Rainbase, the City of Dreams

It was a pretty easy decision to make.

When one had to choose between the home of a crumbling monarchy, and the city that every person in the country wishes they were in, there is only one way to go!

I brought out a map that I had stolen from Gorilla. Yes, actually stolen. I did not convince him to give it to me. I did not lie about what I needed it for, I just straight up stole the parchment off of his desk when he was not looking. On said map was a detailed depiction of the Alabasta Kingdom, showing their current location in Nanohana, all of the towns, villages, oases and such that peppered the desert landscape, and the major cities; this included my next destination, Rainbase. One of the most profitable cities in all of the Grand Line. Nobles and fat cats alike bumped elbows in their famous casinos. The perfect place to wait for the Straw Hats who were on their way to Alabasta as I sat there telling myself that I made a good decision.

The only issue that was in my way of marching through the city and claiming it as my own was also prevalent on the map, though. Right in the middle of the continent was a large strip of water, neatly bisecting the country in two, and leaving me separated from my destination.

Not an issue, though! For someone who can get things done normally, this was no problem at all.

I just walked up to the nearest person who happened to be walking by in the middle of the street and begged her attention. She was an older woman, perhaps in her 50's, and she was plump. Not nearly as chunky as Alvida had been, once upon a time, but still with her own girth. I nodded my head with a friendly smile as she turned to me.

"Thank you for your time. As I've heard it, it's normal for people to know and offer the best way to travel across the Sandoran River to get to Rainbase, right?" I queried.

I felt a breeze blow past my ear as my words took effect. The woman pointed back to the dock I had left earlier, and she said, "Yes, there's a passenger vessel that regularly ferries people across the river. I believe it just got in yesterday and should be leaving in the next hour or so."

"Thank you once again," I said, giving a short bow before trotting back to the port.

I had to ask another man which ship specifically ran across the river, and I was pointed in the right direction, towards the end of the docks, closest to the mouth of the river. There, at the end of the wood planks, there was a Galley ship tied off. A line of people had already formed, customers wanting to get across the water. The ship itself was rather long, if also narrow, and floated low in the water. At each side, row upon row of oars were held above the water, as if waiting for the chance to dip back in. On the deck, countless oarsmen sat in place, ready to ferry the rich patrons across. Those who were being let on to the Galley were allowed to leisurely lay towards the back, relaxing underneath a canvas canopy to blow out the sun. Fresh water was served, as well as plenty of exotic fruits and treats.

All I had to do was secure passage. Simple enough.

I approached the line, in my fanciful new clothes, and I was grateful to see that there was not too much of a disparity in choice of clothing. There were certainly plenty of foreigners, dressed in suits and cocktail dresses, flaunting their wealth, Yet even still, most wore the cultural garb of Alabasta. I just had to find the right sucker.

At the back of the line was a man in a dark suit that would not look out of place in the East Blue. He seemed quiet, but self-sure. Dark, styled hair, shaded glasses, a long dark mustache underneath an angular nose, and a smirk that lit up anytime he laid eyes on someone he deemed less fortunate. Just the kind of guy that deserved to lose his place in line.

I sidled up behind the man, nonchalant. He was carrying two suitcases, one of which was simply on the ground beside him. That must have been clothes and personal effects. The other that he kept tightly to his side was definitely the money with which he planned to gamble.

"Bright day, today," I exclaimed, holding my hand over my eyes to cast some shade. The man jumped ever-so-slightly, but peeked behind himself to view me.

"I suppose it is, isn't it?" he agreed. Even his voice sounded weasely.

"Yes. I cannot wait to dine at Rain Dinners this evening. It is so much cooler and refreshing than standing in this heat. Have you ever been to Rainbase before?"

"No, I have not. This is a first time I'm traveling there. And I hope to make a winning there no matter what."

"Oh? Well, where are you from? And how much did you bring with you? Don't worry, it's normal for you to answer these kinds of questions." The critical expression that came about from asking of his funds vanished with my keyword.

"Well, as for where I'm from, I hail from Water 7. The City of Shipwrights," he admitted. With my limited knowledge of the Grand Line, or any of the other Seas for that matter, I honestly had no clue where Water 7 was even located. But it seemed like a noble city, if their main function was repairing ships. I half-wondered if they worked on any ship, or only civilian and Marine vessels.

"And as for my possessions: several sets of clothes, some contracts for ships that I hope to sell to some key customers, and about 50,000,000 Beri to be used at the slots and tables."

I tried to keep my cool, but after hearing the amount, I quickly realized that is one of the highest amounts I had ever heard. And it was all there in that briefcase. This man looked at others and thought of them as less fortunate. But he had no idea just how unlucky he was.

"Very good. Very good. And, what might your name be?"

"My name is Ishigo Shitemanna. Professional appraiser and financial assistant." Well, wasn't he proud?

I nodded my head, looking him up and down. "Alright, that's all I needed to hear. Now, I want you to know that it's normal to think that you stole both of those suitcases from me."

The shades that Ishigo was wearing could not hide the way that his eyes darkened with worry. His wide forehead that looked shiny in the humid coastal air suddenly broke with visible sweat. He tugged at his shirt collar, showing his worry. "I-I had no idea, but, uhh-."

"And, I want you to know," I interrupted, needing full control of the situation, "that it's normal not to make a big fuss here on the docks. It's normal just to hand me my suitcases, and it's normal to give me your wallet with any identification in it as compensation for this theft." I was on a roll.

"It is normal for you to go back to whichever ship brought you here to begin with, and to beg they take you back to Water 7 free of charge on account you have no money. When you are halfway to your destination, it will be normal for you to forget this whole ordeal, and it is normal for you to believe you had just had your property stolen by some young street urchins who outwitted you. Does that sound normal?"

Ishigo had seemed mesmerized by my words, and as soon as my last command settled on his mind, he became a whirlwind of action. "Yes, yes of course it's normal, my apologies! Here!" He shoved both suitcases in my direction and reached into his suit jacket to bring out a billfold that was likewise bursting with cash. He placed it in my hands before running back the way I had come, worriedly glancing back at me. Too easy.

There were no issues boarding the Galley, and no complaints about the service on board. It was a quiet, peaceful journey along the Sandoran River. Several hours went by, though, and I began to wonder whether or not we would reach Rainbase by nightfall. The sun was already casting a long shadow, I could only assume it was close to four or five in the afternoon. As soon as my worries turned to annoyance at the speed of our travel, the Captain of the Galley pointed us all to the west, where just above the dunes we could see the shining, golden bananawani statue on the roof of Rain Dinners.The ship docked as close as it could to the city, and there, waiting for passengers, were several Giant Sand Crabs. They each had a platform on their back that made perfect perches for the big wigs and hotshots on their way to Rainbase. The trip from there was expedient, cruising along the countryside until, after merely an hour, the shining City of Dreams stood before them.

It was a beautiful sight to behold, and I had every intention of exploring the city as much as I could with my newfound wealth while waiting for the Straw Hats to make their appearance.

((Thanks once again for reading. I'm trying to get us as far as possible with each chapter, hopefully so that we can see some action eventually.))