Half an hour later.
In the most luxurious room of a hotel halfway up the mountain!
Chaos sat on the sofa, bare-chested and legs crossed. He sipped wine as he read the newspaper.
Nearby, Crocodile was eating to replenish some of his energy.
On the floor opposite Chaos, Archino was bruised and battered. His round, chubby, bare torso was covered in purple and blue marks, as if he'd been subjected to some kind of humiliating torment. His big face was as pale as snow, and he looked ready to breathe his last at any moment.
Just looking at him made you feel sorry for him.
After nearly half an hour of fighting, Crocodile had successfully beaten Archino into this state—and he hadn't even used the Sand-Sand Fruit's abilities.
Having gotten his anger out, Crocodile was in a good mood now.
Phew~
Chaos put down the newspaper, lit a cigar, and looked Archino up and down.
Other than his Devil Fruit, this guy had nothing going for him.
He couldn't use Observation Haki or Armament Haki, let alone any of the physical techniques in the Six Powers.
In short, he was trash.
Archino wasn't acting tough anymore.
He just hung his head and panted. There were only two paths before him, and with death staring him in the face, he'd chosen—humiliatingly—to join their side.
Knock, knock, knock!
At Chaos's call, the hotel manager entered with a doctor to treat and bandage Archino.
Ten minutes later, the manager and doctor left as quickly as they'd come.
They'd left grinning from ear to ear, though—the gold coins in their pockets weighed them down.
Archino looked seriously injured, but the truth wasn't quite so bad.
He wasn't on the verge of death, at least. To some extent, he'd been putting on an act.
He