"You've got it wrong," Don said, turning toward Issho with a curious smile. "What I meant was—can you make them fly?"
"Fly?"
Sitting cross-legged on the other side of the ship, Issho tilted his head toward Don's voice. "My power isn't the Float-Float Fruit. Even if I could lift them, it wouldn't last very long."
When Don mentioned the Float-Float Fruit, Issho had already experimented with similar ideas. Most of the techniques Don described, he could imitate to some extent—but long-term levitation of other objects was beyond his reach.
"I see."
Don nodded, then reached into his coat and pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
The snail opened its eyes, staring back at him.
He dialed, and soon a deep, familiar voice came through.
"What is it?" asked Crocodile.
"Do you have an Eternal Pose pointing to the Sabaody Archipelago?"
"I do."
"That's good. I'm heading back to Alabasta—have someone deliver one to me."
"Understood."
"And prepare some men to wait in Alabasta. I'll contact you later—when the time comes, send your people to collect the gold from Skypiea. Consider it our initial funding. After that, I'll go find Tesoro."
"Skypiea?"
Crocodile's tone rose a few degrees, his interest clearly piqued.
"There's a powerful guy up there," Don said calmly. "He's eaten the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. If your abilities can't counter him, he's not easy to deal with."
"The most destructive of all Logia-type fruits?"
Crocodile's usually composed voice actually cracked in shock.
"The most destructive, huh?" Don smiled faintly, not confirming nor denying.
"You're thinking of recruiting him?"
"Not sure he'd agree. The man's got quite an ego."
Crocodile grunted in understanding.
Enel—the man who called himself a god. Arrogant, self-righteous, and convinced of his own divinity. Even if Don beat him down, he probably wouldn't submit easily.
Besides, Don had once joked that he preferred to sail with nothing but beautiful women—purely for morale, of course. Now there was Issho aboard… and adding Enel to the mix? That'd be something else entirely.
Still, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was an incredible power. Maybe Enel was still rough around the edges now, but in a few years, he'd be Admiral-level material.
Once the Hunter Association was properly established, Don couldn't personally handle every battle.
If Enel could be tamed, he'd make a damn fine tool.
"If he really is a Rumble-Rumble user, he'll be a huge asset to the Association," Crocodile said after a pause. The same thought clearly crossed his mind.
Eating such a fruit guaranteed immense power—no matter how inexperienced the user.
"I'll test him when the time comes. If it works out, have your people retrieve the gold—and bring him along."
"Got it."
"Good. Have your men wait for me in the port city of Rapeseed."
Don hung up, tucked the now-sleeping Den Den Mushi back into his coat, and sighed.
"Seems like you know quite a bit of insider information," Issho remarked with a grin.
"Just a little," Don replied, holding up his hand and pinching his thumb and forefinger together—though they didn't quite touch.
Alabasta — Port City of Rapeseed
Galdino and his crew had finally returned from Little Garden, still shaken from the experience.
After catching his breath, Galdino contacted Crocodile to report the situation.
When Crocodile's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, it was calm and firm.
"I understand. Now go find an Eternal Pose to Sabaody Archipelago, and wait at the port. When the Boss arrives, hand it to him."
Galdino froze mid-sentence, stunned.
"B-Boss, you mean that man from Little Garden?"
"Of course. Who else? He's already left the island. Do as I said—once you've completed the task, stay in Alabasta. I'll send someone to give you your next orders."
The line went dead before Galdino could even respond.
He stared blankly at the Den Den Mushi in his hands.
What's going on here…?
Still bewildered, he went off to find the Eternal Pose. Thankfully, Rapeseed was a bustling trade city, famous for its perfumes shipped across the Grand Line and beyond. Among the merchants, one or two would definitely have a pointer to Sabaody.
Meanwhile, Crocodile boarded a ship at the coast.
"Boss," Daz Bonez approached quickly. "News just came in—the Marines discovered the giant canyon in the desert and have dispatched a unit to investigate."
"Anything in the papers yet?" Crocodile asked.
His expression didn't change much. With a Marine base in Alabasta, such commotion couldn't possibly go unnoticed. What he truly cared about, though, was the Hunter Association.
Just as Don had said—his fame would make establishing the Association much easier. But for now, Crocodile had to remain in the shadows.
"No, nothing in today's papers," Daz replied. "But there's another report you might find interesting."
"Oh?" Crocodile's brow rose slightly.
"A Marine recruit ship was attacked in the New World."
Crocodile frowned. "That's hardly unusual."
After all, the New World was a pirate's paradise—no place for the weak. Anyone who survived there was, by definition, strong.
"But this ship," Daz continued quietly, "was led by former Marine Admiral Black Arm Zephyr… and it suffered heavy casualties. The attacker was none other than the Warlord Hanafuda."
At that, Crocodile's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"That man…?"
Daz nodded.
Crocodile leaned back, eyes half-closed in thought.
"I see. That'll do."
He waved Daz away, who bowed and left.
"Hanafuda… I've heard he's on good terms with Kaido."
Crocodile's brow furrowed slightly. Still, he didn't dwell on it for long.
It was a matter between the Marines and the Warlord—and it happened deep within the New World.
But it would be interesting to see how the Navy and the World Government reacted to this.
After all, attacking a Marine vessel led by Zephyr himself…
That wasn't something the higher-ups could just ignore.
Across the seas, the news spread like wildfire.
Marine recruit ship attacked by a Warlord!
The entire Navy Headquarters fell into a tense silence.
Zephyr had yet to return, but his condition was already clear
He'd lost an arm.
END OF CHAPTER
patreon.com/MrBehringer