In the dim conference room, more than a dozen people sat around a round table, with Kong Zha and Vivi seated opposite each other. The Straw Hat Crew and Reiner's undead did not take seats, merely standing behind Vivi.
Bang!
A man leaped to his feet and slammed both hands heavily on the table, shouting in shock.
"What did you say?!"
"Hey, is this for real?"
"I knew it! The king could never do something like this!"
Several other Rebel Army officers spoke up as well. Everyone around the table wore different expressions, but all of them carried a trace of astonishment.
Some of them had been members of the Suna Suna Clan who had played with Vivi as children, and they trusted her more than most, but not everyone felt that way.
"Why should we believe you?"
"What if this is some scheme by the royal family to pin the blame on someone else because they saw the war was turning against them?"
"That's right! Do you have any proof, Princess Vivi?!"
Several people voiced their doubts.
Reiner was not surprised in the slightest. The fact that some of them had sat there and listened to Vivi explain everything from beginning to end was already thanks to the rain.
"Proof, I don't have any for now—"
".No need to say any more." Kong Zha interrupted Vivi.
"Wait, Kong Zha! You have to believe me. My father would never—"
"No, I believe you." Kong Zha spoke calmly, but his words immediately made the others unable to remain seated.
"Chief, you can't just believe her because she's Princess Vivi—!"
"Wait! Isn't this too hasty?!"
"Exactly! What about our brothers who died—"
"Quiet! Listen to me!" Kong Zha's shout cut through the noise. He rubbed his temples, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and said:
"I'm not saying this because of Vivi. Calm down and think carefully. If you had to choose between Crocodile and Cobra, who do you think was more likely to do something like this?"
Kong Zha truly deserved to be the man who had raised an army of seven hundred thousand. He could actually set aside three years of hatred from the war and think rationally.
"A king who had governed diligently for decades and developed this barren land—what reason would he have to do such a thing? No matter how badly the royal capital lacked water, the royal family could not possibly be short on it."
Kong Zha continued with his eyes closed.
"Think back. The king's personality changed drastically three years ago, around the same time Crocodile arrived in Alabasta. Isn't that too much of a coincidence?"
"We never thought about it from this angle before, but if we dig deeper following Vivi's words, there are simply too many coincidences, big and small..."
The conference room fell silent.
Everyone wore grim expressions as they lowered their heads, thinking back over the past.
".Yeah. If I had to choose one, I'd definitely trust the king more."
"How could that king possibly do something like this? Even now, I can hardly imagine it."
"Believe Vivi, everyone!"
A brown-haired man suddenly stood and shouted. He had once been a member of the Suna Suna Clan, and he had long grown sick of war. If not for Kong Zha, he might never even have joined the Rebel Army.
"Several of us have known King Cobra since we were children. Don't we know what kind of person he is?"
Tears streamed from the brown-haired man's eyes as he continued shouting, "I never wanted to keep fighting! Too many people have already died! Do you really want this to continue?!"
His words moved everyone around the table. Of course they did not want to continue. Only those who had experienced war knew its cruelty; those bloody scenes woke them from nightmares every day.
Some people in the room were already preparing to state their position, while others remained uncertain. Yet one person felt the complete opposite.
A man seated only two places away from Vivi stared at the situation before him in disbelief.
The boss never said this would happen!
That was right. He was one of Baroque Works' agents embedded within the Rebel Army, having risen to an officer's position two and a half years ago.
Their task was to constantly incite the Rebel Army's emotions, even sabotaging negotiations with the Royal Army whenever possible.
The man looked at the scene before him, sweat seeping into his palms as he clenched his fists tightly.
Should he attack Princess Vivi? If Princess Vivi died here, the Royal Army would definitely start fighting. Even if the Rebel Army had lost its will to fight, they would have no choice but to respond. But...
If I make a move now, I definitely won't escape. But if I don't, the war won't start in time, and the boss's plan will be ruined.
Either way, I'm dead. Damn it... The Baroque Works spy gritted his teeth, his palms slick with sweat.
Maybe I should run away as soon as the meeting ends? Even if they hunt me down, there will still be a chance of survival. If I act here, I'll definitely die!
With that thought, the man let out a breath and slowly loosened his clenched fists.
However.
"Stand up. Roll up your sleeves."
Reiner spoke calmly. The spear in Blue Ogre's hand, concealed beneath his cloak, was already pressed against the spy's throat.
Sorry~, having Observation Haki was just that awesome.
The moment the other man developed hostile intent, Blue Ogre and Red Ogre had alerted him. Reiner had intended to wait until he made a move and catch him red-handed, but the guy had actually given up. Pathetic.
Everyone stared in shock. Several Rebel Army officers reacted quickly, drawing their guns and aiming them at Blue Ogre.
"Don't move!"
"He's a Baroque Works spy."
Reiner spoke calmly. Blue Ogre's spear pushed closer, slightly piercing the man's flesh as blood began to seep out.
"I'll say it again. Stand up, roll up your sleeves, and show everyone."
Baroque Works members all had identifying tattoos on their arms. Reiner had discovered that during the battle to seize the Dance Powder.
Everyone turned to look at the man, their expressions strange. "Hey, Dalong, you..."
Rolling up his sleeve was not that difficult, was it? Why would he not prove himself innocent and refute the accusation?
The man's face darkened further, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.
Would it help? No!
Not to mention him alone, even everyone in the room combined would not be enough to take on the Straw Hat Crew. With such an overwhelming gap in strength, they had no room to resist.
Soon, under the threat to his life, the spy confessed everything he knew.
"Dalong, you..."
"I never thought Princess Vivi was telling the truth."
Although the officers all looked incredulous, the whole matter was far too convoluted for their minds to process.
"Since that's the case, don't just stand around." Kong Zha was the one who broke the atmosphere again.
"Now that we have a witness, notify the other comrades while we still can.
"I'll go myself. We need to tell the people at the other bases the truth as quickly as possible."
With the rain dampening the Rebel Army's fighting spirit, the officers began moving about, explaining the truth to everyone.
Kong Zha also took several people and left the headquarters for other bases.
"Now that things are settled on the Rebel Army's side, there's nothing else we can do here."
Only the Straw Hat Crew remained in the conference room. Sanji spoke directly.
"Next, we should take Vivi straight to the Royal Palace and share this information with the royal family."
"Thank you. Thank you so, so much." Vivi could not help covering her face as she thanked them again and again.
"The little delinquent is about to cry again." Reiner chuckled. This time, Nami did not roll her eyes at him, merely smiling faintly as well.
"But our business isn't over yet."
Luffy raised his hand, pressing his fist into his palm before his chest as he grinned. "The final enemy hasn't been dealt with yet, right?"
"Yeah. If we don't take him down, this whole thing will just happen again in another form." With one hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, Zoro curled his lips into a grin.
"The rebellion has been stopped. If Crocodile refuses to give up, he'll probably head for the royal capital and go after the king." Reiner lit a cigarette and spoke calmly.
"Get ready to cross the desert, then we'll head straight for the royal capital.
"This time, we need to find a few mounts suitable for traveling through the desert. I can't stand using undead for that."
Having made up his mind, Reiner went to find some horses, while Sanji began asking the rebels for food and water.
Once everything was prepared, the group left Cattelya and headed straight for Alabasta's royal capital—Alubarna.
The final stage of the Sand Kingdom.
There's fighting coming up. Please keep reading these next few days!
Before you continue