One Piece: Rayquaza of the Beasts Pirates

The next moment, as all the residents of Drum Island looked up, a huge, dazzling pink cherry blossom cloud burst open in the sky!

Countless cherry blossom petals drifted slowly down from the clouds.

This is a farewell ceremony specially prepared by Drum Island for Hiruluk.

The Liekong Steerage slowly departed from the port.

Hiluluk stood alone at the bow of the ship, gazing up at the scene he had seen countless times in his dreams, two streams of hot tears silently sliding down his weathered cheeks.

Kureha leaned against the ship's railing, her gaze sweeping over her old friend's slightly trembling back. She smiled slightly and took a big gulp of her beloved plum wine.

Witnessed and bid farewell by this grand cherry blossom rain, the Liekong Zuohao officially bid farewell to Cigu Island.

Next stop – the Kingdom of Alabasta.

It is a superpower located in the first half of the Grand Line, with a population of over ten million and a standing army of six hundred thousand.

Although Kane believed that a population of only ten million was not worthy of being called a superpower, and even calling it a great power was a stretch.

But compared to most countries on the high seas that have only one city, Alabasta is undoubtedly a behemoth.

Therefore, ordinary pirates dare not act too recklessly in Alabasta.

Of course, it's also possible that the pirates have no interest in this country.

Although Alabasta has a large land area, like Egypt, most of the country is barren desert, with only the oasis areas along the Santoro River suitable for habitation.

Therefore, the country's economy has always been in dire straits.

If it weren't for its large land area and population, Kane would doubt whether Alabasta could pay its "heavenly gold" to the World Government on time.

However, none of this concerns Kane.

Alabasta has no resources worth seizing, not even talent.

His sole purpose in this journey was to find the secret letter left by the first Queen Lily to his brother.

"What...what exactly do you intend to do to this king?"

On the deck, Valpo huddled in a corner, his arms tightly wrapped around his chest, his face filled with the terror of "selling his art, not his body."

"Don't worry, I only want your body." Kane smiled.

Walpo was even more alarmed.

"What?! You won't make me sell my virginity!"

His voice instantly rose eight octaves.

Kane's forehead instantly creased with annoyance, and he explained irritably, "Who wants your virginity! What I want is your ability to work for me!"

He crouched down, patted Wapol on the shoulder, and put on a businesslike smile: "As long as you make good use of the Swallow-Swallow Fruit's abilities to research and manufacture new alloys for me, I will never treat you unfairly."

"but……"

Kane's face instantly darkened, and an invisible pressure enveloped Wapol: "If you dare to disobey me or have any ulterior motives... I assure you, 'living' will be your greatest torment."

Wapol's face turned pale instantly, and he nodded vigorously, hurriedly declaring that he was Kane's man in life and in death.

The way he acted was as if he was about to drag his own father out of the underworld to vouch for him.

After this minor incident, the Rayquaza continued its steady journey toward Alabasta.

Several days later, the ship arrived in the waters off Alabasta.

In the distance, the boundless, golden desert can be clearly seen.

In stark contrast to Winter Island and Drum Kingdom, the closer one gets to Alabasta, the more intense the scorching heat in the air becomes.

By this time, Walpole had already taken off his heavy fur coat, wearing a vest and shorts, looking exactly like a retired old man.

If Kane hadn't given him a stern warning, he wouldn't have wanted to wear clothes at all.

But Wapol wasn't the worst off on the ship; he could at least take off his clothes. But Chopper, being a reindeer, couldn't exactly peel off his own skin, could he?

"It's so...so hot..."

Chopper lay sprawled on the deck, his tongue lolling out, as if his very soul was about to float out of his mouth from the heat.

Fortunately, the ship has no shortage of freezing capabilities.

Yamato pointed his finger at the basin full of water, and in just a few seconds, an ice cube was made.

"Ah... I'm alive again..."

Chopper grasped at the ice like a lifeline, clinging tightly to the ice with his four little hooves, pressing his entire body against it, his eyes narrowing into slits in comfort.

Bonnie watched longingly, wishing she could hug the ice like Chopper did; it must feel amazing.

But this unhealthy idea was immediately vetoed by Big Bear, who dotes on his daughter but insists on his principles.

Fortunately, besides Yamato, there was also Kane on board who could control the weather.

"The Frozen Wind".

Under Kane's micro-management, a faint but persistent cold wind, incongruous with its surroundings, was forcibly generated on the deck of the Rayquaza.

