One Piece, I'm just an adventurer.

Chapter 32 Arrival in the Kingdom of Alabasta

"Philina, how much longer until we reach Alabasta?" Lin Yi, leaning on the bow of the ship, shouted weakly. He was gazing listlessly at the endless blue ocean in the distance, feeling utterly frustrated.

When he used to watch anime, he only thought that the adventures at sea were full of excitement, humor, and endless fun. However, after experiencing it himself, he realized that sailing on the vast ocean was actually so tedious and boring, especially a long voyage like this, which made him feel incredibly bored and tormented.

Lin Yi couldn't help but turn to look at Mihawk beside him, muttering to himself, "I wonder how this guy, Hawkeye, who's known as the world's greatest swordsman, can endure this monotonous life day after day." As if sensing Lin Yi's gaze, Mihawk's sharp, eagle-like eyes suddenly glared at him, and that cold, fierce look made Lin Yi shiver.

"This guy's getting more and more outrageous lately!" Mihawk thought to himself. For some reason, every time he saw Lin Yi looking at him, he could sense a hint of mockery and ridicule in his eyes.

Just then, a clear and melodious voice came from the second floor of the cabin. "Brother Lin Yi, don't worry. If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to reach Alabasta smoothly tomorrow." Filina replied with a smile, sticking her head out of the second-floor window.

The journey has been anything but smooth sailing. Since embarking on this Grand Line, they've encountered numerous unexpected events. The recent severe weather, in particular, has been astonishing. In just a few days, they've been caught in three raging storms, the scenes of those towering waves still sending shivers down their spines. What was originally planned as a week's journey has been stretched to over ten days.

“Alright, Mihawk, how about we have a contest to see who can hold their breath the longest? The loser won’t get any food today!” Lin Yi looked at Hawkeye with anticipation and suggested enthusiastically.

However, Hawkeye frowned slightly at Lin Yi's tedious suggestion, a contemptuous smile appearing on his lips, and replied indifferently, "Utterly boring." His cold and disdainful attitude seemed to tell Lin Yi that this childish game was not worthy of his attention.

Time ticked by, and half an hour had passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Yi, Da Pan, and Hawkeye were currently inside a giant wooden tub filled with water, engaged in a tense and intense breath-holding contest. Reiju and Fiona, who had nothing better to do, were acting as referees. They stood to the side, their eyes fixed on the three in the tub, ready to announce the result at any moment.

Another long half hour passed, and Lin Yi, looking utterly frustrated, finally couldn't hold on any longer and surfaced first, gasping for breath. Just half a minute later, Eagle Eye, who had remained calm throughout, also slowly emerged from the water, ending the breath-holding contest. Seeing himself so close to victory, Lin Yi was filled with regret; just half a minute short!

Just as everyone's attention was focused on the two who had already decided the outcome, someone was suddenly surprised to find that Da Pan was still steadily underwater without surfacing! Everyone turned their curious gazes to Da Pan, who was still quietly submerged in the water, marveling at his amazing ability to hold his breath, while secretly wondering how long this guy could last.

At that moment, the sharp-eyed Reiju noticed something unusual—Da Pan didn't seem to be trying to hold his breath; instead… he was actually fast asleep in the wooden tub! This discovery left everyone present speechless, exchanging bewildered glances. They simply couldn't imagine how someone could fall asleep peacefully while submerged in water. Such a unique skill could probably only be possessed by a panda with such extraordinary talent as Da Pan! For a moment, the scene erupted in a hilarious and somewhat absurd atmosphere.

The next day arrived quickly. When Lin Yi got up and went to the deck, he found that they could see their destination in the distance—Alabasta. Rumor had it that it was a desert country; he wondered if the environment was as harsh as he had seen in anime.

Before noon, the Silver Dragon had already arrived at a small border town in the Kingdom of Alabasta.

As soon as I stepped off the ship, a strong gust of wind, carrying a cloud of yellow sand, rushed towards me like a surging wave. The dock was crowded with people, all of whom wore pointed hats and had thick bandages tightly wrapped around their mouths and noses, looking like soldiers about to go into battle, fully armed to the teeth.

Having never been here before and having no experience dealing with such harsh conditions, everyone except Eagle Eye was instantly covered in a raging sandstorm. Sand and dust mingled together, relentlessly pounding against their faces and bodies, turning their once sleek appearance into a disheveled mess.

