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(A/N: If you want to see more chapters, go to my P@treon to see more chapters ahead. You can see more than 20 chapters ahead of everyone on my P@treon: -www.p@treon.com/VoyageToGlory
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As Crocodile and his subordinates were removed from the palace, the Marines carefully transported their frozen bodies to the nearby naval base. Encased in unyielding frost, the ice showed no signs of melting, keeping them locked in their frigid prisons.
Momonga, despite his disdain for Crocodile, considered his next steps carefully. He didn't want to escalate the situation unnecessarily for the Royal Family.
"Marines don't need a reason to teach a pirate a lesson." Momonga muttered to himself as he looked at Crocodile and his subordinates.
---
In the Dead of Night
Under the pale moonlight, the frozen figures of Crocodile and his subordinates stood like haunting sculptures. The moonlight reflected off the ice, casting eerie shadows across their lifelike expressions of shock and fear.
Thud! Thud!
A lone figure approached silently, her cowboy hat tilted just enough to obscure part of her face. She moved with confidence, her tight jeans and leather jacket were emphasizing her lean, agile figure as her boots crunched softly against the frosted ground.
Her lips curled into a faint, knowing smile as she adjusted her hat. Her sharp eyes scanned the scene methodically, lingering on Crocodile's frozen body.
"Frozen solid, huh?" she murmured softly, her voice broke the stillness of the night.
---
Two Weeks Later
In the blink of an eye, two weeks had passed since Kael's battle with Crocodile in the Royal Palace.
During this short period, Kael's mobile phone sales had soared to an astonishing total of 250,000 units, with an additional 150,000 sold shortly after. His Phone-Phone Fruit's memory capacity had expanded by 15GB, bringing his total memory to 116GB.
After his Devil Fruit reached Level 4, the memory system underwent a significant change. Now, for every additional phone user, the network's total memory would increase by only 0.1MB, compared to the original 1MB per user. In other words, every 10,000 users would contribute just 1GB of memory.
This sudden and drastic reduction in memory growth left Kael feeling unhappy and a little depressed. However, he wasn't discouraged at all. He remained confident it was only a matter of time before he amassed even more users, allowing him to continue expanding his abilities.
Despite his growing success, there was one matter that left Kael slightly disappointed. Momonga had left Alabasta without ever using one of his phones. Missing the opportunity to download Momonga's formidable skills and techniques weighed on Kael, but he quickly shifted his focus to grander goals.
---
Now it was July, and the rains—Alabasta's most cherished gift—had arrived.
The capital city of Alubarna was drenched in a relentless downpour, a blessing to its residents. However, for those living in the countryside, the absence of rain was a bitter reminder of the kingdom's worsening drought.
Outside the city walls, the countryside remained parched, as if the heavens themselves had turned their backs on Alabasta's dry lands.
Refugees swarmed the gates of Alubarna, desperate for entry, but they were held back by the army led by Chaka, the second Zoan-type Devil Fruit user under Cobra. Chaka had eaten the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Jackal, making him a fierce and loyal protector of the kingdom.
King Cobra, in his boundless kindness, offered what aid he could to the suffering people. Yet even he knew the kingdom's treasury couldn't sustain such generosity indefinitely.
Kael and Pell observed the growing crisis, their expressions grim. They both knew who was behind this chaos: Crocodile. His schemes to destabilize Alabasta were proceeding exactly as planned. The use of Dance Powder to artificially concentrate rain over the capital deepened the suffering of those outside its walls, exacerbating the kingdom's division.
After leaving the Marine base, Crocodile wasted no time resuming his plans as if nothing had happened. In truth, he acted boldly because of a strategic move he had made shortly after his encounter with Kael.
Crocodile had contacted the World Government, demanding answers about why an Admiral would attack one of the Warlords of the Sea.
This bold move cast doubt and forced the Navy into a difficult position. Shortly after, Crocodile received an official message from the Navy stating that the attacker was not Admiral Aokiji, and they assured him there was no evidence implicating any Admiral in the incident.
