Alabasta

News of Lott's crew and their wanted posters spread throughout the pirate world, naturally causing quite a stir.

Foosha Village, East Blue.

"So cool! Lott's getting stronger and stronger! His bounty's already 1.2 billion now. That's just awesome!" Luffy stood in front of Lott's wanted poster, holding a large chunk of meat.

Everyone said a bounty reflected some of a person's strength. Although Luffy had no idea what 1.2 billion meant, he knew it was seriously badass.

Ace stood to one side, his fists clenched, inwardly stunned. Is this Lott's true strength? That's terrifying. There can't be many pirates in this world with bounties that high.

Ace planned to set out to sea himself in a few days. He wondered what kind of bounty his strength would earn him.

Isshin Dojo, Shimotsuki Village.

A samurai with a ponytail held a wanted poster, his expression betraying neither joy nor sorrow. He murmured, "Zoro, is this the path you've chosen?"

Then he put down the wanted poster, slowly walked out of the dojo, and looked up at the drifting clouds. "Perhaps this is fate's arrangement. As long as you keep moving toward your dreams, even hardship must taste sweet."

Alabasta.

An endless golden ocean lay scorching beneath the sun, each grain of sand resembling a speck of gold.

The wind howled, whipping up clouds of sand.

"Wow! So this is Alabasta? Why is it nothing but endless desert? It's so hot, though." Ling'er was like a curious child.

Snap!

With a snap of Nami's fingers, a dark cloud instantly appeared above their heads.

"Nami, you're the best!" Ling'er couldn't help hugging Nami's arm affectionately.

"Let's go meet our new crewmate." With that, Lott walked ahead.

The top-floor office of the Rainbase casino.

A woman wearing tight black pants, a midriff-baring top, and a wide-brimmed hat stood in the center of the office, reporting to the figure seated on a sofa on the raised platform.

"Mr. 0, according to information from Baroque Works' intelligence department, Lott has arrived in Alabasta."

"Lott? The pirate Lott who attacked the Celestial Dragons?" the figure asked, taking a puff of his cigar.

"Based on our people's descriptions, it's almost certainly him!"

These two were none other than Nico Robin and Crocodile.

Crocodile said disdainfully, "Didn't he just attack a Celestial Dragon ship? That two-hundred-million bounty is probably inflated quite a bit."

He took the cigar out of his mouth and stubbed it out in a crocodile-shaped ashtray, looking rather arrogant.

Petals bloomed, and the wanted poster in Nico Robin's hand appeared in Crocodile's. "Take a look. This is the latest wanted poster. According to Morgans' news agency, Lott's strength already rivals an Admiral's!"

"What?! This brat?" Crocodile stared at the wanted poster in disbelief. After all, Lott looked only seventeen or eighteen.

But then his arrogant expression returned. "Admiral or not, who cares? I'm Crocodile!"

Nico Robin cautioned him, "We should still be careful. We don't know why he's come to Alabasta. If he comes after us, we won't come out ahead."

"After all, we have practically no intelligence on him."

Crocodile tossed the wanted poster into the enormous aquarium behind him. A huge crocodile with a banana growing on its head immediately tore it to shreds.

He stared at Nico Robin. "Then why have they come to Alabasta? Could they be after Pluton too?"

Nico Robin shook her head. "We don't know. We may have to ask him in person to find out why he's here."

"Have our people watch them at all times. If it comes to it, we'll..." Crocodile drew a hand across his throat.

Of course, Nico Robin knew she couldn't deal with Lott with her strength alone. Even adding the Baroque Works members under her command would make no difference.

But as Mr. 0's partner and secretary, she could only nod and reply, "Understood, boss."

With that, she turned and left the office.

Lott's group was still trekking through the desert, each footstep leaving a deep pit.

"Hey! Captain Lott, can you stop applying gravity? I really can't walk anymore." Ling'er wiped away her sweat, complaining incessantly.

"Walking through the desert under a load trains not only your body, but your willpower too. If we can't endure this little hardship, how can we even talk about turning this world upside down?" Lott wore a rare stern expression.

Ling'er pouted and said reluctantly, "I know, I know."

"Someone's coming." Kuro adjusted his glasses and looked at Lott.

Lott had naturally known long before. "Leave them alone for now. Let's see what they want."

Zoro extended his Observation Haki, only to find he couldn't sense anything. He couldn't help feeling frustrated. Fine, I can't match Lott, but why can't I even match Kuro? Looks like I still haven't been training hard enough!

Nami and Ling'er looked utterly confused. They glanced around, but all they could see was desert, without a single person in sight.

"Never mind. I'll go meet them first." With that, Lott vanished from where he stood.

Everyone was already used to Lott's sudden disappearing acts, so none of them said anything.

Meanwhile, an enormous turtle slowly made its way through the desert, holding a pipe in its mouth and pulling a carriage.

A woman sat inside the carriage.

"Robin, what are you looking for? Me?" A man's voice sounded beside her ear.

This woman was Robin, who was searching for Lott's crew.

Robin turned her head and saw an unfamiliar, handsome man sitting beside her, looking at her with a smile.

Shock surged through her. This is Lott? He just appeared here out of thin air. Was that teleportation?

"Yes, I'm looking for you on my boss's orders."

Lott turned away from Robin and gazed into the distance instead. "Did you come specifically to ask why I'm in Alabasta?"

Robin crossed her legs and tilted her head as she looked at the handsome young man. "That's right. What brings the famous Lord Lott to Alabasta?"

Lott turned back to stare at Robin, a smile curling his lips. "If I said I came here specifically for you, would you believe me?"

In fact, Lott was also quite shocked at that moment. He hadn't expected Robin to be so calm.

Robin propped her chin on her hand and looked at Lott with interest. "What might Lord Lott want with me?"

In truth, she felt faintly uneasy. She didn't know what Lott wanted with her. Could it have something to do with Ohara? Otherwise, she didn't believe she had any other value.

But she knew that whatever Lott intended to do, she probably wouldn't have a choice. After all, few people could withstand the presence of the young man before her.

Moreover, the young man's eyes were particularly unfathomable. No one knew what he was thinking.

It seemed Lott's reputation wasn't hollow. On the contrary, he was even more terrifying than the reports suggested.

Lott spread his arms, leaned back against the seat, and raised his head. "I want to learn this world's history too, and uncover the truth of this world!"