I am the Bandit King of the East Sea.

The sunset glow was a pale peach color, reddening the sky, and even the white clouds in the sky seemed to take the shape of red hearts.

Beneath the peach-colored sunset, a group of transvestites, dressed in fluffy, colorful long dresses, ran freely in the setting sun, their hairy legs exposed.

This is the Pink Island in the Grand Line, the location of the Kamabakka Kingdom.

That is, the transvestite kingdom ruled by Ivankov, the transvestite king.

"So I took Crocodile Boy back to my Kamabakka Kingdom and treated him."

Ivankov took a sip of tea and said slowly:

"The critically injured and near-death Crocodile Boy is less than one-tenth of his former strength, yet he still tries to escape from me, the doctor..."

"As a doctor, how could I possibly stand by and watch a dying patient leave without permission?"

At this point, Ivankov's expression also turned serious.

"And then?" Sieg asked.

"Then, I put a pair of shackles mixed with sea stone on Crocodile Boy to prevent him from running away on his own."

"Therefore, he recuperated in my pink kingdom for a full month."

"This is the secret of Crocodile Boy."

After Ivankov finished speaking, Sig's gaze gradually became vacant.

On the surface, Ivankov's words were impeccable.

But Sigurd, who was familiar with the plot, knew what kind of place the Pink Kingdom was.

This is a kingdom for transgender people! Everyone who comes here is forced to wear women's clothing...

For example, in the original story, Sanji, who had spent two years in the Kingdom of the Okama, was once trapped and forced to open the door to a new world.

Chapter 239 Arrival in Albana

In the original storyline, Sanji spent two years in the Kingdom of the Okama, which meant being chased by Okamas dressed as women under the setting sun for two years. He was eventually forced to learn Moonwalk and awaken Observation Haki...

"So... Crocodile, who's recuperating on the island, is also a big shot..."

"Terrifying!"

Sig gasped.

Moreover, Crocodile is a Devil Fruit user. Ivankov himself said that they even used Seastone to prevent Crocodile from escaping.

In other words, Crocodile's situation might have been even worse than Sanji's when he was on the island. After all, Crocodile wasn't good at hand-to-hand combat, and after wearing Seastone, he became incredibly delicate and fragile...

A picture quickly appeared in Sieg's mind.

.......

Even after hanging up the phone, Sieg's emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

"This is Crocodile's secret; he doesn't want his dark past exposed, which is why he's taking so many unusual actions..."

"I see, everything is connected now."

Sieg suddenly realized.

Shocking! Crocodile's secret is actually this!

He even considered writing a news article on this topic himself, which would likely be another sensational gossip story that would shock the world.

"I now know Crocodile's secret."

"However, just to be on the safe side, we should wait until Ivankov arrives and prepare two plans, one before and one after."

Such a thought crossed Sieg's mind.

As he pondered his next move, the ironclad ship approached the port on one side of the capital, Albana.

On the shore, people arranged by Kobra were already waiting there.

.............

Albana Royal Palace.

King Cobra sat on his throne, one hand supporting his chin, listening quietly to the reports from his ministers.

"Your Majesty, the reconstruction of Rain City is progressing smoothly... Thanks to the timely intervention of that hero, the damage is limited to the city's outskirts..."

"In addition, the people of Rain City have spontaneously initiated a fundraising campaign to build a statue commemorating the nameless hero."

"The statue's exact appearance was based on the photograph in that newspaper."

The minister also produced a cut-out newspaper photo, which was the one of Sieg holding his sister in his arms with his back to the crowd.

After all, Sieg was a wanted criminal with a bounty of one billion, so when these ministers discussed him, they tacitly concealed Sieg's real name and referred to him only as a hero.

"Ok?"

Cobra snapped out of his daze and quickly spoke:

“Sieg is a wanted criminal, after all. Erecting a statue for him would only give people something to criticize.”

Cobra instinctively tried to stop him.

But just as this thought crossed his mind, he couldn't help but recall that scene in Rain City.

Sig standing in mid-air with his back to all living beings is a sight that no one who experienced the event, including Cobra, can forget.

"The statue can be built, but its specific appearance should be kept vague."

"Neither Mr. Sig nor the girl he rescued from the storm should be clearly defined."

"Cobra gave the order."

Given this public sentiment, and the fact that people spontaneously raised funds to build the statue, Cobra naturally wouldn't stop them.

While Cobra was handling state affairs, he didn't notice that behind a pillar on one side of the palace, six-year-old Vivi was listening intently.

During this period, Sieg's deeds spread throughout the country.

Vivi couldn't say how many times she had heard about Sieg's deeds, and her curiosity was gradually piqued.

"An unsung hero who saved a city...that sounds amazing..."

Vivi blinked her big eyes, her mind filled with fantasies about a certain hero.

at this time.

An official strode in from outside the palace, his face beaming with joy.

"Your Majesty, the West... that nameless hero, he has indeed reached the port!"

"He's here?"

Cobra finally showed a look of surprise and immediately stood up from the throne.

"We must go greet them immediately..."

"No, Mr. Sig's identity is special; we must keep a low profile..."

Cobra pondered for a moment, then looked at Icarus beside him:

“Icarim, go to that palace for me and make sure to bring that hero here.”

Cobra solemnly gave the order.

After saying that, Cobra waved his hand:

"We must host a banquet to entertain Mr. Sieg."

"Alabasta will not forget its heroes."

............

About an hour later.

Sig and his party had already been discreetly led into the royal palace of Albana by Icarem.

King Cobra prepared a banquet to express his gratitude to Sieg on behalf of the entire Alabasta Kingdom in his royal capacity.

During the banquet, toasts were exchanged and guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely, which goes without saying.

After a few drinks, Sieg's complexion gradually became rosy.

He came to Alabasta's capital to meet Kobra, certainly not for the sake of such a feast.

Sieg didn't care about Cobra's thanks.

Rather, it was this aura of heroism, coupled with the respectful, even reverential, gazes of Cobra and others, that made Sieg feel a vague sense of unease.

Sieg came here not for the banquet, nor for gratitude; he had his own purpose.

"Hmm... my request might be a little excessive for Cobra, and it might be rejected."

Sig raised his glass and drank several glasses, feeling the warmth gradually rising within him. Sig was still pondering how to bring it up to Cobra.

"I am truly grateful for Mr. Sig's help. Mr. Sig not only saved the heroes of Rain City... but if it weren't for Mr. Sig, the entire country would have faced a crisis."

Opposite Sig, King Cobra's face was filled with gratitude.

Afterwards, Cobra gradually learned that the impact of this incident did not stop in Rain City.

Crocodile was able to destroy Rainlands today, and he can do the same again in the future. Destroying the entire Alabasta would not be difficult for him either.

"There's no need for such words. I'm just a mere bandit, unworthy of the title of hero."

Sieg let out a burp, his mind starting to wander:

"However, I do have a small request..."

Upon hearing this, Cobra appeared somewhat moved.

Cobra, of course, would not refuse to help Sig and repay this hero in any small way.

“Mr. Sig, please speak. You are a hero of our Alabasta. We will do our best to meet your needs.”

Putting down his glass, Cobra was a little tipsy and immediately patted his chest in agreement.

Chapter 240 Intangible Cultural Heritage