"What did you say?"
Crocodile looked almost incredulous. He even felt like laughing.
The Pirate King? That could be a condition?
There were countless pirates in the world, but only one was acknowledged as the Pirate King: Roger.
No matter how powerful or strong the other pirates were, none of them had earned the title of Pirate King.
The difficulty was obvious.
Where did this guy get the nerve to dangle such a prize in front of me?
It was enough to make anyone choke.
Crocodile watched Sarutobi Hiruzen, waiting to see what else the man would come up with.
"Of course, becoming the Pirate King isn't easy..."
"The requirements are harsh. It's not something you can accomplish through strength or influence alone..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't just some salesman making empty promises. He was getting down to business.
Becoming the Pirate King wasn't all about strength, but strength was essential.
"But if you want to become the Pirate King, power is the foundation."
"Roger himself was a top-tier fighter, no weaker than Whitebeard."
"And you, Crocodile..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said with certainty,
"Your strength has stagnated for many years, hasn't it? Ever since you lost to Whitebeard..."
Crocodile didn't answer. His expression darkened slightly, which was as good as an admission.
To stand at the peak of the world, Haki was fundamental.
But Haki wasn't easy to Awaken. You needed a certain force of spirit—or, more accurately, the conviction to keep pressing forward no matter what.
Crocodile's situation was much like that of his fellow Shichibukai, Gecko Moria. Both had been full of confidence when they first set sail, only to have their spirits crushed by an ultimate powerhouse on the level of a Four Emperor.
With their spirit broken, they couldn't muster the resolve needed to Awaken Haki.
So they