Chapter 380: Reunion With Sunny

Maude had once used a Den Den Mushi to warn Smoker.

Yet Smoker still chose to uphold his duty as a Marine, leaving Loguetown to pursue the Straw Hat Pirates all the way to Alabasta.

If Maude had known, he wouldn't have been surprised.

After all, that was exactly the kind of thing Smoker would do.

What truly surprised him was the man standing atop the ruins—a figure draped in a green cloak—the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon.

Or rather… Monkey D. Dragon.

But why would this man appear here?

Maude's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of doubt flashing across his face.

Dragon lowered his head slightly, his calm eyes gliding across Maude's face like a gentle breeze. He was the first to speak.

"Bacardi Maude."

He called out Maude's full name directly, showing no sign of surprise at Maude's arrival.

With the Revolutionary Army's intelligence network, a pirate of Maude's stature—holding the title of Warlord of the Sea—would naturally be under constant surveillance.

Three days ago, Maude had still been on the Sabaody Archipelago. Now, three days later, he had appeared in the deserts of Alabasta, thousands of miles away.

Such an unimaginable feat would baffle most people.

But for someone familiar with the powers of the Paw-Paw Fruit, the explanation became self-evident.

It was also possible that Kuma had contacted Dragon after sending Maude flying, informing him of the potential threat looming over the Straw Hat Pirates.

"The leader of the Revolutionary Army, appearing alone in a city long ravaged by sandstorms... what exactly are you after?"

Maude gazed calmly at Dragon, his mind flashing with sudden insight.

He recalled the civil unrest brewing in Alabasta and the restless Rebel Army. In an instant, he realized what was happening.

Though the original story arc never depicted the Revolutionary Army's involvement in Alabasta, their modus operandi made it unlikely they would pass up such an opportunity.

"Oh, are you planning to intervene in Alabasta?"

Maude answered his own question, as if predicting the answer.

That would explain why Dragon had come here.

If that were the case, other members of the Revolutionary Army were likely already in the country.

"Alabasta is a nation worthy of respect. Its long and storied history… should not end here."

Dragon's gaze swept over the ruins buried beneath the sands, his words veiled yet clear—he had no intention of acting against Alabasta.

Maude caught the underlying meaning and looked at Dragon with some surprise.

Dragon slowly extended his right arm from beneath his cloak.

With a mere wave, black clouds rapidly gathered in the sky, casting the land into sudden darkness. A violent wind rose from nowhere, sweeping a storm of yellow sand toward the Straw Hat crew's location.

To manipulate the forces of nature with a simple gesture—this was the power of the leader of the Revolutionary Army.

Maude's eyes flickered.

From within the billowing sandstorm, he could faintly hear Luffy's startled cries.

Yet the area where Maude stood remained beneath the blazing sun, untouched by wind or sand.

It was as if the world were split—rain pouring in one place, sunshine reigning in another.

Maude remained calm, uncertain of Dragon's intentions.

But as faint auras surfaced from the distance, Maude quickly grasped Dragon's motive for isolating the Straw Hat crew.

He turned toward the approaching presences—figures cloaked in sun-shielding garb emerging from behind the dunes, advancing toward the ruins.

Roughly thirty people in total.

At their head was a woman, distinct from the others. She wore only a red, long-sleeved cropped jacket over her upper body, leaving most of her chest and toned abdomen exposed to the air—a striking sight.

Her bold attire immediately revealed her identity—Belo Betty, one of the Revolutionary Army's four commanders and the user of the Kobu Kobu no Mi (Pump-Pump Fruit).

If even Betty was present, then...

Maude glanced at Dragon.

If the Rebel Army and Royal Army clashed, the conflict would involve hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

The Kobu Kobu no Mi's power would be a decisive factor in the war's outcome.

Bringing such a trump card suggested they were indeed planning to intervene—or had they abandoned the idea midway?

Maude's mind swirled with doubts.

Betty approached and immediately locked eyes with Maude.

"You're the one who captured Morley's heart—Bacardi Maude, huh? You're much more handsome in person than in the photos. No wonder Morley can't stop talking about you."

Her blunt nature showed in every word.

"?"

A question mark popped into Maude's mind as an image of Morley's shy, mustachioed face surfaced involuntarily. He rubbed his temples.

Betty scrutinized Maude, while Maude sized her up in return.

This woman dressed as boldly as Ace.

"Betty, are you checking him out? Thinking of falling in love?"

"Shut it. I don't have time for silly games, and I wouldn't steal a man Morley fancies."

"Haha."

The group burst into laughter.

"Betty, it's Bailey that Morley fancies, not Maude."

Among the laughter, Sunny's voice interjected, correcting Betty's mistake.

"Oh, is that so?"

Betty glanced back at Sunny, whose face was hidden beneath her hooded cloak.

"Yes."

Sunny lifted her hood, nodding seriously before turning to Maude, a bright smile breaking through the scars on her face.

"Maude, long time no see."

"Sunny!"

Maude's eyes lit up, unable to hide his joy.

In a flash, he used Shadow Blink, appearing before Sunny and wrapping her in an embrace.

Sunny returned the gesture, slipping her arms through Maude's and hugging his waist.

The laughter around them ceased.

It wasn't the affectionate reunion that silenced the crowd, but Maude's speed—so fast that most of them hadn't even seen him move.

"Such speed..."

Many of them tensed, eyes filled with newfound respect.

No wonder Sabo had been so keen on recruiting Maude into the Revolutionary Army.

"You've grown taller, Sunny."

Maude released her, measuring her height with his hand.

"So have you."

Sunny grinned, standing on tiptoe to reach Maude's hair.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

"Neither did I. What brings you to Alabasta?"

"Long story."

"Then let's not talk about it."

"Haha..."

Lost in conversation, the two seemed to forget the Revolutionary Army and Dragon's looming presence.

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