"Boss, how about letting take on that Warlord first?" Manlong asked, actively seeking the fight.
Zane looked at him, and seeing the determination in his eyes, he gave a slight nod. "Fine."
Since he would be there to oversee the battle, even if Manlong was outmatched, Zane could intervene and save him in ti.
With Zane's permission, Manlong imdiately began to warm up.
The enemy was a Warlord of the Sea. If he could defeat such an opponent, he would be able to catch up to his captain's shadow that much faster.
"Captain, I... I want to fight too." At that mont, a voice thick with nerves and hesitation spoke up.
Zane and Baby 5 both turned toward the source of the sound.
There stood Chopper, his short little legs shaking like jelly, sniffing back a runny nose as he stepped forward.
"Chopper, you're a doctor. You don't necessarily have to fight," Baby 5 reminded him.
Though she and Chopper had been at odds initially, she had warmly accepted him once he officially joined the crew.
Over the past few days, Baby 5 had actually grown quite fond of this adorable little reindeer.
"Doctors can fight too! I believe I can do it!" Chopper shouted, sucking back his snot and summoning his courage.
He wasn't just going to beco a doctor who could cure any disease; he was also going to beco a brave warrior of the sea.
"Well said. Chopper is very strong, and I believe you will definitely beco a brave warrior." Seeing Chopper's resolve, Zane couldn't possibly turn him down.
He smiled and reached down, rubbing the reindeer's head to encourage him.
"Shut up! It's not like your complints make happy or anything, you jerk!"
*And there's his true nature.*
Fueled by Zane's encouragent, Chopper instantly forgot his nervousness. He grinned widely, his whole body wiggling in a happy dance.
What a cute little guy.
Zane and Baby 5 shared a look, both of them unable to suppress their smiles.
...
Inside a bar at Whiskey Peak.
"..."
"I see. I understand the situation!"
Hanging up the Transponder Snail, which had only transmitted the sounds of a sea otter's cries, Nico Robin reported to Crocodile, who was sitting on a nearby sofa. "Boss, that was a ssage from the Unluckies. Per our agreent, their contact ans the Three-Eye Pirates are about to arrive at Whiskey Peak."
"Oh? They're quite fast. In that case, let the preparations begin!"
Taking a puff of his cigar, Crocodile surveyed the nurous mbers of Baroque Works gathered in the bar.
"Yes, Boss!"
"Leave it to us!"
"Everyone, look alive!"
"..."
Loud cheers echoed throughout the bar.
The crowd gathered here consisted not only of those who were bounty hunters on the surface but actually low-level mbers of Baroque Works.
Even the high-ranking officers—Bones, Bon Kurei, and Galdino—were present.
It was clear that when truly facing Zane, Crocodile was nowhere near as relaxed as he had acted when speaking to Nico Robin.
One had to realize that most mbers of Baroque Works didn't even know their Boss was actually Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords.
The fact that these people were gathered here proved that Crocodile had chosen to reveal his identity early just to deal with Zane.
The low-level mbers of Baroque Works rushed out of the bar, full of excitent, to begin preparations at the port.
"They're certainly motivated."
"Of course they are. Our Boss is a Warlord of the Sea, after all. These underlings have to put on a good show."
"True. To be honest, I was shocked when I first found out the Boss's identity."
"Hahaha! What do you an 'shocked'? You should be overjoyed!"
"..."
As the underlings departed, the officers remaining in the bar began to comnt among themselves.
So were genuinely impressed by the enthusiasm of the low-level mbers, while others cast subtle, admiring glances at Crocodile.
The Boss being a Warlord.
To the officers of Baroque Works, this was undoubtedly a cause for celebration.
Not only did it an they had a massive powerhouse backing them, but it also ant their organization's future was much brighter.
Sitting on the sofa, Crocodile naturally noticed the flattery from so of his officers. He took it as his due, continuing to smoke his cigar with an air of indifference.
At the sa ti, his gaze drifted back to the man, the woman, and the duck tied up across from him.
Crocodile looked at the woman, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "Now then, my dear Princess Vivi, how do you think I should handle you?"
Indeed.
Tied up on the opposite side were Vivi, her pet Karoo, and the Captain of the Alabasta Royal Guard, Igaram.
Vivi and Igaram had been investigating ever since the Dance Powder incident, eventually discovering the existence of Baroque Works.
To further investigate the organization's secrets, they had chosen to go undercover.
However, the reality was exactly as it appeared now.
Crocodile had discovered them long ago.
He simply hadn't bothered with them before to avoid tipping his hand.
But things were different now.
To set an ambush at Whiskey Peak where the Three-Eye Pirates would pass through, he had simply dragged the undercover Vivi and her companions out into the open.
"Mmmph! Mmmph!"
Vivi, Igaram, and Karoo were all bound tightly, their mouths stuffed with cloth. Hearing Crocodile's words, the two humans could only struggle to express their fury and despair.
"Boss, their identities still have utility. We might as well keep them for now and dispose of them after the plan begins," Nico Robin suggested in a low voice, her eyes flickering as she watched Vivi.
"Heh... Utility, is it? True, as the sole heir of Alabasta, this woman does have so value." Crocodile took a deep drag of his cigar, and as he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, grains of sand began to swirl around his body.
Pfft! Pfft!
The sand instantly coalesced into two projectiles. Like bullets from a sniper rifle, they pierced directly through the heads of Igaram and Karoo.
Their struggling bodies stiffened.
Igaram and Karoo collapsed limply to the floor, their lives extinguished on the spot.
"Mmmph!—"
Seeing this, Vivi thrashed violently, her face contorted in agony as tears of grief stread from her beautiful eyes.
"Rember this well. This is what happens when you resist . From now on, if you don't behave, your father and everyone you know will die because of you," Crocodile said coldly.
Since they dared to infiltrate Baroque Works to investigate him, he had to provide a proper display of deterrence and punishnt, even if she still had value.
Soon, the grief-stricken and hopeless Vivi was led away.
Crocodile intended to deal with her after the matter with the Three-Eye Pirates was settled.
*What a bunch of poor souls...*
Witnessing it all, Nico Robin let out a silent sigh in her heart.
Her pity wasn't just for Vivi, but also for the low-level mbers who had just left the bar.
Vivi's situation was obvious.
As for the underlings, Robin knew all too well that they were rely cannon fodder.
Even if they survived this encounter, they would be purged once Crocodile's plan succeeded and he overthrew the Alabasta governnt.
After all, a King of a World Governnt mber nation—even just on the surface—had to maintain a righteous image.
If not for that, why would Crocodile have spent years playing the role of a hero in Alabasta?
Robin sighed inwardly; why did she always run into people like this?
The world only knew of her betrayals, but they didn't know that every betrayal was for her own survival.
Take Crocodile, for example.
She fully believed that once he found the Poneglyph in Alabasta and she translated it, she would be disposed of regardless of whether it contained clues to an Ancient Weapon.
No, she might be imprisoned until every last bit of her value was squeezed dry.
[ Author's Note : If you're loving the story, a power_stone, review or comnt ans the world!
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