---
Crocodile reveled in the shock of his cadres, feeling a surge of pride that only fueled his arrogance.
"I've summoned you here for one reason: to eliminate the Black Sun Pirates."
He took a drag from his cigar, a disdainful sneer spreading across his face.
"According to intelligence, they're crossing the desert, heading towards Rainbase from the south. Go out immediately and kill these little devils before they reach the city. Remember, despite their high bounties, they're just rookies who've only recently entered the Grand Line. They're not much of a threat. I'll follow shortly, and I hope you won't disappoint me."
The cadres nodded quickly, their respect and fear palpable. "Yes, President, we'll complete the mission!"
The call ended. Crocodile stood up, walked over to the pool, and glared at the banana crocodile inside, his face twisted in anger.
"Damn Nico Robin, daring to betray me," he muttered. "Does that stupid woman think my title of Shichibukai is just for show? After I deal with Ethan, I'll find someone to handle her, so she knows the consequences of crossing me. And as for the Black Sun Pirates, none of them will escape—every last one will be food for the banana crocodile. Kuhahahaha..."…"
Suddenly, he remembered something, clenched his fists, and cursed under his breath. "And damn that Marine, Sengoku. Advising me to leave Alabasta, to avoid these brats, to play it safe. Just wait, Marines. I'll show you that you're all blind fools."
Throwing his cigar aside, Crocodile strode towards the door with a heavy, dignified air.
---
**Spiders Cafe**
As the phone call ended, the atmosphere in the room shifted, and the cadres exhaled in relief, finally free to talk openly.
"Finally, the call is over. I was so nervous just now," sighed Gal-Dino, leaning back in his chair. "Hearing the President's identity is terrifying. I didn't even dare to breathe."
Mr. 5 shrugged, his expression gloomy. "I wanted to show off, but facing a Shichibukai, I couldn't say a word. But it doesn't matter. Knowing the President's terrifying identity has filled me with motivation. The future looks bright."
Mikita, holding her umbrella, let out an exaggerated laugh. "Yeah, yeah. From now on, I'll be working under a Shichibukai, a real big shot."
Bon Clay put his hands on his hips, smiling widely. "I'm the happiest! Let's see who dares to look down on me now, Hehehe~~"
Daz-Bonez, ever indifferent, glanced at them. "The President has given the order. Let's take out the Black Sun Pirates quickly. This is our first mission as a team. Anyone who slacks off will answer to me." Without hesitation, he walked towards the door.
Mr. 11 grinned cruelly, clutching his sword. "Time to make a name for myself. After this battle, I'll rise through the ranks for sure."
Mr. 4 spoke slowly, "They've just entered the Grand Line, so they're probably weak. We can handle them in no time."
Zala emerged from behind the counter, her slender figure swaying as she smiled. "The Black Sun Pirates do have high bounties, but it doesn't matter. The President is a Shichibukai, the most powerful pirate. With him around, there's nothing to worry about. It feels great."
Mr. 7 laughed loudly, exuding confidence. "Not just newcomers, even veterans of the Grand Line can't stand against a Shichibukai. Our President—once he makes a move, no one can stop him, hahaha~~"
The other cadres nodded, their admiration for Crocodile clear. In their eyes, a Shichibukai was invincible, nearly omnipotent. The sheer power of the Shichibukai was undeniable.
---
**The Desert Outside Rainbase**
Suddenly, a massive dark cloud appeared in the sky, blocking out the sun and casting a shadow over the desert. The temperature dropped, and everyone felt more comfortable, their pace naturally quickening.
"I see the city, hahaha!" someone shouted.
The group perked up, looking ahead to see the faint outline of a city—their destination, Rainbase!
Igaram, familiar with Alabasta, nodded with a smile. "That's right, that's Rainbase. We're almost there."
"Damn, after walking for so long, we're finally out of the desert!" Burgess wiped the sweat from his forehead, cursing under his breath.
A Jin, rarely seen smiling, remarked, "I'm only interested in fighting Crocodile."
Van Oka, tapping his shoulder with his gun, spoke expressionlessly, "Today is destined to be a turning point. There's no doubt about it."
"Crocodile isn't the problem," Ethan said seriously, still level-headed. "The real threat is Vice Admiral Ghost Spider. He'll likely be in Alabasta soon, ready to capture us."
Lafitte twirled his cane, smiling slightly. "The Vice Admiral is indeed a bigger threat than Crocodile. However, if he dares to mess with our captain, his fate won't be much better. Our captain won't take a Vice Admiral seriously."
---
**On the Giant Scorpion**
Carina glanced at the sky, seeing dark clouds and the shadow of the town ahead, which made her very happy. "Great, we're finally leaving the desert, hehe~~"
Nami brushed her hair, smiling sweetly. "Yes, let's rush forward and head straight into the rain, haha!"
Alvida, carrying a big iron rod, stared ahead with her beautiful eyes and smiled. "The battle will take place there. I'm looking forward to it."
Honey Queen nodded slightly and laughed. "The Logia Sand-Sand Fruit—the ability to conjure sand is quite interesting."
