The first half of the Grand Line.
On the way to Alabasta.
Master Tom, Kokoro, and Iceburg have settled in.
Roy promised that once he had established his territory in the New World, he would allocate funds and manpower to support their development.
Meanwhile, in the specially designed cell in the ship's cabin, Lucci and the other four had already woken up.
Roy entered the cell, with Scarlet following behind him, carrying food and water.
"Have something to eat."
Scarlet gently placed the tray on the ground.
Lucci stared coldly at Roy, without saying a word.
Kaku, Kalifa, and the others also remained silent, their eyes filled with wariness and hostility.
Roy pulled over a chair and sat down.
"You have received CP training since childhood and are to serve the World Government."
But do you really understand the World Government? Do you understand the Celestial Dragons?
Lucci finally spoke, his voice icy.
" The Celestial Dragons are the creators and masters of the world."
It is our honor to serve the World Government.
"Creator? Master?"
Roy smiled dismissively.
Who told you that?
"That's true."
Kalifa pushed up her glasses.
"This is the most basic common sense we receive in our education and training."
Roy shook his head.
"What if I told you that the so-called Celestial Dragons are nothing more than the descendants of twenty kings from eight hundred years ago, who abuse their ancestors' achievements to act arrogantly and domineeringly?"
They are not creators, nor gods; they are just a bunch of spoiled good-for-nothings.
"Absurd!"
Jabra roared,
"You are committing blasphemy!"
Looking at the five thoroughly brainwashed teenagers, Roy knew that ordinary persuasion was useless.
Their minds were shaped by the World Government from childhood, and their loyalty to the Celestial Dragons was ingrained in their very bones.
"Since that's the case..."
Roy stood up, his eyes gleaming with silver light.
"Then I'll have to use a special method."
Roy finished speaking.
An invisible spiritual force quietly spread and enveloped the entire cell.
Lucci and the others wanted to resist, but their will was as fragile as paper in the face of Roy's powerful mental strength.
"Relax... I won't hurt you."
Roy's voice was hypnotic.
"Just helping you... clear out some incorrect information."
The mental energy, like fine threads, slowly invaded the brains of the five people, searching for the beliefs and memories that had been forcibly instilled in them.
Roy handled the situation with extreme care, avoiding any damage to their fundamental personalities and memories.
Only the parts about " Celestial Dragons being gods" were removed and modified.
As Roy's mental power began to exert its influence.
Lucci and the others suddenly clutched their heads, groaning in pain.
The feeling of having one's brain invaded by a foreign force is like being pricked by countless needles.
Their consciousness began to blur, and fragmented images flashed before their eyes—harsh training, the instructors' reprimands, the great teachings of the Celestial Dragons...
"Ah... Ahhh--"
The five people fainted one after another and collapsed to the ground.
Roy withdrew his mental energy, clapped his hands, and looked at Scarlet.
"Alright, they should be much more 'awake' when they wake up."
Scarlet looked at the unconscious boys with concern.
"Is this really okay?"
"It's better than letting them continue to be puppets of the World Government,"
"Take good care of them for the next few days, and arrange training after they have adapted to the new concepts."
"Clear."
A few days later, Lucci and the others gradually woke up.
Their eyes were no longer as cold and fervent as before; instead, they held a look of confusion and bewilderment.
Roy arranged for Scarlet and Kyros to contact them, gradually guiding them to accept the new worldview.
Meanwhile, Ark Maxim arrived at its third destination— Alabasta.
Alabasta, a desert nation, is a superpower located in the first half of the Grand Line.
The capital, Alubarna, is located inland, while the port city of Rainbase is a famous gambling city.
The Ark Maxim landed outside the Rainbase, and Roy let his companions roam freely.
He then led Tesoro, Bullet, Hawk Eyes to the Rainbase's largest casino—" Rain Dinners."
The casino was bustling with noise, as gamblers of all kinds gathered around the tables, the clinking of chips echoing throughout.
In the very center of the VIP gambling area, a man wearing a fur coat and smoking a cigar was leisurely playing poker.
Crocodile, Logia Sand-Sand Devil Fruit User, Crocodile one of this year's Supernovas, with a bounty of 81 million Beli.
Roy walked straight to the seat opposite him and sat down, with Tesoro and the other two standing behind him.
"Count me in?" Roy smiled.
Crocodile raised his eyelids and glanced at Roy.
"A new face. Have you brought enough chips?"
Roy pulled a bag of jewels from his pocket and dumped it on the table.
The dazzling light made the surrounding gamblers gasp in astonishment.
Crocodile narrowed his eyes slightly. "Interesting. Let's play a couple of rounds then."
The dealer deals the cards, and the game begins.
Roy said casually as he played cards.
" Crocodile, are you interested in joining my pirate crew?"
The area around the gambling table fell silent instantly.
Crocodile paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"Your pirate crew? Kid, do you know who I am?"
" Crocodile, Logia Fruit user, and this year's Supernovas."
Roy said calmly,
"But you're just Supernovas."
Crocodile's face darkened. "What do you mean?"
"It means that your dominance in the first half of the Grand Line was only because you hadn't encountered any truly strong opponents."
Roy looked him straight in the eye.
" Logia are indeed powerful, but how much do you know about Haki, physical techniques, Devil Fruit Awakening...?"
"Arrogant!"
Crocodile slammed his fist on the table and stood up, the surrounding sand beginning to swirl.
"You think you're qualified to lecture me?"
Tesoro immediately stepped forward, his body crackling with electricity.
"Watch your attitude, Crocodile."
Roy raised his hand to stop Tesoro and continued,
"Join my pirate crew, and I can help you become stronger."
If you think I can't do it, you're welcome to leave anytime. I won't stop you.
Crocodile sneered, "Help me become stronger? With your abilities?"
"Just me."
Roy nodded.
"Of course, if you don't believe me, we can make a bet."
"What kind of bet?"
"You and my men will fight."
Roy said,
"If you win, all these gems are yours, and I'll leave immediately."
If you lose, temporarily join my pirate crew and give me three months.
If you are still not satisfied after three months, you can leave at any time.
Crocodile looked at the priceless jewels on the table, then at Roy's confident expression, and weighed his options.
He is indeed very confident in his abilities.
Logia Fruit users are practically invincible in Paradise. But these people in front of us... their auras are not weak.
"Good!"
Crocodile finally nodded.
"But I demand to fight in the desert; that's my home turf."
"Can."