Like an invisible barrier, it keeps the heat out, as if a high-powered central air conditioning unit had been installed.

Although he was quite eager to admire the alluring sight of the ladies, their clothes clinging to their skin and drenched in sweat, unfortunately, he wasn't the only man on the ship.

"saved!"

The perfectly timed cool breeze brought a collective sigh of relief to everyone on the boat.

After doing all this, Kane acted as if nothing had happened, sitting back down next to the pile of meteorites he had just pulled down from space. He picked up a fragment, snapped it in half, and chewed it as easily as if it were a cookie, trying to absorb the cosmic energy it contained.

Yamato sat leisurely on the gunwale, swinging her two fair and slender legs, as if the surrounding heat had nothing to do with her.

Soon, the Sky Pivot successfully reached the coastline of Alabasta.

The boats then traveled upstream along the Santo Doe River inland, heading towards the capital, Arubana.

The arrival of the Sky Pirate, bearing the flag of the Beasts Pirates, immediately caused great panic among residents on both sides of the strait.

After all, they are now not only quite famous, but also capable of stopping children from crying at night.

"Kane the Scourge is here!!"

The news spread like wildfire, accompanied by panic and fear, rapidly along the Santora River throughout Alabasta.

Arubana, the royal palace.

"What?! Kane, the 'Calamity' of the Beasts Pirates, has come to Alabasta?!"

Upon receiving the news, King Cobra was so shocked that he stood up abruptly from his throne, his face filled with disbelief.

"It's absolutely true, Your Majesty. I personally confirmed it from high above; I could not possibly be mistaken about such a unique and enormous ship."

Bell, the vice-commander of the Alabasta Kingdom's guard and a user of the Zoan-type "Bird-Bird Fruit - Falcon Type," knelt on one knee, speaking with absolute certainty.

Kobra's eyes narrowed, and he made a decisive decision: "Quick, take me there!"

He immediately assembled his guards, preparing to personally go and greet Kane and his party.

Yes, welcome.

This is the tragedy and survival strategy of the weak: in the face of absolute power, they can only place their hopes on the "benevolence" and "rules" of the strong, rather than engaging in pointless confrontation.

"Father! I want to go with you too!"

A beautifully sculpted little girl with blue hair ran excitedly out of the inner hall, her face full of barely suppressed excitement and curiosity.

She had been eavesdropping behind a pillar for quite some time, so naturally she couldn't miss the opportunity to witness such a grand scene.

Cobra looked at his daughter, helplessly rubbing his forehead, his tone unusually stern: "No, Vivi! You stay obediently in the palace and are not allowed to go anywhere!"

He, who used to spoil and pamper his daughter, was now unusually hard-hearted.

The Scourge Kane is no ordinary guest.

The world government and navy can't do anything about him, let alone a "small country" like him.

The so-called title of superpower and the 600,000-strong standing army are probably meaningless in the face of a power of this level.

After firmly refusing his daughter's request, Cobra dared not delay and hurriedly left the palace with a group of guards.

Left behind, Vivi watched her father's departing figure, her bright eyes darting around, and a brilliant idea immediately came to mind...

Joba.

The trading center in western Alabasta.

A once bustling street is now shrouded in panic.

"Damn it! Hand over Pele and all the valuables right now!"

A man with a hideous scar over his left eye fiercely raised his pistol and fired two shots into the sky!

The piercing gunshots were like a death knell, terrifying the crowd into screaming and scattering in all directions.

But soon, the people were surrounded again by the scarred man's accomplices like livestock, compressed into the middle of the street, unable to move.

"Hurry up! Stop dawdling! Hand over everything! Otherwise, hmph..."

The scarred man skillfully twirled his gun, his fleshy face twitching, his threat palpable. "The gun in my hand doesn't recognize people!"

"Jie Jie Jie..."

The scarred man's accomplices joined in with wild laughter, like hyenas hunting.

A young man, still possessing some vigor, mustered his courage and shouted in a trembling voice, "Aren't you afraid that the kingdom's army will arrive and arrest you all?"

boom!

His response was a merciless gunshot!

"Ah—my leg!"

The young man collapsed to the ground, clutching his thigh, which was instantly soaked in blood, and let out a heart-wrenching wail.

This bloody scene completely shattered the crowd's psychological defenses.

The people were trembling with fear, their faces pale.

These people are really capable of killing!

Someone...someone save us...