One Piece : Admiral Falcon is Pissed off again today!

"Ahem, so they are our Alabasta scholars after all!" Cobra, one of the rare wise monarchs in the One piece world, processed things faster than most.

With just a change in Michael's phrasing, he immediately grasped the deeper meaning.

"Igaram! Hurry and arrange lodgings for our Alabasta scholars—no! House them directly in the palace for now!"

Though Cobra and Michael had reached an understanding in an instant, he still chose to be cautious.

After all, with so many Ohara scholars rescued, it was best to keep them out of sight for the time being.

Once the heat died down, they could be given new identities.

"As you command, King Cobra."

Igaram promptly obeyed and led the scholars, headed by Dr. Clover, out of the hall.

Garp was still baffled, struggling to catch up.

"Huh? That's it?"

"What else?" Michael rolled his eyes at the old man Garp.

"This was always a mutual agreement. Did you think we needed to haggle back and forth?"

Smart men like Michael and Cobra knew their time was far too valuable to waste on trivial things.

"Lieutenant Commander Michael, thank you for returning Alabasta's scholars to their homeland" Cobra said solemnly.

"Tell me, what do you need from me?"

No beating around the bush—straight to the point! Michael loved dealing with people like this.

Simple and efficient!

"Your Majesty is truly decisive" Michael nodded. "Then I'll be blunt—I want to establish a Marine branch in Alabasta."

The moment Michael finished speaking, Cobra's expression shifted.

Not in refusal, but in weighing whether the trade was worth it...

Over two hundred outstanding scholars, each versed in various fields of knowledge, were exactly what Alabasta desperately needed.

Only knowledge could bring civilization.

But...

In exchange, would he have to allow the Marine to establish a branch in Alabasta, letting the World Government extend its reach into his country?

For any other World Government-affiliated nation, this would have been an easy decision—a shortcut to strengthening ties with both the Marine and the World Government.

But the Nefertari family, descendants of one of the twenty kings who founded the World Government...

They could have become Celestial Dragons but chose instead to return to their homeland.

They understood better than anyone the true nature of the World Government and the so-called "Celestial Dragons."

This was why Cobra had always refused to allow the Marine to station in Alabasta and had devoted national resources to raising a standing army of 600,000.

Though he cherished peace, he had no intention of letting his country fall under the World Government's oppressive control.

"I know what concerns you, Your Majesty. Rest assured—the person in charge of this branch... will only be me."

"But your identity remains that of a Marine officer."

"That's true," Michael nodded. "But my goals align surprisingly well with Your Majesty's."

Looking at Cobra, Michael took two steps forward and continued.

"As a member of the Nefertari family who should have become Celestial Dragons, you understand better than I do what the World Government and the Celestial Dragons mean for this world..."

"The harm outweighs the benefits."

Upon hearing Michael's words, Cobra's first reaction wasn't to respond or pretend not to hear these rebellious statements, but to glance at Garp standing nearby.

To his surprise, the previously enthusiastic Garp was now standing in place...

Fast asleep.

A huge snot bubble even formed on his nose.

"Vice Admiral Garp is..."

"Your Majesty Cobra, let's not worry about Vice Admiral Garp for now. What do you think of my proposal?" Michael gave a thoughtful look at the loudly snoring Garp before chuckling softly.

"Our goals... at least the majority of them, are the same, aren't they?"

"You want your country to be free from the World Government's influence, while I want the Marines to break free from their control... Essentially, what we both seek is no different."

****

"Michael, did King Cobra really agree to your demands just like that?"

Stella, who had witnessed everything in the hall, couldn't help but ask Michael.

"This is equivalent to going against the entire World Government! And he just agreed?"

"What's the big deal? Everything he's done in this country has been to shake off the World Government's influence."

"Ahem, alright, Michael. You should keep such talk to a minimum outside" said Garp, who had been loudly sleeping in the hall but was now wide awake.

To be precise...

He had never been asleep at all.

This old man might seem like a reckless brute with no brains, but in reality, he's a first-class actor with extremely sharp political instincts.

The moment he heard Michael was about to discuss treasonous matters with King Cobra, he immediately performed his grand sleeping act.

After all, Michael knew Garp was on his side...

But others didn't!

So Garp decided to play the role to the fullest.

"But how reliable is this plan of yours?" Garp asked in a low voice.

"Although we've settled the matter of building a Marine base here with Cobra, it still depends on Sengoku's approval for implementation."

Garp didn't elaborate, but Michael understood the implication.

Sengoku had the final say.

And Sengoku still on the World Government sides.

The Ohara incident might have shaken Sengoku's stance at most, but it was far from changing it completely.

"And why did you set your sights on Alabasta? Are you after their 600,000 standing army? Is this one of the three additional recruitment bases you mentioned besides Wano Country?"

"Of course not," Michael shook his head. "Alabasta isn't a recruitment base—it's a stronghold."

"A stronghold?"

"Alabasta is to me what Baltigo is to Dragon... Does that make it clearer?"

A wise ruler, no interference from World Government forces, favorable economic conditions for developing civilization.

Most importantly, in this country, everyone knows "Alabasta" but not the "World Government."

Unlike some nations that place the World Government on a pedestal.

Such an excellent environment naturally needed to be developed into a base early on.

Those sparks of revolution would ignite for the first time from the deserts and oasis of Alabasta!

****

After leaving the Alabasta royal palace, the group headed straight back to the warship.

Bogard, who had stayed behind on the ship immediately brought two major pieces of news...

"Vice Admiral Garp, we just received intel from Marine Headquarters!"

"Civil war in the Sorbet Kingdom! Monkey D. Dragon has led the Freedom Fighters into battle!"