NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 19: Crocodile’s Scheming
"My objective is complete. Time to return, wouldn't you say?" Gion addressed Ian, who was still standing on the deck of Thriller Bark. It was said that swordsmen possessed an innate connection with their destined blades. And over two decades ago, after Moria's defeat at the hands of Kaido, the Beast Pirate Yonko...
He had plundered the tomb of Ryuma, the legendary samurai who had slain a dragon, stealing the famed Shusui. While ordinary pirates might be unaware of this, those in their circles knew the truth. Perhaps Ian had learned of this as well.
At least in the eyes of the weaker pirates in the first half of the Grand Line, lacking the strength to challenge Moria, a single renowned sword held little significance. However, in the latter half of the Grand Line, the New World…
Powerful swordsmen could even forge a regular blade into a Black Blade through rigorous training and imbuing it with their Haki.
"What's that…?" Gion, hovering high in the air, spotted a ship approaching Thriller Bark from the distant blue horizon.
As she identified the figures on board and realized they had also noticed her presence, she faintly overheard their conversation. The content was startling.
"Crocodile, you're a Warlord of the Sea as well. Why are you here in Moria's territory? Are you plotting something?"
Having confirmed their identity, Gion wasted no time. She swiftly descended towards the ship, utilizing Geppo.
"Boss, that's Moria's territory up ahead. Are we really going to propose an alliance with him?" On board a smaller vessel, Daz Bones, the imposing user of the Dice-Dice Fruit, addressed Crocodile.
"Of course. We're talking about an entire kingdom. Overthrowing it with our own forces would take far too long. The legendary Pluton, one of the three Ancient Weapons capable of destroying entire islands with a single blast… I doubt he'll refuse such an offer. With his help, world domination will be within our grasp!"
The speaker was Crocodile, a tall, imposing figure with slicked-back black hair, a long scar across his face, a golden hook replacing his left hand, and a cigar clenched between his teeth. He, like Moria, was…
A remnant of the previous era, a contender for the title of Pirate King who had ultimately failed. Moria had challenged Kaido, while Crocodile had clashed with Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, and Shiki, the "Golden Lion," two of the three legendary pirates alongside Whitebeard.
Each of those pirates possessed power comparable to an Ancient Weapon, capable of wreaking havoc on a global scale. Crocodile's solution was to acquire an Ancient Weapon of his own and challenge them on equal footing. If that failed, he would seek external assistance.
Unfortunately for him, his plan was destined to fail. In the original story, the alliance never materialized. He had underestimated the psychological trauma Kaido had inflicted upon Moria, having decimated his crew. That was why Moria had retreated to the relatively safe waters of the first half of the Grand Line, obsessively creating zombies and isolating himself from the world.
The Nefertari family was one of the twenty royal families who had founded the World Government eight hundred years ago but had chosen not to relocate to Mary Geoise and become Celestial Dragons. Instead, they ruled the Alabasta Kingdom, safeguarding the location of Pluton, one of the Ancient Weapons.
"Nico Robin, are you certain Alabasta possesses information on Pluton?" Crocodile addressed another figure on board, a woman with tanned skin and a strikingly attractive physique.
"At least, that's what the Poneglyphs in Ohara indicated. And I need your protection, so I wouldn't lie." Robin replied. Crocodile was a peculiar individual.
He protected those who were loyal to him and possessed valuable skills, while ruthlessly eliminating those who were no longer useful. Robin and Daz Bones exemplified these two categories.
After all, this was the ruthless era of pirates. Who would keep a potential threat by their side, especially someone like Crocodile?
"Excellent. Then let us commence with our plan to overthrow Alabasta Kingdom!" Crocodile declared with a maniacal grin. Robin, however, remained stoic.
Ohara, Nico Robin's birthplace, was a renowned archaeological island in the West Blue, home to the world's largest collection of scholars and the Tree of Knowledge, a vast library containing countless historical texts. Fearing the potential consequences of the Poneglyphs' secrets being revealed, the World Government had decided to eliminate the threat.
When Robin was eight years old, they had unleashed a Buster Call upon Ohara, obliterating the island. The following year, the very name "Ohara" was erased from maps. The great island and its scholars were wiped from existence.
Robin was the sole survivor, branded a criminal at the tender age of eight with a 79 million berry bounty. She had escaped thanks to the intervention of Kuzan, a Marine Admiral, and the dying wish of her friend, Jaguar D. Saul, a giant Marine Vice Admiral.
Her seemingly relentless pursuit by the Marines in the original story was merely a guise to ensure her safety. It wasn't until the Enies Lobby incident, after witnessing the Straw Hats' unwavering loyalty and willingness to sacrifice their lives for her, that Kuzan finally felt at ease. Despite wielding the Hie Hie no Mi (Ice-Ice Fruit), he possessed a heart warmer than the sun.
"Well, well… It seems we have a guest." Crocodile noticed Gion approaching, her pink figure gracefully traversing the air with Geppo.
