Several days earlier, deep within the Royal Palace, in the king's bedchamber.
King Cobra stood at the window, looking out over a city that remained prosperous but seethed with hidden currents, an intractable worry etched between his brows. He held a report just delivered in secret by a "Guardian Deity" adjutant, detailing unusual personnel transfers among the Royal Palace guards and several garrisons in the city in recent days.
"Pell," he called softly.
"Here, Your Majesty." A steady voice rose from the shadows behind him. Pell, adjutant of the Alabasta Kingdom's royal guard and wielder of the Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit, Falcon form, quietly appeared.
"Any word from Chaka?" Cobra was asking about the guard's other adjutant, Chaka, wielder of the Zoan Dog-Dog Fruit, Jackal form, who had left on secret orders to investigate the "Dance Powder" incident.
"Lord Chaka sent a secret letter. He has found a suspicious warehouse in Cateria, but the trail points... points inside the kingdom." Pell's voice carried suppressed anger and concern.
Cobra closed his eyes and sighed deeply. What he feared most was happening. Behind the drought and unrest sweeping the country, there was indeed a malicious hand at work from within.
"And Vivi... still no word?" Cobra's voice trembled slightly. His greatest concern was still his daughter, who had secretly infiltrated the enemy camp and put herself in danger.
"...Not yet." Pell lowered his head, unable to bear seeing the king's face suddenly age. "But Nightingale's last message said Her Highness was safe, and... powerful allies were helping her. Your Majesty, please have faith in Her Highness, and trust that the Nefertari Family's Guardian Deity will protect her."
"Powerful allies..." Cobra murmured. The scattered intelligence he had recently received flashed through his mind: reports of "Hua Country," which had suddenly risen in the West