Seeing this, Lin Yi hurriedly used his spatial abilities to create an invisible barrier around them, firmly keeping the raging sandstorm out. With the sandstorm stopped, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and began to hurriedly tidy up their appearance.

But then, they suddenly noticed that Hawkeye was the only one in the crowd who remained clean and tidy, as if the sandstorm had been a trivial matter to him. In an instant, all eyes were fixed on Hawkeye, especially the girls, whose eyes were filled with rage, a rage so intense it seemed they wanted nothing more than to tear Hawkeye apart and bury him alive.

Clearly, that despicable Hawkeye must have known about the situation all along, but he deliberately kept it a secret, obviously waiting to see them make a fool of themselves!

Facing the angry stares of the crowd, Hawkeye's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. However, he knew he had already infuriated everyone, so he quickly suppressed his smile and, before anyone could react, hastily uttered "See you again sometime," before disappearing in a flash. He left behind a group of furious people, staring blankly at his departing figure.

"This guy." Looking at Hawkeye who seemed to be running away, Lin Yi was both amused and exasperated. He hadn't expected Hawkeye to have this side to him.

Lin Yi asked someone on the dock about the surrounding area and learned that there was a small town not far from here, but a guide was needed to find it.

So Lin Yi began searching the docks for a guide who could lead him through this mysterious place. After some searching, he finally found a middle-aged man busy at work in a relatively secluded corner. This man looked weathered, but his eyes revealed a sense of determination and wisdom.

It is understood that he is one of only two guides making a living in this area. The other guide is his young and strong son. So, why are these two, father and son, capable of such important guiding duties? It turns out that in this vast, windswept desert, people can easily lose their way. However, fortunately, the Kingdom of Alabasta possesses two magical animals that can serve as guiding lights on people's journeys—the guiding camel and the running duck.

The middle-aged man and his son happen to own two valuable guiding camels. These camels are not only large and powerful, but also possess an exceptional sense of direction and the ability to adapt to harsh environments. Thanks to the deep bond they've built with these camels over the years, and their own wealth of experience, the father and son have successfully become trusted guides for many travelers.

After paying a considerable sum, the middle-aged man with a weathered face and dark skin finally agreed to act as a guide, leading Lin Yi and his group slowly toward the town.

Along the way, filled with curiosity and anticipation, the group traversed the sandstorm-swept desert and endured countless hardships before finally arriving at this unnamed town.

Based on past experience and habits, Lin Yi and his group originally planned to first find a bustling bar so they could glean the latest intelligence and news about the Alabasta Kingdom from its diverse patrons. However, to their surprise, after wandering around the town for a while, they only found a seemingly deserted café.

As they stood before the somewhat worn-out café, Lin Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, a meaningful smile slowly spreading across his lips. This café instantly reminded him of something from the past—this was the very café operated by Crocodile's forces! Moreover, as far as he knew, it had once been one of Crocodile's important strongholds. Whether this ambitious pirate still entrenched himself here now remained unknown…

Chapter 33 Crocodile is beaten so badly he questions his existence

After Lin Yi and his companions stood outside the shop for a while, they finally stepped into the small shop called Spider Cafe.

As soon as he entered, Lin Yi scanned the interior of the shop. The space wasn't very large, the tables and chairs were arranged somewhat crampedly, and there were very few customers dining or drinking coffee. Surprisingly, despite the scarcity of customers, three staff members were busy working behind the narrow counter.

When they saw Lin Yi and his group walk in, the shop assistants merely glanced at them indifferently before continuing to work as if nothing had happened, showing no enthusiasm or welcome whatsoever.

Looking at the shop assistants, Lin Yi smiled knowingly. Although he didn't have a deep impression of these people, he knew they were members of the Baroque Studio. However, Lin Yi had arrived a bit early, so there seemed to be fewer shop assistants. At least the girl who could influence other people's emotions with her paintings wasn't here.

Just then, a young and beautiful woman gracefully emerged from behind a curtain behind the counter. She appeared to be around twenty years old, in the prime of her youth. She wore a colorful floral headscarf, light green glasses, and a black dress with black trousers and shoes, giving her a very capable and efficient appearance.

