Chapter 46
31st of March 1522
Thriller Bark
Reiju felt a jolt as the shadows dissipated, leaving her momentarily disoriented. Blinking rapidly, she found herself in the heart of a forest, the scent of pine and damp earth enveloping her senses. In the distance, a magnificent castle emerged, its towering spires piercing the twilight sky, casting long, eerie shadows across the landscape.
Steadying herself, she glanced at her Father and Moria beside her. In less than a minute, they stood before the castle's main entrance. Up close, its grandeur was even more apparent. The stone walls were adorned with intricate carvings, and the windows were framed with ornate ironwork. Gargoyles perched on ledges appeared almost sentient, their eyes seeming to follow the trio with a lifelike vigilance.
Judge twirled his mustache, his gaze sweeping over the castle with a discerning eye. "It may not appear so at first glance," he remarked, "but the technology within these walls is remarkably advanced, though much of it seems dormant and not alimented."
Reiju was taken aback. Her father rarely doled out compliments, especially regarding technology. It must be extraordinary if it had earned his praise.
Moria's lips curved into a subtle smile. "I am pleased you appreciate its craftsmanship, King Vinsmoke. The main Architect name is…well, was Cutty Flame."
As they stepped through the grand entrance, they moved toward a staircase leading downward. She hesitated, her eyes scanning the vast hallways branching off from the main corridor. Why were they heading downstairs? Was the laboratory underground? Strange for a doctor…
The descent was long and winding, the chill in the air biting through her clothes despite her genetic enhancements that usually rendered her impervious to such discomfort. Reiju wrapped her arms around herself, puzzled by the unexpected cold. They passed through a first door, then another, and finally the third. Each one was heavily fortified, nearly a foot thick and composed of reinforced steel, requiring a complex series of codes and biometric scans to unlock. Guarding these doors were soldiers seemingly made of shadows, exuding a formidable aura
Ahead, six closed doors were arranged in a circular formation. Reiju felt a strange pull towards one of the doors, a magnetic curiosity that gnawed at her insides. But they did not stop. Instead, they headed towards the fifth door. Beyond it laid an enormous cavern. The vastness of the space was breathtaking, the cavern's ceiling stretching high above with stalactites hanging like ancient chandeliers. In the center stood a massive structure she recognized from her studies with her father—a Faraday cage. Inside, a tall man was bound to a cross, his body radiating a latent energy even in apparent slumber. His skin was a deep tan, almost golden, with sharp, angular features. He had long earlobes and lightning bolt tattoos.
Around the cage, three men were engaged in a heated argument. The first, Dr. Hogback, was immediately recognizable with his rotund figure, garish clothing, and the grotesque grin perpetually plastered on his face. The second man was younger, more composed, with a serious demeanor that suggested a depth of intellect and precision—this must be Trafalgar Law, the user of the Ope Ope no Mi. The third figure, lean and wiry with wild hair and a manic gleam in his eye, was less familiar but equally intriguing.
Judge came to an abrupt halt, his eyes widening in surprise. "Caesar?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
The wild-haired man turned around, a sly smile creeping across his face. "Judge?" he replied, his tone equally astonished.
Reiju's mind raced. Caesar? Could it really be Caesar Clown, her father's infamous former colleague from MADS?
"What are you doing here?" Judge demanded.
Caesar's sly grin widened. "I work for Moria now," he replied, a hint of smug satisfaction in his tone. "Well…Prince Moria, is it?"
Moria, standing slightly apart from the exchange, smiled, watching the interaction with a knowing gleam in his eye. Reiju felt a sudden clarity wash over her. She understood now why Moria had orchestrated this meeting so meticulously, and wanted them to come here. Three geniuses gathered in one place, and her father, desperate to enhance his army, would go to great lengths to secure the assistance of any one of them.
"Prince Moria," Judge began, "I propose we consider an alliance between our kingdoms—Alabasta and Germa. Our combined strengths would be unmatched."
Reiju noticed how Moria already spoke of Alabasta with a possessive air, indicating his ambitions.
Moria nodded, a hint of intrigue in his eyes. "An alliance is a compelling idea, King Vinsmoke."
Judge continued, "In that case, I extend a formal invitation for you to visit the Germa Kingdom in two weeks. We will be ready to discuss the details and explore our mutual interests."
Moria didn't look too enchanted by the idea. He leaned forward, his eyes locking with Judge's. "King Vinsmoke, while I am eager for this alliance to take place, I would like a more immediate commitment. I propose a personal promise of alliance between us, made public before we proceed. In three weeks, we can negotiate a more formal agreement in your kingdom."
Judge raised an eyebrow. "And what would you offer in return for this public commitment?"
Moria's smile widened. "In exchange, I guarantee the exchange of scientific project patents and other advancements. Our collaboration could lead to unprecedented developments for both our kingdoms."
Judge's expression remained skeptical, his brow deeply furrowed with doubt. Why couldn't he wait? This felt suspicious. If Moria couldn't afford to delay, it meant he had enemies he wasn't sure he could defeat, and they were closing in fast. Damn. Could it be the marines? Was he planning to leave the Warlords?
Sensing the hesitation, Moria leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Allow me to demonstrate something that might change your mind." He turned to Hogback. "Do it."
