This is the 41st chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
Trap of Certain Defeat! Storming Rain Dinners!
In three years, not a drop of rain has fallen in the desert kingdom of Alabasta, the Land of Oasis. The land is at the brink of war, with nowhere else to turn, the people are turning on each other. After many adventures, Luffy's band reach Crocodile's headquarters at Rainbase. Unfortunately, here they encounter the Marines led by Captain Smoker of Marine Headquarters. Force to defend themselves against both the Marines and Baroque Works 'Millions', Luffy's party storms the Rain Dinners Casino. Attempting to confront Crocodile.
Alabasta, Rainbase
After Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp tried to run into the casino and Anna and Ivan splits up to find Ventus and the others, Smoker and the Baroque Works agents were pursuing after them. Smoker wanted the Straw Hat pirates captured and alive, but the Baroque Works agents only wanted them dead.
"I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! I'M COMING, CROCODILE!" Luffy yelled, running towards the entrace.
The Baroque Works agents were able to find the four as they chase after them.
"Not so fast, you!"
"Don't talk, just shoot them!"
The Baroque Works agents fired at them, causing Zoro to turn his shoulder with annoyance.
"Damn, these guys are annoying!" Zoro grunts as he turns around and readied his katana, make a quick work by slashing them. He then placed it on the sheathe with a clang, leaving the Baroque Works killed. "Ha! I think that'll shut 'em up."
Once they're inside, they only saw people gambling money in the slot machines, roulettes, betting chips, and poker. However, they didn't saw Crocodile which it got Luffy impatient as he raise his fists up in the air.
"HEY, CROCODIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEE! SHOW YOURSEEEEEEELLLLLF!" Luffy yelled which it got their attention for a few seconds, got back on betting. "LISTEN! I'VE CROSSED AN OCEAN AND IN THE DESERT TO KICK YOUR ASS!?"
The people turned to Luffy again, but got back on betting.
"CROCODI-"
"That's not gonna make him come out here, you loudmouth dope!" Nami points out when she and Usopp bonked his head.
"Don't forget, we're dealing with this countries hero." Usopp told him when Zoro catches up. "You want to turn all these customers?"
"Okay, fine! So, what do we do?" Luffy asks with annoyance, even though both Nami and Usopp were right.
"Whoa, hold on! Without Vivi, we don't even know what Crocodile looks like." Usopp points out, motions his hand.
"Now that you mention it, where is Vivi?" Nami asks, looking around for Vivi which she's still not here.
"VIVI! CROCODILE! COME HERE!" Usopp, Luffy, and Nami yelled with their fists pumped up which Zoro heard that noise, grunt in annoyance.
The staff members of the casino heard that loud shout coming from the main entrance which it causes a disturbance for the customers because of Luffy, Nami, and Usopp. They were wondering why the three were shouting Crocodile's name and Vivi's name. The customers are still betting money while ignoring the shout, but they're really annoyed.
"Uh pardon sir, but some undesirables have entered the casino."
"Oh, for heaven's sake! Have security throw them out and relax, will you?!"
Luffy then finds out why Crocodile isn't showing himself as he spoke while turns to the three.
"Hey, you know what? I'm thinking they might not come, just cuz' we call-"
"I've got you this time, Straw Hat!" The voice of Smoker shouts, chasing after them while enter inside of the casino which it got their attention.
"Smoker!?" Nami exclaims.
"You think you can stroll in anywhere you like, and I won't find you?!" Smoker growled.
"Not old Smokey!?" Luffy exclaims with panic.
And with that, Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp makes for the run for it while Smoker chases after them inside of the casino.
"Oh, great! What's that refugee from an ashtray doing in the casino in Rainbase?" Usopp demands.
"If you ask me, I'd say he's developed a special affection for Luffy here." Zoro states with a smirk.
"This building is surrounded by a lake, there's nowhere to run!" Smoker shouts when the security ran in front of him while the four pirates had the chance to run.
"Now hold on! That's far enough!"
"Government officials aren't allowed inside!"
When the security grabs hold of Smoker, he pushes them aside and continues to chase them.
