A moderate?
King Cobra felt the claim was absurd.
He was not a ruler renowned for personal combat prowess, but he understood what had just transpired.
The most elite royal guards of Alabasta had been rendered completely defenseless before Dragon.
Without making a major move, the fight had ended silently before it even began.
It was a blatant display of martial force.
However, Cobra was not a king who would bow to intimidation.
He cleared his throat, preparing to speak.
Before he could, Vivi spoke up.
“An organization?
You belong to an organization?
You even have a Leader?” The princess showed no fear of what had just occurred; instead, she asked with a mix of caution and curiosity.
“Vivi!” Cobra scolded his daughter, a rare sternness in his voice.
“You promised you would only observe.” He was naturally worried about her impulsive interruption.
Though her questions aligned with his own thoughts, speaking rashly to such a monster was inherently dangerous.
“It is quite alright, Princess,” Dragon replied, his tone surprisingly gentle.
“Our organization is called the Twelve Zodiacs.
As for our Leader…” Dragon’s tone grew solemn, infused with genuine reverence for this ‘Leader.’ “I cannot disclose details about him.
However, I assure you that we sincerely wish to cooperate with your kingdom, and we bear no ill intent.
If I truly harbored malice, I wouldn’t have landed at Erumalu—I would have marched straight into the capital.
The rain along the way was my ‘sincerity,’ King Cobra.” As he spoke, the metal cup in his hand softened under intense heat, puffing white steam before melting into a glowing blob of molten iron that dripped onto the floor, burning straight through the stone.
It was a silent demonstration—a subtle reminder that if he wished, he could effortlessly breach the palace and slay both the king and the princess.
The guards looked on with dark, indignant expressions, while King Cobra fell silent, a flash of shock hidden deep in his eyes.
After a long pause, Cobra finally spoke.
“Two things.
First, if you wish to cooperate, I must know what your organization seeks to gain from Alabasta.
Second, you have yet to offer concrete proof, so I cannot place my trust in you.
The story you just told could easily hold true if we replaced the ‘mastermind’ with your organization.
Unless these two matters are resolved, I will not agree to anything, even if you take my life here.” As he spoke, Cobra glanced subtly at Igaram, making a discreet hand signal.
Igaram instantly understood the command: if negotiations broke down, cover Princess Vivi’s escape at all costs.
Igaram’s posture stiffened with grim resolve.
Hearing Cobra’s response, Dragon chuckled in admiration.
“Worthy of being called Alabasta’s wise king.
Your courage and resolve are truly commendable.
But as I said, I am a businessman.
I will naturally address your concerns one by one.” He leaned forward slightly and raised a finger.
“Your first question: what do we want?
The answer is quite simple—we want Beli.” Cobra’s expression shifted dramatically.
“Beli?
Just Beli?” The king found it hard to believe.
He had considered numerous possibilities—coerced treaties, territorial concessions, or perhaps the secret hidden for centuries within the Royal Tomb.
He had not expected the visitor to demand mere currency.
It wasn’t that Beli lacked value, but for powerful organizations, liquid money was rarely the most critical resource.
“Just Beli…
though we also accept equivalent treasures,” Dragon said with a grin.
“I am an honest man, so I state my prices clearly: I can bring rain to Alabasta, covering one city per rainfall, at twenty hundred million Beli per rain.
Additionally, I will eliminate the mastermind behind this crisis for fifty hundred million Beli.
What do you think?” “There is a major problem with that offer, Sir Dragon,” Cobra countered decisively.
“Two billion Beli for a single rainfall is astronomically high.
Even if we imported water directly from neighboring countries, the cost would be far lower.
The maximum I can offer is three hundred million Beli per rain.
As for the mastermind…
fifty hundred million Beli is far too much.
You can’t tell me Whitebeard himself is lurking in Alabasta, can you?
I can offer twenty hundred million Beli at most.” Dragon slapped the table.
“Preposterous!
Three hundred million?
