The World Was Shaken Once Again

On the Grand Line, in the Alabasta Kingdom.

In a small town near Nanohana Port, a tall man stood surrounded by a crowd.

"Lord Crocodile!"

A stooped, white-haired old man gripped the tall man's hands, his face full of gratitude. "If you hadn't dealt with the Bread Pirates, all twenty-something members of my family would probably be dead!"

"That's right!"

A balding old man beside him chimed in. "We'd already given up hope. If not for you... Ah, I don't even know how to thank you!"

"There's no need for this, everyone."

The tall man wore his hair slicked back, and a thick scar ran across his face over the bridge of his nose. He was Crocodile, who had become one of the Shichibukai only the year before.

Faced with the crowd's gratitude, he spread his hands helplessly.

"Alabasta is an Affiliated Nation of the World Government, and I'm a Shichibukai working with the government. Dealing with pirates nearby is part of my job. You really don't need to do this."

"How can you say that?"

The stooped old man who had spoken earlier grew excited.

"You've only been in Nanohana Port three or four months, haven't you? In that time, you've taken down more than a dozen pirate crews and saved at least thousands of people. What other Shichibukai is as selfless and noble as you?"

"Exactly!"

The balding old man joined in. "Don't be so modest. If anyone dares say you aren't a hero of the Alabasta Kingdom, I'll be the first to bash his head in!"

"Hahahaha!"

Crocodile scratched his head and laughed a little bashfully. "Well, if you all insist, I suppose I'll accept the title!"

"But..."

He turned and glanced at the purses in their hands, then quickly waved them away. "Take those back. I