The entire kingdom was raining!
With Crocodile's defeat, the artificial rain turned into natural rain, covering all of Alabasta, as if to make up for the three years of drought. So,
It's all over!
The civil war in Alabasta ended in a 'strange' way.
———————
At the critical moment when the 700,000 rebel army was approaching the kingdom's capital, Alubarna, Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral Smoker keenly noticed something unusual about the rebellion. Leading many Marine soldiers, including Ensign Tashigi, they braved the dangers and pressed forward...
They finally succeeded in stopping the rebellion, saving millions of Alabasta's people from disaster! They won the praise of Alabasta's citizens and promoted the 'justice' of the Marines...
During this time, Rear Admiral Smoker, with the help of the Alabasta royal family and some adventurers, uncovered the horrifying 'nation-stealing' plot of the former Warlord: Crocodile, once again proving the Marines' firm stance on 'justice'...
"Pfft,"
Flipping through the newspaper in his hand, Roman could imagine the coal-black face of the foul-tempered Smoker when he saw these reports.
The 'White Hunter' must be so angry that he's turning into the 'Black Hunter'...
"It seems that no matter where you are, the government's 'public relations' work is always the same."
Putting down the newspaper, Roman looked at the many hospital beds in the room. —On them lay the severely injured members of the Straw Hat crew: Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji...
Nami only had minor injuries, and Chopper was in the best condition. He was currently discussing medicine with Alabasta's royal physician and making reasonable plans for the others' recovery.
Two days had passed.
Two days ago, after turning the palace square into ruins, the Straw Hat crew finally defeated Crocodile. Although Luffy collapsed from poison and blood loss, with Roman around, there were no casualties after the victory.
In fact, Nico Robin had long anticipated a fallout with Crocodile. So she had secretly prepared an antidote for Crocodile's poison hook and even a sealed seastone knife.
Unfortunately, these items were never used, but the antidote did save Luffy in the nick of time. Then—
Nico Robin drifted away, and neither the Straw Hat crew nor Alabasta had the strength to stop her, so they tacitly allowed her departure.
Shortly after, like the police arriving late in a TV drama,
When Smoker arrived with Marine reinforcements, they found an unconscious Crocodile and many defeated Baroque Works officers. And: 'This guy committed many evil deeds and was defeated by a passing hero! The hero has hidden his achievements and name... You Marines can write your own report,' said the Alabasta royal family.
As for whether the Marines believed it?
Well, the Alabasta royal family believed it!
Any objections? Ask the 200,000 soldiers of our kingdom and the 700,000 militia outside with their swords and guns.
Smoker is not Crocodile; he doesn't have the strength to fight a whole country alone. Besides, Alabasta is a member of the World Government, and the World Government is the Marine's boss. So, rounding up, Alabasta is also a... patron of the Marines.
So,
After capturing Crocodile and the Baroque Works officers, Smoker had to leave Alubarna reluctantly.
As for the follow-up report in Roman's hands—no need to think, it's definitely the World Government crediting this 'achievement' to Smoker.
The government can't admit that their appointed 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' not only conspired to seize a country but was also defeated by a group of rookie pirates who just entered the Grand Line, right? Even more embarrassing is that the Marines played the role of being deceived and beaten in this.
How could that be~~ Doesn't the World Government care about face?
"In any case, we're safe now."
Roman patted the newspaper, reminiscing while touching his chin.
Even when Luffy and Zoro's bounties come out, the only one who will actually come to 'arrest' the Straw Hat crew is Smoker's peer 'Black Cage' Hina, whose rank is just a colonel.
Although this colonel is quite skilled, there are no signs of the Marine's higher-ups taking action. After all, in Roman's view:
Unless they're young and reckless, wouldn't the first reaction to seeing Luffy's name be to think of the legendary Vice Admiral Garp?
You know, in this world, those who dare to have a 'D' in their name are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. With such an obvious surname, the more cautious officers wouldn't want to push things too far. Otherwise, if Garp ever ambushed them, who would they complain to?
Fleet Admiral Sengoku?
Don't be silly, isn't Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office just Vice Admiral Garp's lounge? Going there to complain is just asking for a beating...
"So, everyone, let's rest here for a while before setting off again."
After finally defeating a big boss, there's no need to rush off like we're escaping. Anyway, Roman had already used the 'White Knight' to move the Going Merry to a port city on the East Blue coast and hid it there. With the local rebels... no, they should be called Alabasta militia guarding it, the Marines patrolling the sea won't catch a thing.
If there's any impact, it might be the friendship between Mr. 2 Bon Clay and the Straw Hat crew... but that's a minor issue. After all, as the saying goes:
As long as we're friends, we'll meet again on this vast sea someday.
"My goodness, this medicine is truly marvelous!" After observing Chopper's medical skills, the royal physician of Alabasta was amazed, "But it's very reasonable, so brilliant!"
"May I ask who your teacher is? They must be a very skilled doctor, right?"
!
Chopper, who had been unapproachable, suddenly became adorable, pulling out a chair and pushing a cup of hot tea over.
"So annoying, stop staring at me! You idiot~~"
"Get lost, you jerk~~"
...
"Ah, just understand that as 'please sit, please have some tea.'"
Roman waved his hand, seeing Vivi walking over—she had already changed out of her battle clothes and into a casual short-sleeved long dress, holding a basin and towel.
"Vivi, here to see Luffy again?"
"Yes... ah..."
Tsk tsk tsk, a princess personally wiping sweat and cleaning the body, Luffy, you big sea king...
"I'm going to check on the others' injuries."
Roman didn't want to be a third wheel here, so he got up and went to the next room, opening the door to find—
A room full of injured people: the four elite 'Bird Claws' of the royal army and the leaders of the rebel army. The two vice-captains, Chaka and Pell, who had their throats cut, were already up and about, thanks to their Zoan-type Devil Fruits, directing the aftermath.
"Roman, we..."
Facing Koza's confusion, Roman shrugged with a smile.
"Sorry, the Hero Water I gave you was diluted."
"So you'll probably feel weak for half a month, but dying is unlikely."
This...
"Yes, the truth is, during the fight with Crocodile, the power you unleashed was actually your own. So don't underestimate your potential."
"Why..."
"Because my captain wants a happy ending for everyone, so I lied to you. —You don't mind, do you?"
Facing Roman's question, both the royal army and the rebels bowed their heads seriously.
"No!"
"If it weren't for you, we couldn't even imagine what kind of dark future our beloved country would face..."
"Thank you very much!" x8
"No, no," Roman waved his hand, "You should thank our captain."
"When Luffy recovers, you can thank him."
Seeing that these people were mostly recovered, Roman felt relieved. He still had many things to handle.
"Although,"
Walking to the door, Roman opened it and turned back.
"Luffy probably doesn't care."
Boom,
Leaving a room full of injured people looking at each other.
"They really are..."
"A group of dashing 'heroes'!"
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