Red Line, Mariejois, Pangea Castle, Chamber of Authority.
The bald-headed Five Elder, the Financial War God of the World Government, Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro Saint, sensed the displeasure in Sand Crocodile's tone, but he didn't mind it in the slightest.
After all, he was a Five Elder, and it was already a great honor for the other party to have him lower his attitude to make contact. Moreover, Sand Crocodile was feeling displeased.
Nusjuro Saint was also in a very bad mood.
"As a government-recognized Warlord of the Sea, how could he lose to a rookie pirate who has just emerged!"
Nusjuro Saint tossed a brief fax onto the table and coldly questioned Crocodile on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Sand Crocodile, what do you take the government's face for!?"
On that brief fax were several news photos from the World Economic Journal.
One photo showed the "White Dragon" soaring through the sky; another depicted Crocodile lying on the ground, unable to rise; and a third showed the "White Dragon" replacing the "Golden Banana Crocodile," perched atop the Rain Banquet Pyramid...
These photos connected together.
Even someone who could not read could understand the meaning conveyed by the images—
Warlord of the Sea, Sand Crocodile, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the "White Dragon!" Regarding this incident, the World Economic Journal had already compiled the relevant news and planned to set it as the front-page headline for tomorrow!
The World Government had received advance notice from the World Economic Journal about this news event.
Since it involved the Warlords of the Sea, it naturally reached the highest authority—the Five Elders.
This was also the reason why Nusjuro Saint called Crocodile.
The Five Elders needed to personally confirm whether this veteran Warlord of the Sea had truly suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the "White Dragon."
Through Nusjuro Saint's words, Crocodile had roughly figured out the ins and outs of the situation.
The other party had somehow learned about his loss to the White Dragon...
The Five Elders were bastards! The White Dragon was also a bastard!
Crocodile shot a cold glance at Storm and then, with a detached attitude, spoke to the Five Elders on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"When has the World Government cared about 'face'?"
Although Sand Crocodile was a Warlord of the Sea, he had no interest in licking the boots of the Five Elders.
"My actions are not something the World Government can question!"
"Impudent!"
Nusjuro Saint instantly erupted in anger.
"Sand Crocodile, watch your attitude!
"The government can invite you to become a Warlord of the Sea, and it can also revoke your qualification at any time!"
"Hmph..."
Crocodile scoffed, his disdain evident.
If establishing and revoking the Warlords of the Sea was truly that easy, the World Government wouldn't have gone to such lengths to set up this system of 'legal pirates'! However, while Crocodile was dismissive, he ultimately refrained from further mocking Nusjuro Saint to his face.
The position of Warlord of the Sea was something Crocodile still cared about.
Despite what the White Dragon had said about the "Pluton Blueprint"...
Crocodile preferred to believe the intelligence he had.
The whereabouts of Pluton must be in Alabasta!
It was just a pity for that woman, Nico Robin...
In the Chamber of Authority.
After exchanging a few pleasantries to maintain the dignity of the Five Elders, Nusjuro Saint got to the point.
"Sand Crocodile, is Vongola Storm still in Alabasta?"
Vongola Storm?
Crocodile's heart jolted.
The Five Elders actually knew the true name of that White Dragon?!
Who exactly was this White Dragon...? Crocodile asked, maintaining a calm facade.
"Vongola Storm... who is that?"
"That's the so-called 'White Dragon'! Hmph!"
Nusjuro Saint coldly huffed, clearly displeased.
"A little brat from the Navy actually has such a title, on par with an Admiral... it's truly laughable!"
"Navy?"
Crocodile's heart trembled again.
"The White Dragon is from the Navy?"
"He is the Navy's greatest stain!"
Nusjuro Saint clearly did not want to discuss the "White Dragon" further.
After all, in his view, if the "White Dragon" hadn't defected, perhaps the Navy could have gained another Admiral.
At that time, the government's rule would have become even more stable, but now it was too late to say anything...
Slaughtering in Infinite Hell, escaping from Impel Down, plundering Navy warships.
Vongola Storm was simply lawless!
The Navy's greatest stain? Crocodile realized something.
The White Dragon must have committed some offense, which led him to leave the Navy—or perhaps defect? The fact that the White Dragon's situation had reached the ears of the Five Elders indicated that he had committed a significant crime...
Just as Crocodile was lost in thought, Nusjuro Saint continued to ask.
"Is that guy still in Alabasta?"
Crocodile snapped back to reality and coldly replied.
"No comment!"
"Sand Crocodile!"
Nusjuro Saint raised his voice again.
"The Warlords of the Sea have an obligation to cooperate with the government's actions!"
"Hmph!"
Crocodile did not care about Nusjuro Saint's warning.
