The Shichibukai, simply put, are pirates officially sanctioned by the World Government.
By surrendering a portion of their plundered gains to the government, they receive special privileges, including immunity from arrest by the Marines and government forces. All their crimes are tacitly legalized under this arrangement.
However, they can't just pillage indiscriminately. They're treated as "pirates who hunt pirates," their primary targets being other pirate crews and nations unaffiliated with the World Government—those already beyond the protection of the Marines and the government.
Of course, this principle isn't always strictly followed, and the World Government quietly overlooks any discrepancies.
Other pirates revile the Shichibukai, calling them "government dogs" or "shames to piracy who grovel to the authorities." But the Shichibukai are undeniably powerful, and the government tolerates them as a deterrent against other pirates.
His reputation alone was enough to deter most pirates.
And the man standing before them now... Crocodile... was one of the Shichibukai.
"S-so... Lord Crocodile just happened to be passing by and rescued us because we were being attacked?"
"Yeah, I guess that's how it happened. No big deal. I was just taking a stroll when I heard some noisy bastards making a racket in the middle of the night. They were annoying."
"E-even so, you saved us! I assume it was retaliation for what happened earlier, but we wouldn't have survived an attack by that many Sand Pirates... Thank you so much!"
The caravan leader had been handling the situation, his face a kaleidoscope of gratitude, fear, tension, embarrassment, and suspicion.
Well, you couldn't really blame him. Considering the man's reputation and combat prowess, it was only natural.
After all, we had just witnessed him effortlessly wipe out a hopelessly outnumbered group of Sand Pirates with a nonchalant air.
"You can be grateful if you want, but I hate noise. If you don't want to piss me off, scram."
"Y-yes... My apologies."
"Hmph... I'll rest at the edge of the oasis. You can keep your camp, but keep the racket to a minimum."
With that, Crocodile turned and strode away.
As we watched his retreating figure, the merchants and guards alike, including myself, finally felt a wave of relief wash over us.
We were negotiating with someone who, if he felt like it, could slaughter us all in less than a second, without even giving us a chance to resist or realize what was happening. Of course we were tense.
Even with the title of Shichibukai, he's still a pirate at heart. Sure, he's officially allied with the Government, but that doesn't guarantee our safety.
Looks like our fears were unfounded this time, though.
What's more, he's apparently resting at the same oasis until morning. Does that mean we're indirectly under his protection while we're here?
Some of the merchants seemed relieved, even emboldened, by this realization. Others remained wary, wondering what he was really up to.
Well, he's a pirate, after all. It's natural to suspect there's an ulterior motive behind his apparent act of kindness. Most of the escort team feels the same way.
Honestly, I can't even begin to understand why anyone would come to a place like this for a "stroll." It's a half-day's walk, even at a leisurely pace, from Nanohana, right in the middle of the desert. And it's practically midnight.
Even considering it's an oasis and sees some foot traffic... there's no way someone would just "happen to pass by" here.
I'd almost believe Crocodile deliberately targeted a place where he could swoop in and save the day, just to build his image as a hero for the people, a member of the Shichibukai. Wait a minute... maybe that's not far from the truth?
In the original work, Crocodile had established himself as the "Hero of the Alabasta Kingdom," earning widespread trust.
Not only were the king and his officials grateful and reliant on him for protecting the nation, but even the Marines trusted Crocodile enough to maintain only a minimal presence in Alabasta.
Even with his position, he's still a pirate. That kind of trust doesn't come overnight. It takes years, decades even, to build something like that.
Could this be part of his image strategy? By saving the entire caravan, he's turning them into witnesses to his "good deed," hoping to slowly improve his reputation through word-of-mouth.
If that's true, it's both impressive and terrifying. How long has he been plotting to steal this country?
Or maybe he hasn't even decided to "steal" it yet?
Crocodile thrives in the desert. Perhaps he's simply trying to establish a foothold in this ideal environment without raising too many eyebrows, subtly boosting his image to avoid resistance.
Apparently, during his travels, he learned about the Poneglyphs and Ancient Weapons, and even discovered that clues to them were hidden here. The original work didn't cover this part, so I had no idea.
Well, thinking about it that way is a little scary... But either way, at least it doesn't seem like we're in any immediate danger here. That's a relief.
I guess I should just think of it as having a really reliable bodyguard show up. Just until morning, though.
As long as we don't provoke him or get too involved, he should be harmless, right?
...Harmless. That's what I thought, anyway.
"Ho, so you're that novelist everyone's been talking about lately? I read your book, you know."
"A-ahahaha... Th-thank you."
