The Day After the Straw Hats Left Drum Island
A small, single-person boat with a trail of flames carved through the waters, docking at the shores of Drum Island.
The figure who stepped onto the snowy shore was unmistakable—shirtless under an open coat, wearing a denim hat perched casually on his head.
It was none other than Portgas D. Ace, captain of the second division of the Whitebeard Pirates, brother of Monkey D. Luffy, and the grandson of Monkey D. Garp.
Ace had come to Drum Island on a whim. While his primary goal was to fill his stomach, he also planned to ask around and see if Luffy had passed through.
As Ace made his way toward the town, his sharp eyes caught sight of a tall, limping figure staggering in the snow. The man was in tattered clothing, covered in bruises, and his movements were labored.
It was none other than Burgess
After his defeat at the hands of Kureha, Burgess had been left in a pitiful state. Too heavy to be dragged down the mountain, Kureha had unceremoniously kicked him to the outskirts of the island. Her attack had left him battered and barely conscious, and it took hours before he could even move.
As Burgess stumbled forward, his eyes landed on Ace. The sight of a young man walking confidently toward him only fueled his anger. Burgess, humiliated and desperate to vent his frustration, decided to make Ace his target.
Without warning, Burgess lunged at Ace, throwing a massive punch aimed straight for his face.
Ace's eyes narrowed in annoyance, but he made no attempt to dodge. Instead, his body transformed into flames, allowing Burgess' punch to pass harmlessly through him.
Burgess stumbled, caught off guard by Ace's Logia Devil Fruit ability.
"Damn it... A Logia user!" he snarled, frustration etched on his face.
Desperate, Burgess prepared another attack, this time clenching his fist and attempting to coat it with Haki. However, his technique was crude and unrefined, a reflection of his incomplete mastery of Armament Haki.
Before Burgess could launch his next move, Ace struck first. With a swift, fiery punch, Ace's "Fire Fist" sent Burgess hurtling through the air. Flames consumed his already tattered clothes and singed every last strand of hair on his body. His charred form plummeted into the icy waters below, his fate unknown.
Ace stood still, watching the steam rise from the snow where Burgess had fallen.
"What a bizarre guy," Ace muttered, shaking his head as he resumed his walk toward town.
Unbeknownst to Ace, the man he had just defeated was a member of Blackbeard's crew. If he had known, he might not have dismissed the encounter so lightly.
Meanwhile, in Alabasta
Far across the Grand Line, within the Alabasta Revolutionary Army Camp at Katorea, two figures stood in a quiet corner, watching the camp's bustling activity.
Sabo, soon to be officially named Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, stood with his partner, Koala. They observed the revolutionary soldiers preparing for their next mission while speaking in hushed tones.
"Hey, Sabo," Koala began, breaking the silence. "Don't we already have a commander overseeing the Grand Line? Why did we come all this way to investigate Alabasta ourselves?"
The Grand Line and the New World are two completely different battlegrounds. The Grand Line may seem like a paradise compared to the chaos of the New World, but it's no less critical.
Revolutions here are harder to start, and the main goal is to recruit talent rather than launch uprisings.
Naturally... Countries like Alabasta that initiate revolutions on their own are quite rare in the first half of the Grand Line, so the revolutionary army will come to investigate.
Hearing Koala's question, Sabo chuckled. "You mean Little Eva? He had some other matters to handle, so he asked me to take care of this investigation in his place."
Just as he finished speaking, a passerby approached and discreetly handed him a note. Sabo frowned as he unfolded it.
The message read: "Meet me at Katorea in the Eastern Desert – Crocodile."
A sly smile spread across Sabo's face as he read the note. 'So, it really does have something to do with you, Crocodile,' he thought to himself.
After several days of careful investigation, Sabo had pieced together the broader picture of Alabasta's revolution.
The uprising had stemmed from the devastating drought that left much of the country without rain. However, there was one peculiar exception: the capital city of Alubarna, home to the royal family, enjoyed abundant rainfall—more than ever before, rivaling even the oases.
This discrepancy had fueled widespread suspicion among the people. Soon after, rumors began circulating that King Cobra was secretly using Dancing Powder, a substance that induces artificial rain in one area by absorbing rain clouds from the surrounding regions, causing drought elsewhere.
The discovery of Dancing Powder, seemingly linked to the king, sparked outrage. Under the influence of manipulative agitators, these suspicions grew into full-blown accusations. The disgruntled populace banded together, forming a resistance army that eventually evolved into the current revolutionary force.
Most of the rebels were young and impassioned, trusting only their own observations and dismissing the idea of investigating the truth behind the accusations.
Through his investigation, Sabo had uncovered several key facts:
King Cobra's Character:
King Cobra was a just and noble ruler. Older citizens of Alabasta consistently spoke of him as a kind and fair king. In contrast, very few older people participated in the revolution—most believed that the king would never resort to something as immoral as stealing rain from his people.
The Dancing Powder "Evidence":
Every instance of Dancing Powder being linked to the king was nothing more than a series of coincidences:
The king's army was seen transporting supplies. A supply bag would conveniently leak, exposing traces of Dancing Powder. Someone would happen to witness it, and the rumor would spread like wildfire.
These events were clearly orchestrated, not genuine evidence.
From these findings, Sabo concluded that the revolution had been carefully engineered. And among the few individuals with the cunning and resources to pull off such a plan, one name stood out: Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
The note Sabo had received only confirmed his suspicions.
Koala, who had read the note over Sabo's shoulder, turned to him. "So, are you going to meet him?"
Sabo nodded resolutely. "Of course. I want to see what Crocodile's true purpose is."
He then handed Koala his completed notes. "Koala, I need you to leave Alabasta first. The investigation here is done, and I'll write a full report when I return. We won't intervene directly—this situation has too many moving parts, and it's not our place to act."
Koala hesitated for a moment but nodded. "Understood." She turned to leave but stopped when Sabo called her back.
"One more thing," Sabo added. "Once you're clear of Alabasta, use the anonymous Den Den Mushi to contact the Marines. Inform them of everything we've uncovered."
Koala's eyes widened in surprise. "The Marines? Are you sure?"
Sabo nodded grimly. "The king here is a good man, and Alabasta was once a prosperous and peaceful country. This rebellion is based on lies, and it's tearing apart a kingdom that doesn't deserve this. But we can't stop it on our own—not here, not in the Grand Line."
He paused, his expression darkening. "If Crocodile is behind all of this, the real blame lies with the World Government and their ridiculous Shichibukai system. Let the Marines handle the mess their policies created."
---------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V