The next day, news that Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai, had secretly plotted to seize a government Affiliated Nation, only to be exposed and killed by the Sapphire Star, a Bounty Hunter who had "happened to be passing by," spread across the seas with the latest issue of the World Economy News Paper.
The paper described Crocodile's entire plan in detail and included several decisive pieces of evidence, leaving the World Government unable to turn public opinion around even if it wanted to.
Besides, the Shichibukai were essentially mercenaries employed by the World Government. Since Crocodile was dead and evidence against him had been uncovered, the World Government naturally would not waste resources clearing his name. Instead, it decisively distanced itself from him, declaring that it had known nothing and that Crocodile had acted entirely on his own, while commending Xie Wen in its official newspaper for "upholding justice"...
It was basically like those "temporary employee" incidents that had angered netizens before Xie Wen transmigrated, except that in Crocodile's case, the World Government most likely really had known nothing.
Igaram, captain of the Alabasta Kingdom's Guard Corps, and Princess Vivi, who was only fifteen, also promptly addressed the country's people, confirming the truth of the newspaper report.
Meanwhile, King Cobra, whom they said had been unable to appear due to illness, had brought Xie Wen and his companions to the tomb where generations of Alabasta's kings rested.
Accompanied by the rumbling of mechanisms, a patch of grass deep within the tomb slowly opened, revealing a staircase leading far underground.
"Wow... what a deep hole, meow!"
Klee Meow craned her neck to look down the seemingly endless staircase, her expression innocent as she said something that made Cobra's heart pound-
"It should be really fun to drop a Jumpy Dumpty down