Wait, what's going on?
Why? Why is Crocodile-san sitting right next to me and talking to me like this is normal?
I was on watch when suddenly I heard a soft rustle beside me. I turned to see him standing there, looking down at me. I swear, my heart nearly stopped.
And then he said he'd read my book?! Was he... complimenting me? I was flattered, but terrified! I had no idea what to do!
What was even happening? Why was he talking to me? Was he just bored and looking for a way to pass the time?
He must have seen how panicked and nervous I was, but he just kept talking like nothing was wrong.
I couldn't figure out his motive. What should I do? If I accidentally angered him, would he kill me?
No, wait, calm down... As long as I didn't say anything weird or upset him, I should be fine.
I'd just rehydrated, but I was already drenched in a cold sweat, terrified of getting dehydrated again.
'Be sincere, be honest, and play it safe. You can do this. Hang in there, me.'
"D-do you... enjoy reading?"
"Not really 'enjoy,' but it's one way to kill time. I don't actively seek out books; I just pick up anything that catches my eye."
"Oh, I see... Well, if you enjoyed my novel, I'm truly honored. Thank you."
"Hmph... Maybe I should have asked for an autograph. Too bad I didn't bring anything to sign."
'What is this?! How serious is he being?! Is he even the type to say something like that? I'm still happy, but his intentions are impossible to read and it's terrifying!'
'If he wants an autograph, I'd gladly write one in his notebook or whatever... But I'm too scared to offer. Or maybe I should suggest it first? Someone help me, please! I'm so bad at this!'
Fortunately, Crocodile didn't seem to notice my confusion and continued talking without pause. As he spoke, it gradually became clear that he wasn't expecting any clever responses from me, which was a relief.
Then, as if suddenly struck by an idea, Crocodile asked, "Since I've got the author right here, I've gotta ask... 'Kaisen'... was that based on any real-life experiences or a model?"
"? 'Kaisen'...? You mean that novel?"
The title Crocodile mentioned was from a novel I'd published quite a while ago, shortly after my debut.
Kaisen was a school drama set at a high school on an island. The protagonist was a rookie teacher assigned to a school notorious for its problem students. Naturally, these rebellious kids, bristling with anti-authoritarianism, refused to listen to the teacher, openly challenging him and even trying to harm him.
In reality, the protagonist was a formidable man—the son of a Great Pirate, with courage and combat skills that far surpassed those of any street thug. Naturally, he remained unfazed by the students' attempts to intimidate him.
Yet he always treated them as their teacher, never resorting to violence to control them.
Despite their rebellious nature, he never gave up on them. He faced them head-on with unwavering sincerity and persistence, tackling their individual problems collaboratively. When necessary, he even threw punches to protect them and their families, fighting for them with everything he had—even defying the Marine and public authority through sheer honor.
Seeing how tirelessly he fought for them, the students gradually opened their hearts to him, and he earned their trust. In the end, every single one of them graduated, ready to spread their wings and fly toward their futures.
Well, to put it simply, it's basically Gokusen, but with pirates instead of gangsters.
I was actually surprised to find myself enjoying this story. I figured someone as cynical and detached as Crocodile wouldn't be into this kind of youthful, coming-of-age tale. The protagonist is quite the hot-blooded type, too.
As for what Crocodile asked me about the story's inspiration... well, there is one, sort of.
Not that there was a teacher exactly like the one in the story. But once, when I visited an island, I saw an orphanage there.
It was full of orphans who'd grown up in tough circumstances and had sticky fingers. They'd pickpocket and scam tourists to scrape together a few coins. I almost got scammed myself.
Everyone on the island—the locals, the tourists, even the Marines stationed there—looked down on those kids. But the orphanage director was different. He tirelessly shielded them, bowing his head to smooth things over, desperately trying to protect them and raise them right.
I thought he was some kind of saintly figure, an impossibly virtuous man. But it turned out his devotion wasn't entirely wasted.
Whenever the director was being scolded by other adults, the kids, good and bad alike, would glare at the accuser, instinctively trying to defend him. Some, thanks to his guidance, had even reformed and begun walking a straighter path.
Intrigued, I offered a donation in exchange for an interview with the director.
Here's what he told me...
"These children weren't born bad. They were separated from their parents before they could learn right from wrong, growing up without the guidance they needed. Under different circumstances, they could have become kind, well-behaved kids."
"I'm not saying their current behavior is excusable, but we adults share the responsibility for who they are today. We failed to reach out and help them."
"They had to grow up this way just to survive. To deny that and simply label them 'bad kids' would be heartless. We can't blame them for being born or for managing to survive this far."
