Chapter 98: Straw Hat-Marine Alliance
"I see it!! That's 'Rainbase'!! Yosh!!!!! Crocodile!! Your Ass Is Grass!!!" Luffy shouted as they were approaching 'Rainbase'.
"Oi! Luffy, don't drop me!" Nami scolded Luffy who grinned at her as his response. Nami was sitting on Luffy's shoulder and had her juicy thighs wrapped around his neck and his face.
Nojiko giggled as she was holding Luffy's right hand while Vivi was holding the other. Zoro and Sanji were walking beside the girls. Sanji was jealous as ever and was depressed at how lucky his captain was.
Zoro just smirked at the chef's misery.
Meanwhile, Usopp was holding Kaya's hand and they were in their own world. It was the next day and after some preparations, they headed towards 'Rainbase'.
In order to cure their boredom, Luffy offered to carry Nami which got the Sanji and the girls jealous, particularly Vivi and Nojiko who immediately occupied his hands.
Sanji resorted to glared angrily at Luffy while Zoro started snickering to himself. Vivi then started explaining the layout and notable locations of 'Rainbase'.
Rainbase is located to the northwest of Alabasta, with Yuba to the south and Alubarna and the Sandora River to the east. It takes one day to reach Rainbase from Yuba on foot.
Rainbase is a luxurious, booming city with many casinos and restaurants. Some of those include the Golden Slots, the Loose Slots, the Royale, the Fantasia and the Coin Banditts, among several others. There are also stables where steeds like horses and camels can rest.
Vivi revealed that Rain Dinners was the casino that Crocodile used as his secret base in Alabasta. It is most recognizable by the golden Bananawani statue built on top of its pyramid-like structure surrounded by a moat.
Nami was particularly excited about the gambling part of the city. Luffy allowed her to gamble using only 1000 Belly as her starting amount.
Nami grinned evilly, to which Luffy got scared and kinda excited. After a few more minutes of walking, they arrived at the entrance to 'Rainbase'.
"It's time to get off Nami. But first. Nom~!" Luffy bit gently on Nami's right thigh cutely. Nami blushed madly.
"Chu~!" Luffy then kissed the thigh and grinned at the blushing Nami.
"Oi!! How dare you violate Nami-swan!!!" Sanji shouted angrily. Zoro just sighed and shook his head.
"Can you just let them be, shitty cook?" The swordsman grumbled. Sanji suddenly started mumbling Poneglyphs. Zoro didn't understand, but he was sure that he heard his nane being uttered in Sanji's mumbling.
"Alright! You can get off now." Luffy said. After getting off him, Luffy's party immediately went towards Rain Dinners.
But not before taking a short break and exploring the luxurious city for a while. Luffy and Usopp entered a random restaurant which they found eye-catching.
They sat down and ordered a large barrel of water for themselves. Luffy then ordered more for the rest of his crew.
They did not notice, but Smoker and Tashigi were sitting right beside them. "But are you sure it's Crocodile and his organization? We can't find any connections to the Straw Hats and the princess either." Tashigi told Smoker.
"I can't say that I'm sure, Tashigi. But all we can do now is wait for something to happen.... " Smoker turned to look at his right to see Luffy and Usopp gulping down water like they haven't drank it for centuries.
" Ah..... That's some nice water. Oh hey Smokey. I heard what you and the cutie with the glasses over there said. And you wanna know something? " Luffy grinned at them.
" You guys are hitting the bullseye. Crocodile and his organization are up to something bad. We're here in Alabasta to help Vivi stop him from conquering Alabasta. " Luffy explained to Smoker who was surprised to see Luffy not running away from him.
" Are you serious, Straw Hat?" Smoker asked him.
"Yes. You can just join us in taking him down if you want." Luffy offered, making Smoker snort.
"A pirate crew joining forces with the Marines? That's laughable. " Smoker chuckled a little.
" It has happened before decades ago, the World Government just doesn't want you to know about it. " Luffy said mysteriously.
" Okay... Um... I'm not saying I'll join you, but I want to hear everything from the start. With sufficient evidence, the Marines can catch him, revoke his Warlord status and throw him to Impel Down. " Smoker explained.
" Usopp, go find Vivi and bring her here. " Luffy ordered. Usopp saluted him.
" Roger that, captain Luffy! " With that, Usopp ran out of the restaurant they were in, now in search of Vivi.
"So what, you're just gonna take credit for all of the work we did?" Luffy asked Smoker who shook his head.
"I'm not that kind of person. But the World Government may think otherwise. A pirate saving a country that is a part of the World Government? That is going to be embarrassing if it gets out. " Smoker smirked a little.
" 'Big News' Morgans would laugh at the World Government's face and publish it." Luffy argued with a smile on his face.