Hogback's grin stretched into a manic smile, the look of a scientist on the brink of a groundbreaking revelation. He pressed a button on the panel in front of the man in the Faraday cage. A small electrical discharge jolted the figure, quickly escalating into an explosion of energy so intense that Reiju's cybernetic systems went into overdrive, bombarding her with unprecedented energy readings. The electricity surged through the cage, coursing into a massive rod with a deafening hum. Instantly, the entire castle roared to life. Every mechanical system, every hidden device, thrummed with newfound power. Reiju's internal diagnostics struggled to keep up with the flood of data, her sensors registering a level of energy output that was almost beyond comprehension.
The spectacle was mesmerizing. Sparks flew, lights blazed, and machinery whirred with a power that seemed limitless. Reiju could see the awe in her father's eyes, his skepticism melting away in the face of this technological marvel.
"This," Moria said, his voice cutting through the electric symphony, "is the future we can achieve together. Unlimited energy, harnessed and controlled."
"Fuck…". For the first time in her life, she heard her father swear.
Judge's eyes widened, the magnitude of what he was witnessing sinking in. Unlimited energy—this was beyond valuable, beyond anything he had ever imagined.
"Let… let us discuss this alliance in greater detail," Judge finally spoke.
Moria's grin broadened, his eyes sparkling with triumph.
Judge looked at his daughter, then at Moria. There was no law forbidding polygamy in Alabasta, was there?
1st of April
Alabasta
Nico Robin was in Rainbase. The third biggest city of Alabasta bore marks of grandeur and decay. Once-gilded facades now stood marred by the relentless sun and sand, a testament to time's passage and life's harshness. Beneath a tattered cloak, she blended seamlessly with the earthy tones of ancient, sun-bleached buildings. The air was thick with the scent of spices and the distant roar of a restless crowd gathering at the main square. She slipped through the throngs. The crowd converged on the square, where an estrade had been erected for the Crown Prince's inaugural address. His first one since his marriage two days ago - and he had chosen one of the poorest cities to make it. Despite the grand preparations, poverty was inescapable. Beggars lined the streets, their gaunt faces and hollow eyes a stark reminder of Alabasta's struggles. Rich mineral resources lay beneath the parched earth, a cruel irony for those who needed them most.
Robin's gaze swept over the scene. The Prince had earned goodwill by distributing food and water, culminating in a lavish meal for all in celebration of his ascension. She had herself orchestrated this event alongside Capone Bege, ensuring its success. Yet, such gestures, though grand, offered fleeting relief to a population ravaged by drought and despair. Alabasta's people remained impoverished, their livelihoods eroded by years of relentless drought. Skeletal remains of crops lay in fields turned to dust, and children with eyes too large for their emaciated faces clung to their mothers' skirts. Hope flickered in their eyes, fragile flames in a relentless storm.
The crowd erupted into cheers as the pale, aristocratic figure of the Crown Prince emerged. His tall frame and regal bearing a stark contrast to the surrounding destitution. The crowd's adulation was deafening, their cheers a desperate plea for salvation. It was not about him, but what he represented : a change. A potential change.
He raised his arms, silencing the throng with a single gesture. The anticipation was a tangible force, pressing in on Robin from all sides. He began to speak, his voice carrying effortlessly over the heads of the crowd, weaving a metaphor that bound his fate to Alabasta's.
"People of Alabasta," he began, his voice resonating, "I stand before you not as a distant ruler, but as one who has known the depths of fear and hunger, much like our beloved country. I was not always a prince, nor a symbol of hope. I, too, was lost, desperate for change. Through perseverance and strength, I have risen, and now, with Princess Vivi by my side, we embark on this journey together."
"I see myself in all of you—not just in the wealthy or the privileged, but in the beggars, the downtrodden, the forgotten. We have all suffered. Yet, together, we will rise. The drought that has plagued our land is not a curse but a consequence of the Dance Powder, used to summon rain at the cost of our future. But I vow to you today, under my rule, there will be no more thirst in Alabasta."
The initial cheers gave way to murmurs of doubt rippling through the crowd. Robin herself felt a pang of skepticism. His promises were grand, but reality was harsh and unyielding. Yet, as he raised his arms once more, the crowd fell silent, hanging on his every word.
"From this day forward, as long as I am the Crowned Head of Alabasta, no one in this land will suffer from thirst," he declared, his voice echoing with unwavering conviction.
He raised his arms to the sky, eyes closed in concentration. And, to her disbelief, for the first time in years, the scorching blue sky began to transform, clouds forming and swirling into existence above their heads. The miracle unfolded before their eyes, the first fat drops of rain splattering onto the parched earth. The crowd's disbelief morphed into awe, then into ecstatic frenzy as the rain intensified, a deluge soaking their upturned faces and filling their hearts with renewed hope.
The people erupted into wild acclaim, their voices a thunderous roar echoing through the city. Robin stood among them, her cloak heavy with the blessed rain, her skepticism momentarily washed away by the Prince's demonstration.
How? How had he done it ?
As the rain poured down, the crowd's cheers took on a new fervor. Whispers of a divine figure, a messiah, spread like wildfire. The Prince, standing drenched and triumphant, had become more than a ruler; he was now a symbol of salvation. The people looked upon him with reverence, believing they had witnessed a miracle. Robin watched as the newfound faith in their eyes turned the Crown Prince into a beacon of hope, a living legend who had summoned the clouds and brought life-giving rain to their barren land.
How ?
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