Pirate's Swordsman

Great Route, Kingdom of Alabasta.

The secret manor that controls the Baroque Studio behind the scenes welcomed a rather big-name uninvited guest on this day.

"Well, this is really unexpected."

Crocodile sat on the sofa with a cigar in his mouth, looking at the huge figure nearly seven meters tall opposite the coffee table, and raised his eyebrows:

"A former Shichibukai who disappeared without a trace from the Devil's Triangle after being defeated by the newcomers came to visit me when the whole world didn't know your whereabouts."

"At times like this, stop making sarcastic comments, Sand Crocodile"

Sitting across from him was Moonlight Moria, who had just been knocked out of the Shichibukai position by Fire Fist Ace not long ago. He had a bit of shame on his face and said in a high-pitched voice:

"My purpose of coming has been made clear to you in that letter before. Anyway, I have nowhere to go now, so you just have to tell me whether you plan to cooperate with me or not."

"Humph."

Crocodile crossed his legs, looked at Moria, and said indifferently:

"Although I don't know where you got the relevant information about Pluto, in the final analysis, there is no friendship between the two of us. At most, we just know each other for a long time."

"What makes you think that I would risk being stabbed in the back by cooperating with a loser like you who would be expelled from the World Government?"

"It's simple, because you don't have enough power."

Moonlight Moria sneered: "You have been on Shengting Island for so many years, but you haven't seen any progress. You just rely on the rotten fish and shrimps under you. If you want to put the plan on track, it will take at least several years. time."

"Of course, I know you are not lacking in patience. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't matter even if you wait a few more years."

Having said this, Moria suddenly stood up, put his hands on the coffee table, and looked directly into Crocodile's eyes from above.

"But now you have been targeted by the World Government. The old man from Sengoku warned you at the Shichibukai Conference, right? You still have so much time, can you use it to plan slowly?"

""

Hearing this, Crocodile narrowed his eyes and fell into a long silence.

"Hehehehe, I've said everything I need to say. I don't have much time for you to hesitate, Sand Crocodile."

Seeing that Sand Crocodile was still thinking, Moria suddenly grinned strangely: "Also, let me remind you, if you refuse now, you have to figure out whether there is a risk of Pluto's affairs being leaked to the outside world after I leave."

""

A chill flashed through the corners of Crocodile's eyes, but he concealed it well. After a moment, he finally spoke in a low voice:

"It's not that we can't consider cooperation. We'll discuss specific matters later, but there is something I must say upfront."

"what"

"After you join Baroque Studio, the leadership will still remain in my hands."

Crocodile took a puff of his cigar and said calmly:

"My codename is Mr.0, and the one next to me is Mr.1. The position is currently vacant and can be filled by you in the future. The subordinates you bring will also receive numerical codenames."

"That's no problem."

Moria just thought about it for a moment, then nodded in agreement and said happily:

"After all, you are the boss here. It's okay to be your deputy for a while, but"

As soon as he said this, light footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

A beautiful black-haired woman with a graceful figure and an intellectual aura quietly appeared in the hall.

The conversation between Crocodile and Moria suddenly stopped, and they both raised their heads at the same time and looked at the door.

"President."

The person who came was naturally Robin. She was holding a roll of newspaper in her hand and walked quickly towards Crocodile with a somewhat hurried expression:

"The newspaper just came out this morning. Something big happened in the New World. Maybe you will be interested."

"Um"

Crocodile frowned, took the newspaper from Robin's hand, unfolded it, and looked at it to browse.

As a result, just after reading the news headlines on the front page, his pupils suddenly shrank into needle-like shapes, his expression changed drastically, and he suddenly stood up from the sofa.

"what happened"

When Moria, who was sitting directly opposite, saw this, he stretched his neck in confusion and glanced at the newspaper.

then.

The next moment, he showed an expression even more shocked and horrified than Crocodile, and couldn't help but scream: "Kaido was actually defeated by that brat, how is this possible?"

""

Crocodile did not answer, his eyes were fixed on the newspaper, and his hands on both sides were trembling slightly. It was obvious that he was still in extreme shock and had not recovered.

As for Moonlight Moria, after he lowered his head and carefully browsed the report content, cold sweat broke out on his temples, and he fell weakly on the sofa, muttering to himself in despair:

"How could this happen? How could this happen?"

No wonder he was so out of sorts.

After all, back then, Moria was high-spirited, full of ambition, and full of confidence in his own strength, so he stepped into the new world to pursue his dreams. But at that time, the man who cruelly destroyed his dreams with his own hands was none other than one of the four emperors today. Kaido of all beasts.

Since then, he has been completely depressed and adheres to the life creed of "because you live, you will lose."

Even though some time ago, because he was stimulated by the defeat of Fire Fist Ace, he reluctantly cheered up and began to plot against Hades, the figure of Kaido was still a terrifying nightmare that lingered in his mind.

But now.

That terrifying existence like an ancient demon was actually defeated by a young boy who had only become a Shichibukai and had only entered the new world for three or four years.

For a time, Moonlight Moria felt a strong sense of absurdity toward herself and the entire world, and even began to doubt the meaning of life.

Compared to Moria, Crocodile's reaction was obviously much better. He had recovered from the shock and slowly put down the newspaper in his hand.

"The Swordsman of the Swift Wind, Xia Nuo"

Recalling the domineering impression the other party had left on him when they met in Malinfando, Crocodile looked at the blue sky outside the door and silently extinguished the cigar in his hand.

At that time, although he was already extremely wary of Xia Nuo and regarded him as the last person in the Shichibukai who should not be provoked, he still had not considered putting him on the same level as the Yonko. Go up and see.

But now, less than half a month has passed, and the other party has completely overturned his own understanding of being completely outdated with his terrifying record of defeating Kaido.

"call"

Crocodile blew out the last puff of smoke from his mouth, and his slightly squinted eyes were distant and deep:

"It seems that the entire new world will be completely overturned because of this guy."

:. :