The rain did nothing to slow the Marines.
They moved in strict formation, their steps steady and disciplined as Vice Admiral Momonga led them forward.
Before departing, he offered a final salute to King Cobra, then turned and marched into the distance with his men.
Their armored footsteps struck the ground in unison, kicking up dust despite the damp air, a clear display of military resolve.
Cobra and the others watched in silence as the Marines disappeared from sight.
Although Nair had been restricted within the palace as a prince, it was still his duty to see off a Marine Vice Admiral.
As the last figures faded into the horizon, Pell stepped closer and spoke in a low voice.
“Your Highness, it has already been two weeks, and Crocodile…”
His concern was obvious.
Once the Marines were gone, Crocodile would no longer have any restraint.
Even with Nair’s strength, influence within the kingdom was not something that could be erased overnight.
Nair remained composed.
“Alabasta no longer fears Crocodile.
Once the Marines have left, I will settle this matter.
He is not our true enemy.”
His tone was steady, carrying quiet certainty.
Now that he held the position of prince, he would not allow Crocodile to continue manipulating the kingdom.
In truth, Nair understood the man well.
Crocodile was not reckless.
He was calculating, someone who would never act without a safety net.
Even during the Summit War, he had challenged Whitebeard, yet he would not dare act the same way against figures like Kaido or Big Mom.
He knew when to advance and when to withdraw.
That was what made him dangerous.
Still, Nair held an advantage.
Compared to what truly threatened Alabasta, Crocodile was only a minor obstacle.
The real enemy was the World Government.
The Nefertari royal family had once been among the twenty founding kings.
Unlike the others, they refused to ascend to the Holy Land and become Celestial Dragons.
That decision had long marked them as outsiders.
To the highest authorities, it was an act of betrayal.
In the original course of history, the Gorosei had already shown clear intent to eliminate the Nefertari line.
Nair had understood this during the confrontation in the palace.
He could have killed Crocodile then.
But doing so would have shattered the balance maintained by the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
The World Government would be forced to intervene directly.
At this point in time, Crocodile was still seen as a hero of Alabasta.
If he died under such circumstances, the royal family would become the perfect scapegoat.
The World Government would gain justification to erase them entirely, and even if the people resisted, their efforts would mean little.
Nair had no intention of handing them such an opportunity.
With that, he turned and walked back toward the palace, Pell following closely behind.
From a distance, Cobra watched the two figures.
A trace of relief passed through his eyes.
He gently placed a hand on Vivi’s head, his expression showing signs of fatigue.
“Let’s go, Vivi.”
“Yes, Father.”
Outside, the rain continued without pause.
Inside the palace, things had changed.
At the very least, Nair no longer treated his room as a storage space for Mobile Phones.
The environment had become quieter, more fitting for a prince.
Although he knew the general course of events, this was reality, not a story.
There were countless details that required deeper understanding.
Pell stood nearby, maintaining his silent watch with unwavering focus.
After an hour, Nair closed the book.
There was no need to rely solely on traditional learning.
He shifted his attention inward and began selecting skills.
Pirate World Pharmacy Beginner.
Pirate World History Beginner.
Pirate World Surgery Intermediate.
One by one, he downloaded them.
A surge of information flooded his mind, vast amounts of knowledge settling into place with unnatural ease.
It felt as though data had been directly written into his brain, yet there was no discomfort.
Compared to the immense capacity required for the Ice Ice Fruit, these smaller skills were insignificant.
Then, something caught his attention.
Pirate World History Expert Level, 100MB.
Pirate World Ancient Language Proficiency, 100MB.
Devil Fruit, Paramecia, Flower Flower Fruit Intermediate Usage, 10GB.
Nair’s gaze sharpened.
He immediately understood.
There was only one person who could possess all of these.
“Nico Robin…”
The name surfaced in his mind without hesitation.
She had likely entered the capital under Crocodile’s orders.
And now, she was close enough for him to access her abilities.