One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

The first half of the Grand Line.

On the way to Alabasta.

Master Tom, Grandma Kokoro, and Iceberg have settled in.

Roy promised that once he established his territory in the New World, he would allocate funds and manpower to support their development.

Meanwhile, in the specially made cell in the ship's cabin, Lucci and the other four had already woken up.

Roy entered the cell, with Scarlett following behind him, carrying food and water.

"Have something to eat."

Scarlett gently placed the tray on the ground.

Lucci stared coldly at Roy, without saying a word.

Kaku, Kalifa, and the others also remained silent, their eyes filled with vigilance and hostility.

Roy pulled over a chair and sat down.

"You have received CP training since childhood and are to serve the World Government."

But do you really understand the World Government? Do you understand the Celestial Dragons?

Lucci finally spoke, his voice icy.

"The Celestial Dragons are the creators and masters of the world."

It is our honor to serve the world government.

"Creator? Master?"

Roy smiled dismissively.

"Who told you that?"

"That's true."

Kalifa pushed up her glasses.

"This is the most basic common sense in our education and training."

Roy shook his head.

"What if I told you that the so-called Celestial Dragons are nothing more than the descendants of twenty kings from eight hundred years ago, who abuse their ancestors' merits and live a life of power and privilege?"

They are not creators, nor gods; they are just a bunch of spoiled good-for-nothings.

"absurd!"

Gabra roared,

"You are committing blasphemy!"

Looking at the five teenagers who had been completely brainwashed, Roy knew that ordinary persuasion was no longer effective.

Their minds were shaped by the World Government from childhood, and their loyalty to the Celestial Dragons was ingrained in their very bones.

"Since that's the case..."

Roy stood up, his eyes gleaming with silver light.

"Then I'll have to use a special method."

Roy finished speaking.

An invisible spiritual force quietly permeated and enveloped the entire cell.

Lucci and the others wanted to resist, but their will was as fragile as paper in the face of Roy's powerful mental strength.

"Relax... I won't hurt you."

Roy's voice was hypnotic.

"Just to help you... clear out some incorrect information."

The mental energy, like fine threads, slowly invaded the brains of the five people, searching for the beliefs and memories that had been forcibly instilled in them.

Roy handled the situation with extreme care, avoiding any damage to their fundamental personalities and memories.

Only the parts about "Celestial Dragons being gods" were removed and modified.

As Roy's mental power began to exert its influence.

Lucci and the others suddenly clutched their heads, groaning in pain.

The feeling of having one's brain invaded by a foreign force is like being pricked by countless needles.

Their consciousness began to blur, and fragmented images flashed before their eyes—harsh training, the instructors' reprimands, the great teachings about the Celestial Dragons…

"Ah... Ahhhhh—"

The five people fainted one after another and collapsed to the ground.

Roy withdrew his mental energy, clapped his hands, and looked at Scarlett.

"Alright, they should be much more 'clear-headed' when they wake up."

Scarlett looked at the unconscious boys with concern.

"Is this really okay?"

"It's better than letting them continue to be puppets of the World Government."

"Take good care of them for the next few days, and arrange training after they have adapted to the new concepts."

"clear."

A few days later, Lucci and the others woke up one after another.

Their eyes were no longer as cold and fervent as before; instead, they held a look of confusion and bewilderment.

Roy arranged for Scarlett and Cyrus to contact them and gradually guide them to accept the new worldview.

Meanwhile, Ark Proverbs arrived at its third destination – Alabasta.

Alabasta, a desert nation, is a superpower located in the first half of the Grand Line.

The capital, Albana, is located inland, while the port city of Rainylands is a famous gambling city.

The Ark Proverb landed outside the rain-covered land, and Roy let his companions roam freely.

He then led Tesoro, Barrett, and Hawkeye to the Rain Country's largest casino, "Rain Banquet."

The casino was bustling with noise, with all sorts of gamblers gathered around the tables, the clinking of chips echoing everywhere.

In the very center of the VIP gambling area, a man wearing a fur coat and smoking a cigar was leisurely playing poker.

Crocodile, a Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit user, is one of this year's Supernovas, with a bounty of 81 million Berries.

Roy walked straight to the opposite side of him and sat down, with Tezzolo and the other two standing behind him.

"Want to join me?" Roy smiled.

Crocodile raised his eyelids and glanced at Roy.

"A new face. Have you brought enough chips?"

Roy pulled a bag of gems from his pocket and dumped it on the table.

The dazzling light made the surrounding gamblers gasp in astonishment.

Crocodile narrowed his eyes slightly: "Interesting. Let's play a couple of rounds then."

The dealer deals the cards, and the game begins.

Roy said casually as he played cards.

"Crocodile, would you be interested in joining my pirate crew?"

The area around the gambling table fell silent instantly.

Crocodile paused for a moment, then let out a sneer.

"Your pirate crew? Kid, do you know who I am?"

"Crocodile, a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, is this year's Supernova."

Roy said calmly,

"But you're just a supernova."

Crocodile's face darkened: "What do you mean?"

"It means that you were able to dominate the first half of the Grand Line only because you had never seen a truly strong opponent."

Roy looked him straight in the eye.

"Logia-type Devil Fruits are indeed powerful, but how much do you know about Haki, physical techniques, Devil Fruit awakening...?"

"Arrogant!"

Crocodile slammed his fist on the table and stood up, causing the surrounding sand to swirl around him.

"You think you're qualified to lecture me?"

Tesoro immediately stepped forward, his body crackling with electricity.

"Watch your attitude, Crocodile."

Roy raised his hand to stop Tezzolo and continued speaking.

"Join my pirate crew, and I can help you become stronger."

If you think I can't do it, you're welcome to leave anytime; I won't stop you.

Crocodile sneered, "Help me become stronger? With your abilities?"

"Just me."

Roy nodded.

"Of course, if you don't believe me, we can make a bet."

"What kind of bet?"

"You and my men will fight."

Roy said,

"If you win, all these gems are yours, and I'll leave immediately."

If you lose, temporarily join my pirate crew and give me three months.

If you are still not satisfied after three months, you can leave at any time.

Crocodile looked at the priceless jewels on the table, then at Roy's confident expression, and weighed his options.

He is indeed very confident in his abilities.

Logia-type Devil Fruit users are practically invincible in Paradise. But these people in front of us... their auras are not weak.

"good!"

Crocodile finally nodded.

"But I demanded to fight in the desert, that's my home turf."

"Can."