Chapter 129 - 129 It’s Terrible That You Have No Culture

Chapter 129: Chapter 129 It's Terrible That You Have No Culture

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?

"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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