Rubbing the Whale

"Alright, Lord Rodney." Big Slug Sister slowly climbed off Laboon. Laboon's new wounds had all healed, and it was very healthy.

However, helping Laboon heal also consumed a lot of Rodney's Chakra, and he needed some time to recover.

The talking Big Slug Sister surprised Crocus a bit, but he had been through thick and thin with Roger, what hadn't he seen? So what if a slug could talk? Okay, he hadn't seen many talking animals, and Big Slug Sister really surprised him.

"It can talk?"

"Yeah, Big Slug Sister is very strong, although she's not good at fighting. But when it comes to healing, no one can surpass her." Rodney confidently patted Big Slug Sister's body, then pulled back a hand covered in slime...

"What an amazing ability," Crocus exclaimed.

"Lord Rodney, the Natural Energy here is much denser than before, almost enough to start training in Sage Mode," Big Slug Sister said softly.

"How long would it take to train?"

"It's not clear yet, but it would be a bit slower than in Shikkotsu Forest."

"Then let's not mention that for now. Thank you for your trouble this time, Big Slug Sister."

"It's nothing, I'll be going then." Big Slug Sister said goodbye and disappeared in an instant. Crocus exclaimed again, "Your ability is really useful. Did you use your Devil Fruit ability to send that huge slug away?"

"Something like that, I sent Big Slug Sister back to where she came from." Rodney smiled slightly.

He asked, "Old Man Crocus, when are you planning to set off?"

"What? You want to come with me?"

"Yeah, if there's a free ride, of course I'll take it." Rodney said shamelessly. Unless there was a mission, he would definitely go with Crocus.

"Hoh, alright, I'm going to Sabaody Archipelago first to call an old friend. Are you going there?"

Sabaody Archipelago? He's going to find Silvers Rayleigh. Moria is probably going to be unlucky.

Don't look at how old the Pirate King's crew members are now, but you have to know that in the pirate world, getting old doesn't mean you're weak, especially those old monsters from back then.

Garp, Sengoku, Whitebeard, Rayleigh... their strength may have declined somewhat, but how much would it decline? Even if they are not as good as when they were young, they still stand at the peak of this world.

Your grandpa is still your grandpa.

Crocus's profession is a ship doctor, but there weren't many pushovers on Roger's ship. He would be fine fighting alone, but dealing with that Gecko Moria guy would be a bit troublesome. Bringing a Dark King would make things easier. If he wanted Moria to return Brook's shadow, he would need some force to deter him.

Besides, Crocus also wanted to see the vice-captain and catch up.

"Oh, right, Buggy from your ship was sent to prison by me," Rodney said.

"Haha, that kid Buggy? You sent him to prison? Well, that's just bad luck for him." Crocus laughed when he remembered that Red Nose little guy, not caring at all. He believed that Buggy would definitely not be restrained. Although that kid was timid, he was indeed a man favored by the captain, and he wouldn't be simple.

He continued, "So, Rodney, right? Get ready, let's go."

"Just like that?"

"Yeah." Crocus nodded. They would ride Laboon, and they could rest inside Laboon's body at night.

As for food, they traveled the sea and would definitely have their own ways. They just needed to prepare the necessary fresh water and wine.

"Hmm?"

Rodney's eyes flashed, and a mission appeared.

Mission: Dissolve Baroque Works
Mission Level: B
Reward: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, Water Release: Water Encampment Wall, Mystical Palm Technique, Eternal Chakra Fruit, 5000 Mission Points.

Mission: Defeat Crocodile
Mission Level: B
Reward: Kekkei Genkai: Boil Release, Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Nail Crimson, Fire Release: Head Hardening, Lightning Release: False Darkness, Lightning Release: Wrath of Thunder Tiger, 5000 Mission Points.

Two missions?

Surprised, Rodney fell into deep thought. He was just preparing to take the Alabasta route, so why were missions issued all of a sudden?

And two of them.

But the rewards are very tempting.

Are the rewards for B-level missions this high?

"What's wrong?" Crocus saw Rodney stop, stunned in place, staring straight ahead, as if he was bewitched.

"Nothing, just remembered something." Rodney shook his head, came to the cliff, and saw the Sea Cow MooMoo poking its head out of the sea and said, "You're free, you can go wherever you want now."

The Sea Cow MooMoo silently entered the sea, moving extremely quickly, as if it didn't want to stay for even a moment longer.

"Oh my, am I that annoying?"

Of course. The Sea Cow MooMoo was more afraid of Rodney than it was of Arlong, wishing it could leave this evil star as soon as possible. That way, at least its life wouldn't be in danger. Now it was truly free, but he didn't know who would provide it with food. Hachi used to take care of it at Arlong's place.

"Then we're leaving too. It's been a long time since we left this place. Laboon, let's start a journey too." Crocus patted Laboon's skin, and Laboon let out an excited and happy cry.

"How are we going?" Rodney asked.

"Go into Laboon's belly, first to the nearest place, Rodney, which happens to be the same route you chose."

"Yeah, indeed, I'm going to Alabasta."

Crocus thought for a moment and said, "I remember you're a Bounty Hunter, right? What's this? Are you going after the Shichibukai there?"

Alabasta is where the Shichibukai Crocodile is located. He often eliminates pirates who arrive in that country, leading the people to revere him as a hero.

The Shichibukai are pirates recognized by the World Government, allowed to legally plunder without being wanted, and are considered the World Government's lackeys.

Crocodile, Gecko Moria, and Doflamingo, these three guys are like sieves, eliminating pirates layer by layer, reducing their numbers and greatly alleviating the Marines' troubles. Although they are displeasing, it must be admitted that these three guys have helped the Marines to some extent.

"Haha, old man, don't say that. I can't beat a Shichibukai right now... well, maybe." He remembered that Crocodile's fruit was countered by water; sand loses its effect when it absorbs water, just like Gaara. He just didn't know if the water created by water-attribute Chakra would work.

If it did, he could defeat Crocodile even without Haki.

The Sand-Sand Fruit's ability is like a godsend in Alabasta, but it's also easily countered. Besides, Crocodile is single-mindedly searching for clues to Pluton and hasn't trained his Haki. It's probably a 40/60 chance in a fight.

He's like a certain chuuni god, appearing too early and getting screwed over.

Rodney continued, "I'm going to Alabasta to investigate some things. My eyes saw something, and I want to figure it out."

"Oh?" Crocus became interested and asked, "Can I ask what it is?"

Rodney thought for a moment and answered, "Someone is secretly using Dancing Powder."

"Dancing Powder? That stuff is useless for a country like Alabasta, which lacks water resources." Dancing Powder is used for artificial rain, but its effect is extremely overbearing. It absorbs moisture from the surrounding area, centered on where it's used, to achieve the effect of rainfall.

Solving a water shortage crisis by plundering from others is almost fatal for a desert country.

"Did you see who it was?"

Rodney shook his head. "Only some fragments, so I want to go and see, and get rid of that guy." He made a beheading motion, full of murderous intent.

"Then go, but this old man probably can't accompany you."

"No, I'm very grateful that you could send me. If I let MooMoo send me, its speed would be slow in such a large place. I still have to wait here for pirate ships coming from that side and rob them, which would be very troublesome."

"Haha, go get some wine and water, make some preparations, and come help out."

"Alright."