Creed opened the door. Standing outside was a man.
His head was shaved short, arms bare, skin bronzed from the harsh desert sun, and his muscles coiled like iron serpents.
Creed narrowed his eyes—he recognized him.
Crocodile's right-hand man, a Baroque Works officer—codename Mr. 1!
A Supa Supa no Mi (Dice-Dice Fruit) user.
At the moment, he stood with several subordinates at Creed's door, clearly waiting for him.
Creed glanced at him and said flatly, "Something you need?"
"Our boss wants to see you," Mr. 1 replied with his arms crossed.
"No time," Creed said bluntly. At that moment, Ain came out of the neighboring room. Creed turned to her, "Let's go."
Ain gave Mr. 1 and his men a cautious glance, frowning, but didn't question further. "Mm."
As they prepared to leave, Mr. 1 raised a hand, blocking their path. "Our boss wants to see you."
"I said I don't have time. If he wants to see me, let him come himself."
Danger glinted in Mr. 1's eyes, his men stepping forward to block them. "Our boss commands this land. No one in the seas—or in Alabasta—dares refuse him. I suggest you cooperate."
The unspoken meaning was clear: if Creed refused, they'd use force.
Creed chuckled, then looked toward the end of the corridor. "Sending them to their deaths, Crocodile?"
A shadowed figure emerged, cigar in his mouth, eyes cold, a scar slashing across his face.
But the most striking thing of all—the golden hook gleaming in place of his right hand.
Tap… tap… tap…
His footsteps echoed sharply in the silent hall.
Seeing him, Mr. 1 and the others immediately bowed their heads. "Boss!"
Crocodile approached, staring at Creed. "So, the one who killed Supernovas in Sabaody, who cut down the 500-million bounty pirate Iron-Arm Madman, the so-called strongest of the new Marine generation—what business do you have in my Rainbase?"
"The Marines and the Shichibukai don't interfere with each other. We don't harm Marines, and the Marines don't station themselves in our territory."
The Shichibukai system.
They enjoyed great freedom—only needing to pay the World Government annually to maintain their status.
And now, a Marine prodigy had come to his base. Suspicion burned in Crocodile's mind.
His eyes narrowed. Had his secret plans been exposed? Did the Government catch wind of something, sending Creed to investigate, to gather evidence?
"No wonder you're one of the Shichibukai," Creed said.
This was Crocodile's territory—yesterday, as soon as he entered, his identity had been uncovered.
Creed half-closed his eyes, staring—not at Crocodile himself, but at the [Purple Treasure Chest] hovering above his head.
So Crocodile carried a treasure chest.
"State your purpose," Crocodile demanded.
"If I said we were just passing through, would you believe it?" Creed asked.
"What do you think?" Crocodile retorted.
He was arrogant, deeply paranoid.
Creed shrugged. "Relax. My arrival here was accidental. I have no business with you."
But Crocodile clearly didn't believe him. Blocking his path, he said, "Then let me test this 'strongest Marine' for myself."
His plans in Alabasta were critical. With Marines suddenly appearing here, he could only assume the worst—that they were sent to investigate.
He couldn't let them leave.
Creed smirked. Perfect. Crocodile wouldn't let him leave, and he wanted that Purple Chest anyway.
Since masks were off, why not tear them further?
Crocodile was arrogant, trusting only himself. No matter how Creed explained, it wouldn't matter.
Creed's gaze was mocking. "Relax. Only I know your scheme—to erode Alabasta's kingdom from within, make it your puppet regime, and seek the location of the Ancient Weapon, Pluton. The World Government and Marines know nothing."
"So… what will you do now?"
Crocodile's expression darkened. So it was true—his secret was exposed.
Then he could never let them leave alive.
He struck, body flickering forward, left hand lunging for Creed's head.
Creed knew his power well.
The Suna Suna no Mi (Sand-Sand Fruit). Whoever Crocodile touched would be drained of moisture, turned to a withered corpse.
But Creed's fist clenched, coated in Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), and he struck!
Boom!!
Their clash shattered the floor, collapsing part of the building.
Crocodile was forced back.
Creed eyed him, activating the system's scan.
He wanted to see—just how strong was a Shichibukai like Crocodile?
…
(End of Chapter)
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