"Yo, isn't that Vice Admiral Gion? Shouldn't you be patrolling the South Blue? What brings you here?" Crocodile greeted her casually, puffing on his cigar and twirling his golden hook, showing no signs of alarm.
"You bastard, Crocodile! I heard you talking about joining forces with Gecko Moria to overthrow the Alabasta Kingdom. You even mentioned the Ancient Weapon Pluton. Have you forgotten the rules among the Warlords – no alliances allowed?"
Gion barked. This rule applied not only to the Warlords but also to the Four Emperors. The combined forces of any two of them could pose a significant threat to the Marines and the World Government.
"What? Isn't it the Marines who granted us Warlords the right to plunder? We simply chose Alabasta as our target. Pluton? As expected of one of the twenty founding families of the World Government. They sure have some juicy secrets, don't they?"
"Well, this makes it even more intriguing. I must investigate further." Crocodile feigned ignorance and feigned surprise, infuriating Gion. She gripped the hilt of her katana tightly.
"Boss, should we engage her? She's just a Marine Vice Admiral." Daz Bones stepped forward, his fingers transforming into sharp blades. He wouldn't tolerate anyone disrespecting his captain.
This was the power of the Dice-Dice Fruit, allowing him to transform any part of his body into blades, granting him a body as hard as steel. Mastering Sword Aura, the first step towards becoming a swordsman, involved cutting through steel. It was a Devil Fruit coveted by many aspiring swordsmen.
"Stand down, Daz Bones. The Marines are our valuable partners. Without them, we wouldn't be able to plunder legally. And now, we even have the potential to acquire Pluton. Haha…"
Crocodile restrained Daz Bones, his laughter growing more manic. He put on a façade of accepting the Marines' authority while secretly plotting against them. He swung his arm, unleashing an attack.
"Desert Spada!" A crescent-shaped sand blade shot towards Gion, but she drew her katana and deflected it with a wave of Sword Pressure.
This was the reason he had joined the Warlords and why Robin had sought his protection. As long as the Warlord system remained in place and he wasn't removed due to weakness or defeat, he could act with impunity. Robin was similarly protected, even if her true identity was exposed. After all, the Marines had granted them this privilege.
"Impressive, as expected of the strongest Vice Admiral. I hear you're even a candidate for the next Admiral position." Crocodile's gaze was cold and calculating, unnerving Gion. She longed to strike him down.
His strength was undeniable, nearing the level of a master swordsman. He was practically her equal.
"Are you threatening the Marines? Aren't you afraid of losing your Warlord title?" Gion roared, internally cursing the foolish Warlord system.
Granting pirates the right to plunder? What kind of absurdity was that? While it was true that the Marines were outnumbered by pirates and could only handle two or three Yonko at a time, necessitating the Warlords to balance the scales…
Their presence had indeed strengthened the Marines and reduced pirate activity to some extent. However, the Warlords themselves were often the most ruthless and destructive pirates of all.
Doflamingo's takeover of Dressrosa was a prime example. He had been a Celestial Dragon in the past and knew of a powerful weapon, possibly one of the Ancient Weapons – Uranus, which had never been revealed.
After becoming a Warlord, he had orchestrated a coup in Dressrosa, transforming its citizens into toys and erasing their memories. To the outside world, Dressrosa was a peaceful and loving kingdom, its people devoted to their benevolent ruler.
However, the Marines and the World Government knew the truth, the horrific reality behind the façade. Yet, they were powerless to intervene. Fujitora had condemned their inaction, stating that they only supported the Warlord system because they had never been victims themselves, unaware of the despair it inflicted.
Now, Crocodile was targeting Alabasta, another kingdom facing impending doom. If peace couldn't be achieved within their lifetimes, if they couldn't witness it with their own eyes, then their efforts were meaningless.
"Damn those Five Elders…" Gion cursed. The Marines lacked the manpower to handle every threat, but the World Government possessed other resources they could deploy. The truth was, they feared the Marines becoming too powerful and challenging their authority.
One day, she would abolish the Warlord system. Pirates were pirates, even if they aligned themselves with the Marines. They all had their own agendas.
A leopard couldn't change its spots.
"And what about you? Are you planning to eliminate us Warlords? Why wait? Just attack. The Marines are quite skilled at betrayal, aren't they? This is your so-called justice? How disgusting…"
Crocodile gestured towards Thriller Bark, where a tremendous commotion was unfolding. Gion's presence here, while the battle raged on Thriller Bark, suggested that the Marines might be targeting the Warlords.
"No… Could it be that that kid didn't retreat? Did he attack Moria?" Gion's heart sank, realizing the potential danger Ian had placed himself in.
Abolishing the Warlord system was a distant goal for now. Ian, with his potential, could become an invaluable asset, a future Admiral. Losing him here would be a devastating blow.
"Your conceit will be your downfall one day!" Gion snarled, before swiftly ascending towards Thriller Bark with Geppo, leaving a trail of pink energy in her wake.
"We'll be waiting…" Crocodile replied, before ordering Robin and Daz Bones to set sail for Alabasta. He believed that as long as they moved quickly, they could acquire information on Pluton before the Warlord system was abolished…