One Piece: Nobody has more Devil Fruits than me.

He didn't dare to try at all.

But looking at all those bottles and jars around Russell...

"Captain, are you alright?" Bucky asked.

"Want a bottle too? This stuff is really good, it's addictive." Russell grinned, but his expression was already distorted.

Bucky shook his head frantically.

Crocus glanced at the ten bottles and jars beside him and said, "Russell, this is your current limit."

"That's true."

Russell exhaled a breath of stale air, which was accompanied by visible white steam. He clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked and popped. "I feel like my body is filled with power."

I have an urge to let it all out!

Russell now even feels that he could smash a small hill with a single punch.

Otherwise, the ultimate means to become stronger is technology.

Instead of slowly cultivating one's skills step by step, it's better to use technological means to accelerate the process.

Inviting Crocus to join the crew was a real stroke of luck.

There are no strict requirements for this way of getting stronger; the only thing needed is willpower.

but,

"I have no shortage of willpower!"

Russell clenched his fist tightly, the muscles in his arm tensing up at that moment, the veins wrapping around his arm like vines.

For Russell, only with a strong enough physique and abundant enough stamina can he better utilize the vast amount of abilities he possesses.

Just like the Shape-Shape Fruit, creating a monster tens of meters tall is no problem at all now.

But whales like Laboon, which are several hundred meters long, would be a bit of a challenge.

This is the issue of physical stamina limits.

Whether it's Devil Fruit abilities or the use of Haki, physical strength is the foundation of everything.

The upper limit of physical strength determines the upper limit of combat power.

People who are good at summarizing can quickly figure out what they want.

"The most important thing between wanting and getting is doing!"

The prerequisite for plundering the entire world is having sufficient strength.

Russell was well aware of his current strength. Defeating a Shichibukai of Hanafuda's caliber was indeed impressive; he could practically roam freely in the Paradise Sea, and Vice Admirals and below in the Marine Headquarters posed no real threat to him.

However, there is still a gap compared to those monsters who truly stand at the top.

Even the formidable lineup of the Kingdom of Gods couldn't have posed much of a threat to Im, who was possessed.

Chapter 103 Arrival in Alabasta (Seeking first subscription)

What does it mean to say that the Rocks Pirates were at their peak?

Rocks himself, Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom... any one of them is a monster capable of creating towering waves on the sea.

Not to mention Roger and Garp.

Even with this lineup besieging Im, they still couldn't take him down.

Russell is not even good enough to face Karp now.

There's still a long way to go!

Crocus looked at Russell and couldn't help but think to himself, "A captain's crew is a reflection of his captaincy."

All the cadres were taken on a field training exercise.

The ship continued sailing forward.

after a while,

Suddenly, a pirate's shout rang out from the lookout tower, "Mr. Crocus! We can see the mainland!"

Just as Crocus was about to inform Russell, the cabin door was pushed open from the inside.

Russell went up onto the deck.

He changed into clean clothes; his black shirt fluttered in the sea breeze.

"Have we finally arrived?"

Russell stood at the bow, his hands resting on the gunwale, gazing into the distance.

In the distance, the outline of a vast landmass can be seen.

It was a breathtaking grandeur, completely different from the small island nations we had passed through before. Alabasta's coastline stretched endlessly along the horizon, with no end in sight on either side.

This is a superpower.

Alabasta, one of the largest countries in the first half of the Grand Line, boasts a history spanning hundreds of years and a rich cultural heritage.

This country has such a large land area that it would rank among the top five on Earth, with a population in the tens of millions and dozens of cities.

“There’s a reason why Crocodile is eyeing this land so intently,” Russell said.

Occupying Alabasta is equivalent to having an extremely secure base on the Grand Line.

Furthermore, Crocodile's Devil Fruit is an exceptionally good fit for this desert country.

This confirms the connection between the Nefit family and the World Government.

Although they didn't go to Mary Geoise, the Nefit family received such a wealthy country, and they didn't have to pay the Heavenly Gold.

What is the concept of "heavenly gold"?

That was a huge tribute that member states of the World Government had to pay to the Celestial Dragons. Many small countries couldn't even afford to pay the Celestial Dragons' entire annual fiscal revenue, leaving their people living in extreme poverty, with starving corpses everywhere and people suffering terribly.

As we approached this area of ​​the sea, even though we were still on the open ocean, we could feel a dryness in the air.

The sea breeze blowing from the land brings not the moist, salty smell of seawater, but a dry, hot wind.

There were hardly any clouds visible on the sea, and the sky in the direction of Alabasta was clear and almost too blue.

Russell asked, "Has the drought in Alabasta gotten that bad?"

If the dryness is so pronounced at sea, the situation on land must be quite severe.

He remembered that in the original story, Crocodile used dancing powder to create a drought to frame the king, but the extent of the drought could only be truly understood by seeing it with one's own eyes.

Vivi stepped out of the cabin and recounted the plight of Alabasta over the years.

"It hasn't rained in Alabasta for about three years now. Large areas of the land are cracked and parched, resulting in almost no harvest. Farmers who relied on the land for their livelihood have been forced to leave their homes and flock to the cities. But the cities don't have enough resources to support so many people..."

Crocodile used dancing powder.

Dancing powder was distributed in towns and cities throughout Alabasta.

That thing can force rain to fall in one place, but at the cost of making the surrounding wider area even drier.

They created the drought on one hand and framed the king on the other.

Then he reappears as a hero, resolves the crisis, and naturally seizes the country.

Russell scoffed, “Crocodile certainly has the air of a ruthless leader.”

Then he turned to look at Robin, "Crocodile should be waiting over there by now, right?"

Robin flicked a strand of hair. "He should have arrived in the city with the rapeseed flowers by now."

Generally speaking, Crocodile resides in Rainfield, where Baroque Works headquarters are located.

Russell couldn't be bothered to go looking for that guy.

Have Robin summon Crocodile to the port city.

Normally, Robin wouldn't be able to command Crocodile, and given that man's suspicious nature, he might even have some doubts.

However, Russell instructed her to tell Crocodile that not only had Princess Vivi been captured, but they had also obtained the Poneglyphs.

Robin looked at the man in front of her and couldn't help but sigh, "You really have him completely under your control."

Bertrand Russell: "People who are obsessed with something are easily manipulated."

Crocodile desperately wants Hades.

Once a person has an obsession they can't let go of, it's easy for others to exploit their weaknesses.

Russell was simply using what he wanted most to lure him in.

.......

Rapeseed flowers in a port city in Alabasta.

The port city at the southeastern entrance is also one of the country's most prosperous trading ports.

This place is famous throughout the Grand Line for its perfumes. The spices and flower extracts from Alabasta are sold all over the world and are luxury items that many nobles and wealthy merchants covet.

Many times.