One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

Aboard the "Lightbringer," the journey to Mariejois seemed long, but to Vivi and Cobra, it still felt too short.

Cobra now believed wholeheartedly that fulfilling his daughter's request to invite Vice Admiral Wright as a protector for the royal delegation was the best decision he had ever made.

Throughout the voyage, Wright engaged in lively conversations with Cobra and Vivi, answering all of Vivi's questions—ranging from matters of national governance to fascinating tales of the open seas.

For the young Princess Vivi, who had never set sail before, her wide eyes sparkled with wonder as she listened to Wright's stories. What began as mere curiosity quickly evolved into admiration; she had become nothing short of a starstruck fan.

Despite her tender age of ten, Princess Vivi exhibited a maturity far beyond her years when it came to state affairs and diplomatic matters. While many of her concerns were shaped by her father's perspective, she was already displaying the qualities of a worthy heir to the throne.

Wright, noticing Vivi's enthusiasm, decided to share something truly special—he revealed a Lightforged Beacon Crystal Pendant.

Though Lightforged Crystals were now widely recognized, their strategic importance to the Navy made the Beacon Crystal a highly classified item. Cobra, assuming it was an ordinary Lightforged Crystal, marveled at its beauty.

Even so, such crystals were strategic-grade resources—each one representing a lifeline. For a powerhouse nation like Alabasta, acquiring even one was nearly impossible.

Vivi, too young to grasp its significance, simply admired the pendant's beauty, while Cobra, understanding its value, bowed deeply to Wright in gratitude.

"Your Majesty Cobra," Wright said, stepping aside to avoid the formal bow. "May I have a private word with you?"

Cobra's expression grew serious. After instructing Igaram to look after Vivi, he followed Wright to a secluded area.

"Vice Admiral Wright, I am truly grateful for your guidance to Vivi and for the ideas you've proposed regarding governance," Cobra said with heartfelt appreciation. "If you were a king, I am certain you'd govern far better than I ever could."

Wright shook his head. "I'm better suited for combat."

"However, Your Majesty, what I wish to discuss is related to an alarming discovery by the Navy."

"A discovery? Regarding Alabasta?"

Cobra, now fully alert, knew the Navy rarely monitored a superpower like Alabasta closely. If a concern had reached their notice, it had to be something of grave importance.

"Yes, it concerns Alabasta's Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile."

"Crocodile? Isn't he an agent of the World Government?" Cobra asked, puzzled. In his understanding, Crocodile had been one of the earliest pirates to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea under an official capacity.

In recent years, Crocodile had aggressively hunted pirates, building a strong public image and earning widespread acclaim among Alabasta's citizens.

"An agent of the World Government?" Wright scoffed. "The Seven Warlords are no more than pirates under a different name. They hold no loyalty to the Government and only act when coerced by the privileges and authority of their titles."

"While the system is designed to use pirates to fight pirates, the collateral damage caused by the Warlords often outweighs the benefits. Some don't even bother hunting pirates, focusing solely on their own interests."

"And for those with secret agendas, their status as Warlords serves as the perfect shield."

Cobra's eyes widened. "Are you saying... Crocodile poses a threat to Alabasta?"

"He doesn't just pose a threat—his ambitions are far greater than you can imagine."

Wright sighed. He couldn't divulge the full extent of Crocodile's plan, particularly regarding the ancient weapon Pluton. Even the notion of usurping the throne remained speculative at this stage.

"Crocodile's current actions deviate significantly from his usual behavior. His aggressive anti-pirate campaigns are riddled with inconsistencies. Intelligence indicates he secretly controls a criminal organization called Baroque Works."

"Although relatively obscure for now, this group appears to orchestrate the movements of the pirates Crocodile has 'defeated.' It's as if these events are staged to bolster his reputation."

As Cobra's expression darkened, Wright hesitated briefly before sharing a critical piece of information.

"Crocodile is a Logia-type Devil Fruit user—the Sand-Sand Fruit."

"The Logia class specializes in large-scale environmental manipulation. In Crocodile's case, Alabasta's deserts are his domain."

"His ability to extract moisture from objects, turning them to sand, effectively allows him to create droughts."

"If inland cities like Erumalu and Yuba lost their rainfall…"

"Impossible!" Cobra growled, his face grim. "Alabasta has never suffered large-scale droughts in its millennia-long history. Crocodile is just one man—no matter how strong he is, he can't stop the rain!"

"He can't do it alone," Wright replied coldly. "But what if he had Dance Powder?"

"What?!"

Cobra's pupils contracted. "That forbidden substance…"

"Under the guise of a Warlord, obtaining such contraband is trivial."

Wright leaned against the ship's railing, gazing out at the sea. "By using Dance Powder to artificially redirect rainfall, combined with his sand-based abilities, Crocodile could engineer multi-year droughts across Alabasta."

"In such a scenario, his rising reputation as a 'hero of the nation' would allow him to rival even the royal family's authority. If the royal palace coincidentally experienced increased rainfall while Dance Powder traces were 'discovered,' linking them to the monarchy… What do you think would happen?"

"This…" Cobra struggled to respond. "This is just speculation."

"You're correct," Wright admitted. "These are possibilities I've inferred based on existing conditions. However, if my suspicions are correct, there will be signs."

"Signs?"

"First: Inland cities like Erumalu and Yuba will experience prolonged droughts, while cities near the royal capital will see increased rainfall."

"Second: Crocodile's popularity will continue to rise, subtly challenging the royal family's influence."

"Third: Baroque Works will grow increasingly active, inciting unrest among the populace."

"When all three signs align, I fear Crocodile's plan will already be in motion."

Cobra broke into a cold sweat, remaining silent for a long moment.

"Vice Admiral Wright," he finally said. "I will instruct inland cities to conserve water. If they stockpile water seriously, they can endure even without rainfall for some time."

"And if the other two signs appear… If Crocodile truly intends to harm Alabasta, the royal army will be powerless against him."

"Leave him to me," Wright said confidently. "As for everything else, Your Majesty, you are fully capable of handling it."

"If that day truly comes… I leave it in your hands!"

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