"Man, he's stubborn!" Luffy groans while running.
"Hold it!" Smoker shouts, chasing Luffy.
"I'm in no mood to try to deal with this right now!?" Luffy groans.
Just as the four pirates kept running from Smoker, three of the bouncers walked in front of them.
"Excuse me, sir! I'm going to have to ask to-"
Before one of the bouncers finished his sentence, Luffy just ran over them and knocking them out. The two bouncers crashed against the slot machines which it got the gold coins flew off, while the third bouncer crashed against the poker table. While Luffy kept running, he was wonder if he just hit someone which apparently, he did, but oblivious about it because his mind was somewhere else. Ms. All-Sunday approaches with an amused smile on her face, finding it entertaining to see Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp being chased by Smoker. One of the staff members turned to her as he spoke.
"Manager, this is terrible! Some strange people have forced their way in!"
"Send them to the VIP room." Ms. All-Sunday suggests, leaving him confused. "Mr. Crocodile's been expecting them."
The staff member is confused, but decided not to question as he called his co-workers and told them to let the four pirates and Smoker to send them to the VIP room.
"Give it up!" Smoker shouts, but neither of the four are stopping.
The people panicked when they move out of their way while the staff members use a 'welcome gesture' next to the VIP room.
"Hey look, ahead!" Usopp shouts. "It's-"
"Thank you..."
"...For coming."
"Please, step this way."
"The VIP lounge welcomes you."
"Did he say the VIP lounge?" Usopp asks surprisingly.
"Hold on! Do you think it could be a trap, maybe?" Nami questions, skeptically.
"Hey, don't these lounge deals usually have free drinks for their guests?" Zoro asks.
"It's not like we have a choice, run for it!" Luffy shouts with an order.
"The VIP lounge? Don't tell me these jokers are friends of Crocodile!?" Smoker exclaims. "But if it's true, all of them could end up at the gallows together!"
And with that, the four pirates and Smoker entered inside of the VIP lounge which little did they know that Crocodile is waiting for them inside of the underground base that's filled with water and giant-sized crocodiles.
"What is up with him anyway?!" Luffy shouts as he, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp ran into the hallway while Smoker entered inside of the VIP lounge, noticed the hallway splits along with the sign. "Hey, the hall splits!"
"It says VIPs go left!" Usopp points out.
"Then pirates go right!" Nami adds.
"Which way do we go?" Luffy questions desperately.
"Decide, quick!" Zoro told them.
"VIP! Choose VIPs!" Usopp suggests. "That's gotta be the way to go!"
"That's crazy talk! We're pirates and pirates just supposed to go this way! Come on!" Luffy remarked, choosing the right.
"Well, yeah, you got a point there." Usopp agrees as he, Nami, and Zoro followed.
However, the four pirates were led into a dead end along with Smoker. It left them confused, but suddenly, the floor opens and they started to fall down to the underground.
"This is certainly unexpecting!" Smoker yelled while Nami screamed in panic.
"I can't believe we fell for this old trick." Zoro said in deadpan expression, crossed in between his arms and legs with a sigh.
"It's an outbreak of my own, I end up swimming when I fall into darkness and admit defeat!" Usopp states, doing the swimming gesture.
"I hate trapdoors!" Luffy yelled as he and the other fell down into the underwater base.
Meanwhile outside of the casino, Chopper is still looking the Straw Hat pirates which he wasn't getting anywhere because of the mixture of scent between the pirates, the Marines, and the Baroque Works agents. He kept running through Rainbase, tried to find his crew which they're nowhere to be found.
"That's strange, what happen to everybody?" Chopper questions himself, looking around in the alley.
"Captain Smoker!" Tashigi called him, running through the city and tried to find him.
When Chopper stops himself, he turns into a human form and tried to flee, but hit in the wall and left in a daze. Chopper recovered quickly as he hides...in the opposite direction.
"I wonder where Captain Smoker could've gotten to?" Tashigi questions, wondering where Smoker have gone. "He must be chasing after Straw Hat, but..."
