The captain of the kingdom army stood there, completely dumbfounded.
You could… explain it like that?
Looking at Crocodile in his miserable state, he didn't even know what to say anymore.
Crocodile's forehead veins bulged, his breathing growing heavier.
At that moment, Bogey hurried over.
"Report, Vice Admiral Kane!"
"I just interrogated that pirate crew—"
"And discovered something."
Kane raised an eyebrow.
"Speak."
"They confessed—"
"They were acting under orders from Crocodile's Baroque Works!"
"They came here to loot under his instructions!"
Kane paused, slightly surprised.
So it really was self-directed?
He glanced at Crocodile.
This guy…
Even killed his own hired men?
Or was this Bogey's assumption?
Then Kane turned to look at Crocodile again.
"Marine…"
"Don't slander me."
Crocodile finally couldn't hold back.
This time, the kingdom captain's expression changed.
"…Is that true?"
He asked.
"Absolutely."
"The pirates who confessed are still here."
Bogey replied immediately.
The captain's anger began to rise.
He turned to Crocodile.
"Crocodile!"
"Is what he said true?"
"Those pirates—were they sent by you?"
Crocodile didn't answer.
He only stared at Kane and Bogey—
His eyes filled with fury.
Kane's voice sounded calmly:
"That look of yours…"
"Is making me uncomfortable."
"I'm wondering—"
"Should I just dig your eyes out?"
Crocodile's body trembled.
Then he simply closed his eyes.
At this point—
Anything he said was meaningless.
"Answer me!"
The captain shouted.
If this were true—
Then everything they believed—
Would have to be rewritten.
Of course—
They never thought pirates were good.
But being deceived like this—
Was infuriating.
The civilians nearby began to stir.
"I don't believe Lord Crocodile would do such a thing!"
"He must have been framed!"
"That's right!"
"Please investigate properly, Marine-sama!"
"There must be something wrong with those pirates!"
"They're trying to take revenge on Lord Crocodile!"
Voices rose one after another.
Kane sighed.
"How pitiful."
Whether it was revenge…
Or Bogey's idea…
Or Crocodile's own scheme—
Didn't matter anymore.
Crocodile's furious expression suddenly calmed.
He opened his eyes—
And smiled.
"No…"
"These people…"
"Are the most lovable."
The next second—
Kane's foot slammed into his face again.
"Your smile is ugly."
"Better not smile."
"You damned old man…"
"You'll pay for this one day."
"Oh?"
"Little crocodile…"
"Seems you still don't understand your position."
Kane's voice was filled with disdain.
"Let me tell you something."
"Ever since that damned man Gol D. Roger said those words—"
"The seas have been flooded with powerful pirates."
"One more of you—means nothing."
"One less—means nothing."
"The Seven Warlords?"
"Replaceable."
"A flowing title for whoever qualifies."
"So tell me—"
"Do you really think that title…"
"Gives you the right to challenge me?"
Crocodile's pupils shrank.
"…What are you trying to do?"
Kane smiled faintly.
"Nothing much."
"I just want—"
"To crush your head."
His foot began to change.
Crimson dragon scales slowly emerged—
Flames erupted outward.
The terrifying heat spread instantly.
Crocodile—
Bound by Seastone and heavily injured—
Couldn't even turn into sand.
The sheer pressure—
Forced everyone present to retreat.
They stared in shock—
At Kane's flame-covered, dragonized leg.
A deadly aura—
Radiated from it.
For the first time—
Fear appeared in Crocodile's heart.
Kane lifted his foot.
Crocodile—
Unable to move—
Could only watch—
As that descending strike—
Felt like a falling guillotine.
Despair engulfed him.
Then—
Kane stomped down.
"WAIT!!"
"I brought the money!"
A panicked shout rang out.
Kane paused.
His foot shifted slightly—
Landing just beside Crocodile's ear.
BOOM.
The ground shattered instantly.
Cracks spread for hundreds of meters—
All the way to the coastline—
As seawater rushed inward.
Everyone gulped.
Kane sighed.
"…Got a bit carried away."
Not far away—
Mr. 1 was drenched in cold sweat.
He cursed inwardly:
"This damned Marine monster…"
"Why is someone like him here…?"
Kane's leg returned to normal.
Then he looked at the chest behind Mr. 1—
And smiled.
"Sorry, sorry."
"I've been a bit irritable lately."
"And your boss really pissed me off."
"So I went a little overboard."
His attitude—
Completely different from before.
Even as a killer—
Mr. 1 felt a long-lost sense of fear.
This kind of person—
Was the most terrifying.
"I brought the money."
"Can we take our boss now?"
"Oh, right!"
Kane slapped his forehead.
"Getting old—my memory's failing."
"Hey, little crocodile—"
"You still alive?"
"If you're not dead, say something."
"I'm a man of my word."
Crocodile had no temper left.
Though hatred burned within—
This was the closest he had ever been to death.
Even facing Whitebeard—
He had never felt fear like this.
But this Marine—
Had done it.
"You can still move?"
"Good."
"That means you're fine."
Kane casually kicked him away.
Mr. 1 immediately caught him.
Crocodile shut his eyes.
Too humiliating.
"This is the money."
"Wrong."
Kane frowned.
"What do you mean 'the money I want'?"
"This is compensation."
"Compensation, understand?"
"Don't make it sound like I'm some pirate like you."
Mr. 1's mouth twitched.
Even the Marines—
And the kingdom soldiers—
Had strange expressions.
"…Isn't it?"
Kane asked.
"…Yes. Yes."
Mr. 1 didn't want to argue anymore.
This was too shameless.
"Exactly."
"How could I possibly be like you pirates?"
"So—"
"Can we leave now?"
"Of course."
"What, you want to stay for dinner?"
Kane rolled his eyes.
Mr. 1 immediately turned and left—
Without the slightest hesitation.
Who knew what else this old monster might do?
After walking some distance—
Kane's voice suddenly rang out again.
"Wait."
Mr. 1 froze—
But still stopped instantly.
"…What else?"
Kane scratched his head.
"Almost forgot."
"That guy still has Seastone cuffs on him."
"Those things cost thousands of Beli."
"And they're hard to buy."
"…Take them off before you go."
Silence.
Everyone present—
Was completely speechless.
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