Chapter 129: The Road to Rain Dinners
The streets of Rainbase were alive with the hum of activity, the air thick with the scent of saltwater, smoke, and the faint tang of alcohol. The Straw Hat crew moved through the bustling crowd with purpose, their eyes fixed on the towering structure of Rain Dinners, Crocodile's casino, which loomed in the distance like a fortress of greed and corruption. The building was a spectacle of opulence, its white walls gleaming in the fading sunlight, its grand entrance flanked by towering palm trees and fountains that sparkled with crystal-clear water. But for the crew, it was a symbol of everything they were fighting against—a den of lies, manipulation, and the heart of Crocodile's operation.
As they made their way through the crowded streets, the tension in the air was palpable. The crew knew they were walking into a trap, but they also knew they had no choice. Crocodile was waiting for them, and they couldn't afford to hesitate.
Goku led the way, his tail swishing lazily behind him as he scanned the crowd. His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by a rare seriousness. He knew the stakes, and he knew the crew was counting on him to lead them through this.
Nami walked beside him, her brow furrowed in thought. "Goku, are you sure about this? Crocodile's not going to just let us waltz in there. He's probably got an army waiting for us."
Goku grinned, his confidence unwavering. "Let them come. We've got this."
Before Nami could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the street, and the crew turned to see a group of Baroque Works agents blocking their path. There were dozens of them, their faces hidden behind masks, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. At the front of the group stood a tall, lanky man with a smirk on his face, one of Crocodile's lower-ranking officers.
"Well, well, well," The officer drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. "If it isn't the Straw Hat crew. Mr. 0 sends his regards. He's been expecting you."
The crew tensed, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. But before anyone could move, Gin stepped forward, his sharp eyes narrowing as he cracked his knuckles. "I'll handle this. You guys keep moving. I'll take care of the small-timers."
Sanji, who had been walking silently beside Gin, lit a cigarette and exhaled a plume of smoke. "I'll stay and help. Someone's gotta make sure you don't get in over your head."
Gin smirked, his expression filled with confidence. "Thanks, Sanji. But I think I can handle a few goons."
The officer laughed, his voice filled with arrogance. "You think you can take us on? You're outnumbered, outmatched, and out of luck. But hey, if you want to play hero, be my guest."
Gin didn't respond. Instead, he charged forward, his movements swift and precise. The first agent didn't even have time to react before Gin's fist connected with his face, sending him flying into a nearby wall. The other agents hesitated for a moment, their confidence wavering, but Gin didn't give them a chance to regroup. He moved through the crowd like a whirlwind, his fists and feet striking with deadly accuracy.
Sanji, meanwhile, stood back, his cigarette dangling from his lips as he watched Gin work. "Not bad," he muttered, his voice filled with admiration. "But let's see if you can keep up."
With that, Sanji leaped into the fray, his legs a blur as he delivered a series of devastating kicks. The agents didn't stand a chance. Within moments, the street was littered with unconscious bodies, and the remaining agents were scrambling to retreat.
Gin and Sanji stood back-to-back, their breathing slightly labored but their expressions filled with satisfaction. "That was fun," Gin said, his voice filled with amusement. "But I think we're done here."
Sanji flicked the ash off his cigarette, his smirk widening. "Yeah, let's catch up with the others. They're probably already at Rain Dinners."
---
The Saiyan Pirate crew approached Rain Dinners, their footsteps firm and steady as they crossed the final stretch of street leading to the casino. The building was even more imposing up close, its grand entrance flanked by towering palm trees and fountains that sparkled with crystal-clear water. The doors were massive, their polished wood gleaming in the fading sunlight, and the windows were adorned with intricate carvings of sea creatures and desert landscapes.
But the grandeur of the building was overshadowed by the eerie silence that surrounded it. The streets were empty, the usual bustle of Rainbase replaced by an unsettling stillness. The crew knew they were walking into a trap, but they also knew they had no choice.
As they reached the entrance, Goku stopped and turned to the crew, his expression serious. "Alright, everyone. This is it. Crocodile's waiting for us, and he's not going to make this easy. But we've got this. Stick together, watch each other's backs, and don't let your guard down."
The crew nodded, their resolve hardening. They knew the stakes, and they knew they had to keep going. The fate of Alabasta depended on it.
With that, Goku pushed open the doors to Rain Dinners, and the crew stepped inside.
The interior of the casino was a spectacle of opulence and excess. The walls were adorned with gold and silver, their surfaces polished to a mirror-like sheen. The floors were made of marble, their surfaces smooth and cool beneath their feet. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the faint tang of alcohol, and the sound of clinking glasses and the occasional roar of a crowd echoed through the halls.
The main room was filled with tables and slot machines, their surfaces gleaming in the light of the chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. The walls were lined with paintings of desert landscapes and sea creatures, their colors vibrant and lifelike. The ceiling was adorned with intricate carvings of waves and palm trees, their surfaces polished to a mirror-like sheen.
But once again, grandeur of the casino was overshadowed by the eerie silence that surrounded it. The tables were empty, the slot machines silent, and the only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioning. The crew knew they were walking into a trap, but they also knew they had no choice.
As they made their way through the casino, the tension in the air was palpable. The crew knew they were walking into a trap, but they also knew they had no choice. Crocodile was waiting for them, and they couldn't afford to hesitate.
Goku led the way, his tail swishing lazily behind him as he scanned the room. His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by a rare seriousness. He knew the stakes, and he knew the crew was counting on him to lead them through this.
Nami walked beside him, her brow furrowed in thought. "Goku, are you sure about this?
Goku grinned, his confidence unwavering. "Let them come. We've got this."
The Straw Hat crew moved deeper into the casino, their footsteps echoing through the empty halls. The tension in the air was palpable, the silence broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioning. The crew knew they were walking into a trap, but they also knew they had no choice. Crocodile was waiting for them, and they couldn't afford to hesitate.
As they approached the final set of doors leading to Crocodile's office, Goku stopped and turned to the crew, his expression serious. "Alright, everyone. This is it."
The crew nodded, their resolve hardening. They knew the stakes, and they knew they had to keep going. The fate of Alabasta depended on it.
With that, Goku pushed open the doors to Crocodile's office, and the crew stepped inside.
The room was vast, its walls adorned with gold and silver, their surfaces polished to a mirror-like sheen. The floor was made of marble, its surface smooth and cool beneath their feet. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the faint tang of alcohol, and the sound of clinking glasses and the occasional roar of a crowd echoed through the halls.
At the far end of the room, seated on a lavish throne-like chair, was Crocodile. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his hook hand glinting ominously in the low light. Beside him stood Miss All-Sunday, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the palpable tension in the room.
Crocodile leaned forward, his voice low and commanding. "Welcome, Straw Hats. I've been expecting you."
Goku stepped forward, his tail swishing lazily behind him as he locked eyes with Crocodile. "We are the Straw Hats no more but the Saiyan Pirates. It is fitting that the new name comes with me kicking your butt."
Crocodile's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with menace. "We'll see about that."
The storm was coming, and the Saiyan Pirates were ready to meet it head-on.
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