Compromise and Bon Clay's Plan to Head to Drum Island

Compromise and Bon Clay's Plan to Head to Drum Island

BOOM! BOOM!

At dusk, Nanohana's tranquility was shattered by a series of explosions in the distance.

When Roy returned to the port city, looking slightly disheveled, the setting sun cast its golden light over the entire harbor.

Looking down from above at this territory that would soon belong to him, despite having just fought Crocodile, Roy was in an unprecedentedly good mood.

At the very beginning, following Roy's firm refusal, another round of mutual probing naturally began.

First of all, because Roy was a Logia Devil Fruit user, and the clouds and mist he created contained moisture, he had a major advantage in his battle against Crocodile.

By continuously making it rain from the sky, Roy not only restrained Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit abilities, but also mixed Caesar Clown's poisonous gas into the raindrops.

This was a test of bargaining. Only after both sides displayed their strength could they negotiate the price.

Although Roy's Devil Fruit ability could restrain Crocodile, the veteran powerhouse's Haki and combat experience still caused Roy to suffer a minor loss.

Still, both sides had their reservations this time, so neither intended to kill the other.

And since neither could do anything to the other, Roy ultimately gave Crocodile a way out, trading a secret concerning the Alabasta royal family for Bon Clay's freedom.

As for what kind of chain reaction the secret Roy revealed would cause, Roy did not care in the slightest.

After all, he was not the ruler of the world right now, so whatever Crocodile did with it, it would be the World Government's higher-ups who got the headache.

Thus, the deal between the two sides was struck.

In exchange, Roy would keep Crocodile's actions confidential.

And Crocodile would mobilize the forces at his disposal to remove every obstacle in the port city of Nanohana, ensuring that Roy's men would face no resistance when they took it over.

Once both sides confirmed the deal, Roy left the devastated desert in high spirits.

And after obtaining the secret of the Alabasta royal family, Crocodile immediately headed for Alabasta's royal capital in excitement.

This was an extortion deal that Roy felt had earned him an enormous profit.

After learning the secret of the Alabasta royal family, Crocodile likewise felt that the price of the deal was not too high.

Although he would have to expend considerable resources to secure a kingdom's port city for Roy, his goal in this land had always been nothing more than information on Pluton.

Therefore, Crocodile had never been especially attached to Alabasta's territory.

Instead, after learning that the Alabasta royal family were descendants of one of the twenty kings who had founded the World Government, Crocodile became even more certain that Pluton was hidden somewhere within Alabasta.

Crocodile had always been a man of immense ambition.

For the sake of his goals, he could endure patiently like a crocodile.

Take the information on Pluton, for example. To obtain the most evil warship in history, Crocodile had remained hidden in Alabasta for so long.

And through this deal with Roy, while confirming his suspected location of Pluton, the identity of the Alabasta royal family also sparked Crocodile's great interest.

After all, the descendants of the twenty kings who had founded the World Government were the Celestial Dragons now standing at the pinnacle of the world.

Yet one branch of them lived in the Blue Sea and had concealed their identity from the entire world.

At that thought, Crocodile could not help growing curious about what had happened during the Void Century.

After all, the World Government was certain to become his enemy in the future.

Understanding the World Government's true nature—knowing oneself and one's enemy—was Crocodile's way of doing things.

With both sides thoroughly satisfied, they went their separate ways.

Roy, Spandam, and Bon Clay boarded the Turkey Pirates' ship that had come to pick them up.

Oh, no—it should be called the Turkey Merchant Association now.

Since Edwards and the others had pledged themselves to Roy, the Turkey Pirates had transformed into an armed merchant association.

On ordinary days, they conducted legitimate business under the World Government's banner.

Of course, if they came across a lone ship, extorting a protection fee was also part of their business.

Since Spandam was in a hurry to flee, Edwards, who was running a mining business on Red Copper Island, immediately rushed over.

As the ship slowly left the harbor, they watched the port city grow smaller and smaller.

As Spandam let out a huge sigh of relief, he immediately headed for the technician's suite Edwards had arranged for him.

After all, the past few days in Alabasta had left him terrified and on edge.

As a high-ranking official's son who had lived in luxury since childhood, aside from the danger he had encountered in Water Seven, Spandam had never experienced a flight like this.

If he had not been short on money, and if he had not trusted Lord Roy's influence, Spandam would never have risked his life alongside Roy.

Watching Spandam's back disappear from sight, at a glance from Roy, Edwards and Bon Clay entered the captain's command room together.

The sails were fully billowed as the ship sped across the sea.

Roy took a sip of the hot tea Edwards had brewed.

Lazily reclining in the captain's sofa, he rested his feet on the desk.

He looked at the two men before him, both slightly open-mouthed and wearing stunned expressions.

"Just as I said, in a few days, that port city from earlier will become my territory.

"Edwards, from now on, this city will serve as the headquarters of the Turkey Merchant Association.

"I need you to establish yourself there and keep a constant watch on the situation within Alabasta."

Picking at his fingernails, Roy raised his head and spoke solemnly to Edwards.

"Yes, Lord Roy. I will certainly not disappoint your expectations."

Edwards's mind was still somewhat dazed. In less than a year, he had gone from being an insignificant pirate captain to becoming the mayor of a prosperous city.

Such a leap in status felt no different from a dream.

Ignoring the already lightheaded Edwards, Roy turned toward the okama at his side.

"Bon Clay, as for you, once we return to Enies Lobby, I'll arrange a suitable identity for you. Then I need you to make a trip to the Medical Kingdom, Drum Kingdom.

"The king there will be the target of your first mission. I need you to learn his daily routine as quickly as possible, then replace him."

He gently exhaled a puff of smoke.

Looking at the newspaper reports of the Spade Pirates' activities in the New World, Roy knew that the opening of the grand curtain was not far away.