'She's with the Marines!? She's after the others!' Chopper mentally exclaims as Tashigi just about to continue to search for Smoker, the reindeer steps in front of her. "Stop! You can't-"
Just before Chopper could even finish his sentence, Tashigi couldn't see where she was going which it got her tripped and fell next in between the ground and the reindeer. Also, her glasses flung right into Chopper when he opened his eyes and saw the building stretches very far which it got him panicked, failed to noticed he's wearing Tashigi's glasses. Tashigi was able to recover as she pulls herself up to her knee, looking for her glasses.
"My glasses...where are they?" Tashigi groans, looking for her glasses.
Chopper quickly got up and leaned against the wall when the vision of Tashigi went blurry.
"This is just great, I'm helpless without them." Tashigi said as Chopper passed out and fell on the ground which it got her attention. "Oh no, are you alright? Excuse me, sir. You haven't passed out, have you?"
Both Sanji and Shanise were able to find Chopper, but they also saw Tashighi next to him.
"Come on, you, say something." Tashigi pleads, shake him a little.
"Sergent Major Tashigi!"
Soon as both Sanji and Shanise heard her name, they turned away and not making too much attention when they approach Tashigi.
"We boon looking for you, ma'am!"
"I'll be right there." Tashigi told him, grabbing her sword when Chopper pulls himself up with a groan.
"Um, are these-"
Just before Chopper asks after took off the glasses, Tashigi smiled and spoke.
"Oh how nice, you found my glasses. You're such a kind person." Tashigi said, leaving Chopper gasp surprisingly as she grabs her glasses and puts it on. "Thank you so much for your help. Being seeing you."
And with that, Tashigi approaches the Marines as they ran out of the alley while Sanji and Shanise watched them left.
"Not the sharpest tool in the shed, is she?" Sanji asks.
The two then watches Chopper does the 'old man' dance, which of course, the reindeer is happy.
"Speaking of which." Shanise muttered when she and Sanji sweat dropped.
Meanwhile inside of Rain Dinners, Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Zoro, and Nami were trapped inside of the prison which the navigator was right about one thing, the way the staff members have them entered in the VIP lounge was a trap, but Luffy and Usopp took it.
"Pretty clever trap, wasn't it?" Luffy asks.
"Oh yeah, no way to see that one coming." Usopp answered.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! I TOLD YOU IT WAS A TRAP IN THE FIRST PLACE! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT A COUPLE OF IDIOTS YOU ARE!?" Nami yelled at them with white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"Something's wrong here, I feel weak all of a sudden." Luffy groans, feeling weak for some reason.
"Really? What's the matter? You're hungry or something?" Usopp asks, turned to him.
Since neither of them were able to figure out why Luffy is feeling weak because of the prison bars he's holding, Smoker decided to show them as he drew out his jitte. It didn't take long for Zoro when he saw Smoker was about to attack him.
"Luffy!" Zoro called him.
Luffy turns his head, but it's too late, Smoker knocked him out with a jab of his jitte which it got Usopp screamed.
"Luffy!" Nami shouts.
Luffy then crashed into the ground with a groan as Smoker then jabs the jitte right into the rubber Captains chest.
"I'll take you on if you want, you smoke-filled freak." Usopp said, but backs away a bit. "I didn't do so bad the 'Bomb' guy, you know? So, I'll just wait over here in the corner and you let me know when you are ready, okay?"
"What's wrong? I feel so helpless." Luffy weakly states with his tongue sticking out. "It's like when I'm falling into the sea."
"Alright, just what have you done to Luffy?" Nami demands with a scowl.
"The tip of the staff is made from a substance called Sea Prism Stone, a rare mineral. It's supposably exist on one certain sea in the distant corner of the world." Smoker explains. "Not much is known about it, but it's believed to give off mystical energy on the same wavelength as the ocean itself. Basically, you can think of it as a solid form of the sea."
"So, it affects Luffy the same as if he fell in the ocean?" Zoro questions, readied his sword.
"Prison cells as Marine Headquarters are made of the same substance to prevent criminals who possess any Devil Fruit powers from successfully escaping." Smoker points out.
