Chapter 362: Alabasta
Alabasta—a nation located on the Sandora Desolate island in the Grand Line, positioned not far from Paradise's entrance in the first half.
This nation was one of the world's few truly massive kingdoms. Population numbering in the tens of millions. Standing military forces exceeding six hundred thousand. Regardless of which corner of the seas you examined, these figures were staggeringly impressive.
Even pirates sailing the Grand Line rarely possessed the courage to provoke this nation.
However, naturally, pirates' reluctance to attack this nation stemmed not only from Alabasta's inherent strength, but also another important reason.
One member of that group—the World Government-sanctioned legal pirates called the Seven Warlords of the Sea—had been stationed in this nation for years.
That man had become known as Alabasta's guardian deity. Any pirate threatening this nation faced his merciless attacks.
Over more than a decade, countless pirates had been transformed into dried corpses, buried beneath this nation's yellow sands.
The man guarding this nation was named Crocodile.
Brett had now arrived at this desert kingdom.
From Fish-Man Island to Alabasta was an enormous distance—spanning nearly half of Paradise, almost circling half the world.
But for Brett's extreme speed this meant nothing. Without taking much time, he'd already descended at the nation's border.
"Phew—"
Brett, his form concealed beneath black robes, had just touched down on this nation's soil when he couldn't help exhaling deeply.
"Really unfriendly to Fish-Men, this nation."
Brett licked his lips.
Standing at the shore looking forward, he could see only endless desert. The wind carried scorching heat and coarse sand particles.
This was a desert nation. Its entire territory lay covered by desert. Even humans coming here felt like they'd be dried out, let alone Fish-Men living in the ocean's depths.
Of course Brett had no such concerns.
His adaptability could let him swim in magma. A mere desert meant nothing.
"Anyway, better find someone to ask directions."
Brett hadn't landed randomly. He'd descended outside a certain town in the desert.
Otherwise, landing directly in the desert would make determining direction extremely difficult.
Following the city he'd spotted from the sky, Brett quickly entered that port town.
Nanohana—a city's name.
Alabasta's largest port city. Most of the nation's foreign trade occurred here.
Brett purchased a map of the nation here.
Though ordinary compasses were useless in the Grand Line, Brett could fly. Just ascending high and checking the map made finding his destination easy.
The city Brett sought was called Rainbase.
Though he'd had some interaction with Princess Vivi and her father during the previous Reverie, Brett didn't plan on visiting them this time.
Certainly, if he appeared now, the father and daughter would welcome him warmly.
But precisely because of this, Brett couldn't visit them.
If news of this leaked, the Government wouldn't spare Cobra and his daughter.
Princess Vivi was already a thorn in Lord Imu's side. Provoking them further—who could imagine what the Government might do to Alabasta afterward?
So Brett flew to high altitude, consulted his map, located Rainbase's position, and flew straight there. Before long he'd descended outside Rainbase.
Rainbase—this city was renowned throughout Alabasta.
In this nation of endless desert, Rainbase occupied a massive oasis.
While other cities desperately struggled for water sources, this city possessed vast pools.
Such geographic advantages naturally made this city the nation's most prosperous location—called Alabasta's Dream City.
Dream or not didn't matter to Brett. However prosperous Rainbase might be, that was only relative to Alabasta.
Compared to Dressrosa it fell far short, let alone Fish-Man Island.
Brett came to this city for only one reason—this was Warlord Crocodile's base.
That man operated a casino here.
The casino was merely a front. His true enterprise was the organization called Baroque Works—the main force for his future Operation Utopia to seize Alabasta.
Of course, now Brett had arrived.
Brett descended at the city's outskirts as usual, then walked into the city.
Had to admit, in this nation of endless yellow sand, suddenly seeing such a verdant city felt rather jarring.
Brett randomly stopped someone on Rainbase's streets to ask directions, quickly learning Crocodile's casino location.
That man was called a hero in this nation. His enterprises were naturally well-known. No possibility of being unable to find directions.
Then Brett arrived outside this prosperous casino's entrance.
The casino wasn't particularly large. Its overall designeresembled a miniature pyramid, topped with a golden crocodile sculpture.
Whether genuine gold or not remained unclear.
Brett pushed open the door and entered.
Inside was lively. Gamblers from across the nation or even neighboring island nations gathered here, immersed in gambling.
Some screamed from victory. Others collapsed from defeat.
Just extending his Observation Haki, Brett heard countless contradictory voices.
But now wasn't the time for contemplating life's vicissitudes.
His extended Observation Haki wasn't meant for hearing these gamblers' life stories.
"Good luck."
Easily capturing one particular presence, Brett muttered as he walked toward a door in the casino's corner.
He'd never met Crocodile, so he didn't know what his presence felt like. But the strongest presence in this place had to be Crocodile's, right?
The moment Brett approached, guards stationed at the door moved forward to question him. But before they could speak, their eyes rolled back. They collapsed unconscious to the ground.
The lively casino remained noisy. Hardly anyone noticed Brett pushing open that door and entering.
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