Chapter 4
You'd rather Crocodile treat you the same way he did before than have him treat your fear of him as your one-sided whims.
He said he would let you read the newspaper, you could buy any book you wanted, and he would find someone to accompany you if you wanted to go out.
"Don't ignore me. Smile at me like you do at Miss Allsunday."
Hearing the whispers in your ear, you felt a chill run down your spine. You truly couldn't understand how Crocodile could so effortlessly switch between dominance and gentleness. Were all those restrictions and excessive demands he placed on you recently just a whim?
If that's the case, then you should just go along with what he's saying. Otherwise, you can't guarantee that one day he won't suddenly decide to treat you like sand and throw you away.
"I'm not angry... I just think you're strange."
The trembling voice made Crocodile chuckle, and he turned his head to kiss the corner of your eye.
What's strange about it?
The fleeting kiss meant nothing further, and you slowed your breathing, trying to calm your heart, which had been racing at Crocodile's touch.
"I don't know why you keep asking me to say your name, no matter what time of day."
The underlying message and unease conveyed by this action were enough to indicate that your relationship was not normal. Seeing that Crocodile didn't intend to interrupt you, you hesitated for a moment before finally voicing the question that had been nagging at your mind lately.
"The way you're acting makes me feel like we actually—"
The hand that pinches your jaw at the right moment will render you speechless. The hand on your jaw isn't very strong, but the bulging veins in my peripheral vision are enough to show that this is the result of Crocodile's extreme restraint.
You even suspect that Crocodile now would kill you.
However, the reality was gentler than you imagined. Crocodile chuckled, released his grip, picked you up, and switched to a face-to-face position.
He was laughing, but you sensed a hint of malice in his laughter, even though his tone of voice was incredibly gentle.
“You’re right, it’s my fault. I should tell you everything that happened before.”
"About Hawkeye—that is, Mihawk nearly killing you."
Huh? As you wonder, a face you'd seen once in the newspaper flashes into your mind. You can't imagine that such an imposing man would harbor such a deep hatred for you, someone so weak that even Robin would shake his head in disbelief, that he felt compelled to kill you.
Crocodile said that Mihawk wanted to take you away from him, but you refused, so he and Mihawk got into a fight. It was during this fight that you, who were hiding nearby, were caught in the crossfire and fell into the sea.
The melodramatic plot was so ridiculous that you'd immediately change the channel, but Crocodile mistook it for a reaction of fear and awkwardly patted your back.
You don't entirely believe what Crocodile says. There's the feeling he gives you, and your inexplicable fondness and trust in Mihawk; you don't think Mihawk is the kind of person who would do such a thing.
But bringing up Mihawk's name and topic in front of Crocodile is not a good choice. Last time, it was because you unconsciously called out Mihawk's name that you couldn't sleep all night.
In conclusion, discussing this topic with Crocodile is the best option.
"So...that's why I have amnesia?"
"Yes. I don't want you to remember what happened before, that's why I left you here and had Miss Allsunday watch over you."
To be so deeply in love, and to even explain away all the things he's done so far... it's impossible not to forgive him, even if you only believe half of what he says.
The subtle conflict between you and Crocodile also came to an end with your forgiveness.
That's what solidified your resolve to leave Crocodile. There are too many suspicious things about this man who claims to be your husband.
-
Leaving Crocodile's protection without a plan is impossible. First, you can't even leave here; second, everyone in this country knows you are Crocodile's wife. Without sufficient resources and ability to leave, rash action will only hasten your death.
You try to learn more about this world from Robin, and Robin is happy to tell you some things that Crocodile allows you to disclose.
Examples include the "Four Emperors" who dominate the pirate world, the three admirals and the fleet admiral who are the strongest forces in the Navy, and currently the most famous and ruthless pirates.
Having extracted the key words, you ask Robin, "The Four Emperors...does that mean they are of higher status than the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
Sensing something, Robin smiled without saying a word, glancing intentionally or unintentionally at the area under the sofa where you were sitting. Before you could understand her intention in sitting there, Robin made a shushing gesture.
"As a direct subordinate of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, I cannot say these things."
"But among the Four Emperors, the most famous one right now is probably Shanks, who is known as 'Red Hair'."
The timely ringing of the Den Den Mushi interrupted your conversation with Robin. Robin, who had expected this, answered the phone, replied "okay" to Crocodile's somewhat distorted voice, and then hung up.
"I'd like to talk to you a little more, but I have to go to work now. If you're interested in the Four Emperors, you can look up the old newspapers and find out for yourself."
It wasn't until Robin left the room that you connected Robin's earlier actions with the timely ringing of the phone.
There are listening devices in the room, and Crocodile can hear them even when he leaves the room!
Realizing this, your breathing becomes rapid, and the information you just heard from Robin temporarily loses its effect in your blank mind.
