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(A/N: If you want to see more chapters, go to my P@treon to see more chapters ahead. You can see more than 20 chapters ahead of everyone on my P@treon: [email protected]/VoyageToGlory
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When mobile phone sales surpassed two million units, news of this remarkable development finally began to spread like fire in overseas.
Despite the sluggish pace of the news birds, word gradually reached distant lands about a revolutionary device from Alabasta known as the "Mobile Phone"—a cheap, compact gadget that not only functioned like a Den Den Mushi but also allowed users to read the news.
Some forward-thinking journalists hailed the mobile phone as a groundbreaking invention, ahead of its time. However, most people didn't view it as a serious competitor just yet.
In a world dominated by vast oceans, the number of regular newspaper buyers was already limited. Many ordinary individuals rarely purchased papers, so the headlines that caused a stir in the Grand Line had little influence beyond its borders.
What truly captured the curiosity of the outside world was the mobile phone's incredibly low price. Yet, reaching the Grand Line was an impossible feat for most people living in the Four Blues.
Even within the Grand Line itself, traveling between countries was a daunting task, made complicated by the need for Log Poses—essential navigational tools that cost tens of thousands of Beli. For many, the idea of embarking on such an expensive journey just to purchase a mobile phone priced at 5,000 Beli simply wasn't worth the trouble.
In some regions, opportunistic merchants had already inflated the price of mobile phones to as high as 200,000 Beli, making them more expensive than a Den Den Mushi. This drastic markup only cemented the mobile phone's status as a luxury item in the eyes of ordinary people.
This trend frustrated Kael deeply. He was painfully aware that the current production capacity couldn't meet the overwhelming demand, but for now, there was little he could do to change the situation.
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Aboard a Baroque Works Pirate Ship
"Damn it, Igaram! You've been lying to me all along!" Vivi shouted, clutching a mobile phone tightly in her hand. Fury burned in her eyes as she glared at Igaram, as her voice was trembling with anger.
"Your Highness, please, calm down." Igaram sighed heavily, then said with a weary and conflicted expression: "I only lied to you to get you out of Alabasta. It was a decision made by His Majesty himself. The enemy we're facing is none other than the Warlord Crocodile. The gap in strength is far too great. If he decides to eliminate the royal family, Alabasta will have no hope of survival."
Vivi's face flushed with anger, but she wasn't unreasonable. After a long, tense silence, she spoke quietly, her voice was barely above a whisper: "Are my father and brother in danger?"
"They're in extreme danger." Igaram admitted gravely: "Prince—no, King Kael—managed to dismantle the rebellion that Crocodile incited. No matter how you look at it, he's disrupted Crocodile's plans. That alone puts him and His Majesty at the top of Crocodile's hit list."
Vivi's hands trembled as she gripped the mobile phone tighter: "So… what are we supposed to do now?"
"Our mission is clear, Princess." Igaram replied firmly: "We must gather irrefutable evidence of Crocodile's crimes. Once we have it, we can present it to the World Government and demand action."
Vivi took a deep, steadying breath, then she nodded and said: "I understand."
But what Igaram didn't voice were the doubts gnawing at the back of his mind. Even if they managed to gather enough evidence, would the World Government truly intervene?
Perhaps seeking help from the Navy would be a better option. The situation with the World Government was far more complicated. After all, they were the very architects of the Seven Warlords system.
If it turned out that one of their Warlords had used his position to overthrow the royal family of a kingdom like Alabasta—a nation allied with the World Government—it would be a devastating blow to their credibility. And Igaram feared the World Government cared more about protecting its image than justice.
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Meanwhile in Alabasta
To Kael's surprise, Crocodile had remained unusually quiet for months. There had been no further moves, no signs of aggression or manipulation. Perhaps 'Kuzan's' earlier intervention had spooked him?
In truth, Kuzan himself was just as puzzled. When he arrived in Rainbase, Crocodile's men had identified him almost immediately, despite his efforts to remain inconspicuous beneath a heavy cloak. How they'd recognized him so quickly remained a mystery even to him.
