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  By the time the search was plete, nearly more than a thousand traitors had beeified and captured. Kohza looked around at the men who had once been his rades, now revealed as spies. His expression was both anger arayal.

  Coby stepped up beside him. "This is just a taste of what Baroque Works has been doing. They’ve infiltrated your ranks, and they’re maniputing this entire rebellion. If you keep fighting, you’re pying right into their hands."

  Kohza ched his fists, clearly struggling with the reality of the situatiouro his remaining loyal men, his voice strained. "We o charge to capital. Baroque Works has been pulling the strings, but we won’t let them destroy Abasta."

  Coby shook his head. "It’s not that easy. The royal army’s infiltrated too. The sed you show up, they’ll fire the first shot, and your rebel army will retaliate. After that, the war will be unstoppable."

  Kohza ched his fist. "And what should we do? Just watch as the kingdom dies?"

  Coby sneered, his toting. "And what’s your alternative? Charge in and kill i soldiers? Or maybe you’re pnning to take on Crocodile himself? He’s got a Logia fruit. Even if all of you charge at him, you ’t even scratch him." He paused, imagining the absurdity. "Though, if 700,000 people spat on him, it might work." He shook his head. "No, sit tight a us handle Baroque Works."

  Kohza stared at him, struggling with the weight of Coby’s words. "So, we just do nothing?"

  "Exactly," Coby replied bluntly. "We’re the ones who fight Crocodile. You charge in now, and you’re just pying into his hands."

  Vivi, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Kohza, please. I know how hard this is, but Coby’s right. Crocodile is the real enemy. If we stop him, we save Abasta without any more bloodshed."

  Kohza’s anger simmered, but he couldn’t argue with the logic. He nodded slowly, still visibly torn but willing to trust Vivi. "Alright. We’ll hold off. But you better stop him."

  Coby added, "That wouldn't work either. If there was no movement from the Rebel Army, Crocodile might halt his pn or do something even more drastic. You guys o charge he capital and wait outside it. Crocodile will assume yoing to attack, and he’ll put his pn in motion. Then we’ll swoop in to take him down."

  Kohza frowned, sidering the pn. "So we’re just bait?"

  "Exactly, you are a smart one, aren't you?" Coby firmed. "It’s the only way to draw him out without causing unnecessary bloodshed."

  Kohza g Vivi, who nodded in agreement. "We’ll do it," Kohza finally agreed. "But you better be ready to act fast. I won’t risk my men for long."

  "We will be," Coby assured him. "Once Crocodile shows his hand, we’ll be right there to cut it off."

  With the pled, Kohza reyed the orders to his men. They began to mobilize, preparing for the march towards the capital. The atmosphere in the camp was tense, but at least they weren't foolish pawns anymore. Kohza's men, though wary, trusted his judgment and moved swiftly to prepare.

  Once aboard, Coby called the crew together. "Alright, here’s the pn," he begaing straight to the point. "We’ll follow the Sandora River. From there, we’ll enter Alubarna on foot but from a different dire than the rebels. Not only will it be faster, but also, the path the rebels are using is being watched. So, we won't be seen."

  Nami leaned against the railing, nodding in agreement. "Good call. The fewer eyes on us, the better."

  Coby tinued, "But before we head to Alubarna, I want to take a detour to Rainbase. Luffy, Vivi, and I will go there first."

  "Rainbase? Why?" Zoro asked, crossing his arms.

  Coby sighed, knowing the answer would e with some grumbling. "Because Luffy won’t stop bugging me about fighting Crocodile. If we take him there first, he’ll get his fight, and we also gather some crucial intel."

  Luffy grinned, pung his palm. "Yeah! I’m ready to beat that Crocodile guy!"

  Nami raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t that risky? We’re trying to stop a war, not start one."

  Coby shrugged, keeping it simple. "Don’t worry, this will throw Crocodile off. It’ll give him a false sense of security. Plus, Luffy o see that he 't beat a Logia user without learning Haki. But since he’s dead set on fighting Crocodile, I’ll give him that ce. If he wins, great. If not, I’ll step in when we reach Alubarna. Sound good, Luffy?"

  Luffy grinned, clearly excited by the challenge. "Yeah! I’ll take him down!"

  Nami frowned, ed. "Coby, are you sure this is a good idea? What if something goes wrong?"

  Coby nodded, his expression rexed. "We’ve got a backup pn. If Luffy doesn’t win, I’ll ha. But he his fight to see the differen power. Plus, we’re not going in blind."

  Vivi seemed uain but trusted Coby's judgment. "Alright, but we o be careful. Crocodile is dangerous."

  "Right," Coby replied, gng at the crew. "Let’s get moving. We don’t want to waste time."

  The crew nodded as the Going Merry sailed along the Sandora River, the desert heat growing more inteh each passing hour. The river’s murky waters shimmered uhe scorg sun, casting a strange light over the ndscape.

  Luffy stood at the bow of the ship, grinning as the wind whipped through his hair. "This river’s so long! When do we get to the end?"

  Coby, who was leaning against the railing, gnced over at him. "Soon enough. Rainbase isn’t too far off."

  oved to join Nami, keeping his voice low as he spoke to her. "Whe there, keep the ship ready to move. We might o make a quick getaway."

  Nami gave him a brief nod. "Got it."

  As they sailed on, the crew sat in silence. Sanji lit a cigarette, leaning against the mast as he kept a watchful eye on the horizon. Zoro was dozing nearby, though anyone who knew him could tell he was alert despite his rexed posture.

  Finally, as the sun began to dawned day, the outline of Rainbase appeared in the distahe city, surrounded by the vast desert, was an oasis of lights and activity. It stood out against the barren ndscape like a bea.

  Luffy was the first to spot it, his excitement shining brighter than sun, as if he was the god of sun himself, how curious. "There it is! Let’s get in there and take down Crocodile!"

  Walking the desert from the river to Rainbase was arduous and scorg. The su down on them, "Fuck you, Sun God!" Sanji pined, earning a kick from Coby. Sweat dripped down their faces as they trudged through the sand. The dry heat made it hard to breathe, and every step felt like a struggle.

  Finally, they reached the city limits of Raihe massive o and surrounding buildings looming ahead. Luffy, driven by his usual insatiable hunger and thirst, bolted toward the avern. Usopp wasn’t far behind, both of them desperate for water. They burst through the doors, their shouts eg through the tavern.

  “Water! Water! Water!” they ted, smming their hands on the ter as they demanded relief from the desert heat.

  The bartender, startled by the sudden otion, quickly hahem be mugs of water. Luffy and Usopp grabbed the mugs, gulping dower as fast as they could. They didn't even notice who was sitting right o them—Smoker and Tashigi.

  Smoker, mid-drink, reized Usopp instantly. He spat out his water in surprise and pointed a fi him. “You! You’re a pirate!”

  Usopp froze, his eyes widening as he realized who was sitting beside them. Smoker’s face was a shod anger. It didn’t take him long to piece things together—just a few days ago, this very person had tricked him by handing over Baroque Works agents, Mr. 3 and Mr. 5, pretending to be a bounty hunter. Now, here he was, exposed as a pirate alongside Luffy.

  Luffy, blissfully unaware of the da first, tio chug down his water until he saw Usopp's face turn pale. Smoker's words finally registered, and Luffy's eyes widened in panic. He almost choked on his drink. "Shit!"

  --

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