No Money Means Crocodile

"Colonel Xia Che, please save BOSS~"

"What happened? What happened?" Xia Che handed the cash case Daz Bones had passed him to Nami, then looked nervously at Daz Bones, who had suddenly bowed before him. "I just got here. What happened? What's wrong with Brother Crocodile?"

"Colonel Xia Che..." Daz Bones, a tall, heavily muscled, dark-skinned man with a shaved head, silently watched Xia Che, who looked worried while unhesitatingly accepting his cash case.

This guy...

He really was a fallen Marine Colonel!

Of course~

Now was not the time to worry about the money!

As BOSS's trusted subordinate, Daz Bones had never expected that after merely going downstairs to prepare the money, in the blink of an eye... BOSS, who had been brimming with confidence, had been defeated and captured!

At that thought, a bitter smile appeared on Daz Bones's face. But moments later, he returned to his usual expressionless state and said, "BOSS was defeated."

Realizing that had not been clear enough, he added, "Before you arrived, the East Blue Overlord had already come and defeated BOSS!"

Looking up at Xia Che, he understood that if he wanted to rescue BOSS, he first had to rely on the power of this fallen Marine.

"I..." Daz Bones hesitated before lowering his head again. "Can I ask you to rescue BOSS?"

Though he did not want to speak so much, for BOSS's sake, he did not mind saying more. "Baroque Works will definitely give you a satisfactory reward afterward!"

"No rush, no rush! The East Blue Overlord?" Xia Che froze, then frowned. "I never expected the East Blue Overlord to have become so powerful that he even defeated Crocodile!"

However.

As soon as Xia Che finished speaking.

"No! It was the heavy rain. BOSS would never lose to some pirate from the weakest sea!" Hearing the fallen colonel's words, Daz Bones's hardened face took on a cold expression. "And strictly speaking, BOSS was not defeated by the East Blue Overlord, but by someone else. Another Devil Fruit user. From the voice when BOSS was defeated, it seemed to be Tyrant Bear, who is wanted by the World Government!"

As for that so-called East Blue Overlord... BOSS had been beating him down. If Tyrant Bear had not intervened, BOSS would have dealt with him long ago.

Of course~

Anyone who could make Tyrant Bear obey his command was definitely no simple figure!

Daz Bones had originally wanted to help, but by the time he arrived, BOSS had already lost. To rescue BOSS, he could only seek help from this fallen Marine Colonel.

With that thought, Daz Bones lowered his head once more and said to Xia Che, "Please, Colonel Xia Che. As long as BOSS is rescued, Baroque Works will give you even more compensation!"

"No rush! No rush!" Xia Che waved his hand and let out a long sigh. "Crocodile and I are as close as brothers. He is my big brother! How could I possibly stand by and watch him get captured?"

At those words.

"?!"

Hearing Xia Che's words, Daz Bones's brows rose slightly, and disbelief flashed through his eyes.

He had not expected this fallen colonel to be so greedy, yet value his partners so highly?!

Perhaps he...

Had misunderstood him?

However.

Just as Daz Bones felt moved and was about to say something while looking at Xia Che.

"How much is the reward? When will it be transferred?" Colonel Xia Che suddenly smiled at him meaningfully. "You should know that's your most important BOSS~"

"..."

He had not misunderstood!

This was a greedy, fallen Marine Colonel!

Daz Bones, who rarely smiled, could not help stiffening. But he understood his current situation. Taking a deep breath, he said in a low voice, "Two hundred million! I can authorize another two hundred million, Colonel Xia Che!"

However.

"Only two hundred million?" Xia Che's smile changed as he looked at him with righteous indignation. "You want to buy off Dander Xieche with that? Are you looking down on my justice?"

"..."

What justice my ass!

If Marine justice was all like this, Marine Headquarters would have collapsed long ago!

Daz Bones cursed inwardly. As an assassin of few words, he had never imagined that one day he would curse someone so viciously in his own mind.

But thinking of BOSS's situation, he took another deep breath and continued in a gloomy tone, "Five hundred million! We have already offered eight hundred million. Five hundred million is the last of the funds that Baroque Works and Rain Base can come up with!"

However.

The moment he finished speaking.

Upon hearing five hundred million, Xia Che smiled again.

But before Daz Bones could relax, thinking that it was finally enough...

Colonel Xia Che's expression changed again, and he spoke with the same righteous air. "Only five hundred million? Are you looking down on my justice?"

"..."

This greedy Marine Colonel!

Daz Bones's normally stoic face turned livid once more, but after a moment, he took a deep breath and reined in his anger.

At least... he had stopped using the word "buy off."

His eyes flickered as he said coldly, "I know where BOSS's treasury is. I can tell you!"

"Crocodile and I are as close as brothers. He is my big brother! How could I possibly stand by and watch him get captured?"

"..."

Hadn't this bastard just said that?

However.

Just as Daz Bones relaxed again, thinking this greedy bastard was finally willing to act.

"But that's still not enough!" Xia Che smiled at Daz Bones. "I heard that even now, none of you at Baroque Works know who your president is?"

As soon as those words fell.

Daz Bones, who had felt he was being toyed with and had been about to make this fallen Marine see what he was capable of, froze again.

He understood what this guy meant.

He had not expected this fallen Marine to have set his sights on Baroque Works?!

Daz Bones's expression changed once more, his eyes seemingly filled with conflict and hesitation.

But then.

"It's getting late. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back~"

At Xia Che's words, Daz Bones seemed to make a decision. He let out a long sigh and said, "I understand! I'll give you the means to contact Baroque Works. Please, rescue BOSS~"

As long as BOSS got out, BOSS would personally take back everything they had given him now!

When that time came...

He and BOSS would personally settle the score with this fallen Marine Colonel!

He pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his clothes and tossed it to Xia Che. "This is the Den Den Mushi used to contact Baroque Works. As long as you have this and I personally acknowledge you, Baroque Works will believe that you are the true president!"

After saying that, he looked up at Xia Che again.

"Is that enough now?"

"What else?"

"The treasury is inside Rain Dinners!"

"Of course~ Robin, Nami!" Xia Che nodded, ignoring Daz Bones's icy gaze. After calling out to Nami, he tossed the Den Den Mushi to Robin. "I'll leave it to you!"

"Don't worry. No treasure can hide from this lady!"

"Okay, dear BOSS!"

"???"

Seemingly hearing a strange title, Daz Bones frowned at Robin. But he knew this was not the time to care about that. He turned back to Xia Che and said flatly, "So, is that enough now, Colonel Xia Che?"

At those words.

Having gotten what he wanted, Xia Che turned back toward Daz Bones with satisfaction, nodded, and said, "Not—"

However.

Before he could finish.

At that moment.

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother Xia Che!" Guina rushed in. She gave Daz Bones a brief glance, one hand resting on her sword hilt, then immediately turned to Xia Che, her expression somewhat strange. "A Navy Vice Admiral and a Navy Admiral have arrived at the Alabasta Kingdom harbor. What should we do now?"

As soon as she finished speaking.

Daz Bones:...

Xia Che:...

The two stared at each other, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.

"Sorry!" Looking at Daz Bones's cold face, Xia Che helplessly spread his hands and said regretfully, "Looks like I can't help you after all. But rest assured, I'll always remember the favor Crocodile showed me!"

"..."

You bastard Marine Colonel!!!