Kuro stayed in Sabaody for a few days, then took a boat straight towards Paradise.
He didn't bring his Golden Lion this time; that thing requires a lot of people, and he was just here out of boredom, so there was no need for such a grand affair. However, this time, Kuro wished he could bring the Golden Lion over, because it would be faster.
He received news that his fellow countryman had not gone to the New World, but had instead reappeared on a certain route of the Grand Line.
That won't do!
This guy isn't going to run to the new world. What's wrong? Does he want to just stay in the first half and survive?
With that kind of strength, even if he can't beat the Seven Warlords of the Sea, surely he can escape? If he tries to hide, who could find him in the vast ocean? That won't do. He won't feel any pain then. Now, we'll force him out of the first half and send him to the New World to suffer, and that'll be the end of it.
In the warship's office, recalling the intelligence he had gathered, Kuro pointed to the shipping route on the nautical chart and asked, "Who is in charge of this route?"
"Who are you asking?" Lida asked, tilting her head.
Kuro: "..."
"Someone come here!"
He forgot who was in charge of this shipping route, and Clooney wasn't around. Fortunately, he still had some sensible navy personnel by his side.
A lieutenant colonel heard the shouts, pushed open the door, saluted, and said, "Lieutenant General!"
"Which Shichibukai is stationed on this route we're currently sailing on? Surely there aren't any Shichibukai here?" Kuro asked.
After all, there are only five Shichibukai right now, and there are still two routes where they haven't found anyone yet.
"Reporting to the general, it is 'King of the Desert' Crocodile," the lieutenant colonel said, head held high.
"Crocodile... Alright, you can leave now." Kuro waved his hand, signaling the lieutenant colonel to leave, then picked up the Den Den Mushi's receiver from the table and dialed a number.
Soon, the Den Den Mushi's appearance changed, becoming a creature with a horizontal scar above its mouth, and a cigar-like thing extending from its flesh into its mouth. It gently exhaled, producing a strange laugh that resembled smoke.
"Ha ha ha ha."
Hearing the high-pitched yet slow, eerie laughter, Kuro rolled his eyes. "Enough."
"Oh? That voice, Kuro?"
The person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi said, "You're not calling me to order me around like you would Rudolph, are you? I'm not like that gray catfish."
“I wasn’t planning on sending you out. I have a question for you. Have you seen a pirate with a 30 million bounty recently?” Kuro asked.
"Hey, Kuro!"
Den Den Mushi's face visibly darkened: "Are you provoking me?"
"I'm talking about 30 million, who provoked you? It wasn't that straw hat guy!"
Kuro realized what was happening and said irritably, "The pirate with 30 million, 'White Admiral' Sam William, has been reported to have sailed onto your route. Keep an eye on him, and if you find him, take him out while you're at it."
He definitely can't defeat him by force, since they're both Logia-types. But if Crocodile were to fight with the intention of taking him down, he'd probably take it more seriously and make William suffer.
Thirty million?
The person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "When did you start paying attention to the 30 million pirates?"
"Hey, don't underestimate thirty million. Be careful, if you get defeated by thirty million again, you'll lose all face." Kuro chuckled, taking a bite of a cigar.
Beep beep beep—
The Den Den Mushi suddenly went silent. Kuro shrugged, put the receiver back on, and said to Lida, "This crocodile can't accept defeat."
"No, being defeated by someone with 30 million is really embarrassing, Kuro. If you were defeated by someone with 30 million, would you feel the same way?" Lida asked curiously.
"Ha! How is that possible? I could be defeated by pirates worth thirty million?"
Kuro laughed heartily: "What, is it thirty million from eight hundred years ago?"
"No, it means if you were defeated by 30 million people..."
"There's no such 'if.' If there were, I'd either raise his bounty to the level of one of the Four Emperors, or he'd die in my siege!"
Kuro gritted his teeth and said, "How can a pirate with a mere 30 million taels defeat me? Don't I know how to fly? I'm not that idiot Crocodile who was knocked down by a little water."
It wasn't exactly a complete rout; Kuro delivered the final blow back then, but the situation was pretty much the same. For a dignified Shichibukai, a veteran pirate, to be pushed to that level by a rookie was humiliating enough.
There is a large island near Changdao Island. The island has a strange topography, which is shaped like a 'U'. The edges are all high mountains and cliffs. There is only one exit, which divides the island into two halves. The half near the exit has rivers and streams, lush vegetation, and fertile farmland, while the half near the high mountains and cliffs is all Gobi desert.
Although the terrain is good, there is little production here because the winds that blow from the Gobi Desert to the port from time to time bring up a lot of sand and gravel, which destroys farmland and a lot of houses, leaving the local residents to only watch the fertile land with envy.
However, this situation changed after Crocodile arrived.
At this time, the Gobi region of the island has been transformed into a desert area, and in the Gobi cliffs that cover most of the island, there is also a place that has been sanded away, revealing a gap.
Although there are still sandstorms, they are not as fierce as the gales that used to blow from the Gobi Desert. The residents, realizing this, expressed their gratitude to the people stationed here and regarded them as 'heroes'.
That's Crocodile.
He's not stupid; back in Alabasta, what he was best at was being a 'hero'.
If he could gain the respect of the locals through simple means, why resort to the thankless and arduous method of force?
He's not a reckless fool.
In the middle of that greening desert landscape, a brand-new palace stood. Crocodile stared grimly at the Den Den Mushi he had just hung up on, muttering, "Damn Kuro!"
Thirty million, just casually mentioning thirty million, what else could this be but sarcasm?!
Mr. 1, who was sitting to the side, thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Boss, the bounty of a pirate who can be targeted by that person should not be anything special."
"I know."
Crocodile took a deep breath, his gloomy expression softening slightly. "That Sam William must be quite strong... Has he arrived at my control of the shipping lanes? Hmph, that Kuro guy, trying to provoke me into action? I don't need his provocation. If I really see them, I certainly won't let them go, especially... this 30 million!"
He had already been humiliated once by a pirate with a bounty of 30 million. Although he admitted that the Straw Hat Pirates were quite talented, back then, if he had been serious from the beginning, the Straw Hat Pirates wouldn't have been his match.
And this time it's another 30 million...
The fact that Kuro specifically named him indicates that he is quite powerful, but this time, Crocodile will not be arrogant again!
Having chosen this route that includes the country of Alabasta, Crocodile's goal is to regain his prestige and reputation through this route.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
