The Lost Kingdom's Prince-or Princess?

"Sand Crocodile, you..."

Mihawk frowned almost imperceptibly as he looked at Buckingham Stussy, who had completely lost his life.

"Never mind."

Mihawk had intended to say that Buckingham Stussy was Edward Weevil's mother.

Whether this claim is true or false, Edward Weevil at least acknowledged Buckingham Stussy's true identity.

Mihawk remembered clearly that the White Dragon had just said he wanted to recruit Edward Weevil.

White Dragon wants to recruit Edward Weevil.

The Sand Crocodile, however, killed Edward Weevil's "mother".

Ah, this...

Mihawk considered for a moment, then decided it was none of his business and remained silent.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."

Mihawk left those words behind and walked alone toward the shore of Golden Island.

Even though he had just joined the so-called "Cross Guild";

Even if there is still a so-called "Whitebeard the Third" Edward Weevil on the island;

Even though Buckingham Stussy revealed many secrets of the sea in his "last words"...

These things held virtually no appeal for Mihawk.

In comparison.

Mihawk was more concerned about something else now, something he had previously mentioned to White Dragon—

He came to the East Blue to gather information about Red-Haired.

Which is better, "Red-Haired on both hands" or "Red-Haired on one hand"?

This somewhat peculiar problem is still troubling Mihawk.

He felt that there must be some special reason why Red-Haired lost an arm in the weakest East Blue.

Now that he's arrived in the East Blue, Mihawk plans to investigate on his own.

So at that moment, he turned and left without hesitation.

"Hey! Hawk Eyes!"

Storm called out to Mihawk's retreating figure.

Keep in touch!

"If you're curious about Red-Haired's activities in the East Blue, you can ask me!"

Mihawk paused slightly, then without looking back, quickened his pace and left.

Crocodile watched the World's Greatest Swordsman's departing figure, then discarded Buckingham Stussy's desiccated corpse.

"White Dragon, what exactly did you do to Mihawk? And what about those photos...?"

The "photograph" Crocodile was referring to was, of course, Mihawk's "harpy photograph".

If we use his own example to draw the conclusion, then it would be --

White Dragon defeated Hawk Eyes, and then used his powers to modify Hawkeye's body...

Are you kidding me!?

Crocodile acknowledges that White Dragon is indeed quite strong now.

But is this bastard really stronger than the World's Greatest Swordsman?

The World's Greatest Swordsman, Hawk Eyes Mihawk, is roughly equal in strength to Shanks of the Red-Haired Pirates.

If we only consider individual skill level...

The title of "World's Greatest Swordsman" and "New World Pirate Emperor" can be equated.

If White Dragon is stronger than Hawk Eyes...

Does that mean White Dragon's strength is already comparable to that of the Pirate Emperor of the New World?

Red-Haired, Beasts, Big Mom, or even Whitebeard?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

"I didn't do anything special."

Storm looked at Crocodile with a slightly innocent expression and spread his hands.

"I'm just doing to you what I did to Mihawk."

This guy...

Crocodile was deeply shaken.

They really defeated Hawk Eyes...

"Hahaha! Look at the expression on your face, Crocodile."

Storm suddenly burst into laughter.

"Actually, Hawk Eyes is only a tiny bit better than you!"

As he said this, Storm extended his right hand and gestured a slit with his index finger and thumb.

A universe at your fingertips.

"Snort!"

Crocodile gave a cold snort, forcing himself not to think about the issue of strength, and deliberately changed the subject.

"How do you plan to develop the 'Cross Guild'?"

"Are you asking me?"

"Besides you and me, is there a third member of the Cross Guild here?"

"Good question. Regarding the Cross Guild, my development strategy is—hope for what is hopeful, and wait for the people who are worth waiting for!"

"... What?"

Crocodile was taken aback, not understanding what the White Dragon meant.

"What did you say?"

Simply put, it's --

Storm smirked.

"You don't have to do anything!"

"..."

Crocodile was speechless for a moment. He took several deep breaths to calm himself down.

"Then why were you so actively advocating for the formation of the Cross Guild before? I thought you had some special plan."

"The three Shichibukai have finally come together, and we can't waste such a rare opportunity. That's why I advocated forming a 'Shichibukai inner circle'."

Storm shrugged and explained casually.

"Besides, didn't you hear what Hawk Eyes said before?"

"The World Government will not allow three Shichibukai to join an organization."