"Well, then I'm betting this cell is built the same way." Nami states.
"If it wasn't, you can be sure I'd be long gone be now." Smoker told her, turns to the two. "And you four would be on your way to prison, waiting for your date with the Hangman."
Zoro kept his calm demeanor and his fighting stance, about to drew out his sword which it got Usopp screamed.
"Are you crazy?! There's no point in fighting in the situation like this!?" Usopp yelled with white eyes and shark-like teeth. "Stop!"
"And besides, what good is a sword against a guy who's made out of smoke?" Nami adds with a question, raised her eyebrow.
"She's right. Give it up." The voice of Crocodile agrees, earned their attention. "You're all going to die together. So, why not make an effort to get along first?"
The four pirates and Smoker knew who that voice belongs to.
"It's Crocodile." Smoker growled with a scowl.
"Alright!?" Luffy exclaims excitedly.
Crocodile then turns the chair around and look at Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Nami, and Smoker with a sneer look on his face. Luffy grunts with a glare on his face while Crocodile chuckled, Nami and Usopp raises their hands in the air with their jaws dropped in dread.
"So, he's one of the Seven Warlords, is he?" Zoro questions with a scowl, looking at Crocodile.
"Huh! You're every bit the lowlife sea-scum I imagined." Smoker states.
"My, my, you're every bit the wild dog I heard you would, Smoker." Crocodile remarked, walked out of the desk and head towards the prison with a few steps. "Unlike your superiors, you've never really believed I was on your side, have you? And of course, you were right. You know, Smoker, I have a feeling you'll die bravely in the line of duty. I'll be more than happy to inform the government that you put up a valiant fight against the vicious Straw Hat pirate here. I haven't the vaguest idea what really brought you here to this country, but I'm betting you're on your own. We both know the government would never order you to come to this land. They have very confidence in me, a Warlord of the Sea."
Luffy manage to recover from the sea stone, slammed his fist against the ground.
"You big o' bag of wind, you're Crocodile?!" Luffy growled, stood up which it got Crocodile's attention. "Come on and fight me like a man, you big du-"
Just before Luffy could finish his sentence, he felt weak again when he touched the sea prism bars.
"Pay attention, stupid! You gotta remember not to touch the bars!" Usopp shouts at him with white eyes.
"'Straw Hat' Luffy, I congratulate you on getting this far and I promised to dispose of you neatly and deficiently." Crocodile told him with a sinister smile. "Once our special guest of honor has made her appearance."
"Uh, guest?" Nami repeats in confusion.
"Why even as we speak, my partner is on her way to fetch her." Crocodile told her.
While outside of Rain Dinners, Vivi is fighting against the Baroque Works agents which she was able to handle them on her own, but she's feeling worn out.
'I can't afford to waste time with these second-rate thugs!' Vivi mentally thought, glaring at the Baroque Works agents. "Who's next?!"
Just when one of the Baroque Works agents was about to knock Vivi from behind and retrieve her to Crocodile.
"Dragoon Thunderbolt" Ventus uses his lightning magic, strike the agents down with thunderbolts one-by-one.
"Firefly" Ace creates a small greenish-yellow fireballs and sends them to the Baroque Works agents which it got them confused while he smirked. "Vivi, I duck if I were you."
And with that, Vivi ducks down to the ground.
"Fiery Doll" Ace then got the fireballs explodes, burning the Baroque Works and killed them in the process.
After Ventus and Ace made a quick work out of them, Vivi stood up and saw the Baroque Works agents burnt and charred between the mix of fire and lightning.
"You okay, Vivi?" Ventus asked.
"I am, thanks to you two." Vivi answered with a smile. "But don't you think you two overdid it?"
"Maybe, but this is the Baroque Works agents and Crocodile we're fighting. Though, these guys didn't put up much of a fight." Ace points out. "After dealing with these thugs, we're trying to find the rest of you guys."
"I was with Zoro and Ivan, but we were surrounded by the Baroque Works, and they buy me some time so I can get away." Vivi explains.
