Donquixote Doflamingo's a Bastard Who's Impossible to Figure Out

Alabasta.

On this day.

King Cobra sat on his throne in the palace, while ministers and generals stood in the grand hall below.

Everyone wore worried expressions.

Cobra especially looked troubled as he read the letter.

The kingdom's entire leadership was so tense and downcast because the letter Cobra was reading had come from Gold City.

A few years ago.

After a minister in Alabasta offended the Richest Group, one day the Brainwashing Representative, Tsar Crocodile, arrived. His bounty was 3.589 billion berries.

With a single move, he destroyed the two prosperous cities of Yuba and Elumalu. They had nearly turned into desert ruins, and more than a hundred thousand people had died.

It had been a crushing blow to Alabasta.

But what had truly dragged Alabasta into the abyss was having to hand over half its annual revenue to the Richest Group. For years now, Alabasta hadn't dared to defy them openly.

Alabasta was already a desert kingdom, and its finances had only just been enough to give the kingdom a modest standard of living. Some places were still poverty-stricken.

Now that half its revenue had to be paid as tribute each year, Alabasta's troubles had only worsened. Most of its people were living in dire straits.

It had even led to a rebellion.

The kingdom was no longer what it had been before it offended the Richest Group.

Such was the sorrow of the weak.

Cobra's hair had turned completely white. Anyone who didn't know better might have taken him for a man in his seventies or eighties.

The rebellion, the finances, and all the other affairs of state had nearly suffocated him.

"Six months from now, the Richest Group will hold the 'Gaia Conference' on Cake Island in Big Mom's territory. All kingdoms, forces, and tribal leaders