With a smile on her face, the woman walked briskly to Lin Yi and the others, and asked in a clear and pleasant voice, "Gentlemen, what would you like to drink? We not only have rich and aromatic coffee and refreshing and sweet juice, but also many delicious snacks with unique characteristics from the desert region!"

Lin Yi was stunned when he saw the beautiful woman in front of him. Wasn't this Sara the Poison Spider? Where was her afro?

Seeing Lin Yi staring blankly at the beautiful woman in front of him, Felina felt a surge of displeasure. She frowned slightly, then quietly reached out and nudged Lin Yi's waist with her elbow.

This made Lin Yi instantly come to his senses. He looked at Felina with slight embarrassment, but Felina deliberately turned her head away, ignoring him. Then, Felina turned her head and smiled at Sarah in front of her, saying, "Hello, could you please bring each of us a cup of coffee, and also some of your restaurant's specialty snacks?"

However, how could Philina's little gesture escape the notice of the experienced poisonous spider Sara? A slight smile played on her lips as she softly covered her mouth and chuckled, "Alright, my beautiful and lovely lady. But you can't be too strict with men, or they'll run away!" She then winked mischievously.

Upon hearing this, Felina's pretty face flushed red, making her appear somewhat shy and unnatural. She subconsciously stole a glance at Lin Yi, only to find him looking at her with a half-smile. Felina's heart suddenly raced. She quickly averted her gaze, feigning composure as she turned away and began chatting casually with Chiyo beside her, trying to conceal her inner turmoil.

However, despite Felina's efforts to appear nonchalant, the others present keenly noticed her slightly flustered expression and the lingering blush on her face. They exchanged glances, their smiles growing even more pronounced.

After arranging for the other members to prepare food for Lin Yi and the others, Sarah turned gracefully and walked towards the curtain. Her pace slowed slightly as she passed through the curtain and entered a more secluded room. She walked to a table and carefully opened a delicate box placed on it. As the lid slowly opened, a small, exquisite Den Den Mushi appeared before her eyes.

Sarah gently picked up the Den Den Mushi and skillfully dialed a number she already knew by heart.

Not long after, a series of beeping sounds rang out, and the Den Den Mushi was successfully connected. Immediately afterwards, the face of a middle-aged man with a cigar in his mouth, a face full of fat, and a conspicuous horizontal scar on his face appeared on the Den Den Mushi screen.

If Lin Yi were here right now, he would undoubtedly recognize at a glance that the man in front of him is the true mastermind behind Baroque Works—Crocodile, also known as the Crocodile!

Crocodile had a thick cigar tightly clenched between his teeth, the swirling smoke making his already stern face appear even more imposing and solemn. He narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at the Den Den Mushi, and asked in a low, stern tone, "Speak, Sara, what brings you here?"

Upon hearing her boss's question, Sarah, the Poison Spider, standing on the other side, involuntarily trembled and hurriedly replied respectfully, "Reporting, boss, the Venerable Lin Yi, whom you told us to keep an eye on, has appeared."

"What?!" Upon hearing the name Lin Yi, Crocodile, who had been relatively calm, instantly became excited, even raising his voice slightly. "Where is he now? Tell me quickly!"

At this time, Crocodile had not yet grown into the cunning and treacherous mastermind he would become, so his emotional fluctuations were naturally more pronounced.

"Reporting to the boss, he's currently in our Spider Cafe." Sarah didn't dare to be negligent and quickly reported the truth. "Boss, should we take him down immediately?"

However, Crocodile rejected Sara's offer to fight without hesitation: "No! With your current strength, you are no match for him. You should remain still for now, try to stabilize the situation, and do not make any rash moves. I will personally go over to handle this matter!"

"Understood, boss. I'll follow your orders!" Having received clear instructions, Sara once again expressed her obedience to Crocodile.

Not far from the Spider Cafe, there stands an ordinary-looking house.

At that moment, in one of the rooms of this house, a young woman stood quietly by the window. Her long, straight black hair cascaded down her shoulders; she wore a tight-fitting black leather jumpsuit that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. In her right hand, she gripped a Den Den Mushi (a type of electric telephone snail) shaped like an ear, tilting her head slightly to hold it close to her ear, listening intently to the voice coming from within.

Suddenly, when the name "Lin Yi, the Venerable One of Emptiness" was mentioned on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, a subtle ripple appeared on the woman's originally calm face, and a hint of excitement showed in her eyes.