"If we take immediate action and expose the existence of the Cross Guild, the World Government will be furious and revoke our current identities."

"Then how should the other plans proceed?"

"For example, how can you stay in Alabasta and pretend to be a hero?"

Crocodile's eyes widened. "What did you say?"

"Okay, not pretending to be a hero..."

Storm curled his lip and put it another way.

"How did you plot against [Pluton, the Pluton]?"

Crocodile wasn't alarmed that his plan had been exposed by White Dragon, because he already knew White Dragon knew about it...

"Speaking of [Pluton]... Ancient Weapon."

Crocodile, recalling what Buckingham Stussy had just said, asked tentatively.

"Don't you have any interest in Ancient Weapon?"

"Seize all the Ancient Weapon, and then become... the World King!"

"Good question."

Storm first nodded, then shook his head.

"Crocodile, you're not interested in Ancient Weapon —forget it, I guess you're not interested in [Uranus] or [Sea King], you're only interested in that broken ship."

How much do you know about [Pluton, the Pluton]?

Who says I'm not interested in [Uranus] and [Aquaman]?!

And what does "that wrecked ship" even mean?

Crocodile's eyelid twitched.

"The Ancient Weapon [Pluton], known as the 'world's most vicious warship,' has a cannon capable of destroying an entire island with a single Pluton."

Crocodile slowly recounted the information he knew, then casually probed.

"This 'world's most notorious warship' is currently hidden somewhere in the ocean, along with its blueprints..."

"Oh, right."

Storm chuckled softly, then asked.

Who is the current 'World King'?

Crocodile answered without hesitation, "The World Government, of course!"

"Huh? Really?"

Storm blinked and said, feigning surprise.

"I thought you were going to say it was one of the Yonko!"

"... Do you take me for an ignorant brat, White Dragon?"

Crocodile looked displeased.

"The navy is the most powerful force on this sea! The World Government's power is even greater than the navy's!"

"It seems you also know that the current 'World King' is the World Government."

Storm smiled noncommittally, then asked again.

"So why do you think that obtaining Ancient Weapon will make you the new World King?"

Crocodile answered directly, "Of course, it's because the Ancient Weapon are powerful enough to destroy the world!"

"Then why didn't those who possessed the Ancient Weapon become the World King?"

Storm stared at Crocodile and asked the most crucial question.

"The World Government considers Ancient Weapon taboo because they posed a significant threat to the World Government in the past."

"But hundreds of years ago, it was the current World Government that won the world."

"This means that the group that possessed the Ancient Weapon, the group that the World Government considered enemies, was defeated in the 'Great War'."

"Even with Ancient Weapon capable of destroying the world, that group still failed."

"So.

"When did you develop the misconception that possessing Ancient Weapon would allow you to conquer the world?"

Crocodile was speechless after Storm's words.

But Storm's problems did not end there.

"Actually, I'm very curious, why have you been so tirelessly pursuing the power of [Pluton]?"

Storm's words were like a sharp sword, piercing Crocodile's heart.

"Is it because you have witnessed the power of Ancient Weapon? You have witnessed an entire island being wiped out of the sea by Ancient Weapon? You have witnessed that kind of world-destroying attack."

"That's why you think that as long as you find [Pluton], you can completely defeat Whitebeard and his Whitebeard Pirates!"

"Have you ever considered this: the power of Ancient Weapon could indeed destroy the world?"

"But Whitebeard's [Tremor-Tremor Fruit] also possesses the power to destroy the world!"

"Could Whitebeard be some kind of 'Ancient Weapon'?"

"What do you know, White Dragon!"

Crocodile clenched his fists, and his body trembled slightly.

You know nothing!

"As long as I possess sufficiently powerful [Ancient Weapon], I will be able to build a sufficiently powerful military nation!"

"A military nation that is not threatened by any force, including the World Government!"

"This is my dream utopia!"

Crocodile's dream and ambition was indeed to build such a "utopia".

Even the Baroque Works, which he personally established, was founded with the goal of creating such a "dreamland".

"You just want to rebuild a 'God Valley,' don't you?"

"Storm said calmly."

"A God Valley that will not be slaughtered by the Celestial Dragons, nor invaded by pirates!"

"Crocodile, you are the prince of the fallen kingdom of God Valley, aren't you?"

"Or perhaps... a princess of a fallen kingdom?"

Two chapters delivered!

There will be more in the evening, around 9 pm.