Declaration of War! The Whitebeard Pirates!

Crocodile was jolted awake from his coma.

Seeing this, a faint trace of regret flashed across Storm's eyes.

If Sand Crocodile had woken up a little later, he might have been able to try other, more radical methods of "forced startup".

The first thing Crocodile saw upon waking was Storm's face.

Finally, it's no longer that ugly, ferocious face of Blackbeard Teach!

Crocodile breathed a sigh of relief.

But at the same time, he belatedly felt pain and weakness emanating from every corner of his body.

As a prisoner of the Blackbeard Pirates, Crocodile has not received any good treatment recently.

It's already a miracle that we're alive!

"White Dragon, you bastard..."

Crocodile lay on the island's ground, his gaze shifting from the White Dragon's face to the empty sky.

"They actually made it..."

To be honest...

Crocodile was still grateful for Storm's rescue operation.

Although he still really wants to die...

"Who told Blackbeard Teach to blackmail me? Well, I guess I'll just have to send him on his way!"

Storm crossed his arms and looked at the dejected-looking Sand Crocodile.

"Moreover, we can take this opportunity to declare war on the Whitebeard Pirates behind Blackbeard Teach!"

"Whitebeard?!"

Crocodile, on his deathbed, sat up in shock, gazing at the White Dragon with a mixture of surprise and delight.

"You... you're not kidding?"

"I thought you were going to keep playing dead, tsk!"

Storm clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

"Whitebeard is truly your 'dream lover,' Sand Crocodile."

Crocodile was speechless upon hearing this.

He couldn't be bothered to pay attention to White Dragon's taunts, and forced himself to get up from the ground despite his weakened state.

He is indeed in very bad condition. Even when he manages to stand up, his body sways unsteadily, as if he could fall at any moment.

But since they were able to stand up, it means the problem isn't serious.

It's simply a matter of how many bandages to wrap!

Crocodile gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and said resolutely.

"Count me in to defeat Whitebeard!"

Are you sure you can do it?

Storm sized up the Sand Crocodile, then raised his right hand.

"Would you like me to treat you?"

"But let me make this clear beforehand, Whitebeard is my prey."

"No problem!"

Crocodile agreed without hesitation, but at the same time he made a request.

"But I want to see how much of a difference there is between myself now and Whitebeard!"

Back then, Crocodile made a name for himself on the high seas, then challenged Whitebeard, only to be mentally broken by the Pirate Emperor.

Crocodile not only fled the New World in a sorry state, but also retreated to Alabasta, hoping to seek revenge with the help of outside forces.

But so many years have passed.

Crocodile felt that his strength had improved to a certain extent.

And Whitebeard... is already an old man.

Crocodile still wanted to challenge Whitebeard himself.

"Whispering sound!"

Storm curled his lip in disdain.

"He can't even beat Blackbeard Teach, yet he wants to challenge Whitebeard."

Storm had barely finished speaking.

Crocodile flushed red, and the veins on his forehead bulged as he argued.

"Blackbeard Teach... ambush!... I could have easily taken him down myself!"

Then came a series of explanations.

Things like "Dark-Dark Fruit," "ability counter," and "I was careless."

In the cheerful atmosphere.

Using the [Restoration Ring]'s power, Storm quickly restored Crocodile to his peak condition.

Not only that.

Under Storm's deliberate manipulation, Crocodile's left arm—the one that had been severed—began to regain life, healing flesh and bone until it was restored to its original state.

However, the scar on his face that almost split his face in two was preserved by Storm.

"This..."

Crocodile stared at his regenerated left hand, his pupils trembling, before looking at the White Dragon in disbelief.

"This is also your [Clay Fruit] ability!?"

Crocodile was once transformed into a Fish-Man by Storm using the Clay- Clay Fruit.

So at this moment, he also thought that Storm was using the [Clay Fruit] ability.

But Storm shook his head, denying Crocodile's guess.

"No, it's a different ability."

Crocodile flexed his left hand a few times, gave Storm a deep look, but didn't press for details.

I owe you one—no, I owe you two huge favors.

Storm raised an eyebrow, made no excuses, and directly stated his conditions.

"Why don't you come to the Totto Land and work for me?"

Crocodile did possess some talent for governing.

He single-handedly established Baroque Works in Alabasta, commanding thousands of bounty hunters and almost completely winning over the hearts and minds of the desert kingdom.

(That's right, although there are members with bounties on their heads in Baroque Works, strictly speaking, it is a bounty hunter organization, not a pirate organization.)

This includes the "Cross Guild" in the normal timeline.

The so-called "Clown King" Buggy is really just Awakened of "Conqueror's Haki Luck".

Hawk Eyes Mihawk completely ignores worldly affairs.

The one who truly manages things within the Cross Guild is Sand Crocodile.

Even the predecessor of the Cross Guild — Buggy Express.

That courier and logistics company was also started by Buggy with money borrowed from Crocodile.

Compared to Crocodile's combat abilities.

Storm values Crocodile's management skills more.

There is no shortage of fighters in the Totto Land.

However, there is a severe shortage of managers who can take charge independently.

Upon hearing Storm's words, Crocodile instinctively wanted to refuse.

But as the words were about to come out, he suddenly remembered his Baroque Works.

Previously, Crocodile followed Storm's advice and planned to eliminate the Whitebeard Pirates' affiliated forces first.

Back then, he left Totto Land with Baroque Works!

But the battle with the Blackbeard Pirates.

The vast Baroque Works was now left with Crocodile as its sole figurehead.

Even the Baroque Gustav was completely destroyed by Blackbeard Teach's bizarre abilities.

Crocodile is now penniless.

In addition, he owes White Dragon two huge favors...

A life-saving grace, a kindness of having a long arm.

It's like being given a second life!

