Dusk.
The sky was awash in crimson clouds. A small sandstorm, towing a crimson cube of stone, raced toward Poppy Island.
Beside the sandstorm, Crocodile still sported his slicked-back hair and a black leather coat. A swirling swastika-shaped sand symbol hung behind him, and he held a cigar between the fingers of one hand. A long, horizontal scar now cut across his face.
It made Crocodile's imposing presence even more solemn.
He had a naturally intimidating aura.
It seemed the past six months had been quite eventful.
Five minutes later, in the estate office halfway up the mountain.
Stussy, Betty, Kuma, and Ivankov all stared at the crimson cube on the floor, covered in strange writing.
After sleeping all afternoon, Betty was full of energy again.
Crocodile sat on the sofa, smoking a cigar.
Chaos walked in from outside with a yawn, a milkshake in hand. He'd just returned from the Red Light District on Poppy Island. One look at the crimson stone was all it took before he sat opposite Crocodile.
"Why'd you bring back Zou Kingdom's Road Poneglyph?"
Chaos's question made Crocodile pause mid-drag, surprise showing in his eyes.
"Boss, you know what this is?"
Betty and the others came over and sat on the sofa, too. Ever since Crocodile had brought it back, he'd been acting mysterious.
He'd said he'd explain once Chaos returned.
Clearly, he'd just been stringing them along.
"It's a Poneglyph, but this one points the way to the final island, Laugh Tale. There are three others in the world. Each Road Poneglyph records a location. Once you know all four and connect the points on a map, the island at the center is the final island, called Laugh Tale.
"This one should be from Zou Kingdom, something the Mink Tribe protects."
Leaning back