One Piece: Hashirama Template, Joins the Straw Hat Pirates Chapter 040

With Chopper joining the Straw Hat Pirates, under Nami’s command, the Merry finally continued its journey towards Alabasta.

To welcome Chopper, Sanji prepared a lavish feast during the voyage. Everyone began to revel, and Chopper was even plied with several bottles of alcohol by Liu Qing. The banquet lasted well into the night before it finally stopped.

The night passed without incident.

Time came to noon the next day. After more than a day of sailing, the Merry finally arrived at the coast of Alabasta.

Princess Vivi was overjoyed to finally return to her country, believing that her nation was saved.

However, what they didn’t know was that the rebel army was practically gone by now. The country was quite normal, showing no signs of rebellion whatsoever.

A group of powerful figures had been guarding Crocodile for 20 days straight, giving him no opportunity for any mischief. This had him practically in tears of frustration.

Meanwhile, with Luffy’s group.

As soon as they landed, they felt the full force of Alabasta’s special climate, which was perpetually summer.

Their entire vision was filled with swirling yellow sand, and the dry, hot wind made it difficult to open their eyes.

Under the scorching sun, the ground felt as if it had been roasted hot. Stepping on it, the fine sand burned their feet.

Luffy looked around and said somewhat boredly, “Why is there nothing here? Just sand and more sand.”

Vivi’s expression was heavy, and she sighed softly, “This used to be an oasis. Not long ago, it was a vibrant city.”

Zoro looked at Vivi speechlessly. “Are you sure you’re not mistaken? This place, with its ruins and broken walls, was an oasis not long ago? The change is too drastic.”

Vivi nodded slightly, her voice heavy. “Although it rarely rained here before, and people would store every precious drop of rainwater to maintain the city’s vitality, for some unknown reason, it hasn’t rained here for three years.”

Sanji’s hand, holding a cigarette, paused slightly. The smoke dissipated in the scorching sun, and he frowned. “Three years? That long?”

“This has never happened in Alabasta’s history! The only exception is the capital, Alubarna, where it rains even more than in the past,” Vivi said, gritting her teeth.

“Through my undercover investigation, all of this is due to the Shichibukai Crocodile’s continuous use of Dance Powder.”

Zoro and Sanji both frowned. “What’s that? Never heard of it. Let’s not say anything, lest we be called ignorant.”

Nami spoke up, “Dance Powder is also called Rain-Calling Powder. It gathers moisture from the surrounding area in one place, causing rain to fall there. It’s what’s known as artificial rain.”

Sanji asked, puzzled, “Wait, this sounds like a treasure. How could it cause this situation?”

“Sigh~ It started that way, yes. The country that invented Dance Powder was so happy to receive rain that its people danced, which is why it was named Dance Powder. But~ it has a fatal flaw,” Nami sighed.

Everyone turned to look at Nami, waiting for her to enlighten them.

Seeing Luffy and the others’ curious gazes, Nami continued, “Dance Powder doesn’t create rain out of thin air. It merely ‘plunders’ rain from other places. This causes the areas from which the rain is taken to become unusually dry.”

Liu Qing clicked his tongue. “So… this thing is a double-edged sword.”

Vivi gave a bitter smile, a smile full of helplessness and bitterness. Her expression grew even heavier with this smile. “When the news spread that a large amount of Dance Powder was secretly transported to the royal palace, the people all over the country fell into despair.”

Her voice was low, as if carrying the pain and sorrow of the entire nation’s people. “Everyone thought that the King was using Dance Powder to steal the rain, turning their homes into deserts.”

Vivi’s words echoed in the air, carrying a heartbreaking power.

Hearing this, Luffy’s brows furrowed tightly, and an angry expression appeared on his face. He pointed at Vivi angrily and shouted, “What?! Vivi, this is your dad’s fault!”

However, before his words finished, a foot suddenly flew out like lightning, kicking him hard on the head.

The force of the kick was immense, and Luffy stumbled, almost falling to the ground.

“Bastard! What nonsense are you spouting, you idiot?!” Sanji’s angry roar rang in Luffy’s ears. His face was filled with fury, clearly very displeased with Luffy’s words.

“How could Miss Vivi’s father do such a thing!” Nami also punched Luffy on the head.

Vivi smiled bitterly, “Of course not. My father had no idea how this Dance Powder got into the palace, which indicates there’s an inside traitor in the palace.”

