Targeting the Sand-Sand Fruit and Explode-Explode Fruit

"Major General Wilton, Alabasta is almost here."

After nearly five days of sailing, their destination was finally within reach.

During this time, Wilton had been beaten black and blue from morning till night, and on the last day, he even had four Jailer Beasts use their weapons.

The harvest was very pleasing.

He had grown stronger again.

It felt as wonderful as an addiction.

His goal this time was simple: to hunt the Sand-Sand Fruit and the Explode-Explode Fruit. He figured the Straw Hat Pirates might already be in Alabasta.

Fire Fist Ace might also be there.

The Flame-Flame Fruit seemed like a good choice too, but Ace had developed it in the wrong direction. If it were him, he would have focused on the temperature.

Speaking of temperature, he remembered a Heat-Heat Fruit. Perhaps that would be more suitable for him than the Flame-Flame Fruit.

He would hunt any of these known Devil Fruits if he had the chance. Whether he succeeded would depend on luck.

Besides, these were all pirates, the wicked kind. Wilton had no psychological barriers to killing them.

Even if he didn't kill them, he would send them to Impel Down, including the Straw Hat Pirates.

Pirates shouldn't exist, and neither should the Shichibukai.

They would either die or be imprisoned until he was in power, at which point they would all be put to work building roads and bridges, contributing to his ambitions.

"Prepare to land."

Wilton exhaled a hot breath, flexing his biceps with a dumbbell in his right hand while constantly stuffing grilled meat into his mouth with his left.

A battle where he wouldn't have to lift a finger was coming.

He would wait for Luffy and Crocodile to wear each other down so he could reap the benefits.

"Yes!"

Soon.

As the warship entered the port, the news of the Marines' arrival in Alabasta spread like wildfire. Crocodile received the news immediately.

However, upon learning it was only a Major General, he didn't pay it much mind.

At this point, even an Admiral wouldn't be able to stop his plan to usurp the country. He was determined to obtain the ancient weapon Pluton.

Still, just in case, it would be better to have those Marines die in Nanohana Town. He would leave this matter to Mr.1 and the others.

It had to be said.

Crocodile was incredibly arrogant and reckless at this moment.

Regardless of the Marines' objective, if there was even the slightest possibility it could interfere with him obtaining Pluton, they had to disappear. Furthermore, any information about the ancient weapon Pluton absolutely could not be leaked.

The little princess of the Alabasta Kingdom had been on the run for so long that there was a possibility she had contacted the Marines.

Perhaps these Marines who had landed were here to gather information.

Regardless, dead men were safer.

Soon, Baroque Works members in other cities, upon receiving orders from their president, Mr.0 (Crocodile), all headed towards Nanohana.

"Lord Wilton, this is Nanohana, the port city of Alabasta. It takes a day to reach the capital. Should we head there immediately?"

Just as he was about to disembark, Sadi appeared in a flash, holding a map. This surprised Wilton slightly.

This perverted woman actually had some work capability.

"Where did you get the map?"

"Before we left Headquarters, you said we were going to Alabasta, so I went to the Staff Department and got a navigational chart and a map of the Kingdom of Alabasta."

Sadi said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

To be honest.

Wilton was impressed with Sadi at that moment. He had underestimated her. Aside from her occasional bouts of madness, she truly had both ability and looks.

Had he struck gold?

A competent subordinate, secretary, or adjutant could save a lot of trouble.

It seemed like those mentally unstable pirates, as long as they didn't act out, were all talented.

"You did very well."

"Then, Lord Wilton, could you reward little Sadi with some harsh abuse?"

Facing Wilton's praise, Sadi blushed, clasped her hands between her legs, and wriggled coyly. Her eyes were glazed with anticipation and excitement as she looked at Wilton.

Clean and swift.

Wilton casually slapped her. Sadi let out a joyful moan, her mouth opening to spray blood in a 360° spiral through the air.

She crashed into the ship's cabin wall with a commotion, sliding to the floor as if boneless, completely lost in her own world.

"Outrageous request."

Wilton, though unable to empathize, knew it was simple to control Sadi. As long as she proved her worth, he wouldn't be stingy with rewards.

"Head to the capital of Alabasta."

"Yes."

The entire crew disembarked from the warship. Aside from leaving behind essential personnel, Wilton led the rest into Nahana city.

They needed to switch transportation there.

This included tamed camels, swift lizards, and if one had the ability, they could capture moving crabs or Sandora giant lizards in the wild.

These were all desert animals unique to Alabasta.

Walking through the streets of Nahana, it was still quite lively, with plenty of fruit stalls, shops, and taverns.

Pirates were naturally among them.

However, most of them left upon seeing Wilton's group. A few chose to observe, and some were even provocative.

Although they were all minor pirates, it was precisely these minor pirates who were more detestable because they directly harmed civilians.

"Minotaur Zebra, you four go and eliminate all the pirates in this town. No need to keep any alive. Make sure you get the right ones."

Pirate thugs and ordinary people were easy to distinguish. One could tell at a glance if their hands were stained with blood, and their demeanor was different. Moreover, the four Minotaur Zebras were very sensitive.

"Moo~"

Upon receiving the order, the four Jailer Beasts roared and charged out. Suddenly, Nahana descended into chaos.

"Damn it, where did these beasts come from?"

"Ah!!"

"It's the Marines! That looks like the Marine tough guy, Wilton."

"What?"

Some pirates recognized Wilton's identity, but the four rampaging Jailer Beasts were too fierce. Most pirates couldn't even withstand a single blow.

"What's going on? Why is it so noisy outside?"

In the center of Nahana town, at a restaurant called Spice Bean, two groups were in a standoff, the atmosphere incredibly tense.

One of them, puffing on a cigar, was none other than Smoker.

The other group was the Straw Hat Pirates, plus the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Fire Fist Ace.

The reason was simple: ever since the Straw Hat Pirates were rescued by the world's most ferocious man in Loguetown, Smoker had left Loguetown to pursue and arrest the Straw Hat Pirates.

When arresting Baroque Works' Mr.11 in Logues, he overheard a conversation between Sanji and Crocodile at Little Garden. To understand the relationship between the Alabasta Kingdom's Princess Vivi and the Straw Hat Pirates, and the details of Baroque Works, Smoker decided to head to the Kingdom of Alabasta.

Coincidentally.

Upon arriving in Nahana, he encountered the Straw Hat Pirates at this Spice Bean restaurant. Unsurprisingly, before learning Haki, the Straw Hat Pirates were no match for Smoker.

The Straw Hat Pirates were wiped out in one exchange.

At the critical moment, the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Fire Fist Ace, appeared. While rescuing the Straw Hat Pirates, Smoker also learned that Fire Fist Ace was the Straw Hat Kid Luffy's brother.

This shocked him greatly.

One had to know that behind Fire Fist Ace stood the Yonko Whitebeard Pirates, and his father was the world's strongest man, Edward Newgate.

Coupled with the world's most ferocious man from Loguetown, the Straw Hat Kid was suddenly linked to the Revolutionary Army and the Yonko Whitebeard Pirates.

This background made Smoker even more determined to arrest Luffy.

Because the opponent was too dangerous.