"That's why I'll never abandon these kids. Their painful pasts have shaped who they are today... But if that's the case, then I'll give them even more kindness and happiness. I'll watch over them longer than anyone ever has, treating them with the sincerity they deserve. That way... I can teach them what it truly means to be human—no, I can help them reclaim it. That's what I believe."
'What a model educator,' I thought.
I really wanted to write this story, but honestly, I'm terrible at tearjerkers. My pen flows much easier when I'm crafting comedies, adventure novels, or stories with plenty of action and heart.
So, instead of a saintly figure, I transformed the protagonist into a hot-blooded teacher and pushed the action and camaraderie to the forefront.
When I summed it up like that, Crocodile burst into a hearty laugh. "Kuhahaha!"
"I see... So the Director gets it, huh?"
"Gets what, exactly?"
"Honestly, I couldn't give a damn about orphans or sappy stories... But I can relate to what that Director said. That's probably why I found Kaisen so interesting."
"?"
Crocodile saw my confused expression and continued, "Remember what he said? 'We adults are responsible for who these kids are now, because we failed to reach out to them.'"
"Uh... yeah, he did say that..."
"Exactly. People aren't born with their destinies set in stone. It's their environment that shapes them. For better or worse, how they grow up and how they're raised determines who they become. You'd think that would be obvious, but these days, there are idiots everywhere who act like they don't understand that."
He stubbed out his short cigar in a portable ashtray—surprisingly good manners—and lit a new one, continuing with that wicked grin.
"No matter how shitty your beginnings, if you're raised right, you can turn out fine. Conversely, no matter how noble your lineage, a bad upbringing can easily turn you into scum. You hear stories like that all over this sea... but the big shots refuse to acknowledge it. They'll excuse the worst trash just because of their noble blood, or casually discard someone decent simply because of their flawed background, even if they're doing nothing wrong. It all boils down to the whims of those 'above.' Your entire life hinges on how the Government or nobles perceive you... that's the reality of this world."
"Haa..."
"It's absurd," Crocodile muttered, staring into the distance. "How many people in this world truly receive the treatment they deserve, or manage to have their value recognized by society? Or worse, how many remain buried in obscurity, never realizing their potential, doomed to end their days as fools?"
Just then, a chill ran down my spine.
"What...?"
Instinctively, I leaped forward instead of backward, whirling around as I landed.
There, hovering just behind where I'd been sitting, was Crocodile's golden hook. His arm had turned to sand, allowing him to silently maneuver behind me.
I glared at him, demanding an explanation. Crocodile grinned.
"Just as I suspected," he said. "You're... 'usable' now, aren't you?"
"...!"
I figured he was probably talking about Haki—Observation Haki, to be precise. Crocodile was a Great Pirate who had ventured into the New World in the past (or at least, he should have). Of course he'd know about it. Whether he could use it himself, though, was another question.
He hadn't used it in Alabasta. If he had, even Luffy wouldn't have stood a chance. Had he lost his edge after staying too long in the First Half of the Grand Line? Or perhaps his reliance on his Devil Fruit ability meant he simply hadn't needed it?
I didn't sense any murderous intent. He'd probably just been testing me, though being tested like that was anything but pleasant. My heart was still pounding.
Crocodile straightened his arm and stood up.
"Sorry if I startled you," he said in a voice utterly devoid of emotion, then strode away.
As he left, he tossed over his shoulder, "Oh, and I genuinely enjoyed your book. I'm looking forward to more... preferably something thrilling, something those goody-two-shoes writers wouldn't dare touch."
With that, he disappeared.
That guy definitely had an ulterior motive for talking to me.
What could it possibly be? It's not like he's some genuine fan who just wanted to chat.
Maybe it's just part of his image strategy as he prepares to become the "People's Hero." But considering he checked me for Haki before leaving...
Could it be... that I might be recruited by Baroque Works someday?
Wait, did he just scout me out?
But Crocodile doesn't usually show his face to his own employees... Oh, wait, he could just have someone else do the recruiting.
Still, I really don't like criminal organizations... Hmm...
Well, nothing's set in stone yet, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it.
Anyway, if something big enough to make Crocodile move actually happens... I doubt there's anything I could do about it. (Resigned sigh)
I'll just deal with it when the time comes.
The next morning, I parted ways with Crocodile and continued my journey to Alubarna as planned, arriving safely.
My trip through the Alabasta Kingdom—part bodyguard duty, part sightseeing—came to a successful end, leaving me with a wealth of Experience Material.
To be continued...