Betty took a puff of her cigarette, still calm. "I've been waiting for this day since we set sail. It's been a long time coming."
Vivi clenched her fists, her expression resolute. "From today onwards, my people will finally live in peace. My country will no longer suffer from drought, and everything will get better. Damn Crocodile, you will be punished today!"
Robin patted her shoulder, speaking with grace and assurance. "Don't worry. Crocodile will fail. The establishment of a branch here will only make your country more prosperous, and the citizens will live happily. After all, Ethan is not someone to be underestimated."
Rasha, with her black hair and small umbrella, smiled warmly at Vivi. "Princess, you don't have to worry. Everything will get better. That bastard Crocodile and the Baroque Works members will be taken down one by one."
During their journey across the desert, Rasha encountered a large lizard and found herself in mortal danger. Coincidentally, Ethan and the others appeared, saving her life. Grateful, she naturally joined the Black Sun Pirates.
However, Rasha initially blamed the king's inaction for Alabasta's suffering and despised Vivi. After some discussion, she realized Crocodile was the real villain and reconciled with Vivi, becoming good friends.
Brogy, carrying a massive axe, laughed heartily. "What's this Baroque Works? These members are nothing! They're ready to fight us, but they don't stand a chance! Gabababababa~~"
Dorry nodded, grinning. "It's naïve of them to think they can stop us! But it's good—they'll just keep coming. We'll fight the young ones, then the old ones, and then their ancestors if needed! Gegyagyagyagya~~"
Law, holding Kikoku, spoke coldly. "Crocodile is arrogant, sending only his cadres. He's grown complacent in his position as a Shichibukai, and it shows."
Hawkins, in a low voice, agreed. "Becoming a Shichibukai has made him lazy. His strength must have declined."
Bartolomeo, with his hands in his pockets, smirked. "Isn't this great? These cadres will warm us up, and we'll be ready to take on Crocodile next."
Cavendish, glancing at the cadres with a weary expression, remarked, "Crocodile's taste is truly awful. These cadres are so pathetic; I can't bear to look at them. A nose-picker, a bald one, even a cross-dresser… Crocodile's taste is strong, indeed!"
Burgess shrugged, smiling disdainfully. "Sending a few small fry to take us on… Crocodile is a fool if he thinks we're pushovers. When we fight these guys, let's make sure to hit them hard. We'll see if Crocodile can even recognize them afterward! WiiiHahaha~~"
---
Nami looked ahead, blinking her beautiful eyes in disbelief. "Are they members of the Baroque Works Club? Why do they look so weird? How can they be cadres with their appearance?"
Kaya frowned, her eyebrows knitted in impatience. "I don't see how they could be strong; they don't have any presence at all," she remarked, her face showing annoyance. "That guy dressed like a rock singer looks so cool, but then he picks his nose. It's disgusting. And the one in the ballet costume... he looks like a monster," she added with a shake of her head.
"These people are really weird."
Honey Queen shrugged casually. "I don't like them either. As Burgess said, we should just beat them up. They're annoying to watch."
Alvida, carrying a big iron rod, smiled charmingly. "This is the first time I've seen a ladyboy. It's disgusting. I just want to smack him in the face."
Vivi brushed her hair and smiled, explaining, "These people are all cadres of the Baroque Works. The ladyboy is Mr. 2, the only senior cadre without a partner. The bald man is Mr. 1, the most powerful of them all."
Robin crossed her arms and smiled. "Crocodile is still so arrogant. He thinks Ethan is just a newcomer and doesn't take him seriously. He believes he can eliminate the Black Sun Pirates just by mobilizing the cadres, without needing to act himself. Being one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea has made him overconfident. He's digging his own grave."
Meanwhile, the Baroque Works cadres stood silently in front, observing Ethan and his crew.
Galdino frowned seriously. "There are two giants here, and they seem very powerful. This mission is much harder than I thought."
Mr. 11, with a look of horror, drew his famous Sword "Kashu." Trembling, he muttered, "These giants could crush me with one kick. How can we fight them?"
Mikita held a small umbrella, laughing loudly in her thin voice. "So what if they're tall? It's no big deal. Our leader is a Warlord of the Sea, the strongest man on the sea, hahaha..."
Mr. 4 shook his head slowly. "But what about that giant sand scorpion?"
Bon Kurei, hands on his hips, smiled. "It's amazing someone can turn a sand scorpion into a pet. I'm envious."
Mr. 5, with his hands in his pockets, sneered. "Giants and a sand scorpion? They're just trying to scare us. My whole body is full of explosives; I'll blow them all up. They're all trash."
Sarah took a drag from her cigarette, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Everyone, don't underestimate them. Mr. 8, Ms. Wednesday, and our vice president, Ms. All Sunday—they've all betrayed the leader and joined the Black Sun Pirates."
Turning to the others, she added solemnly, "The boss must know they've betrayed him, but he hasn't informed us. Whatever plan he has, we must be careful in this battle."