Zoro crossed his arms and said in a deep voice, “This is all Crocodile’s plan, but what for? Even if he steals your country, what good would it do? This place will become a dead land.”

Vivi said helplessly, “I don’t know. I can’t imagine why he would do this.”

The group then left the area and continued towards the kingdom’s capital.

When they reached another city, Usopp pointed to a corner of a wall and exclaimed, “Look, there’s someone there!”

Everyone turned to look, and indeed, there was a person. They quickly rushed towards it. Upon reaching the wall, they realized it was a mummified corpse. The body was ragged and shriveled like a skeleton, as if it had been sleeping in the yellow sand for many years.

“What did we do wrong? Why are my people being treated this way? We already live in the desert, struggling every day to survive, why must we be treated like this still~~” Looking at the corpse, Vivi finally couldn’t bear it anymore and burst into heart-wrenching sobs.

Luffy looked at Vivi with determination and said loudly, “Vivi, let’s go. I can’t wait to crush that Crocodile.”

One day later, Nanohana.

Sunlight streamed down on the streets of Nanohana, Alabasta’s port city. Princess Vivi led the group slowly through the streets. The city was full of life and vitality, with shops lining both sides of the bustling streets, teeming with people. It was nothing like the two ruined towns they had seen earlier.

Thanks to Liu Qing’s specific instructions, Luffy didn’t get lost on his own this time, unlike in the original story. Instead, he stayed close to the group.

They strolled through the streets of Nanohana, admiring the city’s beauty while also inquiring about the kingdom’s rebel army.

However, to everyone’s confusion, no matter whom they asked, the answer was always the same: the rebel army had abandoned their rebellion against the king a few days ago, and everything in the city was developing in a positive direction.

This news surprised everyone, especially Liu Qing, whose reaction was the strongest: “The butterfly effect is that significant? Is Crocodile not going for Pluton anymore? Why would he suddenly give up instigating the people to rebel?”

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, unable to comprehend the reason behind it.

The group discussed in a corner for a long time without reaching a conclusion, but Luffy started complaining about being hungry.

“Ah~~ I’m hungry. Let’s go eat first! After we’re full, we can just go to the palace and find out, can’t we?” Luffy rubbed his stomach, sounding weak.

Princess Vivi, visibly relieved by the news, said in a lighthearted tone, “Let’s go. There’s a good tavern nearby. We’ll eat there.”

Vivi led the way to the tavern, followed closely by Luffy and the others. Before long, they arrived at the tavern and began to order food.

Meanwhile…

On the street where Luffy and his group had just been discussing things, a man wearing an orange cowboy hat with “Smile” and “Sad” badges on the brim and a skull plate hanging from it, a red bead necklace around his neck, an “ASCE” tattoo on his left arm with the “S” crossed out, a Whitebeard Pirates symbol tattooed on his back, a dagger usually tucked into his waist, and a backpack on his back, was being pulled by a fruit vendor trying to sell him fruit.

“Hey~ Handsome young man~ I haven’t seen you on this island before~ Is this your first time in Alabasta?” The fruit stand owner pulled Ace, revealing a cunning merchant’s smile.

Then he held up a golden apple and began to promote it: “See the apple in my hand? I’ll tell you a secret: this is an incredible treasure I secretly discovered while sneaking into ancient ruins. Just one bite, and you’ll live for ten thousand years! It’s a dream golden apple. Want to buy one?”

Ace looked at the owner with a black line across his forehead and said flatly, “Sorry, I’m not interested in living for ten thousand years. I just want to live in the present.”

After speaking, he ignored the owner and looked around.

“Hmm? I think I heard Luffy’s voice. Why don’t I see him? Is it just my imagination?” Ace wondered.

Then he headed directly towards the hotel where Luffy and the others were eating.

Just as Ace left, two more people appeared in front of the fruit stand owner.

One was a burly man with short silver hair, muscular build, two cigars in his mouth, and a Jitte weapon on his back. The other was a woman with long purple hair, ample bosom, red square-framed glasses, a red short-sleeved shirt, and a long sword at her waist.

It was Smoker and Tashigi.

The owner repeated the same sales pitch he gave Ace to the two newcomers.

“Do we look like idiots to you?” Smoker said, then his eyes caught Ace’s retreating figure. He instantly recognized him, ignored the owner, and called Tashigi to chase after Ace.