Alabasta.
Rainbase was the lair of the Shichibukai, Crocodile.
Inside an extremely luxuriously decorated room, the walls were inlaid with rare gems from the four seas, and crystal chandeliers cut the light into fine golden rays.
A man with a slicked-back hairstyle, smoking a cigar, lay half-reclined on a leather sofa, feigning sleep.
The crimson tip of the cigar flickered on and off, tracing subtle arcs in the dim light, and wisps of blue smoke outlined strange patterns in the air.
"Tap, tap, tap."
The crisp sound of high heels echoed from the long corridor outside the door, reverberating in the silence like the knocking of the Grim Reaper.
Each sound precisely landed in the gaps between heartbeats, making one unconsciously hold their breath.
"Miss All Sunday, you're back so soon?" The man's voice was deep and hoarse, with the rough texture of someone constantly exposed to cigar smoke.
He slowly turned his head, his Crocodile-skin glove rubbing the armrest, his gaze sweeping like a hawk towards the black-haired woman who pushed open the door.
"I just received news that our first base on the Grand Line had an incident. Mr.5 and Miss Valentine were taken, and it's likely they won't survive."
The black-haired woman, Nico Robin, had a stern expression as she spread several photos on a table inlaid with ivory patterns.
The edges of the photos still carried the salty scent of seawater. Two of them clearly showed the Infinite Space cutting through waves, and the people on board with various expressions.
"So?"
The man's tone was terrifyingly calm, as if discussing a trivial daily matter, as his left hand's large golden hook tapped lightly on the tabletop, making a rhythmic sound.
"They recorded the magnetic field at Whiskey Peak and are sailing towards Small Garden. I've already dispatched Mr.3, Mr.4, and Miss Merry Christmas to handle it."
Robin's slender finger traced a route on the map, her nail leaving a faint mark on the parchment.
"What if they fail?"
The man's tone rose slightly, his thick brows lifting, revealing a hint of surprise.
The three people dispatched were top-notch operatives in Baroque Works, and dealing with these suddenly appearing strangers seemed a bit overkill.
"They won't easily fail. Moreover, I've put Mr.2 on standby to clean up any loose ends."
Robin pushed up her glasses, a cold glint flashing across the lenses, and responded with confidence.
"Heh, as expected of Miss All Sunday, you've considered everything thoroughly."
Crocodile's lips curved into a meaningful smile, clearly satisfied with Nico Robin's arrangements. The cigar smoke swirled around his face, adding to his mysterious aura.
........
At the same time, the sky was clear.
The scorching sun poured down on the sea without reservation, dyeing the water a dazzling azure.
The Infinite Space, riding the wind and waves, finally arrived at the island that seemed forgotten by time—Small Garden.
This island had an incredibly unique structure, with a wide inland river, like an artery of the earth, flowing directly to the sea.
The ship slowly sailed into the island along the winding river, as if entering another world.
The moment they stepped into Small Garden, everyone felt as if they had traveled through time to an ancient tropical rainforest.
Towering trees reached into the clouds, their canopies layered, cutting the sunlight into mottled fragments. Vines, like giant pythons, crisscrossed and entwined around every tree.
The humid air was filled with the scent of soil and vegetation, mixed with a faint, elusive smell of humus.
From time to time, animal roars, near or far, echoed through the jungle. Some were deep like muffled thunder, others sharp as blades, reverberating through the dense forest, sending shivers down one's spine.
"One for each of you, put them on." As soon as they disembarked, Yun Lie took several masks from his backpack and distributed them to everyone. The masks carried a faint herbal fragrance.
Nami held the mask in confusion, her emerald eyes full of bewilderment: "Why do we need to wear this? Is there poisonous gas here?"
The other girls also cast questioning glances, their faces filled with worry.
"This place has a pristine ecosystem, and there are many active pathogens in the air. We don't have a doctor on our ship right now, so it would be troublesome if we got infected."
Yun Lie explained seriously, remembering how Nami had gotten infected here in the original story, developing a high fever and almost losing her life.
"Oh my, that's terrifying!" The girls exclaimed, quickly putting on their masks tightly, carefully adjusting them to ensure there wasn't the slightest gap.
Nami pouted and held Yun Lie's arm, whining: "Yun Lie, I don't want to go. I'm most afraid of bugs… those soft, slimy things, just thinking about them gives me goosebumps…"
"Exactly! This place must be full of dangers. Let's stay on the ship and wait for you guys."
Nojiko also quickly agreed, her beautiful big eyes full of resistance, clearly terrified of the jungle.
Mikita didn't speak, silently hiding behind the two, like a startled little rabbit, clutching her clothes tightly with both hands.
Karina looked at the primitive jungle, full of adventure and unknowns, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and voluntarily stepped forward: "I'll go with you!"
"Alright then, Nojiko, Nami, and Mikita will guard the ship. Karina and I will explore the jungle. Be careful, and call for help immediately if anything happens." Yun Lie instructed.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Little Kong pulled Xiao Mei, and like two golden flashes of lightning, they leaped off the ship and swiftly ran into the dense jungle.
They agilely weaved through the bushes, disappearing from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.
Yun Lie looked at their retreating figures, a relieved smile on his face.
With Little Kong's cleverness and agility, ordinary wild beasts wouldn't be able to catch it.
Not far after they started walking, a deafening roar suddenly erupted, as if the entire earth was trembling.
A horned dinosaur, larger than a mountain, burst out of the nearby bushes in a panic. Its body was covered in wounds, blood constantly seeping out, staining large patches of its scales. It was clearly fleeing for its life, as if something terrifying was chasing it.
But at this moment, it charged directly towards everyone, its sharp horn gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"Beast, you're asking for death!" Yun Lie's eyes narrowed. He saw the dinosaur's predicament, but it was blocking their path.
"Bang!"
The moment Sandai Kitetsu was drawn, a visible ripple spread through the air, accompanied by powerful spatial force, like a silver lightning flash.
The dinosaur's four limbs were instantly severed, and its massive body lost support, crashing to the ground with a thud, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
The limbless dinosaur writhed in pain on the ground, its roars echoing throughout the jungle, filled with despair and agony.
"Ga ha ha ha! What powerful strength!"
A colossal figure slowly emerged from the direction the dinosaur had come from. The figure became clearer and clearer, almost covering half the sky.
With every step it took, the ground trembled, and the surrounding trees swayed.
"Mon… monster!"
Karina's face turned pale with fright, her legs went weak, and she clung tightly to Yun Lie, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"I'm not a monster, I'm Brogy! Welcome to this island!"
The Giant slowly bent down, revealing a rugged face with a hearty smile. His yellow beard swayed slightly as he spoke, and his old helmet was still covered in dirt and grass. His armor was also covered in marks from battles.
"Uncle, are you a Giant Race warrior from Elbaf?" Yun Lie deliberately asked.
He, of course, knew Brogy's identity. His words were mainly for Karina's benefit, and at the same time, he was secretly observing the Giant's every move.
"Ga ha ha ha! Exactly! I am a mighty Elbaf warrior!"
Brogy burst into happy laughter, his voice making the leaves rustle, even startling distant birds into flight.