"Hmm... so this is the scenery of the Desert Kingdom? Truly unique..."
Wright had disguised himself as an ordinary middle-aged traveler—wrapped in a turban and clad in a light-colored cloak to protect against the sun.
The blade at his waist, Ashes, now a Great Grade sword, rested inconspicuously within its plain scabbard, betraying none of its exceptional quality.
Alabasta, a superpower within the "Paradise" section of the Grand Line, boasted a rich history and an immense standing army of 600,000. For many smaller nations, even the total number of adults wouldn't approach this figure.
With a population exceeding ten million and a history stretching back four millennia, Alabasta's capital, founded over two thousand years ago, stood as a testament to its enduring legacy. Its royal family, the Nefertari clan, traced its lineage back 800 years. The current ruler, Nefertari Cobra XII, upheld this storied heritage.
Despite its expansive deserts, Alabasta's geographical advantages—including a vast coastline, the flowing Sandora River, and several verdant oases with ample rainfall—had given rise to a unique desert culture rather than hardship.
Arriving via a merchant ship through official channels, Wright hadn't encountered the fabled schools of Kung Fu Dugongs patrolling the shores.
He smirked to himself.
"Heh, the one I smacked down with Sengoku back then probably isn't here anymore."
Starting his journey from Erumalu on the western bank of the Sandora River, Wright had passed through Yuba before reaching Alabasta's fabled "City of Dreams"—Rainbase, home to Crocodile and the headquarters of his Baroque Works organization.
For now, however, the scheming sand crocodile was still building his reputation, yet to enact his sinister plans. Protected by his title as a Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile's crusade against pirates had practically turned him into a national hero.
"The City of Dreams in the Desert, the Oasis of Rainbase..."
Looking at the city across from Alubarna, the nation's capital on the opposite bank of the Sandora River, Wright couldn't help but sigh.
"Unfortunately, until evil reveals itself, even knowing the outcome, I can't preemptively eliminate this damn sand crocodile..."
"If Brother Sakazuki knew what I know, he might... no, he definitely would raze the entire Rainbase to the ground."
Murmuring grim words to himself, Wright stepped into the vibrant city.
His purpose here wasn't to confront Crocodile. He was well aware of the warlord's plans and intentions, but acting directly at this stage was impossible. The most he could do was warn King Cobra and propose preventive measures to protect the citizens from the devastation Crocodile would eventually bring.
Alabasta currently held one of the Poneglyphs, but since Wright couldn't decipher it, its existence wasn't of immediate use.
As for Pluton...
That was a pipe dream.
Wright's primary goal was to assess how to address the drought-induced devastation Crocodile's machinations would bring to Alabasta in the future.
While he couldn't arrest Crocodile outright, he could advise Cobra to prepare, sparing the populace unnecessary suffering. After all, the duty of the Navy was to protect.
As one of the few within the Navy capable of influencing the Fleet Admiral's decisions, Wright saw it as his responsibility to prevent tragedies where possible—just as he had during the incident with Z.
Though the Navy couldn't interfere in the internal affairs of Alabasta, a member nation of the World Government, King Cobra's dedication to his people and refusal to raise taxes made him an approachable ally for improving public welfare.
In the future, during Alabasta's civil war, the rebel forces would outnumber the royal army several times over—a testament to how deeply Crocodile's schemes would harm the kingdom.
The cities along the Sandora River were sustained by its plentiful waters. Rainbase, a massive oasis, benefited from abundant underground water sources, making it resilient despite low rainfall.
Yuba, however, wasn't as fortunate. Though technically an oasis, its underground water was far inferior to Rainbase, and the city relied heavily on rainfall. Surrounded by desert, even transporting water from nearby oases was impossible.
Without rain, Yuba would dry up in just a few years.
Worse off was Erumalu, a city without an oasis. Closer to the lower reaches of the Sandora River, Erumalu was plagued by saltwater intrusion, rendering the river water undrinkable. A lack of rain combined with saline contamination meant the city could barely last a year.
Historically, Alabasta hadn't experienced significant droughts, which allowed cities like Yuba and Erumalu to survive. But Crocodile's future theft of rainwater for over three years would spell disaster—Erumalu would perish entirely, Yuba would teeter on the brink of collapse, and countless smaller settlements dependent on rainfall would vanish.
"The solution isn't to change how these cities source water—it's too difficult, almost like building a new city in the desert."
Wright quietly observed Rainbase, considering the environments of Erumalu and Yuba, and dismissed the idea of connecting their water supplies.
Even as a great swordsman, carving a canal through the desert on the scale required was impossible. If it were, the cities wouldn't still be separated by vast stretches of desert after millennia.
"It seems the only option is to warn Cobra and encourage residents to stockpile water."
"If Cobra is as wise as he appears, my warning should be enough for him to detect Crocodile's schemes in time."
"And if the Lightforged Beacon can be upgraded to transport large volumes of goods, it might be worth visiting Vegapunk later to explore the possibility."
An enhanced Lightforged Beacon would solve everything, but Alabasta, lacking a permanent Navy base, relied solely on patrolling Navy ships in nearby waters. Even future emergency aid via the beacon would require Cobra's explicit understanding and approval.
"Crocodile... recently, you've taken out several pirate crews. Does Cobra seriously not suspect anything?"
"The title Warlord of the Sea is truly the perfect disguise... Could Cobra really believe the Warlords are agents of the World Government?"
Wright headed toward the largest casino in Rainbase—Rain Dinners, owned by Crocodile—shaking his head.
"Time to educate Cobra on the difference between the Warlords and the Navy."
"Big pirates will always be big pirates... No matter whose side they claim to be on, they're still ruthless and uncontrollable."
"Heroes? They'll never be that. It's up to the Navy to save the people!"
-------
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here: patreon.com / juanpiece
There are more than 60 advance chapters available for you!