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In the grand Royal Palace of Alabasta, preparations were well underway for the arrival of a guest unlike any other the young King Anos of the Tru Kingdom.

The sprawling halls, filled with intricate tapestries and pillars adorned with alabaster carvings, hummed with the anxious energy of attendants and servants, all bustling about in anticipation of the momentous occasion.

The palace, a symbol of ancient strength and power, now found itself hosting one of the most significant events in recent history.

Anos, a figure that invoked both awe and fear across the seas, was no ordinary person. His rise to the throne in the South Blue was one marked by decisive action and an unyielding will.

The Tru Kingdom, under his rule, had quickly transformed from a struggling nation to a thriving powerhouse.

The people of Alabasta had heard tales of his leadership of how he had resolved their food crises, ensuring that no citizen went hungry, and how the economy had blossomed under his reign.

This was why the Tru Kingdom had become a place of fond memories for many.

Yet, as King Cobra of Alabasta prepared to meet Anos, his thoughts were less concerned with the young king's reputation and more with the gravity of their meeting.

For Cobra, the situation was dire. Alabasta had long-held secrets that could change the course of history, and in the hands of the wrong person, they could spell disaster.

The key to those secrets was none other than the Eternal Log Pose, a device that pointed directly to the Holy Land of Mariejois a treasure found only within the boundaries of Alabasta on the entire Grand Line.

This single artefact, so innocuous in appearance, held immense value. And only the Royal Palace of Alabasta had the means to control its power.

Cobra, with the weight of his kingdom's future pressing down on him, had made a decision.

He had declared boldly that the world would come to Alabasta, knowing that the Eternal Pose would draw in not just kings, but pirates, revolutionaries, and perhaps even forces far darker.

It was a risky move, but Cobra had faith that Anos would be among the first to arrive.

Anos, known for his far-reaching ambitions, wouldn't miss this opportunity.

The mention of Pluton, the ancient weapon capable of untold destruction, was enough to draw anyone's attention especially when it was rumoured to be hidden within the sands of Alabasta itself.

What made the situation even more dangerous was that only one person in the world could currently read the ancient Poneglyphs, the key to unlocking Pluton's secrets. And that person was a wild card, whose loyalty to any particular cause or king was uncertain.

Anos knew that nothing was guaranteed. Even though the original plan had been set in motion, the presence of so many powerful players could change everything.

Anos understood this well. His appearance in Alabasta would likely disrupt the delicate balance, forcing pirates, marines, and even revolutionaries to act in unpredictable ways.

That was why, before making his move, he had dispatched Daiki, his most trusted confidant, to eliminate any hidden dangers. Anos was not one to gamble.

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He preferred to neutralize threats before they ever had a chance to grow.

As the towering walls of the Alabasta palace loomed on the horizon, memories of the past weighed heavily on Anos's mind.

If not for his recent visit to Mariejois, he might have overlooked the importance of this moment. But now, he knew better.

The potential threat to his kingdom could not be ignored, and any failure to act now would only invite disaster in the future.

Even though no one could predict how the Tru Kingdom would evolve over the coming years, Anos was determined to protect his people by snuffing out any threat while it was still in its infancy.

He had no delusions of grandeur or dreams of conquest he simply sought stability for his kingdom. And now, that stability was being threatened by the very sands of Alabasta.

"When I learned that the ancient weapon Pluton was hidden within my kingdom, I couldn't believe it," Anos had admitted to Daiki in a rare moment of vulnerability. "But now, we must do what is necessary to ensure our survival."

The voyage to Alabasta had been long, but Anos and his crew were well-prepared.

The vast desert kingdom appeared before them two days after setting sail, its endless stretches of sand shimmering under the oppressive sun.

Alabasta was unlike any other Kingdom they had encountered before.

It wasn't just its size that set it apart it was the harsh, unforgiving climate that greeted them as soon as they neared the shore.

The bright, golden sands stretched far beyond the horizon, blending seamlessly with the pale blue sky.

It was a landscape devoid of the greenery and life that they had seen on previous islands.

Only a few scattered trees clung to life in this arid wilderness. Such stark contrasts were a hallmark of the Grand Line, where the environments of neighbouring islands could differ drastically, even if they were only a few days apart.

Suzu, one of Anos's most loyal companions, wiped the sweat from her brow as she stepped out onto the deck.

She was wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat, but even that couldn't shield her from the scorching heat. "Your Majesty, this Grand Line is truly something else. Just yesterday, it was freezing cold, and now it's unbearably hot!"

Anos glanced at her from his recliner, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "That's the Grand Line for you. It's an unpredictable place, filled with dangers and mysteries that have drawn people from all over the world. It's also where dreams are made and broken."

He lounged under the shade of a large umbrella, dressed casually in beach shorts and oversized sunglasses, sipping on a cold drink. "But it's also the place where we'll find the answers we're looking for," he added.

Suzu wasn't the only one feeling the effects of the heat. The entire crew seemed to be suffering from the rapid temperature change. But for Anos, this was nothing out of the ordinary.

There wasn't much to do aboard the ship except relax and enjoy the rare moments of peace between adventures.

"Your Majesty," Daiki spoke up, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Ever since we entered the Grand Line, I've noticed a bird following us. I don't know if it's my imagination, but it's been flying above us for quite some time."

Anos didn't even bother opening both eyes. He simply shifted slightly on his recliner, peering up at the sky through one eye. "You're not imagining it. That bird has been with us since we set sail."

Daiki's eyes widened as he looked up at the sky. "Is it... watching us?"

Anos chuckled softly, his demeanour calm as always. "Most likely. There are countless eyes on us, Daiki. Not just from that bird. We're being watched by nations, pirates, and even the Marines. But don't let it bother you. We haven't done anything suspicious."

Still, Daiki couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that crept up his spine. He stood up, scanning the sky intently. "But what if—"

"Relax," Anos interrupted, his tone dismissive. "Let it watch. We're far from being the only ones under scrutiny. We're sailing the seas, after all. Even if this bird disappears, something else will take its place soon enough."

Suzu, ever observant, chimed in, "Do you think it could be a new bird? You know, one of those that deliver the World Economic news?"

Anos nodded, taking another sip of his drink. "Most likely. They have their ways of keeping an eye on things. Don't worry about it. We have bigger concerns ahead."

Their conversation was interrupted when a crew member shouted from the crow's nest. "Your Majesty... there's a giant cat!"

Anos sat up, curious. He removed his sunglasses, and sure enough, there was a massive lucky cat on their sailing path. Its snow-white body gleamed in the sunlight, and one of its paws was raised as if to greet them.

The creature stood over fifty meters tall, its lower half submerged in the water.

To most people, such a sight would have been terrifying, but Anos and his crew had seen far stranger things on the Grand Line.

Suzu grinned. "So cute!" she exclaimed, as the cat's massive form loomed over them.

"What did you think it was?" Anos replied with a smirk. "It's just one of Alabasta's famous Sea Cats. Keep sailing."

And with that, Anos leaned back into his recliner, unbothered by the peculiar sight, as the ship continued toward the vast desert kingdom of Alabasta, where even greater mysteries awaited them.

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