One Piece: King of the World

Rainbase, an oasis city in Alabasta, is part of a land where every city is centered around an oasis. Building a city in the desert without such a water source would mean certain death.

In Claudius's memory, Rainbase would later be transformed by Crocodile into one of the most prosperous cities in Alabasta. It would become famous, in particular, for hosting the most impressive casino in the first half of the Grand Line. But right now, Rainbase was still just a modest town with a small population.

Crocodile, as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had entered Alabasta and swiftly dealt with some of the pirate threats. His power and decisive actions earned him the status of a noble—a knight—bestowed upon him by King Nefertari Cobra. The fief he was granted was none other than the city of Rainbase.

Although Alabasta's civilization was advanced in many respects, its governance still held onto some archaic traditions. Nobles here, even new ones like Crocodile, wielded significant power within their domains.

At this time, Claudius and his group were guests in Crocodile's newly acquired mansion in Rainbase. Crocodile had recovered from the effects of Claudius's "Death of Winter" technique, but he was still trying to understand how he had been caught off-guard. What kind of ability was that?

He wasn't the only one curious. The rest of Claudius's party looked just as puzzled.

"Why are you all staring at me like that? Do I look strange?" Claudius asked, lounging on a sofa with a glass of wine in hand.

After a pause, Crocodile frowned and said, "I may not know a lot about your abilities, but I have to ask, what exactly happened back there?"

"Yeah, what was that? Did you make Crocodile drunk with some kind of drink?" Enel added, his curiosity piqued.

Even little Robin, who had been quietly holding a book, was now eyeing Claudius with interest.

Claudius chuckled. "Ah, this is the power of science. You see, 'Death of Winter' is all about deception. It looks imposing and dramatic, but the real trick is in the 'intoxication.'"

Crocodile had suspected that the move was all show, but it still left him baffled. How could something that looked so grand fail to touch him physically yet still take him down?

"A large amount of liquid nitrogen rapidly vaporizes, increasing the nitrogen concentration in the surrounding area. This process is nearly imperceptible. You don't feel any difficulty breathing, and for a few seconds, there are no adverse reactions. But by the time you notice it, it's too late. You're already in a state of what I like to call 'nitrogen intoxication,' much stronger than any alcohol. Once that kicks in, any effective response is pretty much impossible," Claudius explained with a grin.

The room fell silent as everyone tried to digest what he had just said. Though the words made sense individually, they seemed foreign when strung together in this context.

Crocodile and the others looked utterly perplexed.

Claudius sighed and waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, it's terrible when there's a lack of culture. Forget it. Just think of it as a really powerful move."

Not wanting to seem ignorant, Crocodile took a sip from his glass, choosing not to press further. He then shifted his gaze to Enel. "I heard you won't be heading back to Mariejois after this?"

"That's right. I'm planning to roam the seas as a pirate and aim to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, like you," Enel replied confidently.

"With your Thunder Fruit powers, that should be achievable. I'll admit, I'm a bit envious of such a powerful ability," Crocodile said, his tone genuine.

After exchanging a few more words with Enel, Crocodile turned back to Claudius. "I've already finalized an arrangement with Doflamingo. He'll be providing the contraband—Dance powder."

Claudius nodded approvingly. "Good. So, what's your plan for Alabasta?"

"The Nefertari family holds significant influence in Alabasta. They are revered and trusted by the people. The first step is to erode that trust, to sow the seeds of doubt and internal strife," Crocodile said calmly, as if he were discussing the weather.

"So, you'll be aiding the rebels to undermine the royal family?" Claudius inquired, a slight smirk on his lips.

"Not exactly. That approach is too blunt. I aim to position myself as the hero of this nation. Once the rebels topple the royal family, I'll step in to quell the rebellion and restore order. With that move, I'll be seen as the savior of Alabasta and gain control of the country," Crocodile explained.

"Sounds like a solid plan, but building that kind of reputation will take time," Claudius said.

Crocodile nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Accumulating that level of prestige is a gradual process."

Claudius took a thoughtful sip from his glass. "Stick to your plan. I won't interfere."

Crocodile seemed satisfied with that response. After a moment's pause, he added, "There are rumors of Poneglyphs in Alabasta. Are you interested in those? Should I obtain one for you?"

At this, Robin's eyes lit up with sudden interest. She stared at both men, anticipation flickering in her gaze.

Claudius chuckled. "The Poneglyphs, huh? They're just icing on the cake. I'm not particularly concerned about them."

There was a time when Claudius would have been intrigued by the mysteries of the Void Century and the secrets hidden in the Poneglyphs. But he had since realized something: historical revelations might shake the world, but they were only catalysts. True change was brought about by power.

An ordinary man could uncover the greatest of secrets and broadcast them to the world, but what would that achieve? He would remain a nobody, easily swept away by the tides of history. The real players the ones who stood to gain would always be those in power.

So Claudius didn't care much about the Poneglyphs anymore. Whether someone exposed their secrets or not, he was more focused on consolidating his strength. That was what really mattered.

"Just icing on the cake, huh?" Crocodile echoed, a smile playing on his lips. "You might be right."

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