Harsh Conditions

"Pluton and all that... if you really want it that much, then go find it. But... if you lose, you have to be prepared to lose, especially when you can't even run away!" Sig warned coldly.

Sig could sense that Crocodile was unhappy, but not too surprised.

"What do you want?" Crocodile asked directly.

"You." Sig was even more direct.

Even in his dream, Crocodile couldn't help but let out a "well" shape above his head. However, although his stern face remained unchanged, he laughed and said, "Hahaha... Very good! You actually want me to be your subordinate? Or Red-Hair' subordinate? Very good, very good... I agree."

Even without using his "Visionary" abilities, Sig could tell that Crocodile's mind was already fast-forwarding to the point where he had killed both himself and Red-Hair, and after delivering the Golden Hook backstab, he would coolly say, "[The pirate's duty is to betray]."

"This isn't something you can just talk about..." Sig said, as a "contract" appeared before him.

"I will have the 'agreement' notarized." Sig's tone became serious.

"Notarized?" Crocodile instinctively sensed that this contract was not simple.

But... what kind of ability is this? The Notary Fruit?

It's not surprising that such a fruit exists, but Siegfried is already a user of the "Rumble-Rumble Fruit"!

Is the development of Devil Fruit ability based on the belief that "those who break their oaths will be struck by lightning"?

Or... is it an item with the power of the Notary Fruit?

However, after sensing that this "contract" was unusual, Crocodile changed his previous casual attitude.

After all, Crocodile's ambitions are far greater than those of the "One Piece"—the usurpation of Alabasta and the acquisition of "Pluton" are merely part of his plan. His true aim is to combine the two to create a powerful military empire that will rise above the World Government.

Although Crocodile's goal after the Paramount War in the original work became "becoming the One Piece," Sig has reason to believe that, considering the difference between his goals before and after, he was definitely not after "Roger's treasure." As someone who knows some of the secrets of the Ancient Weapon, what he truly wants to become is "Joy Boy"!

Whether the idea is too idealistic or not, at least it is an idea.

Making him a subordinate of Sig or Shanks is impossible, unless he's deeply hypnotized...

However, deep hypnosis always carries risks. Although he doesn't have Conqueror's Haki, he at least knows Observation Haki. Over time, there's a possibility that he might be discovered, unless Sig keeps him under his nose and monitors him in real time.

"You want to become the king of Alabasta and find 'clues' about Pluton there?" Sig asked.

Crocodile looked at Sig with increasing disdain—who said he had no interest in Ancient Weapon?

"Ha, but can you even decipher the clues?" Sig was mainly trying to provoke Crocodile and see if he had encountered Robin.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be yet. Robin entered the Grand Line four or five years before she met Luffy, so it should be at least two or three years away!

Sig didn't need Crocodile's reply; he could sense it from Crocodile's emotions...

He hasn't finalized his plans regarding interpreting ancient Poneglyph yet; he's just making preparations for now.

"Oh? Does Sea King Your Excellency have any clues?" Crocodile countered.

Sig did indeed have some clues—at least he could sense the circumstances surrounding the carving of the Poneglyph, and... based on what Cobra said to Robin in the original work, Sig deduced that he was about 80% certain that Pluton was hiding somewhere in Alabasta.

As recorded in Poneglyph, the classic saying is "the answer lies within the riddle itself."

However, Sig wouldn't just tell Crocodile like that, nor did he answer his question. Instead, he said, "Alabasta or Pluton... I can let you go find them, or I can pretend I don't know your plans, or I can even offer some small assistance, but the condition is... that when I need it in the future, Alabasta must be an ally and able to exert the power I need."

As the largest country on the Grand Line and the only one that can be considered a "continental country," Alabasta's importance is self-evident.

With a population in the tens of millions and a territory of hundreds of thousands of square kilometers... even if most of it is desert, it is definitely one of the few countries that cannot be conquered by naval warfare alone. Even if it were to defect on its own, the World Government would have a headache for a while.

If this place is handed over to the Revolutionary Army, the world situation will undergo a fundamental change!

However, Alabasta isn't even a target for the Revolutionary Army right now. After all, the Nefertari Royal Family is still quite popular in Alabasta. Although the rainfall conditions are a bit bad, the country is large enough, with plenty of oases, and the Saint Dora River, several kilometers wide, runs almost the entire length of the country, making its banks relatively prosperous...

The vast desert area is "as it has always been," and the people have long been accustomed to it. Overall, it is still a stable country.

Especially regarding his relationship with Mary Geoise...

On the surface, the Nefertari Royal Family once had the opportunity to become Celestial Dragons. In the minds of most people who know this, the Nefertari Royal Family should have a very close relationship with Mary Geoise, closer than that of ordinary Affiliated Nation!

If there were an Affiliated Nation that could be lenient with "Celestial Gold," it would definitely be Alabasta, right?

However, they did not realize that in the eyes of the true high-ranking officials of the World Government, the Nefertari Royal Family was "traitors who cannot be trusted." Similarly, in the original work, Cobra also had doubts about what happened 800 years ago and even wanted to question the Five Elders.

Even before Imu 'Sig Luffy travel, in the original work, Im considered Vivi alongside Luffy, Blackbeard, and Shirahoshi as destabilizing factors, and ultimately decided to take advantage of the Reverie to eliminate Vivi...

"That's all? Fine, but what if..." Crocodile looked at Sig with a mocking expression.

In his view, the conditions couldn't be that simple. Sig interrupted him directly, saying, "No, don't get me wrong. There are no 'ifs.' If there has to be an 'if,' it's that if Alabasta hasn't become the country I need when I need it, then you... are useless!"

Sig's tone greatly displeased Crocodile, but Sig remained unmoved by his anger, simply meeting his gaze quietly.

Sig doesn't care what Crocodile does, and his so-called help is only "possible." However, he demands that Crocodile, "at some unknown time," get Alabasta on Sig's side!

A completely unreasonable demand.

However, Sig understood that these seemingly harsh conditions, which could "motivate subjective initiative," were not unacceptable to Crocodile —it would have been unacceptable to him to submit directly.

On one hand, there's the option of "becoming a subordinate," and on the other hand, there's the option of "joining the camp," but only if "Alabasta is brought in as well." For Sig, the latter is more advantageous, and for Crocodile, it's also the latter more acceptable.

As for whether Crocodile would become "Kaido of Alabasta," Sig didn't care—whether he had the ability or not was another matter. Anyway, there was a contract, and "resolutely opposing slavery" was also within the requirements of "the country Sig needed." Sig wasn't worried that Crocodile would act too recklessly.

And whether it will disrupt the existing peace in Alabasta...

Sig wouldn't have such a burden—in the great era to come, even for the sake of Alabasta itself, power is essential for peace!

After all, Sig knew that the Nefertari Royal Family was already on Imu's radar, and the current peace was just an illusion...