For Crocodile, however, the situation was crystal clear. The Admiral's sudden appearance was an unmistakable warning—Beat me up once, then show up at my doorstep? It didn't take a genius to read between the lines.
Although the Navy publicly denied that it was Kuzan who had attacked him, but after knowing Kuzan was in Alabasta Crocodile didn't buy it anymore. He suspected Kuzan had discovered part of his plans and was deliberately applying pressure, waiting for him to slip up.
Rather than risk making a mistake, Crocodile decided to play it safe. He went into hiding, maintaining a low profile as he waited for Kuzan to leave Alabasta.
The problem was, Crocodile wasn't even sure if Kuzan had left. A man of Kuzan's caliber could disappear without a trace if he wanted to. If someone like him doesn't want to be found, no one will find him, Crocodile thought grimly. Following the principle of better safe than sorry, he was willing to delay his plans, even if it meant putting everything on hold.
Patience is key, Crocodile reminded himself. After all, he had already waited twenty years—what were another two in the grand scheme of things?
Crocodile was determined to bide his time until Alabasta's so-called "great project" reached completion. When that moment arrived, he would send his subordinates to tear everything apart, plunging the kingdom into chaos. Amid that turmoil, the perfect opportunity would arise for him to seize Pluton.
And once he had Pluton, Crocodile had already decided who his first target would be—Kuzan.
In the meantime, Crocodile ordered his men to cease the use of Dance Powder in the capital. He understood that its continued use would only attract more attention, especially with the Royal Palace's relentless investigations closing in. For now, caution was his greatest ally.
---
Yuba City
Despite the relentless drought, progress on Alabasta's massive infrastructure project breathed newfound vitality into the kingdom.
Along the banks of the Sandora River, the night was aglow with the flickering light of countless torches, resembling tens of thousands of stars scattered across the darkness. The sight was nothing short of breathtaking.
More than fifty thousand laborers worked tirelessly, their sweat flowing like rain under the scorching desert heat as they hauled materials, dug trenches, and constructed the intricate network of waterways.
"Pull it up!"
"Hurry! It's slipping!"
The shouts of the workers echoed through the night, mingling with the rhythmic clatter of tools and the creaking of wooden scaffolding.
After safely returning to the Royal Palace, King Cobra didn't stay for long. Instead, he returned to Yuba, determined to oversee the River of Life project personally. With a thick notebook always in hand, he meticulously recorded every detail of the construction's progress.
"Following His Majesty Kael's orders, we've initiated simultaneous construction at multiple sites." Koza reported, his voice filled with awe as he gazed upon the grand scene unfolding before them. The scale of the project was unlike anything Alabasta had ever witnessed. "This project involves every citizen of Alabasta. If it succeeds… His Majesty will undoubtedly be remembered as the greatest king in our kingdom's history."
"Just having the vision and determination to undertake such a colossal task is enough to earn that title." Cobra replied softly, setting his notebook aside. His gaze lingered on the bustling construction sites, his heart was swelling with pride: "He's a much better king than I ever was."
As he watched the dream take shape before his eyes, Cobra felt a deep, unshakable certainty—his son, Kael, was destined to become the greatest ruler the Nefertari family had ever produced.
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The top news outlets across the Grand Line provided comprehensive, ongoing coverage of Alabasta's monumental construction project, dedicating an entire special segment titled The River of Life.
The project captivated audiences far and wide, showcasing a kingdom's determination to defy nature and reclaim its future.
With the combined efforts of 50,000 tireless laborers, it took only a week to restore the vital canal connecting the Sandora River to Yuba.
This new canal was not only sturdier but also more efficient and easier to maintain than its predecessor—a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of Alabasta's people.
Yuba, once known as the Green City, had finally regained its long-lost vitality. In this land without winter, where the sun's warmth never faded, the return of water meant the rebirth of life itself.
After another month, no one would believe that Yuba had once been reduced to a desolate city—it now stood as a brand-new pearl in the desert!