Puff puff—
The next phase of the operation turned into a one-sided massacre.
Without Mr. 5's coordination and explosive support, the remaining hundreds of low-tier Baroque Works agents crumbled like sand under a wave.
Once Bai Yu plunged into the crowd with his blade, every swing sent enemies flying. His presence alone tore through their morale and formation.
The skirmish ended swiftly.
Bai Yu's naval unit suffered no losses, efficiently eliminating all dispatched Baroque forces with minimal exertion.
Soon after, the warship smoothly docked at the coastal border of Alabasta under cover of night.
Given the late hour, Bai Yu ordered everyone to rest and prepare for official contact with the local naval outpost at first light.
That evening, something rare occurred—on the deck of a warship, the usually disciplined navy men held a small celebration.
"Hahaha!"
"Today's a damn good day!"
"That was the infamous Baroque Works we crushed!"
One sailor laughed heartily, slapping the table beside him.
"Right?!"
"Not only did we take down hundreds of their foot soldiers, but we bagged one of their elites—Mr. 5!"
"Can't wait to brag about this at headquarters!"
Another sailor raised his cup high.
"If I remember correctly, Mr. 5 is a Devil Fruit user with a bounty of 10 million berries!"
"Our commander is on another level!"
"One strike, and the enemy commander falls! Like the saying goes—'Among a thousand troops, take the head of the general!'"
The deck echoed with laughter and pride as all eyes turned toward Bai Yu.
He leaned quietly against the bow rail, sipping from a wooden cup of rice wine, a faint smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
This was just the beginning.
Mr. 5 was merely the appetizer.
The real storm was still brewing in the heart of Alabasta.
With the desert breeze brushing his hair, Bai Yu closed his eyes and drifted into a light sleep, thoughts swirling of sand, shadows, and secrets yet to be unearthed.
---
The Next Morning
Bai Yu awoke to the clatter of footsteps and the shouts of sailors hauling cargo.
Opening his eyes, he saw naval soldiers busily loading supplies for the return voyage.
"Commander! You're awake!"
A sergeant rushed over, saluting smartly.
"We established contact with the local navy garrison at dawn."
"They reported that the Royal Warlord Crocodile arrived earlier and helped repel invading pirates."
"Alabasta is currently experiencing civil unrest, but since it's an internal matter, Marine Headquarters advises non-intervention."
Crocodile.
The warlord recognized by the World Government.
And the true mastermind behind the Baroque Works.
The irony was bitter—he wore the Navy's trust like a mask, all while orchestrating the very war they sought to avoid.
"Where is Crocodile now?" Bai Yu asked sharply.
"Inside the palace at Alubarna," the sergeant replied.
"Seems like our mission might've been in vain…"
According to Marine protocol, a civil war among kingdoms wasn't under naval jurisdiction. On paper, the mission was over.
But Bai Yu knew better.
He remembered the truth buried in One Piece's original history: Crocodile wasn't just stoking rebellion—he was hunting for the Poneglyph hidden beneath the palace, seeking the location of the ancient weapon Pluton.
And to do that, he needed to overthrow the kingdom.
"Do you have a map of Alubarna?"
"Yes, sir!"
The sergeant quickly produced a detailed layout of Alabasta's capital.
Bai Yu studied it briefly, calculating time, terrain, and threat.
"Leave fifty men here to hold the ship. The rest will move lightly—no armor, only essentials. We march to Alubarna immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
Though the sergeant didn't understand the urgency, he didn't question Bai Yu's command.
Without delay, fifty sailors packed light and set off across the desert with Bai Yu leading the charge.
But they were already behind.
The flames of civil war had already spread across Alabasta.
And Crocodile... was already inside the royal palace.
---
Back on the March
As they traversed the edge of the desert, Bai Yu briefed his unit in a low voice.
"The truth is... Crocodile is the one behind all this."
"The civil war, the Baroque Works, everything—it's his plot to overthrow the kingdom and seize power."
Gasps rippled through the squad.
"You mean... one of the Seven Warlords betrayed the government?!"
"This entire rebellion was orchestrated by him?!"
Shock and anger twisted the expressions of the marines.
Bai Yu kept his tone firm but concealed one key truth: the existence of Pluton.
That secret was too volatile, even among allies.
"We must stop him before he crowns himself king."
"But... Commander..."
A naval officer hesitated.
"There's only fifty of us. And Crocodile is... a Shichibukai. We're not even close to his level."
Mr. 5 was powerful—but Crocodile was in a different league. A veteran pirate with a terrifying Logia-type ability.
Just as Bai Yu opened his mouth to respond, his eyes narrowed.
"Stop."
He raised one hand.
Everyone halted, instantly alert.
The path they had chosen was discreet—a side route through the outer desert to avoid attention. All around them, only sand dunes and rock formations filled the horizon.
Yet something wasn't right.
Bai Yu's gaze sharpened toward a massive stone to the left.
"We're this close already. Why keep hiding?" he said calmly.
The wind paused.
Then—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Slow, deliberate applause echoed from behind the rock.
A moment later, a massive figure stepped into view.
Every marine raised their weapons instinctively.
A mountain of a man, bald, his muscles tight under monk-like garb. His presence was overwhelming, even in silence.
"Mr. 1…" Bai Yu muttered.
The top killer of Baroque Works.
A Devil Fruit user—Iron Blade, from the Dice-Dice Fruit.
Crocodile's most powerful subordinate.
And now, his sword was pointed directly at Bai Yu.