Inside the palace banquet hall.
A long table draped with a white tablecloth stretched across the hall, adorned with an array of sumptuous dishes.
The Straw Hat crew sat at their respective seats, eyes gleaming as they gazed at the feast laid before them.
"You damn okama, why are you still here!!!"
Sanji glared at Bon Clay, who had the misfortune of sitting beside him.
Bon Clay, unfazed, replied matter-of-factly, "Because I'm hungry."
"Yeah, because we're hungry!"
Luffy, seated on the other side of Bon Clay, chimed in enthusiastically.
Watching his foolish captain echoing Bon Clay's nonsense, Sanji rubbed his temples in exasperation.
With no other options, he lowered his pride and turned to Zoro beside him. "Oi, moss-head, switch seats with me."
Zoro didn't even spare him a glance, his gaze fixed on Maude across the table.
Not just Zoro—several others, including Cobra and the soldiers standing like sentinels along the walls, couldn't help but direct their attention toward Maude.
In the turmoil that nearly brought Alabasta to ruin, this man had played a pivotal role in turning the tide.
Without him, even if Luffy had defeated Crocodile, tens of thousands would have perished in the conflict.
Yet this man, like Crocodile, was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea...
Maude paid no mind to the stares. He first handed Perona a few pieces of dessert, then piled a mountain of meat onto Bailey's plate before leisurely savoring the unique flavors of Alabasta's cuisine.
"How should I get back to Sabaody Archipelago?"
Chewing on flatbread stuffed with meat, Maude mulled over his return journey.
Kuma's 'airplane ticket' was convenient, but it only offered a one-way trip.
Getting a ship wouldn't be an issue—the real problem was that Lafitte wasn't around.
In the Grand Line, setting sail without a navigator was no different from seeking death.
The most straightforward option was hitching a ride on the Straw Hats' ship.
If he brought it up, aside from Luffy, the others would likely have no objections.
But Maude knew full well that boarding their ship wouldn't be a carefree journey—it would bring a whole heap of trouble and waste a ridiculous amount of time.
Better forget that option.
Ruling out the Straw Hats, returning to Sabaody quickly was indeed a difficult task.
"I'll take it one step at a time."
He swallowed the last bite of flatbread, pondering quietly.
Just then, a soldier jogged into the hall.
"Your Majesty, a group of Marines is requesting an audience outside."
"Oh?"
Cobra glanced at the Straw Hats, who were happily devouring their meal, and pondered for a moment.
"Tell them to come back tomorrow."
"Understood."
The soldier left, and the minor interruption did nothing to dampen the Straw Hats' appetites.
After a while, Chopper entered the hall, bringing news of Robin's awakening.
Maude remained indifferent, but the Straw Hats were visibly pleased.
Though Robin had been one of Crocodile's accomplices, she had saved Luffy twice during the ordeal.
That life-saving grace earned Vivi's forgiveness, which softened the others' attitudes toward Robin as well.
"Tell her to come eat with us! There's so much meat!"
Luffy mumbled through a mouthful of food.
Chopper barely made out the words and shook his head. "She can't—Robin's injuries are too severe. She needs several days of bed rest."
"Then I'll bring her some food!"
Sanji shot to his feet, eager to volunteer.
Vivi, dressed in formal attire, smiled at him. "I already arranged for food to be sent to her."
"Ah..."
Sanji slumped back down, visibly disappointed.
With Chopper confirming Robin's condition, the crew relaxed and enjoyed their dinner.
As bottles of wine emptied, the atmosphere grew livelier.
The Straw Hats' lack of table manners made the nearby soldiers break out in cold sweat.
The feast gradually morphed into a celebration.
Just as the mood reached its peak, a commotion echoed from the banquet hall's entrance.
A group of Marines barged in.
The one leading them wasn't Smoker, but Black Cage Hina—an HQ captain with long pink hair and striking looks.
Her unit had arrived in Alabasta as reinforcements, originally meant to accompany Smoker to the palace to arrest high-profile criminals.
However, Smoker, feeling he had failed in his duty and conflicted in his sense of justice, chose not to attend.
Hina didn't blame him—she simply took charge.
Decisive and headstrong, she refused to be turned away despite being denied an audience.
Their sudden arrival silenced the once-boisterous hall, leaving only the sound of Luffy scarfing down food.
Cobra's face darkened at the intrusion.
Maude's eyes lit up the moment he saw Hina.
He had been fretting over how to get back to Sabaody.
And here it was—
A pillow delivered to a man dozing off.
A perfect tailwind ride.
Hina scanned the Straw Hats but failed to spot her primary target.
Not here?
She frowned, but then sensed Maude's gaze.
"Warlord Bacardi Maude."
Her heart tensed at his calm, smiling expression.
In her rush to pursue criminals, she had overlooked this man entirely.
Before she could act, Cobra's authoritative voice rang out.
"Soldiers, expel these Marines at once."
A man who could hold the throne was no ordinary king.
Though usually kind, Cobra was merciless when principles were violated.
The palace guards drew their weapons and advanced on the Marines.
Instinctively, the Marines raised their guns—but before they could fire, a swarm of Negative Hollows floated from the floor, phasing through their bodies with ease.
"I'm sorry for being born."
"In my next life, I want to be a cicada."
"I'm so ugly, I shouldn't be out scaring people."
"I should never have been born in this world."
One by one, the Marines collapsed, murmuring self-loathing phrases.
"Devil Fruit powers..."
Hina's eyes narrowed as she leaped back, avoiding the ghosts.
"Heehee."
Perona giggled, covering her mouth as the Marines fell like dominoes.
Hina's cold gaze locked onto her. "Your doing?"
Without hesitation, she stamped her foot dozens of times.
Shave!
Yet—
Despite completing the technique, she remained frozen in place.
"Huh?"
Her face paled as her limbs felt as if they were filled with lead.
"What's happening..."
With great difficulty, she craned her neck.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a pitch-black figure standing behind her.
"A shadow... I didn't even notice..."
Her eyes flicked toward Maude, smoldering with anger.
Maude leaned on his hand, smiling. "Lady Marine, I'd like to go to Sabaody Archipelago. Give me a ride, won't you?"
"You..."
Hina's expression hardened.
She was used to binding others with her Cage-Cage Fruit—never had she been the one bound.
Even if he was a Warlord, the gap in their strength shouldn't be this vast!
Around them, the guards, Straw Hats, and Cobra all watched in astonishment.
In a sense—
It was already a complete wipeout.
Yet Maude and Perona hadn't even left their seats.
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