https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-854-Use-Sneak-Attack-Can-t-Handle-It/13539380/
Chapter 855: Seven Warlords of the Sea, Serve Time in Prison—Choose One
Chapter 855: Seven Warlords of the Sea, Serve Time in Prison—Choose One
Crocodile was furious, absolutely livid.
They’d promised to invite him aboard as a guest.
But now—
Inside a spacious room with a living area, Crocodile poured himself a glass of wine. Everything was here—cigar, food, fine wine, and comfortable lodgings—but there was one critical flaw.
He lifted his glass, his eyes drifting downward to the Seastone Handcuffs clamped around his wrists. His facial expression darkened as he slammed the cup down.
Bang!
The table shuddered, as if echoing his frustration.
Nearby, Daz Bones glanced at his own Seastone Handcuffs and asked, “Boss, what’s the plan?”
Crocodile’s face remained grim. “We were careless. Forgot there were other Navy forces involved.”
The Seastone cuffs prevented them from using their abilities and drained their strength, though the latter was a minor inconvenience for them.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a figure wrapped entirely in bandages, like a mummy, floated inside.
Klah and Lida followed behind.
Kuro tilted his head toward Klah, who nodded and said, “Well, here you are, having a drink?”
“Kuro!”
Crocodile shot him a glance, his lips curling into a mocking smirk as he took in Kuro’s bandaged appearance. “What happened to you? A mummy now?”
Kuro said nothing, his eyes flicking sideways.
“You’d be long gone,” Klah muttered.
Kuro raised his relatively intact right hand and snapped his fingers.
“Bring me a drink too.”
“Did your mouth get injured too?!”
Crocodile glared at Kuro but poured him a glass anyway.
Kuro nodded, took a sip, and let his eyes wander.
“I’ll spare you the small talk,” Klah said.
Crocodile’s arm tensed, a blue vein throbbing visibly as he nearly lunged with the Seastone cuffs.
“Don’t start trouble.”
This time, Kuro finally spoke. “Touch me with those, and something bad will happen. Don’t think you can escape by ditching the Seastone. Even if you turn to dust, it won’t save you.”
“What do you want?” Crocodile growled.
Kuro snapped his fingers again. Klah nodded, retrieving a key from his pocket—the key to the Seastone Handcuffs.
“We admit this was a bit underhanded. But since you’re already cuffed, we’ll resolve everything in one go,” Kuro said.
“Resolve what?”
“This.” Kuro grinned. “Seven Warlords of the Sea… or Serve Time in Prison. Choose one.”
“Seven Warlords of the Sea?”
Crocodile’s eyes widened, then he burst into laughter. “Hah! I was stripped from the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Kuro, you actually want to reappoint me? Do you think the World Government would agree? Or your Navy?”
“I don’t handle that part.”
Kuro said, “I’m just the messenger. Frankly, I’d welcome you joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have stopped you. But the final decision isn’t mine. Whether you accept is up to you. Approval from above is another matter.”
The authority currently rested with Sakazuki, and might eventually pass to Gramps. But Gramps, for all his easygoing nature, had his own principles. In any case, Kuro had no interest in meddling with that.
He’d simply crossed paths with Crocodile and thought the Seven Warlords of the Sea could use a reliable addition.
Crocodile was strong enough on his own, and Kuro sensed he’d changed—less ambitious than before.
His Observation Haki couldn’t pinpoint emotions like Yi Xiao’s did, but he could sense Crocodile’s shift: a resigned, middle-aged man who’d accepted reality without fully admitting it.
Whitebeard’s death had clearly shaken him.
“Seven Warlords of the Sea,” Crocodile narrowed his eyes. “You’re not afraid I’ll overthrow another nation?”
“Hah!” Kuro laughed. “You spent over a decade failing to topple one. You couldn’t pull it off. And your reputation’s ruined—no one believes you anymore.”
“You bastard!” Crocodile shouted.
But Kuro wasn’t wrong. His reputation was already tainted across nations.
That’s precisely why Kuro had approached him.
Unlike Donquixote Doflamingo, whose hidden agenda might see him seize another throne—or worse, defect to Kaido—Crocodile was different. He’d wandered the Grand Line for years without aligning with anyone. He was cunning, calculating.
His name was already mud in the Kingdom’s eyes. No nation would trust him, let alone let him settle. Overthrowing nations? Unlikely.
And his attempts had taken too long. Even Arabasta, far larger than Dressrosa, had required years of preparation. Without legitimacy, even the weakest claim was impossible in this world ruled by bloodlines and nobility.
Why didn’t the Revolutionary Army claim thrones themselves? Because they sought nobles with royal blood to legitimize their rule.
Crocodile had tried and failed. If he truly wanted to rise again, he’d have rallied his influence by now. That’s why Kuro was interested—Crocodile was no longer a threat.
But Kuro didn’t control the final approval. Crocodile’s agreement was just the first step.
Crocodile stared at Kuro, his eyes narrowing. “Fine. I’ll accept. Daz, hand him my life paper.”
Daz Bones nodded, pulling out a life paper from his coat. He tore off a corner and placed it on the table.
The fragment inched toward Crocodile.
It was his, no doubt.
“Klah,” Kuro said.
Klah nodded, placing the key on the table and taking the life paper.
“My word’s solid. I’ll pass this to the right people—they’ll contact you. Assuming this goes through.”
Kuro lifted his glass and drained it, then grimaced. “Tastes awful. Whose wine is this?”
“Yours!” Crocodile’s blue vein pulsed. “You think this is my ship?!”
“Bullshit! How could my wine taste this bad!” Kuro rolled his eyes, unapologetic.
“Next island, get lost. Or I’ll have to send you to Impel Down temporarily. Consider this a favor—my Navy remembers debts owed. Since you once protected my Navy, I’m sparing you. Don’t mistake kindness for weakness.”
Kuro stood, his body floating upward, and left with Lida and Klah trailing behind.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
