Morning broke across the calm, sun-drenched waters of the Grand Line. On the deck of the Black Nova, the crew's daily training was as intense as ever. Jerry, however, was engaged in his usual, more sacred ritual: fishing. Feeling the air grow steadily warmer and noticing the placid waves, so different from the turbulent seas of the past few days, he mused aloud.
"The weather's getting hotter. If the climate is stabilizing like this, we must be getting close, right?"
"Are we finally approaching the next island?" a voice cut in. "My adoring fans must be eagerly awaiting my arrival!"
Jerry turned to see Cavendish, whose face was still faintly swollen, elegantly producing a rose from thin air and striking a dramatic pose. The nightly beatdowns had become a new part of their routine. As Jerry had predicted, after eating the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Cavendish's power surge had emboldened his dangerous alter ego. Nearly every night, Hakuba would emerge, a sinister laugh on his lips. But before he could take more than a few steps, Jerry's Observation Haki would lock onto him, and a brief, one-sided "cosmetic surgery session" delivered via Jerry's feet would commence.
After more than a week of this, Hakuba had apparently gotten the message and stopped making his nightly appearances.
"With that handsome, bruised face of yours, what fans are you talking about?" Jerry grumbled, waving him away like a fly. "Go on, shoo. Don't you dare scare off the big one I'm about to reel in."
He turned back to his line, feeling the tell-tale tug of a fish about to take the bait. A moment later, the float dipped sharply.
Splash! The water's surface erupted as a creature burst forth.
Jerry's eyes lit up. "Whoa! I caught a Sea King!" he shouted excitedly.
A playful meow echoed from both the sea and the ship's deck. A large, cat-like sea beast with boxing gloves—a Kung-Fu Dugong—popped its head out of the water, trading curious looks with Kotatsu, who was perched on the ship's railing.
The crew stared at the creature, then at the empty hook dangling from Jerry's fishing rod. Skull was the first to ask the soul-crushing question.
"Boss Jerry… is that what you call 'fishing'?"
Jerry glanced down at his bare hook, silent for a moment. Then he raised his head with unshakable confidence. "Of course! I caught it, and then I released it. How else would it have breached the water like that?"
"Give me a break," Skull deadpanned, shattering the illusion. "That's a Kung-Fu Dugong. They're native to the waters around the Kingdom of Alabasta, where the locals consider them sacred animals. This means we've arrived."
"Oh! Alabasta?" Ace's eyes went wide with excitement. "Are we there? What's the country like? Is there any good food?"
Ignoring the Kung-Fu Dugong as it waved goodbye and dove back into the sea, Skull returned to the cabin and retrieved a map. "Right," he began, spreading it on a barrel. "About this country... for over a year, there's been no rain anywhere except the capital, Alubarna. Rumor has it the king has been using the forbidden Dance Powder."
He continued, "The food here is famous for all kinds of barbecue. You'll have no trouble finding something delicious, Boss Ace. The main port, Nanohana, is known for its perfumes, and it's our best bet for resupplying. Other than that, the only other place of note is the 'City of Dreams,' Rainbase. It's home to the largest casino in the kingdom, Rain Dinners, run by the Warlord Crocodile..."
As Skull spoke, he saw Ace drift off into a fantasy about grilled meats, while Carina's interest, initially piqued by "perfume," shifted entirely to the word "casino." Cavendish, upon hearing "City of Dreams," immediately began preening again.
Deuce rubbed his temples. "Ahem! So, are we making a simple supply run and then leaving, or are we staying to explore?"
"I'd love to meet some beautiful ladies from this exotic land... Yohohoho!" Brook declared.
"Need you even ask?" Jerry responded with a grin, gesturing to his adventure-hungry crew.
After a brief discussion, they decided to split up. Deuce, Ace, Skull, and Brook would head to Nanohana to handle resupplying. Jerry, meanwhile, would take Carrot, Carina, Kotatsu, Cavendish, and his horse, Farul, inland along the Sandora River toward Rainbase.
Soon, the groups parted ways at the bustling port.
Nearing noon, Jerry's group saw a city shimmering on the vast desert horizon. A quick check of the map confirmed it was their destination.
"Hey, perverted fisherman," Carina called out from her perch atop Kotatsu, who had transformed into a large, comfortable mount. She and Carrot were both wearing cloaks to shield them from the intense sun. "Skull said this casino is the territory of the Warlord, Crocodile. Is it really a good idea for us to just walk in?"
The Alabasta Kingdom was a massive desert, and the daytime heat was oppressive. Minks like Carrot were especially sensitive to it, though she was slowly adapting.
"It's fine," Jerry replied, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "In fact, I was afraid he wasn't here. Hehe."
Without waiting for a response, he started walking again. "Since we're here, we might as well go have some fun."
The others exchanged glances but said nothing more, following his lead into the City of Dreams. The scorching sun did nothing to dampen the city's prosperity. The streets were crowded and full of life, a stark contrast to the struggling nation around it.
"It's so lively! I wonder how many of my fans will come asking for an autograph," Cavendish mused, as ostentatious as ever. He rode Farul, who had his tongue lolling out, and playfully twirled a rose that was already wilting in the heat. True to his word, his flashy appearance drew whispers and suspicious glances from women and men alike.
"You showoff... isn't your horse thirsty?" Jerry said, gesturing to the panting Farul.
"Nonsense! No matter how thirsty I am, I must first quench the hearts of my fans with my sweet presence!" Cavendish declared, sweeping off his hat and shaking his flowing hair.
Farul immediately perked up, puffing out his chest and looking as regal as his master. Jerry slapped a hand to his forehead. Deciding not to engage with the bizarre duo any further, he led his friends deeper into the city.