"And knowing Luffy, he went on ahead at Rain Dinners along with Usopp, Nami, and Zoro while being chased by Smoker." Ventus states with annoyance when Ace chuckled.
"I'll admit, he does have talent for getting into trouble." Ace said.
"He always does." Vivi said with annoyance. "Anyway, do know where the others?"
"I don't know, the scent were mixed between us, the Marines, and the Baroque Works." Ventus told her. "I've managed to find Ace, but the only option we've got is find the others the old-fashioned way."
"And we were able to find you, surrounded by a bunch of small fries." Ace adds.
Ventus then sniff the air which he was able to catch a scent, but it's not of the Straw Hat pirates. And he's smelling something that's coming from the air.
"GET DOWN!?" Ventus yelled, pushing both Ace and Vivi down to the ground.
Suddenly, the machine gun fires down to the ground when Pell flew down. Vivi recognizes him in the falcon form.
"Pell!" Vivi exclaims with a smile.
"You know him?" Ventus asks surprisingly.
"Yes, Pell is one of Royal Guards in Alubarna." Vivi explains when she, Ventus, and Ace stood up.
Pell lands in front of them and turns back into a human form.
"Pell, I can't believe it's you." Vivi said.
"It's very good to see you, Princess Vivi." Pell said with a smile, but turns to the two. "And these two?"
"They're friends of mine." Vivi answered. "This Ace and Ventus, they saved me from those Baroque Works."
"We were able to make a quick work out of them, but we kind of gotten carried away." Ace states.
"It matters not, Alabasta owes you two thanks for protecting Princess Vivi." Pell told them, turns to Vivi. "Your father is doing well, he and I both read your letter and he sent me on ahead to scout out the situation."
"Then that means Carue made it to Alubarna safely." Ventus points out. "That duck is something else."
"I'll say." Ace agrees.
"Yes, she's got quite a duck." Pell agrees.
"Oh, thank goodness." Vivi said with relief.
"Alabasta owes you a great debt, Princess. Thanks both to you and Igaram, we know who we're fighting." Pell told her, earned a nod from her. "Now, we should go and help the others, they may need our help."
"I don't think we'll be moving soon." Ventus points out, sniffing the air. "Because we're not alone. Isn't that right, Ms. All-Sunday?"
Then, they turned their attention to Ms. All-Sunday, who's at the top of the building with a smirk on her face.
"Very clever, Ventus Starwind, you never cease to impress me when you followed the scent." Ms. All-Sunday praises the young Dragoon. "Sometimes I wonder if I was that attractive."
"Sorry, you're not my type." Ventus told her. "Now, what do you want?"
"Well now, don't you think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself?" Ms. All-Sunday questions. "You and Princess Vivi have certainly been a thorn in our side. I'm just in time, it looks like our precious employees have no longer much use."
"That's cute, considering you couldn't even get here to fetch Vivi yourself." Ventus mocks. "Besides, you're just some errand girl who does all the dirty work for Crocodile who couldn't even do it himself."
Ms. All-Sunday narrowed her eyes while glaring at Ventus, didn't like his attitude when Pell spoke.
"And who are you?" Pell demands, looking at Ms. All-Sunday.
"That is Ms. All-Sunday, one of the Baroque Works agent and a deadly one at that." Ace cuts in, explaining. "She partners up with Crocodile, and she had the Devil Fruit powers. Also, she got a bounty on her head, too."
"Very perceptive, I'm expecting nothing less from the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard pirates." Ms. All-Sunday said with an impressed smirk, turns to Pell. "Also, I've never seen anyone who had the power of 'Flight' before. Even so, do you think that you're stronger than me?"
"Princess Vivi, this arrogant girl, is she one of those threatening our homeland?" Pell questions with a scowl, raised his eyebrow.
"I'm simply here as a messenger to invite both the Princess and Ventus to our little gathering at our mansion if you have no objections." Ms. All-Sunday offered.
"Sorry, I'm afraid they have a priory engagement." Pell declines, readied his sword.
"I see." Ms. All-Sunday said.
"Web Arrow" Anna then fires her arrow at Ms. All-Sunday, revealed a spider web which she was able to stop with her extra arms.
