On the other side.
After finishing his call with Chaos, Crocodile met with the three managers of the island's casino, geisha house, and pharmacy. Then he left the geisha house, preparing to head for the Sabaody Archipelago.
Everything here had been taken care of. Someone else would handle the rest.
That was the advantage of being assigned to combat: all they had to do was fight. They didn't need to worry about all the miscellaneous political and financial affairs.
Those matters were far too much of a headache.
"Come out!"
Crocodile had a cigar between his lips, and a faint sneer in his eyes.
He had noticed someone following him a while ago, so he deliberately slowed down. Otherwise, the person behind him wouldn't have been able to catch up at all. He was flying through the sky while they ran along the ground.
As soon as he landed, he turned his back to the other person, leaving only the imposing sight of his coat billowing in the wind.
"Lord Tsar!"
The slightly awkward words of admiration rang out. The view drew closer to reveal a boy of about fourteen or fifteen, dressed like a martial monk, with a resolute face.
He stared at Crocodile's back, appearing calm, though a feverish excitement burned faintly in his eyes.
"Kid!"
Crocodile turned around expressionlessly and frowned at Daz Bones.
He lost interest at once.
"Please let me follow you!"
Daz Bones took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and spoke with unwavering determination.
"Hah..."
Crocodile didn't answer. He held his cigar between two fingers and blew out a smoke ring, his eyes indifferent, with just a hint of surprise.
"This Tsar doesn't need underlings, especially not a kid. You're too weak!"
Just as Daz Bones tensed up, Crocodile bluntly rejected him.
What