After speaking to Rebecca, Vic picked up Ain and flew to the shore. Barnett, Barnett, and Wendy other two looked at Rebecca with apologetic expressions, but still followed Vic. Vic had given the order, and they could only obey.
Vic was genuinely looking out for Rebecca's best interests. Finding someone required using Observation Haki —that's what training is all about. Anyway, Crocodile wouldn't be leaving this place much, so they could just take their time searching.
Flying around is also useful for developing the Float-Float Fruit, but in Vic's opinion, the most valuable thing is the actual combat after finding it. Thinking about how Katakuri learned to Future Sight in front of him gives him a headache. He has never been able to find that kind of opportunity. Vic is now even doubting that his Observation Haki talent is not so good.
Ignoring the howling Kung Fu Dugong on the beach, Vic wrapped Ain in a beige cloth and strode toward the capital, Alubarna.
Barnett and the others followed behind, while the other marines, including Vic, stayed on the beach as before.
A group of Kung Fu Dugong glanced in the direction Vic and his group had left, then looked at Rebecca on the warship, before approaching the warship. They had come to beg for food; Vic's oppressive aura was too strong, and they dared not approach.
Rebecca thought the Kung Fu Dugong were cute and didn't leave in time, but she got entangled with them and finally had to pay with a giant sea monster leg to get rid of them.
No one on the warship blamed her; Rebecca had killed the sea monster with her sword. Afterward, she flew away from the warship and towards the island, simultaneously using her Observation Haki to sense the powerful presence on the island.
Vic wasn't in a hurry this time. Rebecca had Den Den Mushi ), so she would naturally contact him if there were any problems. Therefore, Vic walked very slowly.
Most of Alabasta is desert, but there are also many oases. Where there are oases, there are towns. There is also a large inland river in the middle of the island. The reason why this country became so desolate was because of Crocodile. Many oases were swallowed up by the sandstorms he created.
When Vic comes across a town, he has to go in and experience it, to see the local customs, eat delicious food and drink. He knows that Rebecca won't be able to find Crocodile anytime soon.
He wasn't in a hurry to go to Alubarna, and his cultivation didn't stop either. Drinking and eating meat didn't hinder his Haki cultivation. At night, he would sit in the sand and meditate, with a dazzling starry sky above him.
The others couldn't do what Vic did, especially Ain, who was still a child. The temperature difference between day and night in the desert was too great, so Vic used his ability to melt metal and make several metal tents for them. Wendy and the others also brought sleeping bags, so they had a safe place to sleep. Ain naturally slept with Wendy.
The one who had the hardest time was Rebecca. While Vic and the others were enjoying themselves, she had to work during the day and find a place to rest at night.
You might not encounter a town every night; sometimes you have to spend the night in the sand, and of course, you'll also encounter those giant beasts that live in the sand.
Once, while she was asleep, a giant lizard stuck out its tongue and swallowed her whole. Although Rebecca woke up when the lizard's tongue wrapped around her, the lizard's tongue was incredibly fast.
By the time Rebecca realized what was happening and burst out of her stomach, she was covered in disgusting mucus, which was quite a shock to Rebecca; she had never been so disheveled before!
She immediately launched into a tantrum, yelling and screaming. The giant beasts hidden in the sand nearby all suffered, impaled by flying swords. Rebecca then developed a deep hatred for Crocodile. As for the culprit, Vic? She naturally couldn't bring herself to hate him!
Vic continued his journey, stopping and starting, and finally arrived in Alubarna a week later. By then, Rebecca had been flying in the skies of Alabasta for a long time, and many townspeople had already spotted her.
Reports of people flying over the country were continuously reported to Captain Igaram of the Royal Guard over the course of a week, and then Igaram had no choice but to report it to King Cobra.
Pell Pell, the vice-captain of the Royal Guard, also frequently flies in the air. As a guardian deity, the people know this, but they only ever see Pell in his beast form.
Rebecca's sword flight was too advanced; it was impossible for her not to attract attention. Someone being able to fly in a country like Alabasta was enough to warrant attention, as that country had very few extraordinary beings, and those that existed were not very powerful.
Who are you? What is your purpose in coming to Alabasta?
Pell frowned as he watched Rebecca flying ahead on her sword. He sensed that the person shrouded in the sunshade was dangerous, but since he had been sent by the king to investigate, he gritted his teeth and flew forward to ask her what was going on.
"Oh! Zoan Fruit user? I'm Rebecca from Marine Headquarters, currently searching for pirates lurking on the island. And who are you?"
Rebecca removed the sunshade, revealing the Justice Cloak she was wearing. The Alabasta sun was too harsh, and below was mostly desert; Rebecca was also worried about getting a tan.
Having been swallowed whole by a lizard, leaving her covered in slime, she was in a bad mood, hence her aggressive tone and desire to kill, especially Crocodile!
"I am Pell, the vice-captain of the Alabasta Kingdom's guard! You're saying there are pirates lurking in our country? Who is he? What does he want?"
Pell recognized Rebecca as soon as she took off the sunshade. Vic was so famous, so Rebecca, who was with Vic, was naturally famous as well; she even had photos in the newspapers.
There aren't many capable female naval officers, so someone like Rebecca, who is strong, young, and beautiful, naturally leaves a deep impression.
Pell and other high-ranking officials in the country usually read newspapers and follow current events in their spare time, so it's normal for them to recognize Rebecca.
Pell lowered his guard against Rebecca, but when Rebecca mentioned that pirates were hiding in Alabasta, he became wary again. Wariness doesn't disappear easily, but it can shift.
"This is a secret of our navy, and it's not convenient for me to tell you, but I will find him, hmph!"
She wouldn't ask anyone for help with the task Vic gave her; otherwise, Wendy and the others could have helped. She didn't think the people in this country could help her, so she didn't bother to ask, lest she alert them.
"Your presence here means that Vice Admiral Dark Dragon is also here, right? Can you tell me where Vice Admiral Dark Dragon is? Our Cobra will certainly invite him to the palace as a guest!"
Pell flapped his wings and followed closely behind Rebecca. Rebecca and Vic had been on missions together, and their relationship had been the subject of much speculation. So when Pell asked about Vic, he was even more respectful, likely influenced by the royal family's attitude.