Using my abilities consumes stamina—it must be at least seven hundred million per rain!
As for the mastermind, he may not be Whitebeard, but he is still a formidable foe.
Besides, this concerns the fate of your entire nation.
You pay over ten billion Beli in Heavenly Tribute every year, yet you’re only willing to spend two billion to save your country?” Cobra stood his ground, his voice stern.
“If you know about the Heavenly Tribute, then you must know we just paid it this year!
The royal treasury is practically empty, not to mention the immense cost of relief and relocation for refugees once this crisis is resolved…” The two debated back and forth, holding firm on their demands until a final compromise was struck.
According to the agreed proposal, Dragon would bring rain to Alabasta’s cities for five hundred million Beli per rainfall.
To eliminate the mastermind behind the crisis, Alabasta would issue a bounty of three billion Beli.
Once the numbers were settled, Cobra looked back at Dragon with a grave expression.
“However, Sir…
though the terms are set, you still haven’t provided proof.” Dragon smiled softly and held up a second finger.
“That is not difficult, Your Majesty.
I can bring rain—that is now a known fact across Alabasta, and it is something the mastermind cannot tolerate.
Therefore, I only need to stay in the palace while you spread rumors that ‘Alabasta is about to receive rain.’ He will naturally send assassins to eliminate me—and when that happens, you will have your proof.” He spoke casually, almost with a hint of excitement.
Cobra was momentarily stunned, his gaze growing solemn as he looked at Dragon.
Clearly, he hadn’t expected the man to offer himself as bait.
“Are you certain?” “Of course,” Dragon replied calmly.
In his field of vision, the floating text screen displayed his status: [Roy Amos (Slice Clone – Dragon)] [Fruit Slots: 3] [Currently Equipped Fruits: Mag-Mag Fruit LV3, Ice-Ice Fruit LV3, Slice-Slice Fruit (Unavailable)] “I am certain.” With those words, the agreement was finalized.
Cobra said nothing more, immediately instructing Igaram to arrange accommodations for Dragon within the palace.
He then quietly watched the mysterious guest depart.
After Dragon left the room, Vivi, who had kept her eyes wide in disbelief throughout the exchange, looked at her father.
“Father…” She had never seen her father act like that—not as a king, but like a shrewd merchant haggling over prices.
More than that, she still couldn’t understand his logic.
“We still don’t know his true identity or his real goal, and his companion is a wanted criminal who robbed the Heavenly Tribute…
We are a World Government affiliate nation.
Why were you willing to cooperate with him?” Cobra looked at his daughter.
She was brave enough, but still too naive.
“Vivi, let me teach you a principle,” the king said earnestly.
“Sometimes, to judge a person, do not focus on what they say—look at what they do.” “What they do?” Vivi frowned slightly.
“He brought rain and relieved Alabasta’s immediate crisis,” Cobra explained softly.
“He possesses the power to easily slay you and me, yet he refrained from using force.
Most importantly, he could have used the kingdom’s plight to threaten me into paying a higher price.
Although the treasury is empty, if I forcibly taxed the populace, we could still squeeze out a fortune.” Cobra paused, his voice turning gentle.
“Yet he backed down during our haggling.
Why do you think that is, Vivi?” Vivi fell silent for a moment before arriving at the answer.
“…Many people would die.” Under the weight of a seven-month drought, Alabasta’s harvest was already devastated.
If the kingdom forcibly levied heavy taxes on its citizens, widespread famine and death would be inevitable.
Understanding dawned on Vivi.
“If he and his ‘Twelve Zodiacs’ were truly the villains responsible for the drought, he wouldn’t care whether the people lived or died.
But he compromised on the price…
which means he isn’t the mastermind behind this?” Cobra looked at his daughter with relief.
However, Vivi soon grew worried again.
“But what about the World Government…” “We are the rulers of Alabasta, Vivi,” Cobra said softly yet firmly.
“We chose to remain in this land, so our sole responsibility is to the people of this kingdom.
You only need to remember that.”