C193

"What a troublesome task. It's just one dead pirate. Why do we need to confirm such trivial things? The Shichibukai and these pirates should all just be captured," Smoker grumbled.

"Please don't say that, Colonel Smoker. This is an assignment from headquarters," Tashigi quickly interjected, flustered. 

Although they were alone, with no third party to overhear, she still felt uneasy about Smoker's blunt words.

When Crocodile's body was sent to the Marine branch near Alabasta, it caused a massive stir, even alarming Marine Headquarters.

The Seven Warlords of the Sea are notorious pirates sanctioned by the World Government, and each one is an immensely powerful figure. 

The death of one of them demanded a thorough investigation by both Marine Headquarters and the World Government.

King Cobra sent Igaram as a royal envoy to the Marine branch, detailing all of Crocodile's crimes in Alabasta. 

Additionally, Nico Robin appeared at the branch as both a distant relative of the Nefertari royal family and the vice president of the Kain Chamber of Commerce.

She provided Smoker with intelligence on criminals formerly associated with Crocodile's Baroque Works. 

With the royal family vouching for Kain and irrefutable evidence of Crocodile's crimes — including the attempted subversion of Alabasta, one of the World Government's twenty founding kingdoms — Crocodile's actions were deemed unforgivable.

As a result, the World Government and Marine Headquarters tasked Smoker with meeting the person responsible for Crocodile's death. 

If that person wished to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Smoker was instructed to extend an invitation.

Sending Smoker also served another purpose: assessing the strength of this potential new Warlord.

The Seven Warlords of the Sea system was established by the World Government to counter pirates with pirates, avoiding the need for a significant expansion of Marine forces while still combating piracy. 

While somewhat effective, the system had significant drawbacks. Many nations allied with the Marines and the World Government resented the existence of the Seven Warlords. 

Pirates, after all, were inherently destructive, and legally sanctioned pirates could cause unimaginable harm to ordinary civilians.

When Smoker and his party arrived in Rainbase, the scene was vastly different from what it had been previously.

Due to extensive construction, many businesses were temporarily closed. However, the streets were bustling with Alabasta citizens working on various projects. 

In the midst of the activity, a girl with a loudspeaker was giving directions. She frequently consulted with a nearby construction supervisor before relaying instructions to the workers.

Tashigi, surprised, observed the girl closely and said, "Is that Princess Vivi of Alabasta? Why is she doing something like this?"

"With her here, the citizens won't slack off. They can work with a smile, which is already much better than under that sand crocodile," Smoker remarked as he puffed on his cigar. 

Turning his head, he shouted to Tashigi, who lagged behind, "Let's go, Tashigi. Let's get down to business!"

The state of a country's citizens often reflects its leadership. Smoker felt that the new owner of Rainbase was at least a slight improvement over Crocodile.

When Smoker, Tashigi, and their team finally met Kain in the underground conference hall of the Rain Dinners Casino, their expressions mirrored those of the executives who had first encountered him.

Kain didn't resemble a typical powerhouse at all. In the world of pirates, height and build often signified strength. 

Even those with special Devil Fruit abilities usually bore scars from countless battles. Yet, Kain showed no such signs — he looked more like an elegant aristocrat than a battle-hardened pirate.

"Welcome, both of you. Please, have a seat," Kain greeted them warmly, smiling as attendants stepped forward to guide Smoker and Tashigi to their seats and serve them tea.

The precision of Kain's intelligence and the unexpected display of etiquette made Tashigi feel slightly uneasy. 

Even Smoker felt the weight of the atmosphere, though he refused to be subdued by it. He downed the warm tea in one gulp and got straight to the point.

"I'm Colonel Smoker from the Marine branch. I'm here to handle the aftermath of Crocodile's death. Regarding his bounty, the branch currently doesn't have the full amount. Once the body is transported to headquarters, someone will deliver your bounty."

The bounties of the Seven Warlords of the Sea were typically frozen, but Crocodile's had been reinstated after his expulsion from the Shichibukai due to his crimes.

Kain nodded with a smile. "No problem. Waiting a few more days is a small matter. Colonel Smoker, is there anything else?"

Smoker, unreserved as ever, replied, "Yes. Crocodile's status complicates things. To be honest, I hate the Shichibukai — big-name pirates with legal protection. But that's the World Government's idiotic decision, not mine. I just have to put up with it."

"Colonel Smoker! Please don't say such things in public!" Tashigi pleaded, panicked by his bluntness.

Smoker shrugged indifferently. "Forget it. Let's move on. The World Government and Marine Headquarters want to invite you to take Crocodile's place as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Do you want the position? Personally, I think you'd be a much better choice than that sand crocodile."

"I refuse," Kain replied smoothly. "I'm a businessman. Why would I want to become a legal pirate?"

