Assertions made without proof, when backed by status and strength, become particularly persuasive.
However, even with foreknowledge from the original storyline, Maude did not believe that Luffy could defeat Crocodile.
This was the judgment he reached after coming into contact with Luffy.
Yet, seated in the unseen audience stands beyond the turmoil was an unexpected group—the Revolutionary Army.
With that man who also bore the name Monkey present, Crocodile's Operation Utopia would most likely turn into nothing more than a daydream.
Besides—
Since Maude was already here, he wouldn't miss out on the valuable experience points tied to Devil Fruit proficiency.
Moreover, with the Straw Hat Pirates acting as cover, there was no reason he couldn't claim Crocodile's experience points for himself—provided he executed the plan cleanly.
The Bailey-brand cruiser carved a long trail of smoke across the desert, heading toward the capital, Alubarna.
Two hours later—
The travel-worn group finally caught sight of a massive rocky mountain rising from the desert sands.
From afar, the silhouettes of buildings could be faintly seen atop the mountain.
Four grand stairways, carved into the cliffs, cut through the rock like blades and sloped down to meet the desert floor. The group stood before the southern staircase—the very path the Rebel Army had chosen for their assault on the capital.
"That's the capital... Alubarna…"
Looking at the city built atop the rocky mountain, Nami and the others were visibly awestruck.
But with the urgency at hand, there was no time for admiration.
The Bailey-brand war wagon was still some distance from Alubarna. With their eyesight, the crew could only discern the scale of the stone staircase and the faint outlines of the buildings above.
However, aided by Observation Haki, Maude clearly saw the bodies lying on the staircase—
Bloodstained weapons scattered around the corpses.
Blood flowing down the steps like a crimson carpet, stark and glaring.
"It's already begun…"
Taking in the scene, Maude's eyelids lowered slightly, yet he did not alert Vivi.
In a war that mobilized nearly a million people, it was inevitable that lives would be lost with every passing second.
"Something's wrong!"
Usopp suddenly exclaimed.
Among the Straw Hats, only Usopp could use Observation Haki.
Even from a distance, he barely glimpsed the state of the stone staircase.
Corpses, blood, broken weapons—
A glimpse of war's cruelty unfolded within his sight.
Usopp's face paled, his voice trembling. "The... the Royal Army... they've already clashed with the Rebel Army…"
"What!?"
The group was stunned.
Vivi's face turned ashen, murmuring, "We still couldn't make it in time…"
The thought of how many lives would be lost wrenched her heart like a knife.
Yet perhaps because of the companions who had escorted her this far—or her own resilient spirit—her eyes soon regained their focus.
If they couldn't arrive in time, then they would simply have to do everything in their power to stop the war!
Moments later, the Bailey-brand cruiser reached the base of the staircase.
Blood had already pooled at the lowest step.
Looking up, the grim faces of the dead were visible—frozen in the agony of their final moments.
The Straw Hats felt their hearts tremble.
Maude extended his Observation Haki, scanning the surroundings.
He detected no anticipated presence.
He had expected Crocodile to station several Baroque Works agents here in ambush.
But none were present—
Perhaps the battlefront had already shifted into the city of Alubarna.
Maude's gaze shifted toward the Straw Hats.
"If you're ready... then head to the battlefield at your fastest speed."
The Straw Hats fell into heavy silence.
Usopp's lips trembled but no words came.
Nami and Bartolomeo hesitated but ultimately said nothing.
"Thank you, Maude…"
Vivi solemnly thanked him, then leapt from the cruiser, sprinting up the blood-soaked steps.
Before heading to Yuba, she had sent Karoo ahead with a message for Alubarna. Whether it had made any difference was still unknown.
Suppressing her rising anxiety, Vivi quickened her pace.
The Straw Hats followed swiftly.
Before setting out, Usopp glanced back at Maude—his expression calm as ever.
"Master... will you stand idly by?"
At last, he voiced the question that had been pressing against his chest.
A question that Nami and Bartolomeo also wanted answered.
Maude did not answer directly.
"Usopp... protect yourself."
Light flickered in Usopp's eyes, as if he had received the answer he sought.
He nodded firmly, then chased after Vivi.
Maude watched them disappear up the stairs.
Perona approached quietly, gazing at their retreating figures. A hint of melancholy flickered in her eyes—perhaps recalling her own past.
Softly, she murmured, "If wars could be stopped so easily... then so many nations wouldn't have perished in them."
"Indeed."
Maude glanced at her with mild surprise, then raised his head toward the sunlit sky.
"But this country... could stop the war with just one heavy rain."
"Rain?"
Perona looked puzzled, following his gaze to the cloudless sky.
Even if rain could halt the war... how could rain possibly fall under such clear skies?
Maude lowered his gaze from the sky, turning toward the staircase.
"Let's find a vantage point first."
Ten minutes later—
Maude moved through empty streets, arriving near the palace square.
The deafening clash of weapons and gunfire filled the air, punctuated by screams—
Death looming with every sound.
In such large-scale wars, human lives were reduced to cold numbers.
The acrid scent of gunpowder filled Maude's nostrils.
Even without seeing it directly, he could envision the carnage in the square.
Turning his gaze, he locked onto Alubarna's tallest structure—the clock tower.
From that height, a rifle could bring everything within range.
"That'll do."
With Moonwalk, Maude soared into the sky like an arrow, heading for the clock tower.
Inside—
Two Baroque Works agents—Mr. 7 and Miss Father's Day—stood watch, both specializing in sniping.
"What's that...!?"
Sensing the threat, their hairs stood on end—
A bullet tore through their foreheads, silencing them before they could react.
Am I... shot?
The same question crossed both minds as life flickered out.
Thud—
Their bodies collapsed.
They never imagined they would die so swiftly.
Moments later, Maude entered the clock tower, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the corpses before settling on the oversized cannon behind the clock face.
Only then did he recall Crocodile's special bomb, designed to annihilate both the Royal Army and the Rebel Army in one blow.
So this is where it was hidden.
Maude retrieved the bomb, its ticking timer embedded in its casing.
The minute hand had already moved halfway.
Only thirty minutes remained until detonation.
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