Alabasta Kingdom, capital city Alubarna.
The Royal Palace glittered under the desert sun, filled with laughter and music.
"Thank you for the King's invitation!"
A grand banquet was being held. Rows of commoner representatives in simple clothes knelt respectfully before King Cobra, their eyes wet with gratitude.
"Thank you for bestowing upon us the sunlight mushrooms, which have saved our families. Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty!"
For the people of Alabasta, Cobra's standing had never been higher. He was not only the brave ruler who had led them against the chaos that nearly destroyed Alubarna, but now he was seen as a man blessed by divine providence.
Some time ago, Cobra had ordered his men to deliver bags of strange spores across the land.
"These are gifts obtained through prayer to the desert god," the envoys explained. "Plant them, and in a single day, sunlight mushrooms will rise."
The spores seemed ordinary, a pale white powder glowing faintly. Few believed they would grow in the barren desert, where even hardy trees withered. Still, at the urging of village elders, the people sprinkled the spores into the sand.
Children in particular were eager, watching curiously as they buried the seeds under the dunes.
"Will they really grow tomorrow?" they whispered.
At dawn, the children returned, racing through the sands—and froze in awe.
"Wow! They really grew!"
Thick, towering mushrooms, each nearly a meter tall, covered the dune in a dense carpet. The children's joyous shouts carried back to their villages.
The people hurried to see. Astonishment filled their faces.
"Can this truly be eaten?" one elder asked, hesitating.
An old man with hair white as bone roasted one and cautiously took the first bite. Everyone held their breath.
He stiffened, his body trembling. His son rushed to his side in panic.
"Father, spit it out if it's bad!"
But tears streamed down the elder's face as he shouted, voice breaking, "Delicious! I've never tasted food like this in all my life!"
The people gasped, then erupted with joy.
"This is the blessing of the desert god!"
They knelt in the sand, bowing toward Alubarna, crying out their thanks to their King. Families roasted mushrooms together, savoring their meaty texture. Children devoured them with delight.
Soon, more wonders appeared. At night, the caps gathered dew, providing fresh water at dawn. Energy-filled spheres formed on their tops, storing sunlight and glowing warmly, capable of burning longer than firewood. Within weeks, the entire kingdom had transformed—life sprouted across the once-barren desert.
"We are truly a country blessed by a god!" the people cried.
For the first time in years, Alabasta knew abundance.
…
Inside the Royal Palace, King Cobra raised his hand. "Everyone, please rise!"
He tried to maintain composure, but his eyes reddened as the people praised him.
"Hehe, Father's crying," Princess Vivi whispered with a soft smile, her own eyes shimmering.
"I…" Cobra's nose twitched. His heart swelled painfully with pride and guilt. "What a good country… what good people…"
He remembered vividly how close Alabasta had come to ruin under Crocodile's schemes. Only through the courage of the Straw Hat Pirates—and that other mysterious power—had they been saved.
"No," Cobra said aloud, raising his glass high before the kneeling representatives. "It is I who must thank you—the people who have given everything to this kingdom! These achievements are yours!"
The hall erupted with cheers.
…
Later, when the banquet ended, only three remained in the council chamber: King Cobra, Royal Guard Captain Igaram, and Koza, Minister of the Environment.
"Koza," Cobra began, his tone serious now, "you've traveled widely. Do you believe the planting of sunlight mushrooms has progressed enough to begin the next step—introducing rain mushrooms?"
Shirogai Yamikuro had left five varieties of fungi with Alabasta. Three were vital for food and water: the sunlight mushrooms, and the rain mushrooms that thrived in shade, absorbing and storing great amounts of water. To cultivate them properly, tall sunlight mushrooms had to first create cover.
Koza sighed. "Not yet, Your Majesty. The people are still cautious. Most of the sunlight mushrooms we've planted have already been eaten."
Cobra lowered his gaze. "It's my fault. After two years of drought, how could they not be afraid of famine?"
"Your Majesty, the people simply want to protect themselves," Igaram reassured him.
Koza nodded. "They discovered sunlight mushrooms can be dried and stored. So, most are being preserved as food." He hesitated. "King Cobra… do we still have enough spores left?"
Cobra's lips curved faintly. He remembered the mother fungi secured in the royal tombs. "Do not worry. We have plenty left."
"Hehe…"
A soft laugh suddenly echoed inside his mind.
"It seems Alabasta is recovering nicely."
Cobra froze, then smiled uncontrollably, joy flashing in his eyes. "Shirogai San, you've contacted me?"
In his heart, Cobra no longer saw Shirogai as merely a man. To him, Shirogai was more divine than the desert gods themselves.
"King?" Koza and Igaram looked at him in confusion.
"Ah, it's nothing," Cobra said quickly, waving a hand. "Koza, I'll summon you again tonight. Igaram, you may leave as well. I wish to be alone."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Both bowed and withdrew, leaving Cobra alone with the voice only he could hear.
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