Shrouded under Sakazuki's shadow, Robin, who had just managed to calm her heart, was once again overwhelmed by fear. Her mind went completely blank.
Beside her, Lorka steadied Robin and smiled as he said:
"Sorry about that, Marine-sama."
"She's just feeling a little unwell. This child's been like this since she was small."
"An old condition."
As his voice fell, Robin cooperated, her face turning pale as she 'collapsed' onto him.
Sakazuki glanced at Robin slumped against Lorka.
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
Staring at the two of them for a few seconds, Sakazuki said nothing more and turned away.
Not far off, he ordered Bullet:
"Follow them."
Bullet sneered, then turned and left.
...
Elsewhere, after supporting Robin with many twists and turns for a while, Lorka stuffed the bundle from his back into her arms.
"Hide this quickly."
"I'll go draw them away."
Robin's eyes widened in shock.
"Lorka-san, wait—"
But in the blink of an eye, Lorka had already disappeared. Robin collapsed weakly to the ground, not knowing what to do.
Boom—
An explosion echoed in the distance, snapping her out of it.
Forcing her body to move, she slipped into the crowd, hiding herself as she rushed toward the site of the battle.
...
Rainbase, at the entrance of the Rain Dinners casino.
Brilliant flowers and beautiful faces, countless residents gathered around.
Crocodile wore a look of utmost respect, with his underlings lined neatly on both sides, welcoming Sakazuki's arrival.
Seeing Crocodile so deferential, Sakazuki cast him a cold glance.
"Quite the reception."
Crocodile smiled politely.
"As it should be, all to welcome Admiral Sakazuki's esteemed presence."
Sakazuki gave a low chuckle.
"Is that so."
He lifted his right hand, tightening his glove.
Snap—
Boom!
A red blur sliced through the air. Crocodile, who had just been smiling, was suddenly slapped into the ground by Sakazuki, smashing out a massive crater.
Lying motionless in the pit, Crocodile's smile had vanished. His swollen face was clouded with gloom, and the bulging veins on his hand betrayed the storm roiling in his heart.
His underlings froze, not knowing what to do. The surrounding residents, too, looked on in anger.
But faced with Sakazuki's notorious brutality, none dared to speak out.
Sakazuki crouched down, staring at Crocodile as he spoke:
"What's the meaning of this performance?"
"Trying to show off?"
"Two days of good treatment and you start thinking you're somebody?"
"Did you really think that becoming the hero of a country gives you the right to stand tall?"
"Have you forgotten what you really are?"
"Can't keep playing your little role, is that it?"
"Hm?"
Smack! Smack!
Sakazuki slapped Crocodile's right cheek twice, the sharp sound echoing.
Glancing at Crocodile's underlings and the swelling crowd of onlookers, Sakazuki slowly stood.
"Until you're strong enough to kill me, give up these petty tricks."
He stepped forward, crushing Crocodile's head beneath his foot as he walked into Rain Dinners.
Behind him, Enel followed closely, even cruelly grinding his heel down as he passed. The soldiers trailing after them avoided Crocodile and went inside.
Once the Marines had all gone in, Crocodile's men hurried to pull him from the crater.
But seeing his dark, sullen expression, none dared to speak.
Crocodile brushed the dirt off himself and said coldly:
"Leave me."
He turned and entered Rain Dinners, heading toward his office.
...
Inside Crocodile's office at Rain Dinners.
Enel sat cross-legged on the sofa, biting into an apple.
Sakazuki occupied Crocodile's massive chair, his legs draped over the desk.
He casually picked up a cigar from the table, lit it with a spark of magma at his fingertip, and took a deep drag.
Exhaling a thick plume of smoke, he said:
"So, how's the pirate hunt been going lately?"
Crocodile, having regained his composure, answered respectfully:
"I've established a bounty hunter town."
"So far it's been effective—it's on the small island at Reverse Mountain's entrance."
"Though the gathered bounty hunters are of average strength..."
"They can still take down most weak pirates to collect bounties."
"As for stronger pirates, they do everything they can to gather intelligence, then deliver it to the Alabasta Marine branch."
"For use as records—just in case."
"The list of hunted pirates is in the top drawer on the left."
"You may take a look."
Sakazuki turned in his chair, pulled open the drawer, and retrieved the list.
Flipping through it casually, he nodded at the densely recorded pirate crews.
"Not bad."
"If you need anything or want support, request it from the government."
"So long as you deliver results, the government won't be stingy with its backing."
"Including all underground dealings—you may involve yourself in those across the first half of the Grand Line."
"Use that influence to disrupt those New World bastards' businesses."
"The New World is theirs. The Grand Line and the Four Seas belong to the Marines."
"Do it without hesitation..."
Suddenly, Enel, sitting on the sofa, unleashed a burst of Observation Haki. He swiftly pulled a paper slip from his pocket.
"What is it, Enel?"
Enel's brows furrowed.
"Rosinante's vivre card... it's burning."
Seeing a corner of the paper already charred, Enel could no longer sit still.
"I'm heading out."
Boom!
A thunderclap split the sky. Enel crashed through the window, vanishing in a flash.
Sakazuki shook his head, then turned back to Crocodile.
"Do it without hesitation. The very purpose of the Shichibukai is to suppress the New World."
"If you fail to prove your value..."
He rose and walked to the window, ignoring the look on Crocodile's face.
Suddenly, his right arm erupted with magma, filling half the office as it condensed into a massive molten fist.
With a single swing, he smashed through the wall, hurling the colossal lava fist far into the distance.
Seconds later—
BOOM!!!!!!
Far out in the Rainbase desert, a towering mushroom cloud rose into the sky, dominating the vision of every onlooker in the city.
A wave of heat swept over them, the temperature of Rainbase soaring to unbearable heights.
In the endless desert, a magma basin several times larger than Rainbase itself had formed.
Bullet emerged from the molten crater, carrying a few scattered items as he made his way back to Rain Dinners.
Meanwhile, Robin, hiding far in the distance, stared at the sea of magma before her. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Lorka... san..."
...
Inside the Rain Dinners office.
Feeling the rolling heat waves, Sakazuki closed his eyes and savored the sensation for a moment.
"There's no point in existing otherwise. Do you understand?"
Staring at the mushroom cloud towering into the heavens, sensing the devastating power behind it, Crocodile's throat went dry.
"I understand..."
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