Kain refused without a second thought. The status of a Shichibukai might be good for pirates, granting them the ability to plunder legally, but for him, it would only diminish his standing. 

Becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea would reduce him from a legitimate businessman to a glorified pirate. 

Legal plundering held no appeal for him, especially when it came with the burden of following orders from the World Government. It was all drawbacks with no real benefits.

"Is that so? Then I'll return to headquarters. The bounty for Crocodile will be sent to you," Smoker replied.

Hearing this, Tashigi asked in surprise, "Colonel, is that it? Aren't you going to persuade him further?"

Smoker, clearly impatient, retorted, "He doesn't even want it. Why bother persuading him?" As he stood up to leave, Kain raised a hand to stop him.

"Colonel Smoker, please wait a moment. We can set aside the matter of the Shichibukai for now. I have a batch of munitions for sale. Would the Marines be interested?" Kain smiled, suggesting the deal. 

Alabasta's finances couldn't support large-scale arms replacements, but the Marines certainly had the means.

In the world of pirates, war and conflict were constant themes, making the arms trade highly profitable. 

The weapons production line Kain brought was far superior to the Marines' standard flintlock and smoothbore guns. 

Even the most basic AK assault rifle outperformed them. Nico Robin had already established a military factory near Rainbase, and Kain planned to purchase Alabasta's stockpile of gunpowder, paying half in cash and half in weapons.

As Smoker and Tashigi left Rainbase, they both felt an odd sense of irony.

They had come to invite Kain to become a Shichibukai, but somehow, Smoker ended up negotiating an arms deal instead.

Tashigi, still feeling uncertain, asked softly, "Colonel, I still think it would be better to invite Mr. Pent to become a Shichibukai. At least he wouldn't plunder civilians."

"Forget it, Tashigi. If I asked you to become a pirate, would you agree?" Smoker interrupted, then added, "But those weapons he offered are really good. Submit an application to headquarters as soon as we get back. If that doesn't work out, the branch will buy a batch first."

Tashigi quickly interjected, "Colonel, without headquarters' approval, it's best not to change equipment on our own. It could lead to punishment."

"Then convince headquarters," Smoker replied firmly. "If we don't buy them, pirates will. That guy might not be a pirate who attacks civilians, but he's still a businessman through and through."

Lighting another cigar, Smoker felt one wasn't enough to calm his nerves.

After they left, Nico Robin approached Kain.

"Boss, do you really plan to sell weapons to the Marines?" she asked.

Kain sighed and waved his hand helplessly. "There's no choice. The intelligence department, Devil Fruits, and rare materials all need a lot of Berries. Robbing pirates alone won't cover the costs."

Then, noticing Robin's expression, he added, "What's with that look? Didn't find what you were looking for in the Poneglyph?"

"As you said, boss, it was just another boring weapon," Robin replied. After a pause, she hesitated before asking, "Boss, is what you said last time true?"

Robin had thought about it for a long time and had finally made up her mind. Kain had already figured out her identity. 

If he wanted to claim the bounty on her, he had countless opportunities over the past few months. But if that wasn't his intention, she planned to settle down here for good.

"I'll help you manage the Chamber of Commerce and the intelligence network, boss. In return, please give me a place to call home... and allow me to use the intelligence department to search for the Poneglyphs," Robin requested earnestly.

Kain smiled and said, "Of course. I'm also very interested in the Poneglyphs. Besides the one in Alabasta, there's another on Skypiea. I'll take you there soon."

Nico Robin was surprised. "Skypiea? But isn't that just a legendary island?"

"Skypiea isn't a legend. There are also Devil Fruits and some resources I need there, but we'll go in due time. By the way, Robin, while gathering information on Devil Fruits, also look into any details about their powers."

Kain's words reassured Robin. Although the Poneglyph in Alabasta didn't reveal what she sought, learning about another one so quickly, along with Kain's unwavering support, made her feel a sense of relief and even gratitude.

"Maybe... working under Boss Kain is much better than under Crocodile," Robin thought to herself, smiling sincerely for the first time in a while. "Understood, Boss. I'll establish the intelligence department and help develop the Chamber of Commerce."

"Then I'll leave it to you. Here, take this—a magic item with protective abilities."

Kain handed Nico Robin a magical bracelet, allowing her to leave. The bracelet, an alchemical item, offered protection and healing functions, but more importantly, it let Kain pinpoint her location and instantly Apparate to her side if needed.

As for the plan to head to Skypiea, Kain had already considered it after successfully extracting the Sand-Sand Fruit serum. 

While the Sand-Sand Fruit, a Logia-type ability, was powerful, it had notable weaknesses—water and extreme heat. Compared to that, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Goro Goro no Mi) was far superior.

At this stage, there weren't many powerful Devil Fruits easily obtainable, but the Rumble-Rumble Fruit stood out as one of the most valuable. If developed properly, it could undoubtedly become a god-like ability.

….

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