38 Chapter 37

The next day, the temperature started slowly rising, indicating that we are getting closer to the desert kingdom.

Before reaching Alabasta, a fleet with the Baroque Works jolly roger confronted us. There were a total of twelve ships, and they were trying to surround us. I didn't even have to say anything before my crew sprang into action.

"Vivi watch me how I beat those fools, who are trying to take over your country." Sanji was the first one to rush out from the Going Merry. With a leap, he positioned himself in the air above one of the ships. It didn't take him more than a minute to destroy the ship with wind blades.

"Let's show them what we got bro." Johnny and Yosaku, having learned both Soru and Geppo the past few days, boarded another one. With ease, they were able to sink it and jump onto another one afterward.

"Gegyagya, you are a hundred years too early to fight us." The Giants didn't even bother going to them. They just shot them from their boat with their shockwave attacks, easily sinking four ships in the process.

Zoro following their actions started sending wind blades with his swords and sank two more ships.

"I'm coming for you Crocodile." Xander created giant iron balls above another two ships and dropped it on them.

Sanji finished off the last ship and returned back the crew.

"I was amazing right Vivi?" Sanji asked her once he landed on the Going Merry.

"Yes, you were very impressive Sanji." Vivi complimented him, and he started dancing around with hearts in his eyes.

"Wow, you are all amazing." Chopper had stars in his eyes while watching the show.

After dealing with the Baroque Work ships, we sailed straight towards Rainbase. Following the river that leads towards the middle of Alabasta, we reached a dock, that Vivi said is the closest to Rainbase.

We left the Giants at the Going Merry to protect it and to watch over the Baroque Works agents we captured on Little Garden. With the rest of the crew, we made our way towards Rainbase.

Robin had almost recovered by now, and she decided to follow along. Aisha was the only person that actually trusted her beside me. Both of them got along well for some reason.

Within an hour we reached the city and immediately went towards Rain Dinners, the casino that Crocodile uses as his secret base.

The casino looks like a pyramid with a golden crocodile on top, but Vivi and Robin said that the animal is, in fact, a bananawani. Whatever that means.

Using Observation Haki, I was able to locate a group of strong individuals. There were a few guards that tried to stop us on the way, but we knocked them out.

Finding the room with the individuals I sensed was easy. Unfortunately, we didn't find Crocodile there. Water was slowly filling the room, and there was a cage with people in the middle of it.

"Strawhat?!?" The captured group exclaimed upon noticing us. I recognized Buggy, and his two henchmen, Mohji and Cabaji. I also recognized Smoker as well, but there were two females I didn't know.

One of the females was a slim, well-endowed beauty with long, curly black hair and green eyes. She had a cowboy hat and was wearing a pearl necklace, a bikini top, and tight Capri-length pants.

The other female was a beauty as well with dark brown eyes and short shoulder length black hair. She was dressed in Marine clothes and was wearing glasses.

"Buggy? What are you doing here?" I asked

"Well, you see I wanted to fight with Crocodile, but I got beat and captured." He said while looking at the ground.

"And because of you, we got captured as well!" Smoker screamed at him.

"Don't worry we will release you, but where is Crocodile? We need to find him urgently to stop the rebellion." I asked them, and I saw Smoker's expression drastically change once he heard me. He was staring at me like he couldn't believe me.

"He is already on his way towards Alubarna with the rest of Baroque Works. Crocodile also said that the rebellion should be happening any moment now." Buggy answered me.

"Damn it we are late, we have to move towards the capital as possible. Xander, can you make a key for the cage?" I asked the iron man.

"Not a problem." Instantly he created a key, and we unlocked the cage. After being released Smoker had a very complicated look, but the glasses wearing Marine drew her sword and aimed it at Zoro.

"Roronoa Zoro we meet again. This time you won't get away!" She exclaimed and was about to attack him before Smoker stopped her.

"Captain, what are you doing? Roronoa Zoro and Strawhat Luffy are both right here, and we can capture them." She questioned Smoker.

"Not the time Tashigi, the countries safety is more important than some wannabe pirates." Smoker told her, before turning towards Robin.

"What is the Devil child of Ohara doing with you Strawhat? Do you even know her identity? Do you know she sank more than a dozen Marine battleships when she was eight years old?" He asked me, which made my crew look at Robin with a scared look.

"Do you truly believe an eight-year-old is capable of that? If you do, you are dumber than I thought. Oh, and next time you call her that, I will beat the crap out of you." I told him with animosity, but he only smiled at my response and walked away, while dragging Tashigi with him. Robin, on the other hand, was looking at me in surprise, like she didn't expect me to defend her.

"I already told you, that you are a part of my crew. I won't let people talk bad about you." Smiling I told her.

"Next time we meet, I won't let you go Strawhat." He stated while walking away.

"You can't get me even if you wanted to, don't you remember what happened at Lougetown," I told him while pulling my eyelid and sticking my tongue at him. Smoker flinched, but he didn't respond and continued walking.

"So Strawhat we finally meet again. I remember how you punched me last time. No one has treated me that roughly before." She told me with a weird look.

"Uh? Do I know you?" I asked her.

"Oh, it's probably because of the Devil Fruit I ate. After eating it, my freckles disappeared." She stated with a knowing look.

"I still don't know you," I told her, and I saw her get saddened by that fact.

"How can you not remember me? I'm Alivda! I've been searching for you ever since you hit me. No one but you deserves to be my man." Alvida declared.

"I don't like you, and won't accept you as a sister," Aisha told her. Before I could answer her, Aisha appeared in front of her and tried punching her, but her attack slipped off Alvida.

"You don't have a say in that!" Alvida yelled and tried attacking back, but she got blown away before she could do so.

"I agree with Aisha," Nami stated while Nojiko was nodding her head on the side.

Before the girls could continue their fighting, I stopped them.

"We don't have time for this right now. We have to reach Alubarna as soon as possible." I told them, and we left the casino.

While returning back towards the Going Merry, Buggy told us how they got captured. Since Alabasta was their next island on their Log Pose and they knew there was a Schibukai here, they decided to take him out. They followed him back to the Rain Dinners when Smoker and Tashigi appeared out of nowhere. The Marine duo chased after them inside the casino, but they got captured in the process.

Buggy wanted to fight with Crocodile, but when I asked him if he thinks he has a chance against a Logia user, he quickly changed his mind. Saying he will leave the fighting to me, he decided to continue his journey on the Grand Line.

I asked him if he could take the Baroque Works agents we captured with him since I didn't want to continue overlooking them.

Buggy had no problem with that, but surprisingly Miss Goldenweek begged me to join my crew. She promised she means us no harm, but I didn't trust her fully. Nonetheless, I decided to accept for now, since I didn't sense any hostility from her.

Miss Goldenweek introduced herself as Marianne and told us her dream is to create the most beautiful painting in the world. She believes she will not be able to accomplish that dream if she doesn't come with us.

We said our goodbyes to Buggy, and he left with the other two Baroque Agents and Alvida as well. With that dealt with, we boarded the Going Merry and crossed the river to the other side.