【Led by Princess Vivi, the duo of Sandaime Kazekage and Deidara continued towards the Alabasta Kingdom…】
【‘Your Highness Princess Vivi, are we really going to take them to find Baroque Works?! They don’t look like good people… You saw, didn’t you? That’s a Celestial Dragon… They actually dared to capture a Celestial Dragon!’ Ikalim said, his tone filled with worry.】
【As the princess of Alabasta and the guardians of the Alabasta Kingdom, they were acutely aware of the significance of the Celestial Dragons… It was precisely for this reason that seeing these two individuals daring to capture a Celestial Dragon left them in a state of shock…】
【‘Do we have any other choice at this point, Alabasta Kingdom?! I only hope they don't disrupt Alabasta…' Princess Vivi couldn't help but say.】
【‘Sigh… It seems there’s no other option…' Ikalim sighed in resignation.】
【The image on the screen shifted, transitioning to the Alabasta palace…】
【In a secluded chamber within the palace…】
【A figure with slicked-back hair, a long scar cutting across his face, a cigar dangling from his mouth, and a golden hook on his left hand… This was none other than the ‘Sand Crocodile’ Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai.】
【Crocodile's face was grim, his expression reflecting his disbelief. He couldn't believe that traitors had emerged from his Baroque Works, and that those traitors were the princess of Alabasta and her guardians…】
【Crocodile's motive for controlling the Alabasta Kingdom was to uncover the legendary Ancient Weapon…】
【He had yet to locate the legendary Ancient Weapon, and if his identity were to be exposed, his meticulously crafted plan would crumble into ruin…】
【‘Boss, it's not good! Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine are in trouble…' At that moment, a Baroque Works member rushed in…】
【‘What happened?!… What about the two of them?!…' Crocodile's brows furrowed as he hastily questioned, for he knew that Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine were the individuals he had dispatched to deal with the traitors…】
【‘According to the latest information, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine were killed…' the Baroque Works member hurriedly reported.】
【‘What?! Killed?! How is that even possible?!' Crocodile's face was filled with astonishment upon hearing this news…】
【Crocodile was acutely aware of the strength of Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine. They were executives of Baroque Works and Devil Fruit users, individuals of exceptional power even within the entirety of the Alabasta Kingdom…】
【In Crocodile's view, they possessed the strength to effortlessly handle the traitors, and now they were dead. How could Crocodile not be surprised…】
【‘Who did it?!…' Crocodile demanded with an unsightly expression…】
【‘It was two individuals claiming to be members of the Akatsuki!…' the Baroque Works member hurriedly replied.】
【‘Akatsuki?! Never heard of them!… They dare to kill our Baroque Works personnel, they’ll pay dearly! Have everyone else mobilize, eliminate these two and the traitors…' Crocodile said nonchalantly…】
【Crocodile had traversed the Grand Line and was well-acquainted with renowned figures. He was familiar with any strong individuals who had a name, yet the ‘Akatsuki’ was an unfamiliar name. As a result, Crocodile did not take these two seriously…】
【However, for safety’s sake, he instructed all executives of Baroque Works to mobilize, their goal being to thoroughly eliminate the traitors…】
【‘Understood!…' Upon receiving Crocodile’s order, the Baroque Works members swiftly moved into action.】
【Baroque Works operated with incredible speed. Leveraging their formidable intelligence capabilities, they quickly located Sandaime Kazekage, Deidara, Vivi, and the others, surrounding them…】
【‘Bad news, we’re surrounded…' Upon spotting the Baroque Works members encircling them, Princess Vivi and Ikalim were overcome with panic, their foreheads involuntarily breaking into a sweat.】
【‘Princess Vivi, it’s a real pleasure to finally meet you!…'】
【‘We never imagined you two would turn out to be traitors of our Baroque Works…'】
【‘Are you the ones who killed Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine?! You dare to slay members of our Baroque Works?!…'】
【One by one, the Baroque Works members glared at Sandaime Kazekage and Deidara, their tone laced with animosity.】
【‘Sandaime Kazekage-sama, Deidara-sama, they are all members of Baroque Works, among them are…' Before Princess Vivi could finish, Sandaime Kazekage cut her off…】
【‘I have no interest in their identities. I only want to know if they are Devil Fruit users…' Sandaime Kazekage inquired.】
【‘Er… They are all indeed Devil Fruit users…' Vivi quickly responded.】
【‘In that case, they’ll all become part of my collection!…' As Sandaime Kazekage’s words faded, the metal tail behind him shot up, charging towards the Baroque Works members…】
【‘Be careful, get out of the way!…' Seeing Sandaime Kazekage’s sudden attack, the Baroque Works members were startled and scrambled to dodge…】
【However, the speed of Sandaime Kazekage’s attack was simply too fast. A woman with blue spiky hair had no time to react and was pierced through by the metal tail, suspended in the air…】
【‘First collection item acquired…' Sandaime Kazekage said with satisfaction.】
【‘Miss Doublefinger… What?! You… You actually killed Miss Doublefinger…' The remaining Baroque Works members were shocked upon witnessing Sandaime Kazekage instantly kill one of their own…】
【‘That’s right, she’s dead! But don’t worry, I will make her a part of my collection!… Now it’s your turn…'】
【Sandaime Kazekage didn’t waste time on pointless conversations. He launched another attack on the Baroque Works members…】
【‘Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…' Sandaime Kazekage activated the mechanisms on his body, firing countless poisoned needles at the Baroque Works members.】
【‘Dodge!…' Faced with Sandaime Kazekage’s onslaught, the Baroque Works members attempted to avoid the attack, but to their misfortune, the poisoned needles were too densely packed, completely blocking their escape routes. The Baroque Works members were unable to evade them…】
【‘Ah… Ah… Ah…' A series of screams echoed through the air as the Baroque Works members were struck by the poisoned needles…】
【‘Damn it… Counterattack…' The Baroque Works members still wanted to retaliate, but they suddenly felt a prickling sensation throughout their bodies, losing control of their movements…】
【‘No good! We’ve been poisoned!… Damn it, what kind of poison is this, it’s so potent…'】
【‘Ah… It hurts so much! It’s killing me…'】
【Amidst continuous screams and struggles, all the Baroque Works members collapsed onto the sandy surface…】
【The once-arrogant executives of Baroque Works were now lying on the ground like dead dogs, lifeless.】
【“So powerful! He so easily dealt with all the Baroque Works executives…” Princess Vivi and Ikalim stared in awe at the scene before them…】