Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

Alabasta Kingdom... Baroque Works... 75 million Berries... Zoan-type Devil Fruit user...

These keywords immediately attracted Kai's attention.

He had heard of the Kingdom of Alabasta.

That was a historically significant desert nation on the Grand Line, which was said to be facing a serious internal crisis.

The mastermind behind this internal strife seems to be Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and his secret criminal organization, Baroque Works.

Baroque Works is known for its secretive methods, tight organization, and powerful members.

Their top agents are all battle-hardened, ruthless killers, with bounties often reaching tens of millions of Berries.

This Mr. X, with a bounty of 75 million, must be incredibly strong. He might even have mastered Haki or developed his Devil Fruit abilities to a very high degree.

This was undoubtedly a very attractive challenge for Kai, who had just finished his secluded training and was eager to test his strength.

Moreover, hunting down high-ranking agents of Baroque Works not only yields a hefty bounty but also weakens Crocodile's power to some extent, which seems to align with his vague sense of "benevolence"—after all, according to intelligence, Baroque Works has committed numerous crimes in Alabasta and is one of the main culprits that plunged the country into war.

At the same time, going to Alabasta would also give him the opportunity to get to know the mysterious and powerful Shichibukai Crocodile up close, as well as this desert kingdom that is currently in dire straits.

This is of great significance for him to broaden his horizons and understand the world situation.

After careful consideration, Kai quickly made a decision—to go to Alabasta and hunt down Mr. X!

He paid for the intelligence and obtained more detailed (though still limited) information about Mr. X, including his possible physical characteristics, preferred weapons, and general activity patterns.

Then he set off again, aboard a merchant ship bound for Alabasta, heading towards that desert country with its endless yellow sands.

As Kai's merchant ship slowly sailed into Naha, the port city of the Alabasta Kingdom, an atmosphere unlike any island he had ever experienced before washed over him.

Dry! Intense heat!

The air was thick with the smell of scorching dust, and the sun was so intense it felt like it would bake one's skin.

Looking around (although he couldn't see them, he could sketch their outlines through his senses), most of the buildings were in earthy yellow or sandy white tones, with a unique style and full of exotic charm.

The people on the street were dressed very differently from those on the previous islands. Most of them wore light and breathable robes and had headscarves wrapped around their heads to protect them from the wind, sand and scorching sun.

As Kai stepped off the gangway onto this unfamiliar land, he immediately felt the astonishing temperature emanating from the scorching sand beneath his feet.

He frowned slightly. This extremely dry and hot environment was undoubtedly a new challenge for someone like him who relied on hearing, smell, and subtle changes in airflow to perceive things.

High temperatures distort the air, interfering with the propagation of sound and the fluctuation of energy; ubiquitous sandstorms can confuse smells, cover up traces, and even cause some interference with his hearing.

But he did not back down.

Adapting to the environment and overcoming difficulties has always been his way of surviving.

He didn't linger long in the bustling but chaotic port city. He only replenished his supplies (buying enough water, some food that could be stored for a long time, and clothing and a headscarf more suitable for the desert environment) and asked the locals for some information about the area where Mr. X might appear. Then he resolutely stepped into the vast desert.

According to intelligence, Mr. X was last spotted near an oasis town close to the lower reaches of the St. John's River.

Kai's goal is to get there as quickly as possible and find traces of the target.

Walking in the desert is an extremely severe test.

During the day, the sun blazes down and the temperature is frighteningly high, as if you were in a giant furnace.

The sand beneath my feet was scorching hot; with each step, I felt like the soles of my shoes were about to melt.

The intense sunlight (though he couldn't feel the light, he could sense the scorching energy) and the distorted air due to the high temperature blurred his perception of distant objects, as if he were looking through frosted glass.

The sandstorms that occasionally swept up not only impaired his hearing but also completely disrupted the subtle scents in the air, making tracking extremely difficult.

At night, the temperature will drop sharply again, becoming extremely cold.

The desert nights are eerily silent, with only the howling wind and the occasional encounter with dangerous nocturnal desert creatures.

Kai relied on the indomitable will he had honed during his training on the deserted island and his exquisite control over his Haki to make his way through this sea of ​​death.

He learned how to control his own water loss more effectively and how to maintain physical and mental concentration in the sweltering heat.

He focused his Observation Haki, no longer spreading it out over a large area as before, but concentrating it more on sensing the structure of the sand beneath his feet (to avoid sinking into quicksand), the subtle movements of the surrounding air (to judge wind direction and possible hidden dangers), and the extremely faint aura or energy residue of targets that were briefly covered by the sand and then re-exposed.

Like a poplar tree growing tenaciously in the desert, he silently endured the harshness of the environment, taking one step at a time and moving firmly toward his goal.

His figure appeared small and lonely amidst the swirling yellow sand, yet it exuded an undeniable resilience.

He was like a silent shadow, traversing the vast desert, tracking the traces of evil hidden beneath the sandstorm.

After several days of arduous trekking and tracking through the desert, Kai finally arrived at the oasis town mentioned in the intelligence.

However, he did not find any trace of Mr. X here.

It was only from the still-shaken townspeople (and their lingering fear) that a group of mysterious and powerful people had indeed passed through the area a few days earlier, and seemed to have had brief contact with the local rebels before hurriedly leaving in one direction.