You know why Robin always gets interrupted when she's talking to you? It turns out Crocodile planned it all along!
Unable to tell whether you were trembling with anger or fear, you managed to calm your shock and physical overreaction within a few breaths. You should have known that the extremely controlling Crocodile wouldn't let things go against his plan.
Even if you are his "wife," you are still under his control.
For now, all you can do is calmly consider your next move while remaining under his control.
It's like information that Robin intentionally or unintentionally reveals to you. She'll bring it up separately to tell you that the "red-haired" person can help you in some way.
But how to leave this place and see Shanks, and what reasons or conditions to use to persuade Shanks to help you, is also a problem.
-
Perhaps sensing something, Crocodile started taking you out from time to time. When he was in a good mood, he would take you away from Alabasta to visit nearby islands.
He may seem to be giving you the choice, but his gaze never leaves you. Even when he lets you shop on your own, you know you're still within his control.
You're pretty sure that if you ever have any thoughts of running away or doing anything else, Crocodile won't mind making you see the difference between you and him, even if you already know how ruthless this man is.
Ultimately, why do you want to compete with Crocodile like this? Besides an excessive desire for control, he can give you anything you want, and the dangers of this world will cease to exist under his protection.
He protected you very well; you should be grateful to him. Anyone who doesn't know your dynamic would probably say that, and even say you're ungrateful.
But it was protected too well, so well that it aroused suspicion and fear. Behind the airtight protection lay a secret that could never be known.
It's normal not to pry into other people's privacy, but it's not normal when that privacy concerns you.
Perhaps you were lost in thought for too long, Crocodile strode over to your side and pulled you into his arms.
"Aren't you interested?"
You glanced at the crowd gathered there, laughing and screaming at the amusement park rides, and shook your head.
"I'm a little tired, let's go back and rest."
That's true. You rarely go out and aren't used to crowds and the weather outside. Plus, you've been constantly trying to figure out Crocodile's thoughts lately, so your mental fatigue has reached a breaking point.
It could be said that Crocodile brought you to this island, which is far from Alabasta, because you weren't in good spirits, which is why he took you so far.
It goes without saying that for the ruthless Crocodile, the joyful amusement park was not as interesting as the usefulness of his subordinates.
-
The Sabaody Archipelago is bustling and far from Alabasta. Crocodile is willing to take you there partly because of your previous good behavior, but the biggest reason is that Robin is on a mission.
Anyone could keep an eye on you, but you don't trust everyone. Crocodile knew this, and after much deliberation, he still brought you along.
"Don't wander around here, or I might not be able to find you."
"If you don't want to be sold into slavery, stay by my side. I'll show you around when I'm done with my work."
Seeing Crocodile so serious as he explains the precautions to you, you know that if you don't run now, it will be too late.
Control your emotions that are fluctuating with joy, and return his smile with your usual smile.
"Yes, I'll wait for you here."
After receiving a satisfactory reply, Crocodile left the room. You didn't dare to immediately take out the note Robin had given you before the mission. Instead, you casually flipped through today's newspaper for about ten minutes before daring to take out the note and read its contents.
It said that Shanks would be staying in the Sabaody Archipelago soon, and that Robin wished him good luck. Clearly, Robin has developed a special bond with you.
If you could, you'd love to thank Robin. But that's something you'd do after you escaped Crocodile's control.
-
Looking at the Vivre Card floating in his hand, Crocodile was in a terrible mood, and even Doflamingo, who was sitting opposite him, could tell that he was in a bad mood.
As one of the few people who knew of Crocodile's existence, Doflamingo chuckled mockingly at Crocodile's expression.
"I never thought that even a sand crocodile could be helpless against people. I said from the beginning that a little medicine would be enough."
"With drugs and memory erasure... even the Four Emperors can't remember what happened before."
Speaking of Doflamingo makes me laugh. He loves to see the Navy make fools of themselves, whether it's the Navy or pirates, or even the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Moreover, the one who clashed with Crocodile was Mihawk, who seemed indifferent to fame and fortune and appeared ruthless.
Doflamingo couldn't help but laugh when he recalled the scene of the two fighting in the conference hall not long ago.
Crocodile, whose attention was focused on his Vivre Card, didn't have the energy to talk to the person in front of him who was engrossed in watching the spectacle.
"Mind your own business and deliver that batch of goods to the agreed location on time and in the agreed quantity."
"Okay, when will I—"
Halfway through his sentence, Crocodile, who had been in the room just a second ago, transformed into his element and left, leaving Doflamingo, who was still halfway through his sentence, standing there.
"So infatuated with women, if I had known it would turn out like this, I should have had Caesar do something more."
Doflamingo couldn't stop laughing when he thought about how his two colleagues had gotten into a fight over a woman.
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