The Red Haired Devil

Chapter 17

By the time he finished explaining, he had smoked four cigars.

"You mean something like that really exists on this island?" Mr. 2 asked. "And we're going to steal the whole country along with it? This assignment is making me tremble all over!"

"So these new orders are the final pieces to one giant plan that Baroque Works has been working towards?" Mr. 1 asked to make sure.

"Yes, that is correct. Every assignment performed as an agent, every mission finished since Baroque Works was founded, has been part of the single operation. And those letters there are the final orders that you will receive." Crocodile said and they picked up the letters in front of them. "The time has finally come for Alabasta kingdom to disappear. Once each of you has completed the assignment you have before you, this desert kingdom will destroy itself from the inside out." After reading them, they burnt the letters. "The rebel and royal armies will have no where to go, no where to turn. As a result, they'll fall neatly into the hands of Baroque Works. If all goes according to plan, in a single night, Alabasta kingdom will become our Utopia. This mission is the final and most important act that Baroque Works will carry out. Failure is not an option. We begin tomorrow at noon."

"Yes, sir!"

"I wish you luck." Footsteps sounded through the room and Mr. 3 appeared at the top of the stairs.

"About this operation Utopia, may I ask you to postpone it for a while?" Mr. 3 asked. Crocodile narrowed his eyes at Mr. 3.

"How did you get here?" Ms. All Sunday asked. "The location of this room is a secret." Mr. 2 turned around in his chair.

"So what little hidey hole did you crawl out of to get here, Mr. 3?" He asked jumping up out of his chair. "Now I will finally complete my mission!"

"Hold on, Mr. 2." Crocodile ordered and Mr. 2 growled.

"I didn't crawl out from anywhere thank you very much. I merely followed you all from your meeting at Spiders' Cafe. It was easy enough to do. I just hitched a ride on the back of Bungies car unseen. Boss, at last we meet. I have humbly come here to beg for your forgiveness, and to ask that I may be given a second chance. You see Mr. 2, I knew that it was only a matter of time before someone was sent to eliminate me after I failed to complete the assignment that I was given." He started walking down the steps. "That is why I made the decision to change my course slightly and head directly for our headquarters at the Spiders' Cafe."

"You said you had failed to complete your mission. What are you talking about?" 

"Hm? Well, you know, how I was unfortunately unable to prevent the Straw Hat brats and princess Vivi from escaping, remember?" Crocodile growled in anger and his grip tightened on the handle to the tea cup. A second later, it shattered as he stood up.

"You're telling me that they got away? All of them? You're saying that they're still alive?! What were you talking about on the transponder snail? You said that they were dead! Princess Vivi and her bratty little pirate friends! You did deal with them, didn't you?!"

"The transponder snail? I don't know what you're talking about. I never used a transponder snail the entire time I was on Little Garden. Not even once."

"WHAT?!" He was seething with anger as he thought back to the phone call. He sat back down and lit a cigar. "This isn't good news. Although it does explain why the unluckies haven't returned from Little Garden. I assume you at least got rid of one or two of them."

"No, not exactly. Wait! The information I was given wasn't entirely accurate. There were four pirate escorts with princess Vivi, and then on top of that there was this really funny looking man with-"