"Since the World Government's information channels are so well-connected, you can go gather intelligence yourselves!"
With a snap, Crocodile hung up the Den Den Mushi after finishing his sentence.
"The White Dragon? Navy? Hah?"
Sand Crocodile stared at Storm, seemingly wanting an explanation from him.
"Who doesn't have a past they wish to forget?"
Storm shrugged, then suddenly changed the subject.
"For instance, I once met a friend named—Emporio Ivankov.
"The Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom is truly a sincere person. He told me that there is an old-school Warlord of the Sea—"
Upon hearing the name of the Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom, Crocodile felt that things were going awry.
He didn't wait for Storm to finish speaking and interrupted him with a dark expression.
"Enough!"
That White Dragon could absolutely not be from the Navy! The Five Elders were right!
This guy was merely a stain!...
In Pangea Castle, in the Chamber of Authority.
The Five Elders gathered together.
Nusjuro Saint discarded the Den Den Mushi in his hand and picked up a Named Sword from the side.
"What a pity, it seems Sand Crocodile did not die at the hands of the White Dragon..."
"How strange..."
Topman Warcury Saint, the Legal War God of the World Government, who had a scythe-like beard and scars on his forehead, said in confusion.
"Based on what that White Dragon did in Infinite Hell, Sand Crocodile should have been doomed to die.
"Why did the White Dragon kill so many pirates in Infinite Hell but let Sand Crocodile go after leaving Impel Down?"
"The actions of pirates are always difficult to predict."
Shepherd Ju Peter Saint, the Agricultural War God of the World Government, shook his golden-haired head.
"Perhaps after leaving Impel Down, the White Dragon had other thoughts, wanting to recruit subordinates and build a force..."
"Recruiting Warlords of the Sea?"
Marcus Mars Saint, the Environmental War God of the World Government, remarked.
"That's quite a bold speculation."
"Compared to that, I am more concerned about why the White Dragon would directly appear in Alabasta."
Jaygarcia Saturn Saint, the Science Defense War God of the World Government, reminded them.
"He was previously in Impel Down, and the distance between the deep-sea prison and Alabasta is almost half the world!"
"The White Dragon can fly..."
Marcus Mars Saint said casually.
"Although I don't know why the Clay-Clay Fruit can allow him to fly, it is clear that the White Dragon has a solid grasp of his Devil Fruit abilities..."
"Hmph! The Clay-Clay Fruit..."
Topman Warcury Saint scoffed disdainfully, like a wild boar snorting.
"No matter how well-developed it is, what does it matter?"
Nusjuro Saint timely interjected.
"At least being a Warlord of the Sea is more than enough, isn't it?"
As soon as this was said, a light laughter echoed in the Chamber of Authority.
"Indeed, based on the strength the White Dragon has previously displayed, his Clay-Clay Fruit has already completely awakened..."
"An awakened Paramecia-type Devil Fruit is more than enough to be a Warlord of the Sea..."
"The original intention of establishing the Warlords of the Sea was to divide the ever-growing pirate population..."
"Since the White Dragon likes to clear out pirates so much, let him continue to do so..."
"What a pity that Sand Crocodile did not die..."
"However, according to the White Dragon's character, he should soon seek out other Warlords of the Sea, right?"
"Among the Warlords of the Sea, those who don't listen much can be replaced by a newcomer, which can serve as a warning..."
"Let a 'stain' who has left the Navy system serve as a Warlord of the Sea, which can also send a message to the Navy..."
"First, let the Navy set a bounty for Vongola Storm..."
...
The private meeting of the Five Elders remained unknown to the outside world.
However, the news of the Warlord of the Sea's crushing defeat quickly spread like wildfire.
On the second day after the Baroque Gustaph returned to Alabasta, the news from the World Economic Journal was delivered to every corner of the world.
Front-page headline—
"Hero's Crushing Defeat! The Strongest Rookie Pirate in History!"
"Tsk tsk tsk!"
Storm looked at the newspaper in his hand, marveling at the headline.
"This news title is truly well-crafted.
"Anyone unaware would think that the Navy's 'hero' was beaten up by me..."
"Hmph!"
The hero of Alabasta beside him let out a disdainful snort.
"The strength of Hero Garp is beyond your imagination!"
"Old Croc."
Storm put down the newspaper and looked at Sand Crocodile curiously.
"Have you caught some strange d
isease? The name of the disease is 'Inability to Imagine'!"
Crocodile, subjected to ridicule, had a dark expression.
"Alright, enough of this, I need to find my next 'collaborator'."
Storm waved his hand casually, conjuring a Blue-Eyed White Dragon, and took Robin to soar into the sky.
Departure.
Banaro Island.