Wano Country, Onigashima.
Main Hall.
Queen's brows gradually furrowed as he watched the clown in front of him flail around.
"Puh-puh-puh-puh-puh!"
The man named Dr. Indigo still hadn't changed his shoes. Every stomp he took sounded like a fart, yet he kept stomping as if he were standing on hot coals.
Hardened.
Uncle Queen's fists had hardened.
Could he just punch this guy?
Dr. Indigo held a pile of research materials in his hands, looking reluctant.
Finally.
"These are all research notes on IQ," Dr. Indigo unwillingly handed the documents over to Queen.
"Eh? You can actually talk?!"
Queen was dumbfounded.
Dr. Indigo reacted almost reflexively—stepping sideways in a deep stance, his body tilting, right hand raised high at an angle, striking a heroic pose.
Queen's eye twitched.
What a rare sight… Someone even more offbeat than himself.
But.
IQ, huh?
Queen flipped through the documents.
His eyes gradually lit up. "This… actually seems pretty interesting?"
As a pharmacology expert, this so-called IQ plant perfectly aligned with his field.
A drug that makes beasts more ferocious?
Not entirely useless.
Meanwhile, at the top of the main hall, in Kaido's reception room.
"Shiki, you old bastard, still not dead?"
Kaido's face was slightly flushed as he lazily sat cross-legged on a soft cushion, gazing nonchalantly at Golden Lion Shiki seated below him.
"I thought you'd long since turned to bones in some corner of the sea."
"You can die, but I will never die!"
Shiki snorted coldly. "Before I dominate this sea, how could I possibly die?"
"Dominate?"
Kaido scoffed and glanced at the twin swords attached to Shiki's legs. "With just you?"
"Jihahahaha! Brat!"
Shiki's eyes narrowed, and an invisible wave of pressure began to build up. "Have I been away from the sea for so long that you've forgotten how terrifying I am?"
Back in the era when he fought Roger and Whitebeard for supremacy in the New World, what was this arrogant brat even worth?
Kaido didn't even lift an eyelid. "If you came here just to spout nonsense, I'll smash you into mincemeat."
An old relic abandoned by time, yet he still dared to show off in front of him.
"Jihahahaha!"
But Shiki wasn't angry. Instead, he laughed heartily. "It's not time for me to fight you yet. Once I complete my next goal, I'll return to the New World. And when that time comes, the world will once again remember the true terror of pirates!"
"The true terror of pirates?"
Kaido smirked indifferently. "So, what exactly do you plan to do?"
"Of course—"
Shiki took a deep breath. "Surpass Roger!"
"Huh?"
Kaido was momentarily confused.
What was this guy talking about?
Wasn't Roger long dead?
Why go so far to compete with a dead man?
"Right," Shiki didn't bother explaining. His body floated into the air. "Where do you want those islands? That's something I promised your brat. Since I gave my word, I'll make sure it's done right."
"Where, huh?"
Kaido furrowed his brows slightly. This was indeed a problem.
Where should those islands be placed?
Alabasta.
Located on the Sandy Island in the front half of the Grand Line, Alabasta is a government-affiliated nation with a population of over ten million and a standing military force of 600,000. It has several large cities of considerable size.
Compared to those countries in the sea where one city is the entire nation, this country truly deserves the title of a superpower.
However, this superpower has never been wealthy.
After all, most of its land is desert, and the areas suitable for human habitation are limited to the scattered oases and the banks of the mother river, the Sandora River.
Agriculture is already weak, and industry has not developed due to a lack of technology.
So, even though this country is vast and has a long history, life remains quite tough.
However, this had nothing to do with Ian.
Alabasta was too far from Wano Country, and the Beast Pirates were not in a position to cross mountains and seas to conquer the entire country. He had no interest whatsoever in the country's development.
At this moment, the Golden Dragon ship had arrived at Alabasta's overseas waters. Without any hesitation, it directly began to sail upstream along the mighty Sandora River. The goal was the capital of Alabasta, Alubarna.
The large ship slowly moved against the current. It was not an easy task, and the pirates in the ship's cabin were desperately rowing, while the Fish-Man crew was using temporarily captured sea beasts to tow the ship.
At this time, what Ian and the others saw was the desert on both sides of the river shining brightly under the sunlight.
"Golden and dazzling."
Yamato sat on the ship's rail, leisurely swinging her legs. "It's almost like the land is covered in gold."
"Anything is fine," Law lay on the deck like a dog, his tongue hanging out. "Yamato, can you get some ice? I'm about to melt from the heat."
"Hahahaha! You guys are really pathetic!"
Yamato turned around with a grin.
The cadres of the Beast Pirates on the Golden Dragon ship, who roamed the seas, were now being tortured by the scorching heat of Alabasta.
On the cold Drum Island, they could wear coats for warmth, but here in the blistering heat of Alabasta, they couldn't exactly strip off all their clothes, could they?
Everyone was drenched in sweat, with beads of perspiration dripping from their bodies like rain.
Except for Ian and Yamato.
Their abilities made them immune to both freezing cold and intense heat.
Yamato grinned as she placed the Takeru No. 2 on the deck.
White mist instantly engulfed the entire deck.
The cool breeze quickly surrounded everyone.
"Gahaha!"
Brogy wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed heartily. "I'm alive again!"
"I have to admit, I've never thought your ability was this useful."
Hancock also let out a long sigh of relief.
The sweat was soaking through her clothes, and if Ian were around, there wouldn't be an issue. In fact, Hancock would even be glad about it.
But, there were others on the deck besides Ian.
"Hmph."
Nothing made Yamato feel prouder than the enemy's praise, and she tilted her chin arrogantly.
"But, Ian," Dorry gazed toward the shore in the distance, where many people were gathered, and even other ships were passing by the Golden Dragon ship.
"Kekekekeke! Looks like we've caused a disturbance!"
The people on the shore were fleeing, and the ships passing by were speeding up, all trying to get away in a frenzy.
It was no surprise, for by now, the Golden Dragon ship had earned a bit of a reputation in this world.
Everyone knew it was the flagship of Ian, the second-in-command of the Beast Pirates and the infamous "Skyfire."
The appearance of this ship meant that the monster himself had arrived!
That was the monster with a bounty of two billion!
Among all the pirates alive in the world, he was ranked fourth!
Oh no, now he's fallen to fifth.
Because Shiki, who was once thought to have died in some corner of the sea, has resurfaced. His bounty has been activated.
But even so, a monster is still a monster.
"It doesn't matter."
Ian said indifferently.
If he's exposed, then so be it. Can someone from Alabasta really show up to stop him?
A mere Crocodile, whether he dares to appear in front of him is another story.
If they have the guts, the Navy can send a vice-admiral to challenge him.
The Golden Dragon ship moved forward, quickly delving deep into the heart of Alabasta.
"We're almost there!"
Viola called out, halting the ship's advance, and pointed in the direction of the shore. "This is the shortest path to the city!"
Alabasta's capital, Alubarna, is located deep within this desert, and traveling there is no easy task. So, Ian had the Golden Dragon go deep into the Sandora River to find the shortest route to Alubarna.
However, even so, crossing the vast desert in front of them would not be easy.
Law swallowed nervously. "We're not going to walk across it, are we?"
"I'll stay on the ship!" Viola said weakly.
If they had to trek through the desert, her skin would be ruined!
"Let's fly over."
Ian shot up into the sky, and in an instant, he transformed into a giant golden dragon, soaring through the sky.
He wasn't interested in the romantic notion of crossing the desert on foot.
If he wanted to see the desert, it would be far more magnificent from above.
**********
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