125. The Enemies Prepare

Chapter 125: The Enemies Prepare

Deep beneath the bustling streets of Rainbase, in the dimly lit basement of the Rain Dinners Casino, the air was thick with tension. The flickering light of a single chandelier cast long shadows across the room, illuminating the faces of the most dangerous members of Baroque Works. The Officer Agents stood in a semi-circle, their expressions a mix of anticipation and unease. At the center of the room, seated on a lavish throne-like chair, was Crocodile, the mastermind behind the organization. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his hook hand glinting ominously in the low light. Beside him stood Miss All-Sunday, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the palpable tension in the room.

Crocodile leaned forward, his voice low and commanding. "Welcome, my loyal agents. I trust you've all been keeping busy."

The agents murmured their assent, their eyes fixed on their leader. Mr. 1, a towering man with a body as hard as steel, stepped forward, his voice as cold as his demeanor. "We've been preparing, sir. The rebellion is in full swing, and the people of Alabasta are tearing themselves apart. It's only a matter of time before the royal family falls."

Crocodile nodded, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Good. But our work is far from over. The final stage of our plan is upon us, and I expect nothing less than perfection from each of you."

Miss All-Sunday, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke, her voice smooth and measured. "The Straw Hats and Princess Vivi had proven to be more troublesome than anticipated. They've been meddling in our affairs, and it was only a matter of time before they become a serious threat."

Crocodile's smirk widened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Indeed. Which is why we dealt with them swiftly and decisively. Now we can go over the final details of our plan."

He stood, his presence commanding the room's attention. "Operation Utopia. The ultimate goal of Baroque Works has always been the same: to overthrow the Alabasta Kingdom and seize control of Pluton, the ancient weapon hidden within its borders. With Pluton in our hands, we'll have the power to reshape the world as we see fit."

The agents exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension. Miss Doublefinger, her sharp nails glinting in the light, stepped forward, her voice filled with curiosity. "And what of the Straw Hats, sir? What role do they play in all of this?"

Crocodile's smirk faded, replaced by a look of cold determination. "They were a nuisance, nothing more. But a nuisance that needed to be dealt with. They were interfering with our plans, and I won't tolerate any further disruptions."

As if on cue, the door to the basement creaked open, and Mr. 3 stumbled in, his face pale and his hands trembling. "Sir... I... I have terrible news."

Crocodile's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with menace. "Speak."

Mr. 3 swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Straw Hats... and Princess Vivi... they escaped me in Little Garden. I tried to stop them, but... they were too strong."

The room fell silent, the tension thickening as Crocodile's expression darkened. He stepped forward, his hook hand glinting ominously. "You let them escape?"

Mr. 3 took a step back, his voice trembling. "I... I tried, sir. I swear I did. But they... they overpowered me. Please, forgive me!"

Crocodile's smirk returned, but it was devoid of any warmth. "Forgive you? Oh, Mr. 3, there's no need for forgiveness. There's only one way to deal with failure."

Before Mr. 3 could react, Crocodile raised his hook hand, and the floor beneath Mr. 3 gave way, revealing a pit filled with Bananawani—massive crocodiles with banana-shaped growths on their heads. Mr. 3 let out a scream as he fell into the pit, the sound quickly drowned out by the snapping jaws of the creatures below.

The agents watched in silence, their expressions a mix of fear and grim satisfaction. Crocodile turned back to them, his voice calm but filled with menace. "Let that be a lesson to all of you. Failure will not be tolerated."

Miss All-Sunday stepped forward, her voice smooth and measured. "Now that that's been dealt with, let's focus on the task at hand. The Straw Hats and Princess Vivi are still out there, and they're a threat to our plans. We need to find them and eliminate them before they can cause any more trouble."

Crocodile nodded, his smirk returning. "Agreed. Which is why I've called upon Mr. 2 Bon Kurei to assist us."

As if on cue, the door to the basement swung open, and Mr. 2 Bon Kurei entered, his flamboyant attire a stark contrast to the grim atmosphere of the room. He struck a dramatic pose, his voice filled with theatrical flair. "Bon~chan, at your service! What can I do for you, my dear Mr. O?"

Crocodile's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Your unique abilities will be invaluable in tracking down the Straw Hats and Princess Vivi. I need you to create images of them so that our agents can hunt them down."

Bon Kurei grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Consider it done, my dear! I'll have those images ready in no time!"

He stepped forward, his movements fluid and graceful as he began to transform, his body shifting and changing until he had taken on the appearance of each member of the Straw Hat crew—Monkey D. Goku, Nami, Zoro, Usopp, and even Vivi. The agents watched in awe as Bon Kurei's abilities brought the targets to life before their eyes.

Crocodile nodded in approval, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Excellent work, Bon Kurei. These images will ensure that our agents can track down the Straw Hats and Princess Vivi with ease."

Miss Doublefinger stepped forward, her sharp nails glinting in the light. "And what of the reindeer? The one they call Chopper? Should we eliminate him as well?"

Crocodile waved a hand dismissively, his smirk returning. "The reindeer is of no consequence. He's nothing more than a pet. Focus on the others."

The agents nodded, their expressions filled with determination. Mr. 1 stepped forward, his voice cold and unwavering. "We'll hunt them down, sir. They won't escape us again."

Crocodile's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with menace. "See that they don't. The Straw Hats and Princess Vivi are a threat to our plans, and I won't tolerate any further disruptions. Hunt them down, and eliminate them. No mercy."

The agents exchanged glances, their resolve hardening. They knew the stakes, and they knew what was expected of them. With the images of their targets in hand, they prepared to set out, their mission clear: find the Straw Hats and Princess Vivi, and eliminate them at all costs.

As the agents dispersed, Crocodile leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning. "Soon, Alabasta will be mine, and the world will tremble before the power of Pluton."

Miss All-Sunday stepped forward, her voice smooth and measured. "And what of the Straw Hats, sir? Do you really believe they'll be so easily dealt with?"

Crocodile's smirk faded, replaced by a look of cold determination. "They're strong, I'll give them that. But they're nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Once they're dealt with, nothing will stand in our way."

Miss All-Sunday nodded, her expression unreadable. "Let's hope you're right. For all our sakes."

The room fell silent, the tension thickening as the agents prepared to set out on their mission. The shadows in the basement seemed to grow darker, the flickering light of the chandelier casting long, ominous shadows across the room. The gathering of shadows had begun, and the Straw Hats were about to find themselves in the crosshairs of the most dangerous organization in the Grand Line.

But as the agents set out, one thought lingered in the back of Crocodile's mind: the Straw Hats were not to be underestimated. They had already proven themselves to be a formidable force, and if they weren't dealt with swiftly, they could very well become the downfall of Baroque Works.

The game was afoot, and the stakes had never been higher.

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