The World Government and Navy, without solid proof, refused to interfere in the actions of a Warlord without just cause. Doing so would undermine the authority and allure of the Seven Warlords, discouraging other pirates from seeking the title. Even at the request of a Royal Family, the Navy could not act recklessly.
Crocodile now operated with renewed confidence, knowing the Navy's hands were tied. His schemes to destabilize Alabasta continued unabated, pushing the kingdom ever closer to rebellion.
---
Under the relentless rain, Momonga led his troops out of Alubarna. The Marines marched in perfect formation, their polished boots were splashing through puddles as they departed for their next mission.
Standing at the entrance of the Royal Palace, Cobra and his court watched the Navy's departure in solemn silence. Even Kael, under house arrest, had been required to attend the ceremonial farewell.
As Momonga's figure disappeared into the distance, Pell leaned toward Kael and whispered in a low voice: "Your Highness, it's been two weeks. With the Navy gone… Crocodile…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but the concern in his tone was unmistakable. Crocodile's influence was vast, and his popularity among certain groups of citizens made him an unpredictable and dangerous threat.
Kael responded in a calm, serious voice: "We no longer need to fear Crocodile. I don't think he will act anytime soon, but if he does, I will take care of him. You don't need to worry about him. After all, Crocodile isn't our true enemy."
Pell's eyes widened slightly at Kael's words, but he nodded. There was a deeper, hidden meaning in Kael's tone. Since he hadn't mentioned any names, it was clear that the situation was far more complicated than it seemed.
Kael looked up at the rain-filled sky, his expression thoughtful as he fell into deep contemplation. Crocodile might pose a significant obstacle to Alabasta's stability at this moment, but in the grander scheme of things, Crocodile's Operation Utopia would be no more than a minor setback to the kingdom.
The greatest threat to Alabasta's long-term development and survival wasn't Crocodile—it was the World Government and the Navy.
If Kael wanted to develop the kingdom, he would need an abundance of resources and wealth, as well as powerful subordinates to protect Alabasta from those with malicious or greedy intentions. Without strong protectors, Kael's efforts would amount to little more than a "wedding dress" for other, more dominant forces to claim.
Only by turning Alabasta into a giant force within the Grand Line could it truly safeguard itself from invasions and wars.
Such power would not only ensure the kingdom's security but would also inevitably affect the interests and reputation of the World Government.
Shortly after, Kael and Pell returned to the palace in silence, their footsteps echoing softly through the rain-soaked corridors.
From a distance, Cobra watched them, a flicker of relief crossing his face. His son's recent behavior had been far more mature, and this change brought him a sense of reassurance—and even a touch of pride.
"Let's head back, Vivi." Cobra said, resting a gentle hand on his daughter's head.
"Yes, Father." Vivi replied softly, her voice filled with quiet obedience.
---
Back in His Chambers
Kael sat quietly in his chambers, poring over books about the world's history, geography, and politics. Though he had gleaned some of this knowledge from the original One-Piece manga, the reality of this living, breathing version of the world offered far more nuance and depth.
Pell stood watch behind him. Since catching a glimpse of Kael's true abilities, Pell had made a solemn decision: he would protect Kael at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.
Pell's respect for King Cobra was unwavering, but in his eyes, Kael held a unique value for the kingdom. In this dire situation, Pell firmly believed that Kael was the only one capable of saving Alabasta.
After an hour of reading, Kael sighed, setting the book in his hands aside: "Phew! It will take at least two weeks to finish all this." He muttered, glancing at the stack of more than twenty books on the table.
The sheer volume gave him a headache. It wasn't that Kael disliked reading, but his time was limited. Furthermore, the royal library's collection wasn't particularly diverse—most of the books focused on Alabasta's history, geography, and environmental studies.
"If I want to finish these books, I'll have to spend a lot of ti—wait a minute!" Kael's expression brightened as a realization struck him: "I'm so stupid! I can use my Phone-Phone Fruit to download this information directly into my memory!"
His heart filled with excitement, Kael opened his interface, scanning the available abilities for downloading:
---
[Available Downloads:
Medical Basics (10MB)
Provides foundational knowledge of medicine in the One-Piece World, including wound care, basic diagnostics, and herbal remedies.
