"What?!"

On the pirate ship, Crocodile was suddenly stunned. On the warship opposite, overwhelming slashes roared out. All the cannonballs in the air were easily destroyed, and even some were fired towards the pirate ship without any damage.

And the strange thing is that none of these destroyed cannonballs exploded, and they all fell into the sea like destroyed iron balls.

"Captain! That is... what is that!"

The pirates who had only fought against pirates at the paradise level were instantly frightened to death. What is this! A slash?! It’s not like they had never fought against pirates with strong swordsmanship, swordsmen who could use flying slashes.

I've encountered it before, but are you kidding me about a weird slash on this scale?! I'm afraid it will tear the ship into pieces in an instant!

"Drink! Sand Wall!"

Crocodile roared angrily and waved his right hand vigorously. A large amount of sand swarmed out and turned into a thick wall of sand. "It looks like there is a powerful guy on the other side!"

"Tskttttttttttttttttt!"

Sharp slashes struck the sand wall one after another. From time to time, there were several consecutive slashes hitting the same place. Finally, they broke through the shackles of the wall and struck the pirate ship, making holes in the ship.

.

"Damn it! Modo Sand Wall! Hold it up for me!"

Crocodile also waved out his left hand, and the amount of sand doubled instantly. This time, it finally blocked the advance of the slashing attack.

"call--"

Crocodile breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second, his pupils suddenly contracted - whether it was the edge of the sand wall where he was split open, or the side of the ship where he was hit by the slash, there were signs of being frozen.

.

The unlucky guy who was scratched by the edge of the slash even had half of his leg cut off, and the broken half of his leg had turned into ice cubes with unbridled coldness, which was very scary.

"This is... a frozen slash?! Could it be that... the Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral, Kuzan, one of the three natural monsters with the frozen fruit ability?! Damn it! How could it be such a monster!!"

Even in the natural system, there are different levels of strength. Crocodile is still very self-aware. Although his strength is not bad, compared to this kind of monster that has been widely publicized in newspapers, he is not.

I don't think I have much chance of winning.

Therefore, his face now becomes extremely ugly.

However, the ones who were more frightened and panicked than him were his pirate men. This was their first time seeing such a level of power.

"Captain, here we come! That warship is here!"

"But...how come there is no intention to attack?"

Only then did Crocodile react. After the counterattack destroyed all the artillery shells, the opponent stopped attacking.

"...Did you come to see me specially?"

He was a little surprised, and his originally tense mood relaxed a little.

…

"Supernova Crocodile, first meeting."

The navy warship gradually approached, until it was close enough for both sides to easily see each other. On the bow deck of the warship, Kuzan, wearing a white cloak exclusive to general officers, appeared.

"As expected, it's you! Rear Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, Kuzan, the natural frozen fruit ability user!"

Crocodile frowned, "Why would a monster like you appear here! Did you come here deliberately to take my head?!"

"Alas, we are all natural ability users. I'm afraid it's not good for you to call me a monster, right?"

Kuzan smiled and said, "Well, I have something I want to discuss with you. I wonder if you have any free time?"

"The rear admiral came to discuss matters with me, a pirate?" Crocodile said with a cold look on his face, "Do you want me to give up my resistance and then let you take me to Impelton?!"

"Don't be so angry, Supernova Crocodile..."

Kuzan smiled and said, "I really have something to discuss with you. After all, if I want to arrest you, you have no room to resist..."

"Don't underestimate me! Damn navy!!"

Crocodile, who had always been arrogant and arrogant, turned extremely ugly and said loudly, "If I try my best, I can sink you and the warship under your feet to the bottom of the sea!!"

Bang bang bang...

Along with the applause, Porusalino's frivolous voice rang out: "Kowa Ichinai~Supernova Crocodile, but maybe it's this kind of self-confidence that made the world government choose you~"

"Are you... Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, Polusalino, the natural Shining Fruit ability user?!!!"

