Sakarski shook his head.
"Enough."
"Once Crocodile is dealt with, you can rest easy too."
"Take some time off."
"When everything is settled, it will be time to begin."
Even if the Revolutionary Army's advance was slow, they could thoroughly reclaim the Four Seas within three months.
And with only a little over two months left until the natural maturation of the host body for the Fungi-Fungi Fruit, Sakarski could hasten its ripening at any time if he wished.
The only thing missing was the confrontation between the Revolutionary Army and the World Government.
When the Revolutionary Army, utilizing the warship technology provided by Vegapunk, crossed the Calm Belt and directly attacked Mary Geoise.
That would be the moment Sakarski's years of planning would come to fruition, the final piece of the puzzle fitting into place.
He would then capture all forces and people controlling this world in one fell swoop...
Without exception...
------------
Eight days later.
The Grand Line, aboard the Going Merry.
Sabo had woken up early and stepped out of the cabin to exercise. Seeing a familiar figure, he spoke,
"Morning, Zoro."
Zoro nodded indifferently upon hearing the voice.
This fellow who had appeared out of nowhere, claiming to be a subordinate of Luffy's father, and these idiots believed him...
Zoro didn't know how to describe the idiocy of these guys... truly...
Sabo shrugged helplessly. Too much caution.
Observing Zoro's primitive training method, which focused solely on brute strength, Sabo frowned after a few days of observation and asked,
"Do you know about Haki?"
Zoro, who was swinging a giant dumbbell, stopped and looked at Sabo.
"Haki?"
*Creak—*
Robin pushed open the door from another room, her arms resting on the railing of the second-floor deck.
"Haki is the mark of the strong."
"If you want to challenge Shanks the Red-Haired, training in Haki is essential."
"After all, that man not only holds the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman."
"He also holds the title of the World's Strongest Conqueror's Haki, though that remains to be verified."
These titles were widely spread among pirates. The World's Greatest Swordsman was one thing, but the title of World's Strongest Conqueror's Haki had been famous in the New World before Shanks' confrontation with Sakarski.
However, after Shanks' recent defeat, this title was showing signs of being stripped away. But at this point, no one cared about such things anymore.
Perhaps soon, the pirates of the New World would be wiped out by that Navy Fleet Admiral...
If they were dead, who would care about the titles of powerful figures...
Sabo nodded in agreement.
"That's right."
"You probably don't know either."
"When Luffy and the others wake up, I'll teach you."
He spoke with a hint of helplessness.
Honestly, after spending some time together, Sabo deeply suspected that with such a powerful and profound Commander-in-Chief, how could his son... have such a foolish streak?
He had inherited none of the Commander-in-Chief's advantages.
Zoro looked at the two and took a deep breath.
"Alright."
His purpose for boarding this ship was due to the connection between that foolish captain and Shanks, which would conveniently and quickly allow him to challenge the World's Greatest Swordsman.
Otherwise, without any reputation, his challenge might not be accepted.
However, after boarding, due to Luffy's foolish nature, Zoro already had a faint regret about boarding the wrong ship. But he was not a perfidious person and did not leave.
Now, it seemed he hadn't boarded the ship entirely in vain...
At this moment, Sabo also noticed Robin, who was carrying a backpack.
"Miss Robin, where are you going..."
Robin replied,
"Crocodile's plan has reached its most critical juncture."
"I need to go back."
"I'll wait for you to join me in Alabasta."
Unlike in the original story where they met Princess Vivi of Alabasta.
Robin and the others, by coincidence, had met Dragon's son and came aboard to communicate. Luffy was drawn to the grand undertaking they were planning.
He clamored to go along and defeat Crocodile...
Sabo nodded.
"Then please be careful. I'll speed things up with them."
Robin gave a soft 'mm' and waved, then leaped onto a turtle mount that was following the Going Merry, quickly disappearing from their sight.
------------
Several days later.
Alabasta, Raindinners.
The sun had just risen, but the hardworking desert people were unexpectedly not up for labor.
Because today was a day that would decide the fate of the country.
It was rumored that the rebels had already attacked the royal capital, and the situation could change at any moment...
At such a time, it was best to stay indoors.
In the highest level of Raindinners.
Crocodile stood before a large floor-to-ceiling window, his eyes closed, enjoying the rising sun.
Robin leaned against the wall by the door, waiting quietly.
After a long while.
Crocodile opened his eyes.
"Hoo—"
"Finally..."
"This day has arrived..."
Originally, due to the decisive battle between the pirates and the Navy, Crocodile had decided to outwardly obey Sakarski while inwardly defying him, intending to seize Pluto by directly dealing with the Alabastan royalty.
However, the subsequent defeats of Kaido and Shanks had delivered a heavy blow to Crocodile.
Sakarski alone had fought two Yonko, and the remaining two were not enough for the Navy's high-ranking combat power to be distributed.
If he had directly murdered the Alabastan royalty and been discovered, he would have been finished. The Navy had too much surplus combat power; any division sent would be difficult to handle.
It was better to be cautious. Let the rebels deal with the Alabastan royalty. He had been planning for so many years, a few more days wouldn't hurt.
Crocodile gazed at the rising sun and asked,
"Are the custom-made cannonballs ready?"
Robin by the door gave a soft 'mm'.
"They are ready."
"Awaiting your command at any time."
These were special bombs manufactured at Crocodile's order, said to have an explosion radius of five kilometers...
Crocodile's lips curved slightly.
"Very good."
"Let's go. We'll head to the royal capital to meet that pathetic King of Alabasta."
"After today, this country will no longer exist."
"The world will be ours..."
He then transformed into a gust of sand and disappeared.
Robin sighed inwardly and walked out of Raindinners, heading towards the direction of the royal capital.
Crocodile was not worried about King Cobra concealing information about Pluto, or the location of the Poneglyph that had been passed down for hundreds of years in Alabasta.
Once that custom-made bomb was dropped when the rebels stormed the royal capital.
Along with the rebels and the royal army.
It would kill at least several thousand, tens of thousands of people. The 'wise ruler' Cobra would surely comply.
As long as he obtained Pluto, with enough time, both the World Government and the Navy would be trampled under his feet...
Including Sakarski...
------------
New World, New Marineford.
Although Sakarski had given him time off, Carol had nowhere else to go.
He decided to stay in the intelligence department and monitor news from around the world.
Looking at the intelligence from his Alabastan informant, Carol narrowed his eyes.
"It's finally starting."
He put away the intelligence and turned to leave the intelligence room.
After reporting to Sakarski in the Fleet Admiral's office.
He returned to his residence.
Carol took out a Den Den Mushi and notified Barrett and Sote.
Then, he took out a Devil Fruit recycler and chuckled.
*Whoosh—*
He vanished.