"Yeah, guess so. The World Government tried to cover up the revelation about Fire Fist's and your heritage but he published it anyway knowing full well what would happen if he went against them. " Smoker muttered. Tashigi was watching the conversation with a stunned expression.
'They're talking like they've been friends forever! How is this possible!? ' Tashigi asked herself while looking at Luffy.
"Luffy, I'm here!" Vivi hastily arrived beside Luffy's side. When she looked at Smoker and Tashigi, she widened her eyes in shock.
"Relax, princess. We're not here to detain you for having connections to pirates. We want to take down Crocodile like you do. So can you please explain what he has been doing in Alabasta from the start if you will? " Smoker asked while Tashigi took out a notepad and a pen. Vivi looked at Luffy who nodded.
" In addition to taking down Crocodile, he'll be sent to Impel Down and have his Warlord status revoked too. That's if Straw Hat here doesn't kill him first." Smoker grumbled. Vivi sighed and sat down.
" Fine, but please listen carefully. "
.
.
" This is a lot.....Did you get everything?" Smoker asked Tashigi while looking at her.
"Yes, Smoker-san." Tashigi replied and started cleaning her glasses. Smoker looked at Luffy.
" So what now Smokey? You got tons of evidence and a witness, you wanna join us and take down Crocodile or what? " Luffy asked him. Smoker sighed. Everyone was waiting for his answer, especially Tashigi.
She was expecting him to say no because Smoker would never work with pirates, but she wasn't ready for what's about to happen next.
"For the sake of the common folk, I will join forces with you. This is the only time I will be doing this, Straw Hat. After all of this is over, I will arrest you in accordance with my duty as a Marine. " Smoker declared seriously to the shock of everyone except for Luffy.
"Shishishishishi!! If you say so, Smokey! This could earn you and cutie a promotion, so you better use all you've got. " Luffy stretched out his hand. Smoker smiled a little and they shook hands.
'Did he just call me cutie? ' Tashigi thought while having a small blush on her face.
"Alright, we need to inform everyone. Usopp, Vivi. Go inform the rest about what just happened. And you, Smokey, need to inform your Marines too." Luffy looked at Smoker.
"I'll be on it right away, Smoker-san!" Tashigi saluted Smoker before running out of the restaurant along with Vivi and Usopp. They went their own ways.
"Never in my life would I imagine myself allying with pirates out of all people." Smoker grumbled.
"Hey, there's a first time for everything. Although, I have to ask, what kind of justice do you believe in? The Absolute version or do you have your own version? " Luffy asked him.
" I have my own personal one. The truth is, Absolute Justice is insane and should never be practiced. They will eradicate evil at all costs, even involving innocent deaths and immoral actions. " Smoker shook his head.
" Why don't you do anything?" Luffy asked him. Smoker snorted.
"Tch! Like the World Government would let a mere Captain of the Marines change the whole Justice system of the Marines. That's like saying a mere chore boy has the strength of Fleet Admiral Sengoku. " Smoker grumbled.
" You gotta start somewhere if you want to change it. Right now, the simplest thing you can do to get yourself up there is training." Luffy advised him.
" Am I seriously getting lectured by a pirate right now? " Smoker asked by grumbling to himself. Luffy laughed.
" You are! By one younger than you no less! Shishishishishi!! " Luffy laughed loudly, which irritated Smoker. Then, Tashigi and Zoro approached them.
"The whole squad is ready and waiting for your orders, Smoker-san." Tashigi reported. Smoker nodded and got up. Luffy got up too.
" Are you sure about this, Luffy? He's a Marine, a pirate's natural enemy. Working together with them is borderline impossible. " Zoro asked Luffy discreetly. Luffy patted his back.
" Relax Zoro, even though Smoker is a Marine, he's a trustworthy person and has a good heart. He wants to take down Crocodile just as much as we do for the sake of the common folk. " Luffy assured her. Zoro nodded, trusting his captain's judgement.
Smoker, Tashigi, Luffy and Zoro walked out of the restaurant and arrived outside, where they saw a platoon of Marines standing outside facing against the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates.
They were narrowing their eyes at each other. The civilians were watching while whispering amongst themselves and pointing at Smoker and Luffy.
Smoker stepped out and looked at his subordinates who looked back with concern in their facial expressions. Smoker sighed.
"I know this isn't what we usually do, but we have to in order to save tons of lives! That is our duty as Marines! And if we have to ally with pirates to do it, then so be it!" Smoker shouted. Luffy stepped up next and looked at everyone.
"Even though we might be enemies, we have a common enemy! Crocodile and his band of lackeys! They're right in front of us! " Luffy pointed at Rain Dinners.
" So let us forget our hostility with each other for the moment and take him down!!! Will you fight with me?! "
" HELL YEAH!!!!"
" YOSH!!!!! LET'S GO!!!!! CROCODILE!!! WE'RE COMING FOR YOU!!!!!"
To be continued....
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone