Chapter 89: The Rebels Strike?

At this moment, on the streets of Rapeseed Flower Harbor, Mr. 2, now transformed into the likeness of King Cobra, was leading the disguised royal army, bowing his head to the citizens and offering his apologies. Every word that left his mouth pierced the hearts of the people like a needle, striking the most fragile nerve of the nation.

“I have come to apologize to you all. The one who stole the country’s rainwater—was me! In order for everyone to completely forget the sorrowful incident with the Dance Powder, I will utterly destroy Rapeseed Flower Harbor!”

The people were shocked after hearing “Cobra’s” words.

“Your Majesty, what kind of joke is this?”

“My king… what’s come over you?”

Then, “Cobra” raised both hands, shouting with a hint of madness, “Completely destroy this wicked city! Burn it to the ground!”

“As you command!” came the unified response from the “royal army” behind him, who then began their actions.

Just then, a tall man wearing glasses, mounted on a chestnut-colored horse, appeared between the royal army and the crowd. The moment he arrived, someone in the crowd recognized him—he was Koza, the son of Toto, childhood friend of Princess Vivi, and leader of the rebel army.

“You bastard king, what nonsense are you spouting? Stop it at once!” Koza shouted sternly.

“I am here to apologize. It was truly I who used Dance Powder to dry up this country…”

But before “Cobra” could finish, Koza, overcome with emotion, charged at him, roaring, “Didn’t I tell you to shut up, you scoundrel!”

Ignoring the royal soldiers who tried to block him, Koza lunged forward, yelling at “Cobra,” “Do you even know what those who perished in the parched cities felt as they died? Not one of them hated you. They never once blamed you! Even as they died, they still trusted you!”

Seeing “Cobra” unmoved, Koza continued shouting, “While they lived, they still believed—this is not the king’s fault, Cobra is a great king! So even if you have to lie, you should say, ‘It wasn’t me!’ Do you think you’re worthy of those who trust you, acting like this now?”

At that moment, a soldier from the “royal army” behind “Cobra” suddenly fired a cold shot at Koza’s left chest.

As the flintlock bullet was fired, cries erupted in the crowd: “Koza, look out!”

Koza, hit, fell to the ground, clutching his chest. Even as he lay there, he muttered, “We’re not fighting to destroy the country—we just want the truth!”

“Cobra’s” expression changed suddenly, and he murmured, “Looks like the timing is just right…”

Just then, someone from the rebel army rode up in haste and reported, “A huge ship has burst into the harbor!”

In the next instant, a mass of people surged in from the direction of the harbor, behind them a colossal ship, towering several times higher than the rooftops, barreled toward them as if driven by an immense force. Only after it crushed the row of buildings closest to the harbor did it finally come to a halt.

Amid the chaos, “Cobra” shifted back to Mr. 2’s face and commanded the “royal army,” “Set the fires and retreat!”

Moments later, flames began to spread throughout Rapeseed Flower Harbor.

At the very instant Mr. 2 had changed his disguise, in a nearby alley, the little girl who had been treated by Buffon earlier stood frozen in terror, slowly inching backward.

She muttered to herself, “How could the king turn into a cross-dresser? He isn’t the real king. I must tell everyone the truth!”

But at that moment, two figures appeared behind her—none other than the duo Mr. 1 and Miss Doublefinger.

Mr. 1 sneered, “That cross-dresser is always making such rookie mistakes.”

Miss Doublefinger said, “Poor little brat. What have you found out?”

The girl turned, face to face with the two menacing figures, instinctively ready to scream. But before she could, Mr. 1’s arm, transformed into a blade, flashed down, scattering a spray of bright blood. He spoke with feigned resignation, “Looks like we have to eradicate the roots.”

Meanwhile, chaos reigned on the main street as the disguised royal army, having set the fires, melted away from the rebels’ sight.

As Koza, now being bandaged by his comrades, glared viciously in the direction “Cobra” had vanished, he kept muttering, “No, the truth isn’t like this…”

The little girl, lying in a pool of blood, was quickly found by rebel soldiers. One scooped her up, shouting, “Doctor! Where’s the doctor? Quick, stop this child’s bleeding!”

Yet the girl gripped his hand, repeating, “No, it’s not like that. That’s not the real king. They’re not the real royal army!”

Hearing this, the soldier carried the girl to Koza, hoping he too would hear her words. But before they reached Koza’s side, the girl’s eyes had already closed.

Koza took the child, struggling to contain his fury. “Let this country be buried,” he said.

But just as he finished, a doctor rushed over. It was Palyuka, who had assisted Buffon in treating the civilians at Rapeseed Flower Harbor.

He pressed his fingers beneath the child’s nose, then declared, “Let go! There’s still hope for this child!”

Koza’s fierce expression instantly softened. “Really?” he asked urgently.

“I’ll do my best. If only the magician doctor Buffon were here—if he were, this girl would be back on her feet in minutes!” As Palyuka spoke, his eyes shone with admiration.

Upon hearing this, those nearby joined in:

“Yes, if the magician doctor Buffon were here, none of the wounded, not even this girl, would lose their lives!”

“Doctor Buffon must still be in Alabasta. Does anyone know where he is now?”

As more and more people discussed Buffon, an intelligence officer beside Koza whispered, “Doctor Buffon should be in Rainbase right now. Afterward, he’ll likely…”

He was nudged by someone next to him, signaling him to stop.

This gesture did not escape Koza. He pressed, “Go on!”

The man nodded and continued, “Princess Vivi is with him, along with the Straw Hat boy’s crew. They’re likely heading to Alubarna together!”

At Vivi’s name, Koza felt a pang in his heart, but quickly composed himself. Resolutely, he declared, “No matter what happens, nothing will stop us from attacking the capital, Alubarna! Contact all divisions—we launch our full assault on Alubarna now!”

“But our weapons…” someone started to protest.

Just then, a rebel ran up from the harbor, exclaiming, “Koza, sir, that giant ship that just arrived—it’s packed with weapons!”

“This must be fate!” Koza whispered, then, enduring the pain in his chest, climbed atop a crate in the midst of the crowd, raised his arm, and shouted, “Attack Alubarna!”