Kai continued his pursuit, following the directions given by the townspeople and the increasingly clear aura of his target (Mr. X's aura was very unique, carrying a wild brutality and a metallic coldness).

Ultimately, all the clues pointed to one place—the largest gambling city in the Kingdom of Alabasta, and one of Crocodile's strongholds, "Rainland"!

Kai arrived in the rainy place at dusk.

The city, built on a massive rock, takes on a luxurious yet slightly eerie golden hue under the setting sun.

In the heart of the city stands a massive pyramid-shaped building, the most famous and infamous casino in all of Alabasta – “Rain Banquet”.

Kai could clearly sense that although the city appeared prosperous and bustling on the surface, the casinos were even more crowded and filled with an atmosphere of money and desire.

But beneath this false prosperity lies a heavy, suffocating sense of oppression and an atmosphere of conspiracy.

It was as if a huge, invisible net was covering the entire city, and at the center of this net was the magnificent casino "Rain Banquet".

He knew that Mr. X was very likely in this city, or even in that casino.

This is one of Baroque Works' key strongholds in Alabasta, and the heart of Crocodile's conspiracy to control the country.

Kai did not act rashly.

He first found an inconspicuous corner on the outskirts of the city to settle down, and then carefully infiltrated the city to begin gathering intelligence.

He entered the enormous casino, "Rain Banquet."

The casino was extremely luxurious and opulent, with all kinds of gambling equipment available. Scantily clad bunny girls moved about inside, and the air was filled with an even stronger smell of alcohol, cigarettes, and money.

Countless gamblers squander their fortunes here, indulging in either illusory ecstasy or real despair.

But Kai's "insight" can see through this luxurious facade and perceive the darkness hidden beneath.

He could sense that most of the seemingly attentive waiters and dealers in the casino carried a subtle, almost imperceptible, cold aura of Baroque Works agents.

He could sense that many gamblers weren't just driven by pure gambling desire, but rather by a sense of tension and probing, as if they were carrying a mission or purpose.

He could even sense that deep within the heavily guarded, closed areas of the casino, a powerful aura teeming with malice and conspiracy was lurking.

One of the auras was particularly powerful, cold, and carried a feeling of desert-like dryness and all-consuming nature, causing Kai's heart to involuntarily contract slightly.

Crocodile! Without a doubt, the owner of this aura is none other than the Shichibukai, "Crocodile" Crocodile! He's actually in this casino!

This discovery made Kai even more vigilant.

He knew that although his target this time was only Mr. X, if he exposed his identity or caused a disturbance here, he might directly confront Crocodile himself.

Given his current strength, facing a well-established Shichibukai would likely be a perilous situation.

He must be more careful.

He pretended to be an ordinary gambler in the casino, occasionally placing bets in some small games (still making small profits through his perception, but controlling them more carefully), and spending most of his time "wandering" around, pushing his perception to the limit, capturing information from every corner.

During this time, he also encountered some troubles.

Several men who appeared to be lower-level members of the Baroque Works (at the level of billionaires or millionaires) seemed to notice this somewhat "special" (blind yet mobile) stranger and tried to approach him to question or provoke him.

Kai did not choose to settle things peacefully, because he knew that in Baroque Works' territory, being too weak would only bring more trouble.

He dealt with those fools in an extremely concise, swift, and powerfully intimidating manner (without killing them, but merely incapacitating them temporarily and instilling fear), and then quickly disappeared into the crowd.

These minor clashes, though not causing a major uproar, successfully conveyed a message to Kai – he was not someone to be trifled with.

This also gave him a more direct understanding of the strength and style of Baroque Works members.

During his time lurking and gathering intelligence at the Rainy Casino, Kai remained highly vigilant and focused.

However, on several occasions, his "mental network," as precise as a radar, detected some familiar scents that unsettled him.

That aura was filled with sunshine, freedom, and a kind of... naive recklessness and persistence.

It's Luffy!

Kai's heart clenched suddenly, and almost instinctively he wanted to sever that sensory connection.

He couldn't be sure why Luffy and his crew were in Alabasta, but he could clearly sense that it wasn't just Luffy's aura; there were several other equally familiar auras mixed in—Nami's with a hint of cunning and greed, Usopp's with a mix of boasting and cowardice, Sanji's burning lust and chivalry, Zoro's sharpness like a drawn sword and his terrible sense of direction… there was even Chopper's pure and kind aura with a herbal scent, and Robin's mysterious aura, like a deep, ancient pool (Kai was deeply impressed by Robin's aura, but it seemed subtly different from when they were on the ship).

The Straw Hat Pirates! They actually arrived in Alabasta! And, it seems they're deeply embroiled in the country's chaos!

Kai could sense from afar that they seemed to be trudging through the vast desert, suffering from the heat and thirst.

He could sense that they seemed to be in a fierce conflict with Baroque Works, and the air was thick with the scent of battle.

He could even vaguely sense that a larger and more chaotic battle energy fluctuation was erupting in the direction of the distant capital Albana, which contained the indomitable and tenacious aura belonging to Luffy and his crew!

Every time she sensed those familiar auras, it was like an invisible needle piercing the still unhealed scar in Kai's heart.

Anger? Resentment? Discontent? Perhaps all of the above.

But more than anything, it was an extremely complex emotion that even he himself couldn't explain.

He recalled the despair and coldness of being abandoned, the excuses that were not trusted, and the vows he had made.