The sea stretched endlessly, its waves rising and falling as a pirate ship sailed through the waters.
Beside the pirate ship, a whale as large as an island occasionally breached the surface, letting out excited roars as if playing a game of chase with the ironclad ship.
The journey to Alabasta had been far smoother than Sig had anticipated.
With Laboon the whale by their side, ordinary-sized Sea Kings, sea beasts, or small-time pirates didn't dare to approach.
"I knew things wouldn't stay this smooth..."
Sig's expression darkened as he lay on a deck chair, listening to Gilman's report through the Den Den Mushi.
"Didn't I tell you to keep a low profile? How did you end up provoking a pirate with a 50 million berry bounty?"
Sig's voice carried a mix of shock and anger.
He had chosen Gilman because he thought the man was a reliable slacker, someone who wouldn't cause trouble. He hadn't expected this.
"Boss, I really didn't do anything. I've been keeping a low profile."
Gilman's voice sounded innocent.
"But that pirate, Pig, seems to be a fan of Doflamingo. He was deliberately causing trouble..."
"Fortunately, the people from the Pleasure District arrived in time to subdue him."
Things had turned out differently than he had expected.
He had thought that as long as they kept a low profile, they would avoid trouble.
But he hadn't considered that his name had become a loud and clear brand. Even if he tried to stay low-key, some things were unavoidable.
"This was really my mistake. Gilman and the others aren't strong. Even with the Pleasure District's help, if something happens again, there's no guarantee they won't fail."
"If they fail and can't fight back, my reputation will be ruined."
Sig's feelings about his reputation were complicated.
On one hand, he needed to build the reputation of the Pirate Mountain Bandit King to gather wealth and prepare for future plans.
But if his reputation grew too large... it would attract the attention of too many powerful figures, which was extremely dangerous.
Sig could only suppress his frustration and encourage Gilman over the phone:
"Facing a 50 million berry pirate must have been tough for you."
Sig sighed sincerely.
He even felt a sense of camaraderie.
For a long time, Sig had been walking this path, always facing powerful enemies who could flip the situation in an instant.
Now, one of his own subordinates had experienced this thrilling feeling.
"I understand how difficult it is for you. You did well."
Sig spoke these words from the heart.
The sincerity in his voice made the burly man on the other end of the line tremble slightly, his eyes reddening.
The boss understands me! And he's so considerate!
How can I live up to the boss's expectations and trust?
"No, I'm just too weak..."
Gilman tightened his grip on the receiver and whispered.
"Anyway, keep a low profile. If anything happens, rely on the Pleasure District. Don't take risks yourself..."
Sig hung up the phone, feeling silent and contemplative.
Meanwhile, on Loguetown, Gilman sat in deep thought after ending the call.
He had already discussed Kuro's strategy with Kuro and the bald man. It was still in its early stages, and it wasn't yet time to surprise Sig.
"I'm really too weak... right, Pig?"
Gilman turned to look at Pig, who was covered in injuries and bound by heavy chains.
"No, Boss Gilman, you're really strong. You're not weak at all."
Pig's face was bruised and swollen, and he mumbled his response.
According to the Pleasure District's rules, causing trouble that involved Sig's direct subordinate, Gilman, required paying a hefty fine.
Unable to afford the fine, the Pig Pirates had become laborers.
"Is that so? I really feel like I'm not strong enough."
Gilman murmured, his gaze distant.
The last incident had been resolved because the Pleasure District arrived in time, but next time, that might not be the case.
Gilman's eyes gradually grew firm.
He had drawn strength and conviction from Sig's words.
"I'll stake my ambition on this! I absolutely cannot let the boss down!"
"Starting today, I'll begin the ultimate training regimen!"
Alabasta, the desert kingdom. Royal Palace in the capital.
King Cobra paced back and forth in the palace courtyard, his face filled with irritation.
For some reason, he had been feeling restless lately.
Only when he looked at Vivi, playing in the flower garden with her maids, did his mood improve slightly.
"Vivi is truly the cutest in the world. She'll definitely become the world's greatest princess..."
Cobra stroked his beard and chuckled.
Vivi was only six years old, with long, smooth blue hair and fair skin—a rarity in the desert kingdom. She looked like a delicate porcelain doll.
Just as Cobra was smiling like a proud father, a voice interrupted him.
"Your Majesty, there's urgent news."
An official hurried over.
"In the waters near our kingdom, a giant island whale and a strange ship have been spotted entering our territory."
"Island whales are native to the West Blue and are rarely seen in the Grand Line. For one to grow this large... it's highly likely that this is Sig, who's been making waves recently!"
Cobra's expression changed drastically.
"That legendary lolicon! Is he coming for my Vivi? That devil!"
He almost immediately lost his composure.
"No wonder I've been feeling so uneasy lately. It's because of Sig..."
"Um... Your Majesty, I think you might be overreacting."
The official wiped his sweat and explained:
"Based on our analysis, Sig's destination is likely the port city of Rainbase."
"If Sig were heading for the capital, his landing point would be a bit too far out of the way."
Cobra gradually calmed down.
Mentioning Rainbase reminded him of a man of unfathomable depth.
"Crocodile is in Rainbase... Could Sig be coming for Crocodile?"
"Even if he's not, Crocodile won't just ignore a pirate of Sig's caliber."
Cobra relaxed a little.
Not long ago, Crocodile had arrived in Rainbase and spent a fortune to purchase the largest casino in the kingdom.
During this time, Crocodile had also helped deal with several troublesome pirates and had maintained a good relationship with the royal family.
Cobra had even considered entrusting the city of Rainbase to Crocodile.
But at the same time, he still felt uneasy.
"Sig is a legendary lolicon. Unless I see him locked up with my own eyes, I won't feel at ease. What if Crocodile fails..."
Glancing at Vivi, who was still playing in the garden, Cobra made a decision:
"No, I need to go to Rainbase!"
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