If just now, Crocodile thought that he had a 20% chance of killing Kuzan when he fought with Kuzan with the consciousness of death. Then the moment he saw and recognized Porusalino,

The probability in his mind became zero.

"This is really scary,"

Porusalino smiled and said, "Does it mean that all the pirates today remember our names and abilities?"

Because he knew that he would definitely die if there was a fight, Crocodile returned to normal after a moment of panic and despair.

He remembered a statement made by Porusalino just now and couldn't help but frowned:

"The words coming out of your mouth are not convincing at all, Lieutenant General Porusalino! But what do you mean by what you just said? I was chosen by the World Government?"

"Well, literally, Crocodile~"

"!!!"

Crocodile's whole body trembled, and then his pupils shrank instantly and his body suddenly tensed. He jumped back subconsciously, his eyes fixed on Polusali who suddenly appeared next to him, and his whole body was still shining with golden light.

promise.

(When?! I didn’t notice anything!!!)

"Well, don't be nervous~"

Porusalino smiled and waved his hand, Kuzan also jumped off the warship and landed behind him.

"From a certain point of view, we are bringing you good luck, Crocodile~ Maybe you should treat us to a drink as a thank you?"

…

"I see, is this a legal pirate? I am attracted by the World Government, right? Those big shots in power think that I have the power to deter the sea?"

After listening to Porusalino's brief story, Crocodile was no longer nervous at the beginning. Although he was still wary of Porusalino and Kuzan's every move, his expression was already very calm, even

I couldn't help but raise the corner of my mouth,

"That's it. The name of Sand Crocodile has already resounded throughout this great shipping route,"

Porusalino smiled and said, "And even in the new world, your name is already impressive about Crocodile. You are sailing in the paradise like a broken bamboo, and the world government and navy can no longer ignore you.

."

"snort!"

Even Crocodile couldn't help but curl up his lips when faced with the praise of a strong man like Porusalino, but his tone was still arrogant: "Legal pirates? Haha, what a big name, the world government is already weak

Is it to this extent?”

Crocodile continued to taunt, "Or are you planning to reduce your navy? Do you want to rely on us pirates to deal with pirates?"

"Well, the World Government just chose a less laborious method. After all, if I really wanted to, could I kill 100 pirates of your caliber like Crocodile in a day?"

"...How arrogant!"

"No, it's just the truth~"

Crocodile, who looked ugly, did not intend to continue discussing the gap between his own strength and Polusalino's. The conversation immediately changed, "So, Lieutenant General Polusalino will become the Shichibukai

What can I gain from this?"

Hearing Crocodile's reply, Kuzan, who was behind Polusalino, nodded secretly in his heart - for an unruly guy like Crocodile, he did not refuse directly, which meant that the negotiation was already half successful.

.

"You can get a lot, the most important of course is the legal right to plunder within a certain range, and there is no guilt for plundering,"

Porusalino replied, "The wanted search for you will also stop, and the navy will not continue to pursue you. Is that enough?"

"Pfft~Is this the condition?"

Crocodile laughed out loud, "Do you think of me as one of those pirates in Paradise who are like frogs in a well?!"

"This is already a lot of sincerity,"

Porusalino still had a smile on his face, "After all, you have to choose between Shichibukai and Impel Down City, right? And please forgive me, I am more afraid of trouble, and I don't plan to make a second trip...

That is to say, your point must be resolved today~"

"..."

Crocodile's expression froze - he originally wanted the lion to open his mouth to gain more benefits for himself, but he didn't expect Porusalino to be so careless about the unspoken rules of negotiation. Not only did he flip the table directly, but he also said it

For this reason.

"Actually, we are really sincere, Mr. Crocodile~"

Porusalino smiled like a third-rate salesman from the Shampoo Islands, "The navy won't want you, which is a great thing! And it's legal plunder within a certain range~"

"...Isn't it a problem to establish a base after legal plunder? Your navy won't come to cause trouble, right? Also, this certain range, shouldn't you tell me that the sea area is only the size of a palm?"
To be continued...