Yuba.
A large oasis town, the trading center in the western part of Alabasta.
But at this moment, Yuba, once the western trade center, a major trading hub, and a popular vacation spot, is facing a drought.
Originally, with the water source of the Yuba Oasis and the unique underground hot springs, it could last for a long time even without rain.
But...
It was as if this place had been abandoned by the desert god. Starting from a year ago, not only did it not rain, but sandstorms also frequently swept through, non-stop.
In over a year, the sandstorms had completely swallowed this once beautiful oasis, leaving it thoroughly barren.
Now, most of the civilians in this town had fled to other cities, and those who remained had basically all joined the Rebel Army.
Therefore, this place was once again Alabasta, the main base of the Rebel Army.
No water.
It's believed that before long, even the Rebel Army will abandon this completely dried-up city!
Yuba. wap. kanshuwu.net
Outside the town.
Where the oasis used to be, an old man and a young man, back to back, were digging incessantly in the sand with their hoes.
The old man was wrapped entirely in a coat, his hair and beard were white. Judging by the wrinkles on his face, the old man must have been a corpulent person in the past, but at this moment, he seemed to be withering away like the town.
The young man was bare-chested, with goggles hanging around his neck. He had short, dark green, choppy hair and a small, vertical scar extending outward from his left eye.
The young man was the leader of Alabasta's Rebel Army, "Kosa."
And the old man was his father, "Toto."
They were both members who built Yuba.
Why did Yuba become a major trading town and tourist destination in the west?
It wasn't because of a vast oasis here.
Rather, nine years ago, Toto brought Kosa and countless others here, and together they developed this place, causing it to gradually prosper.
Clang—!
Toto stopped working, turned his head to stare at Kosa's back, frowned, and said sternly, "Don't doubt, Kosa."
Kosa continued digging, ignoring Toto.
Over the past few months, he had asked himself countless times if what he was doing was right, but every time he heard of a town's demise, his resolve grew stronger, and his heart became more steadfast.
Seeing that Kosa was ignoring him, Toto turned to face Kosa and said, "You should also be very clear about His Majesty the King's character."
Clang—!
Kosa's digging paused. He lowered his head and said calmly, "Only old people say things like that."
As he spoke, he raised his hoe and continued digging, "The reason I came to Yuba with Dad wasn't for the King."
"I know."
Toto laid his hoe flat, sat on it, and smiled as he looked at Kosa, "It's fine, haha!! As long as it rains, those strange rumors will definitely stop."
Clang—!
Kosa's movements paused. He put down his hoe, rested his right hand on the handle, "I also want to believe the King, but..."
Kosa turned his head to look at Toto, "It's only been a few months, and the Rebel Army already has nearly a hundred thousand people."
He paused, and images of countless people fighting for water flashed in his mind. Then he said, "And people are dying now. Unless this damned weather immediately brings rain, then..."
He didn't finish, but Toto knew what he meant.
Toto stood up, looked at Kosa, at this son whom he was once proud of, but who was now a fool, and said again, "Don't doubt, Kosa."
Kosa looked at Toto for a moment, but did not answer.
He turned around, bent down, grabbed the hoe handle with both hands, and resumed digging.
Looking at the oasis covered by sand on the ground, he couldn't help but recall the scene when he rushed to the capital and met the King, upon learning about the Dancing Powder incident months ago.
He truly didn't want to doubt the King, but this country, and countless people in this country, were suffering from drought and starvation.
He knew that the palace had a large amount of Dancing Powder. Even if he believed the King, most of the young people in this country no longer believed their King.
He wanted to ask the King for the Dancing Powder to use in other drought-stricken towns, but he was refused.
His idea was simple at first: just a little, it shouldn't matter much, right? As long as it really rained, perhaps the rebellions in other towns could be stopped.
But the King disagreed, and he could do nothing.
He didn't understand. He didn't understand why the King, who had the means to make it rain, didn't use it. He knew that using Dancing Powder would bring disaster, but wouldn't not using it also bring disaster?
Look at this country!
Look at the towns in this country!
Look at the former oasis of this country, now an empty city!
Look at the countless people who rose up to fight for water!
Is the disaster that hasn't happened yet, and might not even happen, truly more terrifying than the disaster happening right before their eyes?
He didn't know.
He only knew that he couldn't stand it anymore.
He couldn't stand watching the lifeblood of the drying cities, and the countless people within them, withering away.
Therefore, he had to resist, he had to fight, he had to personally seize the rain.
Just then, a boy wearing goggles rushed over from the town streets. As he got closer, he stopped abruptly.
"Ko... Ko, Kosa."
Clang—!
Kosa stopped, stood up, and turned to look at the panting girl, who was leaning on her knees, "What's wrong, Kibi?"
"Hic—"
Kibi took a deep breath, then straightened up and looked at Kosa sternly, "Kosa... Eruma, Eruma just sent word, Eruma has dried up."
"Huh!"
Kosa put down his hoe, straightened up, and stared at Kibi with disbelief, "How could Eruma dry up? That's the largest oasis in Alabasta, known as the City of the Oasis!"
Toto also turned to look at Kibi and asked, "How could it dry up there?"
He stared at Kibi and asked excitedly, "There's an artificial canal from the Sandora River. As long as the Sandora River doesn't dry up, how could it dry up there?"
Kibi glanced at Toto, then turned to stare at Kosa.
"The Sandora River was destroyed by someone."
Boom—!
Like a bolt from the blue, Kosa and Toto froze in place.
"Destroyed by someone?"
They could already imagine how panicked the people of Eruma must be right now.
It hadn't rained for over a year. With the oasis already dry, if the canal's water supply was gone.
Then...
Kosa put down his hoe, turned, and walked towards Kibi.
No more hesitation.
He didn't know who destroyed Eruma.
He only knew that if it didn't rain, this country would only get worse.
He had to rebel.
Even if Dancing Powder really brought disaster, he no longer cared. After all, that was a future event. He only wanted the present, he only wanted it to truly rain in this gradually drying Alabasta.
"Kosa, where are you going?"
Toto watched Kosa's retreating back and shouted, "Kosa, don't do anything foolish. Don't doubt. I believe it will rain in Alabasta soon. As long as it rains, as long as it rains..."
Seeing his foolish son, Kosa, who ignored him, Toto stopped in his tracks.
Tears streamed down his face.
He had a feeling that Kosa's departure might be a one-way trip.
He firmly believed that it would rain in Alabasta, and he firmly believed in their King.
Because their King was so benevolent, so loving towards his people.
He believed that he would never do anything detrimental to the country or its people.