"Did you really think that old trick would work against me?" Ms. All-Sunday asks with a smirk. "But I'll admit, her marksmanship is deadly as well has her swordsmanship and her tracking skills. Anna is indeed a force to be reckon with, but it was not enough to kill me."
"I see now, the reason why you're able to stop the web-like arrow is because you've got Devil fruit power." Ace states with a smirk. "Isn't that right?"
"That's right, even Ventus was able to figure it out on his own when I first encounter him." Ms. All-Sunday admits, causing her limbs to grow. "I've eaten a Devil fruit called: Flower-Flower fruit."
"A Paramecia-type fruit, like Luffy's Gum-Gum fruit." Ventus growled with a scowl. "That fruit allows you to grow an extra appendages."
"That's right, the power to make body parts bloom, like flowers. That is my ability." Ms. All-Sunday said. "Even so, neither of you could escape from my reach, for my limbs can bloom anywhere."
"You sure about that? Cuz' you'll be having a hard time fighting against me and Ventus." Ace states with a smirk. "Even your Devil fruit, yours can't outmatch my fire power."
"And last time I check, you've gotten your ass handed to me when we first met." Ventus adds. "I can do it again in a heartbeat, and you won't live to see the daylight when I'm through with you."
"Is that so? Well, I suppose we'll have to this the hard way if that's what you want." Ms. All-Sunday said.
"Stunning Trap" Anna said silently.
Suddenly, Ms. All-Sunday then felt static shock as she screamed in pain and felt the numbness of the electricity, collapse down to her knees.
"Now's our chance, run!" Ventus said as he, Ace, Vivi, and Pell makes a run for it to Rain Dinners while Anna escaped the building along with Ivan.
"I'll admit, your friend Anna is one step ahead, even I know of her reputation as a ranger." Pell states surprisingly.
"Yeah, Anna is always one step ahead of her enemy which it was easy enough to get out of the tight spot." Ventus said with a smirk. "Right now, we have to find the others. Vivi, think you can go to Rain Dinners on your own?"
"What?! Why?" Vivi questions shockingly.
"Crocodile invites you there, but he knows I'm here and from what I can tell, he's already pissed that I didn't join his organization." Ventus explains. "And the best thing for us to split up so we can cover more grounds."
"Are you sure? Princess Vivi need someone to accompany her." Pell points out.
"She can take care of herself; she was able to handle these thugs on her own." Ace states. "Though when it comes to Crocodile, that's a different story."
"I'll protect Princess Vivi, even if it cost my life." Pell suggests with a nod.
"Alright, be careful." Ventus told him. "I've got a feeling Ms. All-Sunday is gonna recover soon, and you can bet she'll be pissed when we were able to trick her."
And with that, Pell and Vivi head to Rain Dinners while Ace and Ventus continued to find the rest of the pirate crew. Ms. All-Sunday grunts as she slowly got up with a glare, watching them running while still feeling the static.
"It seems I've underestimate them. No matter, Princess Vivi is on her way to Rain Dinners." Ms. All-Sunday said, smirking. "Although, I didn't get Ventus Starwind to join...again."
While inside at Rain Dinners, Zoro, Nami, and Smoker were very annoyed of Luffy and Usopp, watching them try to imitate like any of the pirate crew. Crocodile however find this amusing, watching them while waiting for Ms. All-Sunday getting Vivi and Ventus to arrive.
"Hey look, I'm Sanji." Luffy said, imitating as Sanji which it got Usopp laughing. "Okay, which one of you ate the meat?"
"Oh, really?!" Nami growled with a tick mark on her head, bonked their heads, leaving Usopp and Luffy bleeding in the nose and bumps on their heads. "GET SERIOUS!? HOW CAN YOU TWO SCREW AROUND WHEN WE'RE IN THIS DESPERATE SITUATION?!"
"Well, we can't get out. So, what else is there for us to do?" Luffy questions, rubbing his sore head.
"THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T GET OUT IS THE REASON IS SO DESPERATE?!" Nami yelled while Zoro is sleeping. "If we don't do something soon, we're gonna wind up dead! And why are you sleeping?!"
