Ortolan: Crocodile, Don't Leave Either-After This, I'll Find You a Job in the New World

After Hina helped Hancock to sit down on the sofa, she unusually didn't go back behind Ortolan, but stayed by Hancock's side, as if she wanted to take care of her at any time. It was unclear whether she did it on purpose or by accident.

Ortolan had already sat down at the head of his sofa, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Crocodile.

"This should be our first formal meeting, Crocodile?" Ortolan grinned, revealing a strange smile.

As soon as Ortolan finished speaking, everyone else in the conference room turned to look at him.

Smoker, Doflamingo, and Moria, who already knew that Crocodile had a falling out with their Admiral, naturally gave him some ill intentions.

Mihawk's gaze, however, was purely one of schadenfreude.

Among the Shichibukai, aside from those who became Shichibukai Jinbe by virtue of Fisher Tiger's influence and without paying any fees, only Hancock did not pay the 20 billion bounty guarantee fee for becoming Shichibukai to Ortolan.

But given what happened just now, Hancock almost fainted when she saw Ortolan, so the others naturally had no idea what was going on, which is completely understandable.

But... what makes you, Crocodile, special compared to us? We've all paid, but you haven't? How can you be worthy of sitting with us in a meeting if you haven't paid?

Everyone else drives Mercedes or Rolls-Royce, and you drive a Mazda. Is that appropriate?

Feeling the pressure from all those gazes, Crocodile's heart also felt somewhat heavy.

In this godforsaken place, if Ortolan were to turn against him, he felt he would have no chance of leaving this conference room alive.

Crocodile is an arrogant man, but at the same time, he is also someone who can let go of things easily. In the story, the Straw Hat Pirates ruined his plans to usurp the country, but in the end, when necessary, Crocodile was still able to put aside those deep-seated grudges and join forces with the Straw Hat.

Currently, Crocodile believes he doesn't have any real grudge against Ortolan; it's just that Ortolan asked him for money back then, and he didn't give it to him.

Although his purpose for coming to the New World ended before it even began, well, since he was already here, he figured that if he wanted to survive in the New World in the future, he would still have to mend his relationship with people like Ortolan.

In short, Crocodile had already mentally prepared himself for the journey and the time spent waiting for Ortolan to arrive.

Now, as soon as Ortolan spoke, Crocodile took a deep breath, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "That's right. Although we had a brief Loguetown in the East Blue back then, this is our first formal meeting..."

Then, before Ortolan could speak, Crocodile immediately added, "There must have been some misunderstanding between us before. Back then, someone impersonated someone to harass me, talking about investment and financial management. At that time, I was very skeptical of such talk, so I inadvertently misunderstood your intentions, Admiral..."

Upon hearing this, Ortolan's smile widened, and he said, "Is that so? Is it a misunderstanding? Is that so..."

"Yes, it was a misunderstanding. But you've been in the New World ever since, and I haven't really left Alabasta for many years. So these misunderstandings have been delayed until now. Until recently, I finished up my business in Alabasta, so I thought I'd arrange a meeting with you, Admiral. I even brought a gift..." Crocodile explained with a forced smile.

In any other place, saying such things in front of so many people would probably make him feel embarrassed.

But it doesn't matter here. Apart from Hancock and Jinbe, who the hell hasn't paid money? Who hasn't suffered a setback at Ortolan's hands?

Thinking back to Mihawk, he was relentlessly hunted down by the Black, White and Gray trio in the New World, with nowhere to hide. It's said that he eventually borrowed money from loan sharks to pay off the 20 billion, becoming Shichibukai and resolving the crisis. I wonder if he ever paid back the money.

As for Doflamingo, he was extorted by Ortolan in the early days. How could 20 billion be enough? The accounts are already unclear, and it's unknown whether Ortolan ever paid him back.

Moria was made into Shichibukai by being pinned to a table by Ortolan and having his head smashed with an ashtray.

Needless to say, Smoker was ganged up on and beaten by Katakuri and his men, then taken to G-5. It was only after his underlings pooled their money to ransom him that he survived this ordeal.

Comparing it to now, Crocodile feels there's nothing shameful about bowing down to Ortolan here.

Let's not laugh at each other; we're all on the same level.

Those who refuse to bow their heads, from Whitebeard to Ochoku, from Shiki to Red-Hair, can you still find them in the New World?

There's not a single hair left!

"Five billion Belly worth of gold bricks, plus a special technology I found in the ancient ruins of Alabasta that can inherit the Devil Fruit —this is my gift to you, Admiral, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding between us," Crocodile explained, his expression turning serious.

Upon hearing this, Ortolan, who had initially found it strange, suddenly broke into a bright smile, as if the gloomy atmosphere in the entire room had been swept away by his sunny smile.

"Hahahaha... It seems there really was a misunderstanding. Since it's a misunderstanding, let's let it go. I'm known for not holding grudges and being generous. Look at me before, with Dover, with Mind, with Moria, didn't I have misunderstandings with them all? But now, they are all my beloved friends and family, brothers and sisters, right?" Ortolan laughed heartily as he spoke.

When Doflamingo and the others saw their Admiral once again displaying his greed for money, they were not surprised at all. Their originally malicious smiles brightened, and they nodded in agreement as if they were all truly as close as family.

After the commotion subsided, Ortolan lit a cigarette and looked at Crocodile: "I see you're not really interested in Alabasta anymore. Indeed, the New World is the more interesting place. Don't go back after this. Once I've finished what I'm doing, I'll find you a job in the New World..."

Crocodile????

What does "find a class to attend" mean? Am I, a pirate fan, now needing to find a new job?

"Don't worry, the future looks very bright," Ortolan added.

Seeing that the others seemed unfazed, Crocodile didn't dare refuse outright and could only force a smile, replying, "Then thank you for taking care of me, Admiral..."

Thinking about it carefully, it doesn't seem so unacceptable. Look at Doflamingo, I heard he rose from pirate to Marine Admiral. Moria is even more of Labor King and Bounty King in the Underworld, and it's said he even has a bounty on Kaido's head... Maybe we could cooperate with him in the future... Finding a job with him doesn't seem so bad, does it?

Speaking of Kaido, after Kaido Totto Land Totto Land, and Moria heard that his daughter was engaged to Ortolan's son, he made a special Den Den Mushi to ask Ortolan what to do about the feud between him and Kaido.

Ortolan didn't put any pressure on Moria. Kaido dealing with his own messes, and Moria could take care of them himself. If Moria could kill him, that was his skill. Anyway, Ortolan wouldn't interfere in these matters.

Moria knew that although Ortolan was petty, vengeful, and had a whole host of other flaws, he was still trustworthy in matters of the heart, so he felt reassured.

Having gone through so much, Moria's mentality isn't as extreme anymore. He even took on Kaido's projects, so what's the big deal about the grudge? He just puts up a bounty and that's it. He's not even interested in actually fighting Kaido head-on anymore.

The main reason is that he was a pirate, penniless, unable to even come up with two hundred million. He had nothing to lose, so he didn't care about his worthless life.

Now that I'm rich, who doesn't know that I, Moria, have already surpassed a trillion Belly in wealth?

Can my porcelain cup possibly collide with a clay pot like Kaido?

Kaido eat in one meal? What kind of class does he have to fight Moria to the death?