One Piece : Rise of Thunder King

You can read the advance chapters here : patreon.com/Vigilante04

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Arthur walked through the corridor, observing the space inside the ring.

The inside of the ring was like a castle.

After passing through the gate, he found himself in a large hall with a wide staircase leading up.

Because the ring was circular, the castle inside followed the same shape. Including the basement, the castle had three levels. The first and second floors each had seven or eight rooms, while the basement had fewer rooms but covered a larger area. These rooms were connected by a circular corridor.

Arthur explored the castle and noticed it was well-designed. There were rooms like a master bedroom, a study, a wine cellar, and even a banquet hall.

"A perfect setup for traveling or as a portable home," Arthur thought.

He walked through all the rooms on each floor and nodded in approval. However, the castle was empty—no furniture at all. "I'll need to furnish this place," he thought.

He also considered adding a service robot to manage the castle's upkeep. "Having this space feels like having a personal butler," he mused.

After inspecting the inner space, Arthur used his brainwaves to control the ring. He exited the castle, and the ring reappeared on his finger.

Satisfied, Arthur turned to Tom and said, "This ring is a success."

Tom smiled and replied, "The ring's material is extremely durable. It was made by that guy, Wapol. Tough and hard to damage."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Wapol behaved himself, huh?"

Tom nodded. "Yes, he knows he has no chance of returning to power, especially with you around. Honestly, his Munch-Munch Fruit ability has been quite useful for us scientists. It's perfect for material fusion. Many new materials were developed thanks to him."

"Good to hear," Arthur said. "Let's focus on getting life-assisting robots next. I'm running out of time and have other matters to handle." With that, Arthur disappeared after Tom acknowledged him.

Later, with help from Morse Eddie, Arthur obtained human-like robot servants for his castle. He then returned to the Angel Empire, specifically to the Island of Gods, where he gathered furniture for the castle.

Arthur brought Nami's sister, Nojiko, into the ring as well. Then, he set off with her toward the Grand Line's entrance.

After a few days of preparations, Arthur's one-week monthly break was nearly over. This time, however, he had focused his rest period on important tasks.

He arrived in Alabasta, one of the world's larger kingdoms, a land covered in yellow sands and known for its scorching climate.

The only thriving city there was Rainbase, an oasis and the most prosperous place in Alabasta.

Rainbase was effectively controlled by Crocodile, who the citizens praised as a hero. Even the royal Nefertari family had no say in the city's affairs.

The liveliest spot in Rainbase was Crocodile's casino, a hub of activity and wealth.

In the depths of the Rainbase casino lay a hidden chamber where Crocodile spent most of his time. 

Massive glass walls surrounded a pool filled with fierce beasts and banana crocodiles. Despite their strength, none of them could break through the reinforced glass. Over time, even these wild creatures had grown accustomed to the impenetrable barrier and avoided approaching it. 

Crocodile hung up his Den Den Mushi, his expression dark and brooding. 

Recently, a rookie pirate had emerged, brazenly attacking his subordinates without hesitation. 

Although no one knew that the Baroque Works organization was his creation, it was foolish to challenge such a mysterious group. His agents were far from weak, with members like Mr. 3 and Mr. 4 being quite powerful. Yet, to his surprise and anger, they had been defeated by this upstart. 

"Those useless fools lost to a rookie pirate," Crocodile muttered, his frustration evident. 

What angered him even more was that this so-called rookie had dared to target him directly. A pirate with a mere bounty of 45 million berries, fresh out to sea, had the audacity to approach him. 

"When did my name lose its weight?" Crocodile thought, exhaling a cloud of smoke as his sharp gaze darkened. 

Being a Shichibukai seemed to have made others underestimate him, but he was determined to remind everyone of his power. If this rookie dared to confront him, Crocodile planned to teach them a harsh lesson about the reality of the pirate world. 

"Ku-hahahaha!" A confident, feminine laugh echoed through the room. 

Crocodile turned his cold eyes toward Nico Robin, who stood in the shadows with her usual calm demeanor. He exhaled another puff from his cigar and spoke in a low voice, "My plan to overthrow this country is about to begin. When the time comes, I'll need you to decode the Poneglyph. 

"Don't get any strange ideas, Nico Robin." 

"Understood, Mr. 0," Robin replied with her signature intellectual smile. Yet, her eyes glimmered with defiance, as if silently declaring that she would never bow to anyone, even if it cost her life. 

Meanwhile, high above Alabasta, Arthur surveyed the vast, yellow desert from the sky. 

Amidst the endless sands, a single oasis stood out—the bustling city of Rainbase. 

"So, Nico Robin should be there," Arthur murmured, focusing his gaze on the oasis. 

Robin, meanwhile, exited the casino through a hidden door, walking through a deserted alley toward the port. She planned to check on the Straw Hat Pirates. 

For reasons she couldn't explain, Robin felt a strange curiosity about the crew's captain. Something about the stern face on his wanted poster hinted at greater things to come. 

As she walked, Robin suddenly stopped, her eyes widening in shock. 

"You... You're King Arthur!" she exclaimed, her voice betraying her disbelief. 

Before her stood a young man seated on a floating throne, his presence commanding and unmistakable. 

Robin had encountered powerful Logia users before, including Admiral Aokiji, whose strength was terrifying. Knowing that Arthur stood on equal footing with such figures, she understood how immeasurable his power must be.

What Robin feared most now was falling into even greater danger—escaping one predator only to face another.

If Crocodile's manipulations left her wary but calculative, the presence of someone like Arthur filled her with despair. Is he here to capture me? To use me for those ancient secrets?

Her greatest fear was that Arthur, like Crocodile, sought the ancient weapon Pluton. If that was the case, Robin would rather die than comply.

Arthur noticed her tense expression and the unease in her gaze. He could guess what she was thinking.

"Hello, Nico Robin," he said calmly.

Despite her anxiety, Robin—who had been living a hunted life since she was eight—quickly regained her composure. Though her face remained pale, she forced a polite smile, a habit she'd perfected over the years.

"Hello, Mr. Arthur Wang," she replied. "May I ask why you stopped me?"

Arthur reclined casually on his floating throne, his eyes fixed on her. "It's nothing serious. I'm not here for you specifically. But I'd appreciate it if you came with me to take a look at something."

Robin's expression shifted subtly, suspicion flickering in her eyes. An ancient inscription? What else could it be?

Sensing her worry, Arthur offered a faint smile. "Relax. I'm not like that fool Crocodile. I'm not after Pluton."

Robin's eyes widened slightly. "How do you know about that?"

Crocodile's obsession with Pluton was a closely guarded secret, something he had only shared with her because of her knowledge of ancient texts. For Arthur to know this was unsettling.

Arthur chuckled softly. "I know many things, Robin. For instance, I know you never had any intention of helping Crocodile find Pluton. Even if you discovered its location, you would've spun a clever lie."

Robin's brow furrowed as she studied him. "If you already know I won't help people find Pluton, then why do you want me to translate something for you?"

Arthur shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know what it says myself."

He wasn't lying. He only remembered from the story that a Poneglyph had been in the cave where Luffy once fell. His real interest lay in meeting Robin and potentially learning more about that inscription.

"All I know is the location of a stone tablet. If possible, I'd like you to translate it for me. And while we're at it, there's something I'd like to discuss with you," he said, his tone calm yet firm.

Over the years, Arthur had taken every chance to strategically place his "pieces" on the chessboard of the world. Meeting Nico Robin was no different—it was part of his plan to establish connections for the future.