However, this emotion was fleeting. Before long, she quickly regained her composure, parted her lips slightly, and murmured to herself in a voice only she could hear, "You've finally arrived, Lord Lin Yi..."

Meanwhile, deep in the vast desert, Crocodile, now transformed by sand, was speeding forward at an astonishing pace. Despite the extremely harsh environment, with swirling sand almost blinding him, this did not hinder his progress in the slightest.

Before Lin Yi and the others could finish off the delicious food in front of them, Crocodile had already arrived at the Spider Cafe at lightning speed.

Just as Crocodile appeared, Lin Yi, who was enjoying his meal, sensed something and couldn't help but look up, casting his gaze toward the entrance of the café.

With a creak, the slightly worn-out coffee shop door slowly opened. A figure then came into view. The newcomer had slicked-back hair, wore a black fur coat, and carried a golden hook in his left hand; he looked imposing and commanding.

When they saw this man enter, Sarah the Spider and the other three members of the Baroque Workshop all looked at him with reverence and stared intently. However, despite their awe of this important figure, not one of them stepped forward to greet him.

The man strode in at a leisurely pace through the café, its air thick with the aroma of coffee. His sharp gaze, like that of a hawk, swept across the entire café as if searching for some important target. Finally, his eyes settled on Lin Yi and his companions.

A relieved smile gradually appeared on the man's face. Then, without hesitation, he walked straight towards Lin Yi and the others.

Upon approaching, he stopped and looked down at Lin Yi, asking, "Are you the man who defeated Whitebeard?" His tone was tinged with doubt and curiosity.

Before Lin Yi could answer, Da Pan, unable to contain his dissatisfaction, retorted, "Who are you? How dare you ask someone such a question right off the bat? Don't you know basic manners? Besides, my brother didn't just defeat Whitebeard alone! He defeated the combined forces of Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido of the Beasts!" Da Pan glared at the impolite stranger before him.

Crocodile was slightly taken aback by Da Pan's blunt words, clearly not expecting such a direct and forceful response. Since arriving in the Kingdom of Alabasta and successfully establishing the powerful Baroque Works, it had been a long time since anyone had dared to speak to him like this. For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

However, despite a deep-seated unease, he knew he had come to ask for a favor, and he tried his best to suppress it. He pursed his lips slightly, took a deep breath, and slowly forced a smile that was full of apology.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Lin Yi.” His voice was slightly low, carrying a hint of barely suppressed nervousness. “My name is Crocodile, and I am the head of Baroque Works. This question is of great importance to me, and I hope you can provide an answer.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yi on the other side suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter: "Hahahaha! Of course I know you, Crocodile! That's right, I did defeat that old guy Whitebeard. But... since I've answered you truthfully, shouldn't you answer one of my questions in exchange?"

When Crocodile heard Lin Yi openly admit that he had defeated Whitebeard, he became extremely excited, even trembling slightly from the overwhelming emotion.

Ever since his crushing defeat at the hands of Whitebeard, his thoughts have been consumed day and night with the desire to one day surpass his opponent's strength, thereby avenging his humiliation and washing away the deep-seated shame and sense of defeat.

Crocodile took a deep breath, calmed himself down a bit, and said, "Okay, go ahead and ask."

A hint of amusement flashed in Lin Yi's eyes as he chuckled, "Are you wearing such a thick leather jacket in this heat just to look cool?"

"Hahahaha!" Lin Yi's strange focus completely amused Da Pan and the others, who all laughed heartily.

Crocodile's face darkened, and he said to Lin Yi with some embarrassment and anger, "Lord Lin Yi, please duel with me."

"No, no, it's not that serious, I was just joking, Lao Sha," Lin Yi waved his hand and refused.

"No, you have to fight me. If you win, it means I can beat Whitebeard," Crocodile said stubbornly.

"Hmph, do I need my elder brother to beat you up? You overestimate yourself," Da Pan said with a hint of disdain.

"You..." Crocodile was so angry at Da Pan's words that he almost spat out blood. How could he be so disrespectful? He was a Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit user, did he not even deserve Lin Yi's help?

"I'm telling the truth. How about we have a fight? Don't worry, I'll hold back and promise not to cripple you," Da Pan added.

