Chapter 59 - 59 - Bait
Alabasta is an established kingdom with a long history. It is located on Sandy Island; roughly halfway through the first part of the Grand Line. Sandy Island is a Summer Island containing several cities, towns and a massive river.
It is an exotic country full of desert atmosphere.
Not long ago, it stopped raining everywhere except for the capital city of Alubarna, which made the place an oasis for a desert country.
The drought was thought to be caused by the King's private use of "dance powder," and was reported to the Navy.
And the seeds of civil war were planted at that moment.
"Ha.... It's really hot!"
After disembarking from the ship at the 'Rapeseed Flower' port, Will and his group got on the camel and started their journey to the desert.
In this case, the 100 cubic meters of space in the Infinity Gauntlet was a great advantage, allowing them to travel light, with plenty of food and water stored in it, so they didn't have to worry about dying of thirst.
"Are we there yet? This is Horrible weather!"
Blessed by the hot weather, Nami was wearing a three-point style swimsuit inside and a light scarf outside, like an exotic dancer.
"I see it, it should be up ahead!"
After hearing this, several people cheered up and headed straight to the 'oasis' ahead!
"This should be the 'Rainbase."
After entering the city, Will said under his breath as he took in the surrounding scenery.
There was no rain anywhere in Alabasta, and as the new dream city here, the home base of Crocodile, the kingdom's largest casino, the City of Dream, was located here.
"What's next?"
Will can't just hit Croc doorstep and ask for a fight, he's not so awesome.
However, it seems that the intelligence work of the Baroque Work Agency has always been controlled by Nico Robin, and then reported to the big boss Crocodile after sorting it out.
So is it possible to make some kind of agreement with Robin first?
Will's brows furrowed as he looked at the streets where people were coming and going.
"Let's go, let's find a place to stay first."
Then leaving Snow And Koby in the room, Will and Nami went to a tavern to get information, after all, travelling with two small children is still too noticeable.
Ten minutes later, Will drained his glass of wine, then swaggered over to the bartender and sat down.
"One more glass!"
"I say, the wine you have here is too expensive! For the same amount of money, you could buy at least one bucket of this size anywhere else!"
While complaining, Will exaggerated his gesture.
The bartender, probably because he had seen so many outsiders like him, skillfully gave him another glass and said: "It can't be helped for it to be expensive. Who makes this a desert country? Having a nice and fine wine to drink in this place is already a blessing!"
"That's true, there's water shortage everywhere along the way, it's hard to imagine how you guys have been living for so many years in this place."
At this point, the bartender also sighed, "Actually, there was a water shortage in the past, but it wasn't that serious, so it's still possible to maintain a normal life for the people."
"But then, just a few months ago, an unprecedented drought came out of nowhere and it stopped raining everywhere except for the capital city, Alubarna!"
"Already an unknown number of innocent people are dying of thirst!"
Will drained his cup of wheat wine again, then motioned for a refill.
"I've heard it said that the king secretly used 'dance powder' to make this happen?"
Although Will's voice was small, the bartender still looked around vigilantly before whispering back: Don't say such things in crowded places. Recently, it's been a little bit erratic. Many people have gathered together in private and I don't know what they are plotting. I don't want to be involved."
Will smiled, and then pretended to ask casually: "I know, but, I heard someone can introduce me to someone who does that kind of business? It just so happens that I have an old opponent who doesn't give me a face, and I want him to disappear. You know what I mean right? Do you know anything, my friend?"
With that, Will took out a bunch of Belis from his bosom and pushed it toward the bartender along with the empty wine glass.
The bartender took a quick glance around, and then lightly pocketed it in his arms.
"Then you've come to the right man. Third, from the east across the street, the code name is this..."
After silently noting the bartender's tapping rhythm, Will drained the last of his drink and greeted Nami as he left.
Just after they left, the young bartender quickly jotted something down on a note, then turned around and tapped twice on a wine compartment behind him to put the note down before continuing his work as if nothing had happened.
......
A few minutes later, Will and Nami arrived at a closed storefront, which from the outside looked like it had been abandoned for a long time.
Will walked up to the door and banged on it rhythmically according to the bartender.
After another 3 minutes of waiting, they heard a click and the door opened!
Will and Nami looked at each other and then walked in with a little caution.
It was dark inside, and then a voice came from the only glowing opening.
"Buying information or hiring a killer?"
Will's intention was to hire an assassin and kill the said assassin directly after 'fooling' him!
However, this approach can be done once or twice at most, and it is also very easy to attract the attention of Crocodile. After all, although there are so many senior agents. Those who have Devil Fruit Ability are known by all.
And even if he planned it like that, it would be hard to fool the baroque work agency's intelligence capabilities.
That's why Will changed his mind the moment he heard that the other party was still selling information.
He took out the gift Snow gave him from inside the space of his gauntlet, and then took out a blank piece of paper and started to write.
Then he handed the paper with some 'ghostwriting' written on it through the light opening.
"I want to know the information on this."
The man inside obviously couldn't read the ancient texts Will had written down according to the original copy, and this was also the first time he traded like.
So after a brief silence, the man inside continued, "Wait a moment, I can't evaluate the pay for this task, I need to report it."
"I understand!"
Will is also betting that such trivial matters will not be reported directly to Crocodile but to Miss All Sunday aka Nico Robin, who specializes in gathering information and intelligence!
And once this is in Robin's hands, the rest of the story is easy!
As an archaeologist, when facing the things that she pursued in her life, how could she not be moved!
After all, Crocodile took Robin in because of her ability to decipher ancient texts, and when Robin learned that Crocodile was after the ancient weapon 'Pluton', she was actually on the road of betrayal.
Then, in order to know the content of the ancient text, it seemed no different to betray Crocodile a bit earlier than the timeline.
After waiting for a full half-hour of boredom, the voice in the wall came once again.
But this time, the man was evidently replaced!
The fish… got hooked!