It was now the hot month of June.
The closer they got to Alabasta, the hotter it became. The pervasive yellow sand seemed to suck the moisture from the air, making the dryness feel ubiquitous.
After bidding farewell to Yujimura, who was heading to Marine Headquarters, Michion and his group set foot on the dry land of Alabasta.
As for whether Yujimura could escort so much grain safely, Michion didn’t need to worry. The Marines had dispatched a Vice Admiral to meet them when they entered the Grand Line. These officers typically stayed hidden unless necessary, serving as a “bait and ambush” strategy. Each year, some foolish pirates would attempt to challenge them, only to be crushed, serving as whetstones for training the Marines.
Michion jumped from the warship onto his ship. Adolph said, “Your Highness Michion, Alabasta has sent a reception team to greet us. Please wait a moment.”
“Okay.” Michion nodded, curious about the reception team from Alabasta. Could it be the memorable Karoo Duck Squad from the anime?
Alabasta was known for its interesting creatures, such as sea cats, Kung-Fu Dugongs, deceitful birds, and the giant lizards of Sandora.
These creatures ranged from ornamental to amusing, intelligent, and even edible, representing Alabasta’s unique fauna—especially the Kung-Fu Dugongs, which were martial arts enthusiasts. With proper training, they could become a formidable animal army.
And surprisingly, some Kung-Fu Dugongs even managed to learn Armament Haki!
Imagine the frustration of those pirates in the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line who didn’t even know what Haki was.
It would be interesting to recruit some of these creatures as little brothers and bring them back to the North Blue, making them the kingdom’s guardian beasts in the future.
Em…
You better wait for an opportunity later. For now, focus on the plan at hand.
After waiting a while, Michion’s fleet finished docking, though unloading the large cargo would take time. The rest of the crew would stay to handle the cargo and purchase local specialities, as sea trade was quite profitable. Grand Line goods were especially popular in the Four Seas, and many merchants had ceased “foreign trade” due to frequent pirate attacks over the past two years.
Naturally, they wouldn’t return with empty ships from Alabasta.
As expected, the reception team consisted of the Karoo Duck Squad.
A group of adult-sized ducks with yellow feathers stood there. Michion noted they were even taller than ostriches.
The Karoo Ducks looked at Michion with curious eyes, clearly intelligent.
This initial impression of the Karoo Ducks was one of curiosity and intelligence.
“Welcome, Prince Michion,” greeted a middle-aged man with slightly tanned skin, stepping forward to meet Michion. The people behind him followed suit.
Their genuine welcome and gratitude didn’t surprise Michion, considering they brought much-needed grain.
“No need for formalities. For anything, communicate with Adolph,” Michion said, pointing to Adolph.
Having spent two years with Michion, Adolph knew Michion didn’t care for formalities. He stepped forward and started conversing with the official.
Soon, Adolph was exchanging pleasantries with the official.
Meanwhile, Michion was more interested in the Karoo Ducks than the formalities.
After all, the real business would begin once he met with Vivi’s father.
“Pleased to meet you,” Michion said, patting the Karoo Duck that would carry him across the desert.
“Quack~ Quack Quack~~” The Karoo Duck seemed to understand, looking pleased and even nuzzling Michion’s hand.
“Your Highness, we need to prepare for crossing the desert. Please wear this,” Adolph said, handing over a white robe after discussing with the Alabasta personnel.
Despite its thick appearance, Michion found the robe light and breathable, evidently well-designed for desert travel.
The robe, though simple, was essential for protecting against the sun, conserving water, and shielding from sand.
With the robe on, Michion and his party, including Adolph and a few ministers, rode the Karoo Ducks towards Alabasta’s capital, Alubarna.
…
Meanwhile, inside the palace,
Several maids, dressed in servant attire, gathered during their break.
Because Cobra, the king, cared deeply for his people, even the maids in the palace had significant freedom during their breaks.
“Hey, did you hear? Among the visitors a couple of days ago was a prince,” one maid said.
“Anan, weren’t you assigned to serve that prince? How is he? Like the princes in stories?” another maid asked a young girl sitting nearby.
“He’s just like a prince from a novel. Very kind and without any arrogance. Sometimes, he even does things himself that are supposed to be my job, as if he’s not used to having servants,” Anan said with a smile.
“I heard he’s also a Marine and very strong… Maybe that’s why. I heard this from a steward who came with some ministers,” another maid added.
“Really?” Having little entertainment in the palace, the maids were curious about Michion and his entourage.
Their curiosity about the prince grew, eager to know more about him.
Michion had been in the palace for two days. Since there was no interference from Crocodile, the oases hadn’t dried up, making their journey smooth and quick.
After two days of rest, courtesy of Cobra’s hospitality, Michion was ready for business today.
In the negotiation room, unaware of being the topic of gossip, Michion was discussing cooperation matters with Cobra.
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