"Hmph, this is too much! Come on, I'll show you what Crocodile is all about!" Crocodile said fiercely to Pan, then walked out of the coffee shop and came to an open space.

Da Pan shrugged and followed Crocodile outside without even taking out his Dragon-Piercing Staff.

After they both stood still, a cloud of sand instantly rose from Crocodile's body, and then he rapidly turned into sand, sweeping towards Da Pan like a violent sandstorm. In the blink of an eye, a giant sand fist formed from countless tiny grains of sand, carrying a fierce aura, slammed down towards Da Pan with overwhelming force! Wherever the sand fist passed, the air seemed to be torn apart, emitting a series of whistling sounds.

However, faced with such a terrifying offensive, Da Pan merely curled his lips into a contemptuous smile. He casually raised his right hand and seemingly effortlessly threw a punch. This punch was light and seemingly without any force, but when it collided with Crocodile's incredibly powerful Sand Fist, it unleashed a deafening roar! With a loud "bang," the originally incomparably mighty Sand Fist crumbled instantly like a fragile sand sculpture, turning into a cloud of yellow sand flying everywhere.

Just then, Crocodile, taking advantage of the swirling sand, silently charged towards Da Pan. His sharp, golden hook flashed like lightning, aiming straight for Da Pan's chest!

Just as the deadly hook was about to pierce Da Pan, Da Pan didn't even lift an eyelid. He snorted coldly and easily dodged Crocodile's sneak attack with a swift movement. At the same time, he reached out and grabbed Crocodile's golden hook with perfect accuracy.

At this moment, Da Pan's disdain deepened. He had little interest in an opponent of Crocodile's caliber. After all, given Da Pan's strength, fighting an enemy of that level was simply a waste of time.

"Hmph, I'm not playing with you anymore, you're too weak," Da Pan said lazily, his tone full of disdain and impatience. Before Crocodile could even react, he suddenly exerted force with his arm, sending Crocodile and the golden hook flying together. Then, Da Pan's hands were swiftly covered with a layer of jet-black Armament Haki, like a demon god descending to earth.

With a swift movement, Da Pan pounced on Crocodile like a ghost, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks. Each punch and kick carried terrifying power, leaving Crocodile utterly defenseless. The poor Crocodile could only struggle against Da Pan's relentless onslaught. Before long, he was bruised and battered, collapsing to the ground, utterly unable to move.

Upon seeing this, Sara the Spider and three members of Baroque Works rushed over to check on their boss's condition. At this point, they no longer cared about whether they were exposed or not. They had just wanted to help Crocodile, but they had been suppressed by a faint aura, which made them dare not make any rash moves.

Only when the oppressive feeling disappeared did they dare to step forward.

Crocodile lay on the ground, beginning to question his existence. He had lost, and lost even more thoroughly than before. Was the gap between him and these top-tier powerhouses really that large? Could he still surpass them?

Chapter 34 Crocodile's Submission

Looking at Crocodile sprawled on the ground like a rag doll, his face filled with disbelief as if he were questioning the meaning of life, Lin Yi's lips curled into a faint smile. Then, he began to walk forward at a leisurely pace. With each step he took, the ground seemed to tremble slightly, like a ferocious beast gradually approaching its prey.

Upon seeing this, Sarah and the others standing to the side suddenly tensed up. Their muscles were taut, their eyes fixed on Lin Yi as he approached, their hearts filled with fear and worry, afraid that Lin Yi would suddenly launch an attack and start a massacre at any moment.

Lin Yi merely chuckled indifferently at Sara and the others' wariness and guardedness, then slowly said, "Don't worry, I have absolutely no interest in you lot. If I really wanted to take your lives, no matter how much you defend yourselves, it would be futile. So, if you know what's good for you, get out of my way!"

Upon hearing this, Onigumo Sara couldn't help but swallow hard, her throat feeling incredibly dry and her heart pounding uncontrollably. After all, Lin Yi's fearsome reputation had already spread throughout the vast ocean. How could someone as insignificant as her not feel fear when she was now facing such a terrifying being head-on?

However, even though fear gripped their hearts, Sarah and the other three showed no sign of backing down. Sarah took a deep breath, trying to calm her terror, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "Lord Lin... Lord Lin Yi, please have mercy! Please don't hurt my boss!"