Undercurrents Surge

The two's journey continued.

Far faster than their speed was "information."

The name of the [Demon] Ivan Lindsey, via newspaper-delivering gulls, quickly spread across the entire sea.

The photo on the wanted poster, in particular, caused quite a stir.

Why?

The reason was simple enough.

Due to the suddenness of the event, even the almost omnipotent official photographer barely managed to capture the moment.

In the end, it was at the port, with Ivan Lindsey standing on the deck and roaring at Garp on shore, that the photographer found an opportunity.

Click!

A photo was taken.

But the crucial issue was that the photo didn't capture Lindsey in his normal state, but in a combined form of [Earth Fiend] and [Howling Wind]!

Dark green devil horns, crimson skin, streamlined muscles, a burly physique, emerald spinal scales...

Various elements combined to form that monstrous, alien beast.

And the photo on the wanted poster was precisely the moment that "demonic" beast let out a ferocious roar!

To ordinary people, the photo was a bit too terrifying.

Distorted, horrifying, ghastly...

No matter how it was described, it was difficult to accurately convey the feeling upon first seeing the photo!

And for the strong individuals on the sea, this wanted poster also left a deep impression.

More importantly, the initial bounty for this [Demon]—

Six hundred and fifty million Beli!

It was simply too exaggerated.

For a time, an undercurrent flowed through the major powers, beginning to stir on a "world" scale...

Grand Line, New World.

"Mamore! Hey, what race is this guy named Ivan Lindsey? A legendary [Demon]?"

"A Mythical Zoan user? Mamore, he's a kind of rare beast!"

"I really want to bring him into my 'Whole Cake Island'..."

Grand Line, first half entrance, Reverse Mountain.

"Hey, Beckman, did you see? Another very powerful person has set sail!"

"A bounty of six hundred and fifty million, that's quite exaggerated."

"Haha, I really want to meet him if I get the chance!"

"Lads, be careful, we're about to enter the East Blue!"

Grand Line, Fish-Man Island, Dragon Palace Banquet.

"Kukukuku! Old friend, I didn't expect the Sabaody Archipelago above to be so lively while we're having a banquet!"

South Blue, Expeditionary Force Camp.

"Ororororo! That form... is it the power of a Mythical Zoan type?"

"I really want to recruit him to my pirate crew!"

"Hey, Queen, go hurry King up and have him rendezvous with us quickly. I can't wait for a great battle!"

Navy Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.

Sengoku and Tsuru were both looking at today's newspaper and Ivan Lindsey's wanted poster.

"Garp, that unreliable fellow!"

Sengoku's brow furrowed, and he said in a low voice, "He actually let such a dangerous person escape..."

"I, on the other hand, feel that Garp minimized the damage."

Grandma Tsuru sighed softly, "If he had fought to the death with a Mythical Zoan user, I'm afraid half of Sabaody Archipelago would have been destroyed."

"..."

These words were true, and Sengoku could not refute them.

After much thought, he could only order his subordinates to keep an eye on Aiven Lindsey's movements to prevent any further trouble.

"Also, tell Garp to submit a full report to me, or he'll never learn his lesson!"

"Don't worry, I'll urge him too."

Old woman Tsuru shook her head, sighed helplessly, and lamented, "This sea will become more and more chaotic. We, the Navy, must also be prepared..."

North Blue, Donquixote Family territory.

Donquixote Doflamingo!

At present, Doflamingo had not yet obtained a Shichibukai seat and was recruiting followers.

This extremely unconventional pirate did not pay attention to the Demon himself, but rather focused his gaze on a hidden corner of the wanted poster.

There, he saw a tiny black shadow, which was the corner of the Sand Crocodile Crocodile's coat.

Others might overlook it, but Doflamingo would not mistake this detail!

"Fufufufufu, the intel was indeed correct. The Sand Crocodile has left Alabasta? Then don't blame me for taking advantage of the situation..."

"Speaking of which, after being involved in such a major event, will the World Government still let you off the hook?"

"You Navy people better not forget one thing."

Crocodile's face was grim.

After many days, still sailing, he finally received an inquiry from the Navy.

The questions were essentially why he was present during the Sabaody Archipelago riot, or why witnesses claimed the main culprit, Aiven Lindsey, left on his ship.

In response, Crocodile merely reminded the Navy officer on the Den Den Mushi.

"I never asked you to make me a Shichibukai."

"The current Shichibukai were all recruited because of their immense strength."

"So, do you have any evidence regarding my relationship with Aiven Lindsey?"

"..."

A few short sentences left the Navy officer on the Den Den Mushi speechless.

Click!

The Den Den Mushi was hung up, and Crocodile couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

He understood that the Navy was actually showing him some respect.

If they truly intended to hold him accountable, the call would not have come from an ordinary Navy officer, but from the troublesome Chief Officer Tsuru!

Crocodile's gaze turned to Lindsey.

He hoped that the "clues" this Primitive Man had brought him would outweigh the "risks" he had undertaken.

Alabasta was almost here...

A few more days passed.

Finally, after a long voyage, the two on the ship saw land.

It was Alabasta, a superpower located in the first half of the Grand Line!

"Hoo..."

Taking a deep breath, Crocodile finally felt refreshed.

Compared to the humid sea breeze, he, as a Sand-Sand Fruit user, preferred the scent of the desert country.

More importantly, a Poneglyph was within reach!

And in the next second, a discordant sound suddenly cut through the air, falling onto the sea surface near the ship.

Whoosh--Boom!

The seawater exploded, splashing onto the deck.

It was cannon fire!

In an instant, Crocodile entered a state of readiness to fight.

Alabasta was supposed to be a peace-loving country, and its king, Nefertari Cobra, was a kind-hearted man. Why was there cannon fire near the coast?

Was it pirates?

Following the direction from which the cannonball came, Crocodile saw a scene that puzzled him even more.

The cannon fire wasn't from a pirate ship, but a small, dilapidated civilian fishing boat!

There were only two people on board, one old and one young, seemingly cursing in Crocodile's direction.

"Hmph."

Crocodile snorted coldly, raised his hand, and conjured a sharp Grit Saber, aiming at the small fishing boat where the two were.

No matter who attacked him, retaliation was only natural!

Swish!

With a swing of his blade, he intended to teach the two on the boat a lesson.

But before the Grit Saber could touch the small fishing boat, Lindsey suddenly leaped from behind Crocodile, intercepting the Grit Saber's path.

Earth Demon Form!

The power of Crocodile's attack wasn't great, so Lindsey didn't fully transform, only changing his right hand. He easily blocked it.

As the small fishing boat slowly approached, Lindsey casually brought the two people on board onto the deck, wanting to investigate.

The old man and the young man were clearly not pirates, so why would they attack a ship?

Unexpectedly, before Lindsey could even ask, the grandfather and grandson saw Crocodile and immediately recognized him.

"Sorry, sorry, we thought you were an enemy..."

The old man apologized repeatedly, afraid that Crocodile would fly into a rage and leave.

"Mr. Sand Crocodile!"

The young man, on the other hand, said earnestly, "We apologize. A neighboring country is going to war with us, and Alabasta has implemented a temporary sea ban. We didn't know it was you; we are truly very sorry!"

"..."

Hearing this, Crocodile first sized up the young man, then looked at the old man beside him, and then at Lindsey.

Finally, he looked back at the young man.

"?"

He didn't quite understand.

But he had a premonition that his opportunity seemed to have arrived