open, grunted, "Oi, Captain. What exactly did you change?"

Luffy started counting on his fingers, tongue sticking out in concentration. "Umm... Nami was supposed to join after Zoro... Oh! And she was gonna steal Merry at Baratie! And Robin wasn't supposed to join until after we beat up that Croc bastard!"

"NANI?!" The crew exclaimed in unison, eyes popping out of their heads.

Sanji, hearts in his eyes, twirled towards Nami and Robin. "Nami-swaaaan! Robin-chwaaaan! I'm so glad you joined us earlier!"

Usopp, stars in his eyes, looked at Luffy in awe. "Sugoi! Luffy, you're amazing!"

"Wait a minute," Nami said, her eyes narrowing. "Luffy, is that how you knew about Arlong?"

Luffy's face turned serious, a rare sight. "Yeah. I saw what that fish-face did to your village and Bellemere." Luffy's eyes softened, "I saw stuff. Like Zoro's promise with Kuina, Sanji's family in North Blue, and Robin's island

Zoro's eye bulged comically. "OI, LUFFY! You knew about Kuina?!"

"Shishishi! Yep!" Luffy grinned, picking his nose.

Zoro's face turned demonic. "DON'T PICK YOUR NOSE WHILE TALKING ABOUT SERIOUS STUFF!"

Nami's eyes turned to Beli's signs. "Luffy! If you knew about Arlong, why didn't you tell me sooner?! Think of all the treasure we could've saved!"

"NAMI-SWAAAAN! You're so cute when you're greedy!" Sanji twirled with hearts in his eyes.

Sanji suddenly stopped, his cigarette dropping from his mouth. "Wait... YOU KNOW ABOUT MY FAMILY?!"

Usopp jumped in, his nose growing longer. "Luffy! Tell me more about my brave future! Do I defeat 100,000 men single-handedly?!"

Vivi sweatdropped. "Everyone, please calm down..."

Robin chuckled softly. "Fufufu, it seems our captain is full of surprises."

Luffy laughed loudly. "SHISHISHI! You guys are funny!"

"YOU'RE THE FUNNY ONE!" The crew yelled in unison, shark teeth bared.

Vivi, her voice shaky, asked, "Luffy-san, what about Alabasta?"

Luffy's face split into his signature grin. "Don't worry! We're gonna kick Crocodile's sandy ass! We're way stronger now!"

"YOSHA!" The crew cheered, fists pumping in the air.

"But remember," Luffy added, picking his nose again, "We're on a new adventure now! The future I saw is all messed up!"

"DON'T SAY THAT SO HAPPILY!" The crew yelled, shark teeth bared.

As the Merry sailed on, laughter echoed across the waves. Whatever lay ahead, the Straw Hat Pirates were ready to face it head-on!

In the depths of Rain Dinners casino, Crocodile lounged in his chair, a thick dossier before him. His eyes narrowed as he flipped through the pages, cigar smoke swirling around his hook.

"Kuhahaha," he chuckled, tapping his hook against the desk. "Interesting."

Mr. 1 stood stoically nearby, his arms crossed.

"These Straw Hat pirates," Crocodile mused, "they're not just some rookie crew."

He held up a wanted poster. "Monkey D. Luffy. 55 million bounty. Defeated that Fishman Arlong, that clown Buggy, and even took down a Marine captain with a Logia fruit. Not bad for an East Blue upstart."

Crocodile's eyes glinted with malice. "And now they've got Nico Robin. This smells fishier than the Alabasta canal."

He spread out more papers. "A santoryu-wielding ex-bounty hunter, a navigator who can predict the Grand Line's weather, a kick-happy cook from the sea restaurant... They're collecting quite the crew of misfits."

Mr. 1's expression remained unchanged. "Should we crush them now, boss?"

Crocodile's grin widened, revealing his teeth. "Patience, Mr. 1. Let them come to our turf. We'll give them a proper Baroque Works welcome."

He leaned back, blowing a smoke ring. "That rubber brat might be tougher than he looks. But in this desert, I'm king. Kuhahaha!"