#148 - Chapter 148 Alabasta Palace
A sandstorm raged across the boundless desert.
The violent wind whipped up sand and stones, obscuring the sky.
Cobra and his men could only hastily avoid the aftermath of the battle between the two.
Looking at the sand dancing in the sky, their hearts were filled with helplessness and near despair.
Just when the yellow sand was about to engulf everything.
Jin stepped down like a heavenly deity, relying on his superb power to block this unbridled sandstorm with his own strength.
Jin stepped out of the raging nature, like a meteor leaping from the sky, and finally landed in front of them.
They looked at Jin, their eyes full of worship and awe.
In front of this navy who could destroy the world, even the devastating sandstorm was willing to restrain its sharpness.
"Are you alright?" Jin appeared in front of Cobra and the others with Crocodile.
Cobra shook his cloak, which had been washed by the wind and sand. In the dust, he staggered to steady himself, and looked at Jin gratefully: "Vice Admiral Jin, thank you for saving us."
Crocodile looked at Cobra and his party suspiciously. He had a vague doubt in his heart. Didn't these people really see the scene just now?
He didn't want any possibility of leaking secrets to exist.
If they did see it, a stern look flashed in his eyes, and he wouldn't mind finding an opportunity to send these people to hell.
At the same time, Cobra and the others did not notice the suspicion and coldness, and were still in shock.
Cobra muttered to himself, patted his dust-covered chest: "I just wanted to come to the desert to see which navy was in Alabasta."
A wry smile appeared on his face, with a hint of self-deprecation in his voice: "I didn't expect to almost lose my life here."
Looking at the expressions of these people in front of him, and thinking about the scene of the battle with Jin just now.
Crocodile took a deep breath.
It seemed that his ugly state was not seen by these people.
But thinking of what he had just experienced, even though he was a pirate who had roamed the sea and seen many storms, he still felt a little embarrassed.
He couldn't accept his failure, so much so that he was still stunned when Jin called him.
"Crocodile?"
"Did you suffer too much and become mentally unstable?"
Jin waved his hand in front of the other party.
He found that Crocodile in this state was quite funny.
Crocodile slapped Jin's hand away, his heart filled with an indescribable sense of humiliation and shame.
He had just arrived at his future base, and he was seen in such a mess by the people here.
How would he get along in Alabasta in the future...
Even if he could win back a city from Jin today, his situation would not improve in the future.
What's more, he can't beat Jin...
Jin's voice cut through the breeze, turning to Crocodile, who still seemed to be lost in thought:
"Stop spacing out."
His tone was relaxed, and all disputes could be put aside for the time being.
"This is Cobra, the king of the Alabasta Kingdom."
Jin continued to introduce, his eyes turned to the two, and he looked at Crocodile with a hint of anticipation.
"You should get to know each other now, so that you can cooperate better in the future."
However, this harmonious atmosphere seemed particularly abrupt on Crocodile.
His clothes were tattered, and every tear recorded the cruelty of the previous battle.
Through the holes in his clothes, knife marks were fiercely revealed, and blood flowed slowly, but it didn't seem to affect him much.
When Jin's words fell, Crocodile seemed to be trapped in his own thoughts.
In Jin's simple words, Crocodile seemed to hear Jin's ridicule of him.
His plans and ambitions seemed to have died before they even started.
According to his previous idea, he wanted to gradually erode this country, but all this in front of him told him that the situation was far from what he could easily control.
Crocodile's strategic thinking began to accelerate.
He realized that after today, his every step would be more cautious because of this king's identity.
'It's all my fault for being greedy. I shouldn't have agreed to Jin's challenge.' Crocodile felt so regretful in his heart.
His long-term planning, and the Shichibukai status he had finally obtained, collapsed in an instant because of his self-righteous arrogance and his so-called sureness of victory.
As Jin finished his introduction.
Cobra extended a hand of friendship to Jin and Crocodile with the magnanimity and etiquette of a monarch.
"After the disturbances of this world, why not come to the palace with me for a rest?"
Cobra's words were full of sincerity and enthusiasm, with a fiery light in his eyes.
Jin looked at Crocodile next to him and nodded slightly, indicating his agreement.
Although Crocodile's expression was still cold, he did not refuse.
Obviously, after experiencing a sandstorm battle, even he could not help but feel tired.
The three of them embarked on the road to the palace together.
The edge of the desert gradually receded, replaced by a vast and vibrant oasis.
The palace was located in it, golden and magnificent, showing the unique charm and dignity of Alabasta.
As he got closer to the palace, Cobra's figure became more upright, and his majesty and confidence as a king naturally flowed out.
The interior of the palace was decorated luxuriously and solemnly, and every detail revealed exquisiteness and sophistication, highlighting the culture and history of this country.
In the cool air, mixed with the faint fragrance of flowers and fresh water vapor, people immediately forget the scorching sun and heat in the desert.
Jin breathed a sigh of relief and said to Cobra: "Thank you for your hospitality. After a day of running around, it is really our honor to have such a resting place."
Crocodile silently looked around, although he was unsmiling, it was obvious that he was very interested in this palace.
His eyes swept across the places he passed, as if he was looking for something.
He heard from Barrett that Roger was currently looking for the Poneglyph.
According to the information he collected, there was a stone tablet stored in the Alabasta Kingdom.
He wants to become the Pirate King, and the Poneglyph is an indispensable thing.
The corner of Jin's mouth raised a smile, and he teased softly: "Are you still thinking about becoming the Pirate King?"
Jin paused and said again: "With me here, your chances of becoming the Pirate King are a bit low."
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere solidified.
Crocodile turned around and glared at Jin,
"Then what do you want me to do?"
"Follow you around and be your little follower?"
Crocodile's words seemed to arouse Jin's interest. He got up, walked to Crocodile, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Very good, very promising."
"You have discovered a broad road."
...