Nami then bonked Zoro in the head which it got him woke up, but having a bump on his head.
"Oh, is it morning?" Zoro asks with a groan, rubbing his eyes.
"IT'S AFTERNOON, YOU MORON!?" Nami yelled with a tick mark on her head, showing her white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"You're certainly a high-spirited young lady." Crocodile states, finished drinking his wine which it got her attention.
"Whatever, you better go ahead and enjoy yourself while you've still got the time, Mr.! Because when these fellas can out of here, they're gonna kick your smug butt up and down the Grand Line like a flabby beach ball!" Nami retorted, gestured to Luffy. "Right, Luffy?"
"YEEEAAAAHHH! YOU BETTER BELIEVE WE WILL, BUDDY!" Luffy yelled with his fists pumped up while Usopp cowers.
"Your crew members seem to place a lot of trust in your talents, 'Straw Hat' Luffy." Crocodile states, drinking his wine. "How foolish, I think trust is completely unnecessary."
"Who does he think he is, sneering at us like that?!" Nami growled with anger.
"Knock it off, Nami. You're just gonna end up making him angry." Usopp assures her, placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Crocodile!?" Vivi called, earned his attention when he saw her at the stairs.
"Vivi!" Luffy, Nami, and Usopp called her, earned Smoker's attention.
"Now what's this? Where's Ms. All-Sunday?" Crocodile questions.
"A certain friend of mine took care of her." Vivi answered with a glare. "And I figured she'll be at Rain Dinners since that stun trap won't last."
"I see. No matter, my humble greetings Vivi, royal princess of Alabasta, I mean, Ms. Wednesday." Crocodile greets her. "I compliment you having evaded our assassins in order to get this far."
"You've no idea what I do or how far I would go to see you dead, Mr. 0! I wish you died in your cradle, you monster!" Vivi growled with anger, drew her peacock slashers as she charges after Crocodile. Luffy pleads, but she ignored them. "This country would still be peaceful if it weren't for you!?"
Both Zoro and Smoker knew that fighting against Crocodile who has a Devil fruit power won't work.
"Peacock String Slasher" Vivi uses the long chains to stab Crocodile in the neck, which his head turns into sand and the head of the chair was cut off. It got Nami, Luffy, and Usopp shocked of how sharp the peacock slashers are.
"Not going to work." Smoker muttered.
Then, Crocodile's body turns into sand which it got Vivi gasp with dread.
"Feel better? As a native of this country, you must surely know that I have the power of the Sand-Sand fruit." Crocodile points out, grabs her from behind after turns into a human form with a sneer. "Want to become a mummy?"
"H-He is sand..." Usopp exclaims with fright.
"YOU LEAVE HER ALONE! I'M WARNING YOU RIGHT NOW OR I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!" Luffy yelled with anger.
"Have a seat, princess." Crocodile suggests, making Vivi sit on a chair. "I trust you'll be comfortable there, I must say, your timing is perfect. The party is about to begin, isn't that right, Ms. All-Sunday?"
Ms. All-Sunday somehow manage to recover from that static and walk down the stairs.
"It seems you're having quite a trouble, Ms. All-Sunday." Crocodile told her.
"I've underestimate them, didn't expect that Anna was able to make a diversionary shot and I fell for it." Ms. All-Sunday told him, pulls out the pocket watch. "Also, it's exactly noon right now. Time for Operation: Utopia."
"Huh? Utopia?" Nami repeats in confusion.
"What's an Operation: Utopia?" Luffy asks.
It got Crocodile burst with a sinister laugh when Luffy tried to called, but ignored him. After a few minutes of laughing, Crocodile spoke.
"It will mean the demise of the kingdom of Alabasta, Ms. Wednesday." Crocodile answered, turning to Vivi. Vivi just growled while Luffy widen his eyes in shock. "I'm going to wipe it off the face of the map as if it were never was! All people, great and small, will be sucked into eternal darkness as they writhe in agony. Let Operation: Utopia begin!"
That's it for the 41st chapter.