Watching Crocodile’s utterly unyielding attitude, Marine Admiral Sengoku could only feel helpless.
The Marines had already tried persuading her several tis, but this woman was even more stubborn than the hardest-headed rookie. Every single ti, she rejected them outright.
Was she so sure Orin would eventually co to rescue her?
Yes... at this rate, they’d have no choice but to let her go sooner or later...
For the sake of his own political achievents, Sengoku had no choice but to co and speak with her personally.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea are a system created by the World Governnt to balance power between the Marines and the Four Emperors. You only need to occasionally follow their arrangents. With such generous terms, why refuse?"
In Sengoku’s view, this was already an extrely lenient policy toward pirates. It not only granted them legal plundering rights but also allowed them to gain great fa and influence.
For the vast majority of pirates, aside from a rare few exceptions, this was a highly profitable deal.
If this were the old Crocodile, she might have agreed for the sake of achieving certain goals.
But now... she clearly thought differently.
After following Orin for so ti, she had witnessed glimpses of the Heavenly Palace, glimpsed the daily lives of the highest figures in the world — the true giants who stood above all others.
It had given her a sense of arrogance — one so great that she was on the verge of awakening Conqueror’s Haki.
The so-called World Governnt...
Was nothing more than a bunch of useless fools constantly restrained by Orin.
What qualifications did they have to make her, Crocodile, submit?
Even nominal submission was unacceptable.
Even after her brutal defeat at Sakazuki’s hands, Crocodile still hadn’t fully recognized the limits of her strength.
She was still relying on what could only be called "the Orin comparison thod."
"So... has Orin joined the Seven Warlords of the Sea yet?"
Seeing Crocodile’s dark, stubborn gaze, Sengoku rubbed his temples, already feeling the headache coming.
"No, but—"
"Then I won’t join either!!!"
Sengoku: "..."
He forced himself to stay calm, preparing to change tactics.
"Orin’s situation is... special. You should understand that, Crocodile. Don’t say things that are unrealistic."
"As soone close to Orin, Donquixote Doflamingo has already agreed to join the Seven Warlords. You don’t have to resist so strongly..."
Sengoku thought Doflamingo’s case might help persuade her: if soone like him could join, then Crocodile shouldn’t find it beneath her.
But he completely miscalculated.
The mont Crocodile heard that na, her expression twisted, veins bulging on her forehead, her face darkening like an oncoming storm.
"Are you kidding , Sengoku!!!"
"Don’t you dare compare to that bastard Doflamingo! I’ll never acknowledge soone like him!!!"
It was obvious.
From the depths of her heart, Crocodile looked down on Doflamingo — a pirate thug pretending to be a king. Sengoku bringing him up was practically an insult, and it stirred sothing close to fury within her.
"Then... what about Hawk Eyes Dracule Mihawk?" Sengoku countered. "He’s Orin’s right-hand man, and he’s agreed to join the Seven Warlords — with Orin’s support!!!"
Perhaps Sengoku wouldn’t normally resort to this.
He didn’t want to borrow Orin’s influence, given how tense and awkward the relationship between Orin and Marine Headquarters had beco — a mix of rivalry and reluctant cooperation.
He’d initially hoped to tempt Crocodile with benefits rather than invoke Orin’s na, but at this point, he had no other choice.
Even Sengoku had to admit it.
Orin’s na... carried weight.
Crocodile froze for a mont upon hearing this, then turned to Sengoku in disbelief.
"You’re saying Mihawk agreed to join... and with Orin’s backing?"
"Did he... ntion ?"
Sengoku nodded, conceding the point.
"Orin did express support for Mihawk’s decision. Otherwise... why do you think he hasn’t co for you all this ti?"
Sengoku paused, then added bluntly:
"To be frank... if Orin really wanted to co, Impel Down wouldn’t be able to hold him."
That struck Crocodile like a blow to the chest. Her hardened defiance suddenly faltered, her expression losing so of its previous resolve.
Sengoku’s persuasion was working.
Doflamingo’s example hadn’t swayed her — but Mihawk’s had.
And Orin’s silence spoke volus.
It ant he wasn’t coming.
Not unless she agreed.
If she said yes, she’d walk free now.
If she refused, she’d stay locked up, indefinitely. Maybe Orin would co eventually... or maybe he wouldn’t. anwhile, she’d rot in this hellhole, eating poorly and sleeping worse.
Faced with this reality — and with Mihawk’s acceptance weighing in — Crocodile finally loosened her stance.
"I don’t know what Orin’s goal is in all this... but if Mihawk’s joining, then... fine. I’ll take the damn title of Warlord."
The iron-headed Crocodile... finally gave in.
...
"You’re just as stubborn, Moria."
Surrounded by countless zombies and grotesque stitched-together monstrosities, Orin didn’t even bother wasting energy on them.
He strolled forward casually, and with a re flicker of power, froze them all in place.
Inside the towering black castle, a large silhouette peered through a window, glaring down at the figure approaching.
That... that was!!!
Eyes bloodshot, sharp teeth clenched, Gecko Moria stared wide-eyed, his mind reeling.
Why the hell was that man here?!
"I show up... and you don’t even greet ? Tsk, and here I thought we shared a little history."
"Hey, Moria!"
Orin waved lazily, his tall figure wandering through the eerie, shadow-filled halls without the slightest trace of fear.
Maybe it was his casual, "backyard stroll" deanor, but it was so arrogant that Moria couldn’t stand it.
With a snarl, his body dissolved into shadow, instantly reappearing before the castle.
"Hey!!! Black Emperor!!! What the hell are you doing here?! Why co to my territory?!"
His tone was biting, though lacking its usual force.
If this had been back in Loguetown, Moria might have charged in swinging first, talking later.
But facing Orin — the man who once suppressed Kaido — even Moria hesitated to start a fight.
Instead, he barked first.
"Finally decided to show yourself, huh?"
Orin had his hands in his pockets, a slight smile on his face, lacking any overt hostility.
"You’ve probably heard by now, right? The World Governnt is about to invite you to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"I ca here just to ask you one thing — do you want to join us? Or, to put it another way..."
"Do you want to carry my na when you seek revenge against Kaido?"
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