The first thing to do was to get the moon near the water tower, and Weiwei urgently needed an expert with rich teaching experience to give her some guidance. Among the Navy, she was currently the strongest in swordsmanship she had access to. Zefa, along with admirals like Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, usually didn't specialize in swords, but that didn't mean they were incapable. She estimated that the swordsmanship level of these men could easily reach Level 6 — even without Devil Fruit abilities, they could cleave a mountain with a single sword stroke.
Would it be too much to invite their teachers to Alabasta to initiate military reforms and teach her personally?
Duddy shook his head slowly. "Sorry," he said sympathetically, "I understand the suffering of your country, and as for you... I admire your courage in going undercover in the enemy camp at such a young age. But I have been away from the Navy for several years now. I have no way of contacting Teacher Zefa anymore."
Weiwei felt a twinge of disappointment, but kept her composure gracefully. "What a pity... Then, what about you, Mr. Duddy?"
"What? What about me?" The middle-aged man was taken aback.
"Would you be willing to come to Alabasta as an instructor? Even though this is the age of firearms, Alabasta's 600,000-strong army still fights with swords and rides camels into battle. To maintain such an army imposes a heavy burden on the kingdom. If we could gradually transition to firearms, perhaps we could downsize and invest more in nation-building instead."
Weiwei spoke earnestly, her words clear and impassioned.
Her implication — treating Duddy as Zefa's "spare tire" — was obvious, but Duddy did not feel insulted or bitter. He never once thought he was stronger than his teacher. If it had been him, he would have done the same.
Weiwei had done her homework on his background and continued, "Many people say that 'Duddy with children' only dares to hunt pirates with low bounties. They think you're a coward. But in reality... you're just worried something might happen to you, leaving your daughter alone, right?"
She pointed toward the surrounding streets. "Loguetown — the birthplace and execution site of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger — stands at the entrance of the Grand Line. Do you think it's safe here? Just now, I passed three separate groups of vicious-looking pirates. It's far from safe. Mr. Duddy, bring your daughter to Alabasta. The Nefertari family holds a library accumulated over a thousand years, we have a comprehensive education system, and the royal family will reward you handsomely for your service. Isn't this a better future than bounty hunting?"
For a man who cherished his family and dreamed of giving everything to his daughter, Weiwei's offer wasn't just good — it was irresistible.
A stable career. A safe and nurturing environment for his child. Duddy looked at the dilapidated door of his home, and his heart wavered.
Seeing his hesitation, Weiwei pressed no further. Instead, she declared, "I still need to remain in the East Blue for a while longer. You can travel with me when I leave Loguetown, or set out for Alabasta on your own. While the situation there is tense, overall it's still peaceful for now. You can see it with your own eyes."
She didn't sugarcoat things. She, the princess herself, had gone undercover — that alone spoke volumes about the internal unrest. But the rebellion wouldn't fully ignite for another three years. For now, stability still prevailed.
Duddy thought deeply. The world was descending into chaos. To find a true paradise was a fantasy. At best, one could only choose the least chaotic place. Settling in Loguetown had been a compromise born out of necessity. If a better opportunity arose, he would gladly move. And in Weiwei's description, Alabasta sounded like the place he'd been searching for.
Weiwei left behind her personal token before bidding him farewell.
She wasn't worried about him finding Alabasta. He was a former Navy Headquarters elite; finding his way across the seas would be no trouble. Plus, he had connections worldwide.
Duddy's acceptance meant a bridge to Zefa himself. While he wouldn't decide on Zefa's behalf, he would surely relay Weiwei's proposal through his own channels. If Zefa ever reached a breaking point, Alabasta might become his new hope.
Weiwei then went to a nearby food shop and bought two large bags of East Blue–style dried fish, planning to bring them back for her pet duck, Karoo.
Walking out of the alley and less than two hundred meters ahead, she caught sight of Mr. 9's back.
Mr. 9 was gripping his iron club tightly. Opposite him stood a towering man — tall, thin, and over twice Weiwei's height. At 1.7 meters herself, this man easily stood over 3.4 meters tall — like a human bamboo pole.
They faced off in a narrow alley barely wide enough for one person. Neither seemed willing to give way.
The towering man wore a black velvet cloak and a monocle with crosshairs over his right eye. His facial expression was nonchalant, almost lazy. Looking down at Mr. 9, he gave a slow, appraising glance. When Weiwei stepped forward, his attention shifted, lingering momentarily on her sword.
Weiwei returned the look, noticing the long rifle cradled casually in his hands.
Today, there weren't many objects that resonated with her Haki senses clearly. Aside from her pet duck, Karoo, the strongest voice belonged to the famed sword "Hanauta" she had "borrowed."
Yet now, the rifle in the tall man's hands gave off a similar, clear resonance.
If Hanauta was a "named blade," then this rifle must be a "named gun."
Weiwei narrowed her eyes, glanced back at the path she had taken to recruit Duddy, and seemed to understand the situation.
"You are the famous East Blue sniper, Van Augur, aren't you? And the rifle in your hands must be the 'Senriku,' the famed precision rifle?"
"You know me? How curious." Van Augur's voice was dreamy, as if lost in thought. "It seems... I stand at a crossroads in life. What could it mean? I must contemplate it carefully."
Weiwei continued her approach, not fast, not slow — applying subtle psychological pressure without appearing aggressive.
Back when she approached Duddy, she had estimated her odds of victory. Even if she took one or two non-lethal shots, she could still win.
But facing Van Augur was another matter entirely.
Danger.
That was the overwhelming feeling he gave her.
Fortunately, he used a long-range weapon. The closer the distance, the better her odds.
Van Augur gazed at his rifle, silent for a long time, deep in thought.