Daz Bonez's dark face showed determination. "No matter what, we must not betray the organization. I will deal with these traitors myself later."
As Ethan and his crew approached the cadres, Bartolomeo sneered, "You trash are too presumptuous to stop me."
Gin, holding his odd-shaped weapons, commented indifferently, "I hope these cadres aren't too weak. I need a warm-up."
Kuro adjusted his glasses with a blank expression. "As for men, there's no need to say more; they'll be beaten to death."
Lafitte, with his cane behind her back, agreed gently. "For beautiful women, you should be gentler. But if a woman isn't good-looking, treat her like a man."
Burgess, pumping his fist, laughed. "If you want to fight, just start it. Stop stalling like a coward."
He strode forward, ready to fight the cadres.
Law, holding his sword, said coldly, "Learn from the captain's style be quick, precise, and ruthless. End the meaningless battle as soon as possible."
Hawkins, putting away his cards, agreed. "The lion uses all its strength, even against the rabbit. Let's deal with them quickly."
The squad captains sprang into action, each showcasing their abilities. The battle was over in minutes, with the cadres crying out in pain. The strength difference was too great, and the battle had no suspense.
Despite Daz Bones's abilities, he was swiftly defeated by the captains. Soon, only three Baroque Works cadres remained standing—Sara, Mikita, and Marianne. The others lay on the ground, either unconscious or groaning in pain.
The captains had spared the three because they were beautiful, but for the less attractive ones, like Ms. Merry Christmas and Ms. Father's Day, there was no mercy. They were treated like men and severely beaten.
Mikita's umbrella fell to the desert as she stared in horror, her pretty face pale. "How is this possible?" she gasped.
Marianne, timid by nature, burst into tears, crying out, "Don't kill me... Please let me go..."
Zala, equally shocked, muttered in disbelief, "This can't be real. These are senior cadres... How could they lose so quickly? No, this must be a dream."
Igaram, rubbing his eyes, couldn't believe what he was seeing. "They're too powerful... They took out the senior cadres so easily. Their strength is terrifying!"
Burgess raised his arms and laughed arrogantly. "What senior cadres? They're all trash!"
Gin sneered, "I wanted a warm-up, but these cadres are too weak. They're garbage."
Law, looking coldly at Mr. 5, remarked, "His Devil Fruit is good, but he doesn't know how to develop it. What a waste."
Hawkins, glancing at Daz Bones, said, "He's strong, but he followed the wrong person. He could have become even stronger."
Van Augur, expressionless, tapped his shoulder with his gun. "Their fate was sealed from the beginning. We're up against a Warlord of the Sea."
Bartolomeo kicked Mr. 5 hard, knocking him out. "What a joke, acting tough and picking your nose. I can't stand it!"
Cavendish, shrugging, complained, "I can't believe you have such bad taste. It's too much."
Kuro, pushing his glasses up, remained calm. "They're not worth mentioning. Our goal is Shichibukai Crocodile. Let's not waste time on them and move on."
Lafitte twirled his cane and smiled. "I was hoping for a warm-up, but I'm a little disappointed. Still, it proves that Baroque Works is trash."
Looking at the defeated cadres, Vivi was shocked. Her eyes widened, and she murmured, "That was so fast. These were senior cadres, and they were all knocked down in less than a minute. The captains are incredibly strong."
Robin, also shocked, brushed her black hair and agreed. "The strength difference is too vast. The Baroque Works cadres were like sheep before wolves; they had no chance."
Rasha, excited, clenched her fists and said, "This is great! With the cadres defeated, we can take down Crocodile next, and it'll all be over!"
Nami, smiling, patted her shoulder. "The captains are powerful, but they're not yet a match for Crocodile. To beat a Warlord, Ethan will have to step in. Just wait and see."
Carina, flicking her blue hair, said casually, "I'm used to this. Taking out the overlords of North Blue was done in minutes, and it's the same with East Blue. There's no difference. Dealing with these cadres was easy—over in three punches and two kicks."
Honey Queen, stroking her pale golden hair, smiled. "It's no surprise that these cadres were defeated. The real question is, what should we do with these three beauties? Should they join the crew?"
Betty, taking a puff of her cigarette, objected directly. "The one with the umbrella has no image at all. She looks like a village girl—no class. I don't like her. She shouldn't be on the ship."
Alvida nodded in agreement. "That's right. There are problems with this woman. She can't join the crew. Since we're setting up a branch in Alabasta, let them stay here and work."
Carmen's eyes lit up, and she smiled. "I love that idea! I support it fully."
Reiju, with a sweet smile, agreed. "It's a good idea to have them stay at the branch."
Baccarat, brushing her dark hair, smiled gently. As one of the eldest sisters among the women, her word was law. "Since no one likes them much, they can stay at the branch. After all, the branch is just starting and will need manpower."
Suddenly, an extremely cold voice echoed from above.
"Damn brats, you've messed with me! Next, I'll kill you one by one and show you how cruel it is to provoke a Warlord of the Sea. Tremble, you little devils! Kuhahahaha..."