Historical Knowledge (Beginner Level) (10MB)
Grants introductory knowledge of the One-Piece World's history, including some major events, factions, and key figures.
Surgery (Intermediate Level) (50MB)
Advanced medical skill for performing surgeries and treating severe injuries.]
---
Without hesitation, Kael began downloading. The process was exhilarating, filling his mind with knowledge as though he had spent years studying. It was an extraordinary ability that eliminated the need for traditional learning.
As Kael browsed the available downloads, a new notification caught his attention:
---
[Historical Knowledge (Advanced Level) (100MB)
Grants deep knowledge of the One-Piece World's history, including major events, factions, and legendary artifacts.
Ancient Text Deciphering (100MB)
Gives the ability to read and understand ancient texts, including Poneglyphs and other forgotten languages of the Pirate World.
Paramecia · Flower-Flower Fruit (Intermediate Level) (10GB)
Provides an in-depth understanding of the abilities and applications of the Flower-Flower Fruit.]
---
"What an unexpected surprise... To think she came to the capital." Kael muttered, narrowing his eyes as he reviewed the information displayed on his interface.
The appearance of Ancient Text Deciphering and the Flower-Flower Fruit together on the same individual could mean only one thing: Nico Robin had arrived in Alubarna, most likely under Crocodile's orders.
"This a little difficult…" Kael murmured to himself.
His gaze lingered on the download option for the Flower-Flower Fruit. The ability was undeniably tempting, but he hesitated.
His Phone-Phone Fruit was an extraordinary power, capable of defying conventional logic, but it came with a critical limitation: any skill or ability he downloaded would remain fixed at its current level. Improvement through training or personal effort wasn't possible. The only way to upgrade a downloaded skill was to re-download it after the original user improved.
"If I download Robin's intermediate-level mastery of the Flower-Flower Fruit now, it'll stay at that level unless I encounter her again and download an updated version." Kael thought, tapping his fingers against the table.
After a brief pause, Kael shook his head, resolving to prioritize what he needed most at the moment: "I should focus on what's essential right now. The Flower-Flower Fruit can wait. If I get another opportunity in the future, I'll take it."
Shifting his focus, Kael selected the knowledge-based skills: Historical Knowledge (Advanced Level) and Ancient Text Deciphering. These downloads were smaller in size and could be completed in less than an hour, providing him with the foundational knowledge he urgently required.
As the downloading process began, Kael leaned back in his chair, his mind already envisioning how this new knowledge would give him an edge in the situations to come. The addition of ancient text deciphering, in particular, could open doors to understanding the mysteries of the Poneglyphs and the hidden truths of the One-Piece world.
---
Without realizing it, another week had passed.
Knock! knock!
Kael, busy producing mobile phones at his desk, was startled by a hurried knock at the door.
"May I come in, Your Highness?" Came Pell's anxious voice from the other side.
"Come in." Kael replied calmly, placing the phone he just created on to the side.
Pell entered the chamber, and said with a grim expression: "Your Highness, there's been a rebellion in Yuba."
"Crocodile…" Kael muttered under his breath, as his expression darkened.
The rebellion had grown in scale, driven by the mounting anger of Alabasta's drought-stricken population. Years of suffering had pushed the citizens to the brink, their rage now directed at the Royal Family.
The kingdom's greatest strength—its vast population—had become its greatest vulnerability. With so many citizens rising against the monarchy, the kingdom struggled to maintain control and order.
"Ahh, this happened faster than I expected…" Kael sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair. He had foreseen this outcome, but the speed at which Crocodile's schemes were unfolding was alarming.
After Pell left, Kael turned his attention back to his work, pouring his efforts into producing more phones. He focused on expanding their distribution beyond Alabasta, leveraging foreign merchants to reach new markets.
His strategy yielded extraordinary results:
Sales surpassed 300,000 units.
Revenue reached a staggering 1.5 billion Beli.
Monthly communication fees brought in an additional 10 million Beli.
Kael's success in the mobile phone business had transformed him into one of the wealthiest individuals in Alabasta. His financial resources became a powerful tool, one he intended to use to counter Crocodile's growing influence.