Crocodile remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking.

"I need to think about it for a while."

Oh?

No refusal?

Doesn't that mean you agree?

Storm was very pleased.

"Alright, let's head back to Totto Land first! I'm going to have Morgans the Big News Bird deliver a message to the Whitebeard Pirates for me."

It wouldn't be difficult for Storm to defeat the Whitebeard Pirates.

As long as Blackbeard Teach is in his hands, he can lure out the Whitebeard Pirates.

However, some advance preparation is still very necessary.

"Wait a minute."

Crocodile suddenly unleashed his power, creating a sandstorm that swept through the area, and he flew towards the island's shore.

Storm manipulated the clay, following closely behind Crocodile, at a pace that was no slower than Crocodile's.

It only took a short while.

Crocodile then arrived at the island's shore.

Storm, who was following along, also realized that the Sand Crocodile was targeting him.

A huge wooden raft with a very rugged and primitive appearance.

The Blackbeard Pirates ' "pirate ship".

Neither the Storm Pirates nor the Dawn Pirates have ships.

However, this doesn't change the fact that Storm thinks the Blackbeard Pirates' ships are trash!

Crocodile jumped onto the huge raft and searched inside.

A moment later, he came out of there carrying a huge wooden box.

"Here, take this box."

"Um?"

Storm took the box and opened it casually.

The ordinary wooden box was filled with strangely shaped Devil Fruit.

Having thoroughly studied the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, Storm immediately recognized the name of the Devil Fruit displayed at the top.

[Paramecia - Mane Mane no Mi]

This Paramecia Devil Fruit originally belonged to Kurozumi Magu of the Rocks Pirates, but was later transferred to Mr. 2 Bon Clay, a high-ranking commander at Baroque Works.

The appearance of this [Mane Mane no Mi] undoubtedly illustrates one thing.

Mr. 2 from Baroque Works is dead.

Storm remained expressionless and casually rummaged through the remaining Devil Fruit in the box.

[Slicing-Slicing Fruit], [Thorn Fruit], [Wax-Wax Fruit], [Bomb Fruit], [Kilo-Kilo Fruit], [Mole Fruit], [Sausage Dog Fruit]...

Almost all the Devil Fruit of Baroque Works' top agents are here.

Storm had anticipated this.

When he arrived, his Observation Haki covered the entire island, leaving only the Blackbeard Pirates and Crocodile's presence.

Apart from that, there were no other living people.

As for Baroque Works, who followed Crocodile, their fate is not hard to guess.

The Blackbeard Pirates are not a "playing house" pirate crew like the Straw Hat Pirates.

In real battles between pirates, people can die!

Obviously.

Baroque Works was almost completely wiped out.

Aside from Crocodile, who is the company president.

The others not only died, but Blackbeard Teach also took away their Devil Fruit.

Storm wasn't surprised by Blackbeard Teach's actions.

He was just a little puzzled as to why Blackbeard Teach didn't use the Devil Fruit from Baroque Works to arm his Blackbeard Pirates.

But Storm glanced at the Paramecia and Zoan Devil Fruit again.

Um...

To be honest...

Absolutely rubbish.

Blackbeard Teach has very high standards.

Just look at the Devil Fruit abilities that the members of the Blackbeard Pirates will possess in the future to see how it goes.

Even an ordinary horse can be fed [Mythical Zoan: Pegasus Fruit]!

Other fruits like the [Riki Riki no Mi], [Teleport Fruit], and [Byo Byo no Mi] are actually quite powerful.

The only thing whose meaning is somewhat unclear is the [Suke Suke no Mi].

Blackbeard Teach made Shiryu of the Rain, the great swordsman, eat the [Suke Suke no Mi]...

There's a vague feeling that they don't quite match.

Storm casually closed the lid of the wooden crate.

"So many Devil Fruits, just given to me like that?"

It's not a 'gift'.

Crocodile frowned and emphasized seriously.

"These Devil Fruit were originally 'spoils of war' you obtained after defeating the Blackbeard Pirates."

"I just... don't want these Devil Fruits to go to waste."

"Yeah?"

Seeing that Crocodile was clearly not being honest, Storm simply tossed the box he was holding to him.

"Although, I still don't care about these Devil Fruits!"

Almost all of Baroque Works' top agents Devil Fruit User.

However, the Donquixote Family's executives are mostly Devil Fruit User.

It's worth mentioning.

Many of the Devil Fruit possessed by Baroque Works agents seem to have corresponding "superior-level fruits" in the Donquixote Family.

[Slicing-Slicing Fruit] and [Weapon-Weapon Fruit].

[Kilo-Kilo Fruit] and [Ton-Ton Fruit].

In addition, there are the [Wax-Wax Fruit] and [Stone-Stone Fruit], [Bomb Fruit] and [Bari Bari no Mi]...

They are not in a superior-subordinate relationship, but their relationship is closer than that of superiors and subordinates.

Storm genuinely looked down on the Devil Fruit by these high-ranking agents of Baroque Works.

Too ordinary!

Crocodile silently accepted the box of Devil Fruit, unsure of what to say.

Storm casually added.

"If you're interested in these Devil Fruits, you could use them to create a new Baroque Works."

"Otherwise, we could sell these Devil Fruits for money."

If a legitimate pirate got Devil Fruit, who would sell it for money?

That bastard White Dragon!

Crocodile glared at Storm, but still accepted the box of Devil Fruit.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon soared into the sky, flying at breakneck speed all the way back to Whole Cake Island.

Storm approached Robin.

Robin has found Big News Bird.

"President, the White Dragon Emperor asked me to have you pass a message to Whitebeard!"

"What did you say?"

"The White Dragon Emperor has announced a public execution of Marshall D. Teach, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Second update.

Goodnight everyone.