Alabasta.
Eruma.
A city located along the lower reaches of the Sandora River.
After docking at the harbor, Ye Zhuo and the others arrived here.
Taking out the map he had just bought.
Ye Zhuo first set his sights on the royal stronghold, Alubarna.
This place was rather promising.
He wondered whether Vivi had truly joined Baroque Works yet.
According to the timeline, Robin should have only been working with Sand Crocodile for around a year.
After thinking it over, Ye Zhuo quickly calculated it.
The Straw Hat crew would begin their adventures four years later, while Fire Fist Ace would set sail two years later.
When Vivi met the Straw Hat crew, she had already infiltrated Baroque Works for two years.
Therefore, she was most likely still in Alubarna.
"Set off for Alubarna!"
Ye Zhuo patted the camel.
This thing was painfully slow.
The problem was that he wanted to hire a few Super Spot-Billed Ducks, but they belonged to the royal family.
"Captain, Alabasta's scorching climate has been a longstanding issue. The art here is nowhere near as famous as its spices."
Kalifa believed that if they wanted to find a doctor, they should go to Drum Kingdom, the Winter Island.
That was where medicine was truly advanced.
"How dare you defy the captain's decision!"
Empress practically wanted to slap Kalifa across the face.
"I..."
Kalifa was speechless. She finally understood that Empress was completely devoted to Ye Zhuo.
Yet she did not dare argue back.
Empress was not only the vice-captain; the Demon King Pirates' combat crew had all been carefully selected from the Kuja Pirates.
"It's no big deal."
Ye Zhuo took out his canteen and drank some water.
Crocodile had also ended up drawing water with a bamboo basket.
Who could have imagined that Alabasta recorded Pluton's operating method and location?
Water 7 had preserved the blueprints and manufacturing techniques.
The real Pluton, meanwhile, was hidden in Wano Country, where Kaido held sway.
At the harbor, both Empress and Kalifa had bought spices they liked.
To protect themselves from the sun, they wore trench coats and wrapped themselves up tightly.
Even Empress had specifically changed into black stockings.
What left Ye Zhuo speechless was that, under the excuse of protecting the captain, the vice-captain had helped drive the camel.
He did not mind. The road was just a little bumpy, and Empress could help block the wind and sand.
There was also the faint fragrance drifting from her hair all along the way.
"We're here!"
The rows of camel caravans came to an abrupt stop.
Alubarna.
Built from enormous rocks in the middle of the desert, with a city constructed atop them.
By comparison, Alabasta's map covered an enormous area.
Traveling across it had to be measured in days.
In the Grand Line and the New World, such a place could absolutely be called vast territory.
Stepping into the capital.
Ye Zhuo felt the dry air brought by the city.
Whoosh!
Throughout the city, hidden gazes had long been watching from the streets and alleys.
When they reached the actual palace, there was another long flight of stairs.
The moment Ye Zhuo stepped onto it, he heard footsteps.
"Stop!"
The king's guards had long been standing on both sides of the path.
In fact.
The moment Ye Zhuo's pirate ship arrived in Alabasta, news had reached the capital.
Demon King Ye Zhuo had descended upon this place!
At the top of the stairs, Cobra and the others had been waiting for a long time.
"Even if you are a great pirate, don't think we will simply hand our kingdom over to you.
"This place is suffering from a drought not seen in a thousand years.
"But we believe the rain will eventually come!"
How could Cobra possibly fear Ye Zhuo?
He was the king of Alabasta.
"Shh!"
Ye Zhuo took a step forward, and Conqueror's Haki swept out.
In less than a moment of dazed confusion, every guard, including Pell and Chaka, had been knocked unconscious.
Seeing this, Cobra was already all alone.
"Father!"
Vivi emerged from the palace, the peacock slashers in her hands spinning as she stared fearlessly at Ye Zhuo.
"Princess!"
Igaram hurriedly tried to shield her behind him.
"Leave this place, Vivi!"
Even alone, Cobra would fight to the very end.
"From this moment onward."
In a flash, Ye Zhuo appeared before King Cobra.
"I declare this island mine."
"Vivi!"
"Become the doctor on my ship!"
Huh???
Cobra and Igaram were both utterly baffled.
He wanted Vivi to be his ship's doctor?
"Absolutely not! Don't even think about making me a pirate!"
Vivi leaped into the air.
Empress and Kalifa casually blocked her attack.
[Chain Main Quest Completed: Crew Completion Plan I, Find a Ship's Doctor] [Quest Reward: Shadowkhan · Blade Shadowkhan]
Ye Zhuo snapped his fingers.
Shadow Ninjas, Shadow Samurai, and Black-clad Blades all appeared inside and outside the palace.
[Chain Main Quest Activated: Crew Completion Plan II: Occupy Alabasta, Drive Sand Crocodile and Baroque Works out of Rainbase] [Quest Reward: Water Demon Aura · Complete Version (includes Water-Summoning Formation)]
Ye Zhuo remembered that Water Demon Aura could transform one's body into water. It could be considered a Logia, perhaps.
It was truly in a class of its own in the Pirate World.
He could use Water Demon Aura himself, but summoning a large amount of water required drawing a formation.
The more water there was, the more terrifying the Water Demon Aura user's combat strength became.
"I refuse!"
How could Vivi possibly agree to become a pirate's ship's doctor?
Besides, Alabasta had been suffering from drought for two consecutive years.
The climate was abnormal. The royal family had to remain and guard the kingdom.
"Suit yourself. See you later."
Ye Zhuo saw that the system quest did not require him to take Vivi away immediately.
So he was not worried in the slightest.
Instead, he picked up the tourist map he had bought at the harbor.
"Rainbase is in this direction, right?"
With that, he turned and left.
Huh?
Empress and Kalifa had no doubts. They would absolutely obey the captain's orders.
Cobra and Vivi, on the other hand, were somewhat stunned.
What happened to that vicious look from before, as if he wanted to kill them all and force Vivi onto his ship?
Why did he now seem too lazy to even look at them?
"Are you humiliating me?"
Vivi glared at Ye Zhuo angrily.
"No, I have urgent business. We'll meet again after I handle it.
"Oh, right. Those shadows are my subordinates. They're very nice.
"This palace will be my second residence outside Amazon Lily from now on.
"You can stay here, but I'm not paying those guards' wages.
"Goodbye, my ship's doctor Vivi!"
Ye Zhuo had no other notable quality besides being polite.
As he left, the Shadowkhan swiftly vanished into the darkness.
Not only Alabasta, but Amazon Lily also had a large number of Shadowkhan stationed there.
They would act when necessary.
"I don't want to be your ship's doctor! Never!"
Vivi stared fiercely at Ye Zhuo's retreating back.
She could not understand what this man was trying to do.
"Your Majesty, is Demon King Ye Zhuo placing you under house arrest?"
Igaram asked worriedly.
"I don't know. But judging by Empress's demeanor, she does not seem to have submitted under duress as the rumors claim."
Cobra was also puzzled.
Were they really under house arrest?
"Damn it!"
Enraged, Vivi decisively summoned Karoo.
"Vivi!"
Cobra and Igaram looked worried.
"I will never let him have his way!"
Vivi chased after him, forcing Cobra and Igaram to follow close behind.
Before you continue