Now that everything had been laid out, Crocodile wasted no more time and merely cast an unmistakable look at Robin, the secretary standing by his side.
Robin immediately understood and spread out a map of the Kingdom of Alabasta across the desk:
Alabasta was a vast island. The Sandora River, which surged down from the towering mountains at the island's center, was the lifeblood of the nation and the natural boundary dividing Alabasta into east and west.
"West of the Sandora River, including Rainbase, the most economically developed desert city."
Crocodile heavily tapped the map on the desk with the golden hook of his prosthetic left hand, his voice carrying the authority of a great tyrant:
"As long as you agree to cooperate, this entire half of the country can be your fief!"
Garen had yet to process it, but Vivi's expression abruptly changed:
As the princess of Alabasta, she naturally understood just how generous and tempting Crocodile's offer was:
The vast lands along the western bank of the Sandora River contained Alabasta's finest oasis regions, the more prosperous half of the Kingdom.
This half of the country was not to be underestimated:
Unlike those tiny countries on the seas that dared call themselves kingdoms with only a single city, Alabasta possessed an enormous territory;
Moreover, Alabasta had always maintained a standing army of six hundred thousand men in accordance with historical tradition:
To sustain such a massive army without being aggressively militaristic meant Alabasta's total population was surely a terrifying figure in the tens of millions.
Half of Alabasta's land, more than half its population and economy—its wealth surpassed by countless times the foundation Garen had built through blood, sweat, and toil.
Yet in order to reach a partnership with Garen, Crocodile was willing to give up such an