After many days at sea, the Heart Pirates finally arrived at the port city of Rapeseed Blossom in Alabasta.
Looking inland from the harbor, the vast stretch of golden sand under the scorching sun made the place feel unbearably hot. The ground was so heated that it seemed to be smoking, and just standing there made people break into a sweat even before stepping ashore.
Bepo looked especially miserable.
As a mink, he was resistant to the cold but extremely sensitive to heat. Seeing the harsh desert climate of Alabasta, he had no desire to go ashore at all.
Luckily, Law didn't force him. Instead, he let Bepo stay behind to watch over the ship while the others were free to move around. Law himself followed Carl, though his intentions were unclear.
As they walked into the city, Carl bought a hat to block out the sun.
Meanwhile, Law, already feeling the heat, took off his spotted hat.
"Law, do you have something you want to talk to me about in private?" Carl asked casually.
"Captain Carl, do you really plan to go up against the Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Law's voice carried a trace of disbelief. "The Warlords are officially recognized pirates under the protection of the World Government and the Marines. If you really make a move, aren't you afraid of being targeted by the Marines?"
Though Law was a pirate who didn't care much for rules, and he had encountered plenty of dangerous individuals, few dared to openly challenge the Warlords. Some pirates would even tremble just hearing their name.
The Seven Warlords weren't just a group of powerful pirates—behind them stood the Marines and the World Government!
Even the Four Emperors wouldn't carelessly provoke them.
Yet now, a rookie pirate crew was saying they planned to take on a Warlord. Even with their growing reputation, it still sounded unbelievable.
Carl glanced at Law and chuckled. "Law, have you forgotten? We've already fought a Marine Admiral. Compared to that, a Warlord isn't a big deal."
Law:
Now that he thought about it, that was true.
The Straw Hats were a bunch of lunatics who feared nothing!
Carl continued, "Law, your strength limits your imagination! We're fighting a Warlord simply because we want to—but that doesn't mean we're reckless. On the contrary, we've always been calm. We fully understand the consequences of going against a Warlord, but we're not afraid. Do you know why?"
"Because you guys are strong," Law answered seriously. It was a fact he had to acknowledge.
The Straw Hats were so powerful that they didn't even fear a Marine Admiral. That meant they could challenge a Warlord whenever they wanted, without any hesitation.
That was the privilege of strength.
"Heh, looks like you get it now, Law," Carl said, his gaze deepening. "That's right. It's because the Straw Hats are strong enough! The law of the sea is simple—it's survival of the fittest. Even the Marines and the World Government have to abide by it.
"Most people fear the World Government, the Marines, the Warlords, and the Four Emperors. But in the end, that fear comes from a lack of strength."
Law looked at Carl with a serious expression, reassessing his view of the Straw Hats.
As expected, powerful people really did think differently.
At that moment, Carl lowered his voice and said, "Besides, Law, don't you want to fight a Warlord yourself? Someone like Doflamingo?"
Law's body stiffened, and his grip on Kikoku tightened. He asked in a low voice, "How do you know?"
Carl smiled knowingly. "You don't need to worry about that, and I won't tell anyone.
"But Law, with the current strength of the Heart Pirates, you don't stand a chance against Doflamingo. You might not even get close to him. Worse, you'd be putting Bepo and the others in danger."
Carl's tone became serious. "So don't rush. At the very least, wait until you've mastered Haki."
Law fell silent for a moment before nodding solemnly.
He knew his own strength well. He wouldn't make a move against Doflamingo unless he was fully prepared.
As Carl said, acting recklessly would only get Bepo and the others killed. As much as he wanted revenge, his crew was just as important to him. He could risk his own life, but he wouldn't let his comrades die because of him.
Seeing Law nod, Carl smiled again.
As long as Law hadn't learned Haki yet, he would have to stay with them for now. The Straw Hats' medical team might as well include the Heart Pirates.
The two continued wandering around the city, but things seemed unusually chaotic. There were too many Marines around.
Carl adjusted the brim of his hat—not because he was afraid, but because he didn't want to draw attention too soon. The Straw Hats were currently helping Vivi, and if the Marines took notice of them now, it could cause unnecessary trouble.
After walking through the city for a while, Carl couldn't help but scratch his head.
It wasn't easy for Carl to gather information about the Straw Hats.
Right now, Rapeseed City was crawling with Marines, along with high-ranking agents of Baroque Works and their subordinates. They were all on high alert for any sign of the Straw Hats.
If Carl started asking too many questions, he'd attract unwanted attention.
"This is a hassle," Carl muttered. "If only I knew how to make a Vivre Card, it'd be much easier to find everyone. But why are there so many Marines here? Is there something I'm missing?"
Deciding not to overthink it, he planned to take Law to a restaurant for a meal.
Restaurants were always good places to gather intel.
He wasn't sure if the Straw Hats hadn't arrived yet or if they had already left. Since he couldn't sense any familiar presences with Observation Haki, his only option was to gather information discreetly.
Just as he was thinking about this, Carl suddenly spotted a man wearing a cloak. His lips curled into a smile.
Stepping forward, he patted the man's shoulder and whispered, "Sabo, hey there. I didn't expect to run into you here."
The cloaked man froze for a moment before quickly turning his head to look at Carl.
Now that he got a clear view, Carl saw the familiar blond hair, the scars hidden under the cloak, and the calm yet determined expression.
There was no doubt about it—this was Sabo, the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army and the sworn brother of Luffy and Ace.
Sabo's eyes flickered with recognition, and a small smile formed on his lips.
However, he immediately whispered, "This isn't the place to talk. Follow me."
Without hesitation, he turned and walked ahead.
Carl and Law casually followed, carefully avoiding the Marines and any suspicious individuals. Moving through the crowd undetected, they successfully slipped into a secluded alley with Sabo.
Once they were safe, Sabo pulled back his cloak, revealing his blond hair. The scar near his left eye stood out clearly.
He adjusted his top hat and smiled at Carl. "I'm Sabo of the Revolutionary Army. I've already heard about you from the leader. Mr. Carl, thank you for looking after Luffy all these years."
Carl waved his hand dismissively. "No need for formalities. I only trained Luffy because he was too damn annoying."
"Hahaha, right? Luffy was always so persistent as a kid. He used to pester Ace nonstop, and there was nothing Ace could do about it. He was such a handful!"
Talking about Luffy, Sabo's expression softened, as if countless memories had come rushing back.
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