A Smile: This Bane's background in the Navy is so strong!

Meanwhile, in Crocodile's office beneath Rain Dinners.

Crocodile was chewing on a cigar, listening to Nico Robin's report.

"He's upstairs right now?" Crocodile asked, exhaling a puff of smoke with an arrogant expression.

"That's right. I told him to wait there. Shall I summon him down to see you?" Robin asked, playing the part of a loyal subordinate.

Crocodile scrutinized Nico Robin with a piercing gaze. After a moment, he waved his hand and said, "I'll wait for him here. Go and bring him to me."

"Understood." Robin nodded gently and left the room.

After Robin departed, Crocodile pondered for a moment before deliberately adopting a more imposing posture. He turned his executive chair to face away from the door, clamped down on his cigar, and tightened his expression to appear more profound.

Clearly, Crocodile wanted to use these small details to establish an intimidating image for Bane from the very first meeting, thereby seizing the initiative in their upcoming conversation.

While Crocodile was busy acting profound, Robin spent half a circle searching upstairs before finding Bane and his crew sitting in the buffet area in a corner of the casino, chatting with a blind man whose identity she did not know.

As she approached, she heard the blind man grumbling, "I've only been to Gran Tesoro once, and that Tesoro slandered me like that. It's simply abominable! Next time I go, I'll be sure to give him a piece of my mind!"

"Indeed, it's too much. That guy doesn't look like a good person at all, badmouthing people behind their backs!" Bane chimed in, nodding in firm agreement.

He showed no self-awareness that he was the very person badmouthing others behind their backs.

Nico Robin was puzzled by the conversation. How did they end up talking about Tesoro again?

She walked slowly behind Bane, and Issho, that fellow, sensed something and looked toward Robin.

Bane naturally noticed as well. As soon as he turned around, he heard Robin say, "Crocodile says he's waiting for you in the office downstairs."

When the name Crocodile was mentioned, Issho's brows furrowed imperceptibly. He hated pirates, and Crocodile was a pirate. From the sound of it, he even owned this casino?

This made Issho secretly resolve not to come here again.

At the same time, he had felt a bit guilty for misunderstanding Bane earlier, and since they had hit it off so well, his impression of Bane was quite good. However, hearing that Bane had dealings with that fellow Crocodile, he immediately suspected that this guy might not be a good person either.

Before that thought could settle, he heard Bane wave his hand dismissively. "If that guy likes to wait, let him wait a while longer. Can't you see I'm having a great time chatting with brother Issho?"

Robin: ???

No, sir, have you forgotten why you came here?

Hearing Bane's tone, Issho felt that he really didn't think much of Crocodile. He wanted to ask, but felt it wasn't appropriate.

However, if he didn't clarify the nature of the relationship between Bane and Crocodile, he wouldn't know how to treat Bane. After a brief hesitation, Issho couldn't help but ask, "Lord Bane, if I may ask, what is your relationship with that Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

If it were anyone else, Bane might have bluffed, but he was very sincere with Issho. He grinned and said, "No need to be formal. I haven't introduced myself yet—I'm a bounty hunter. I came to find Crocodile this time to take his head!"

Hearing this answer, Issho was stunned!

Wait? You're here to take out Crocodile? Then why did Crocodile invite you to meet him?

Does that make any sense?

Nami, standing to the side, added with pride, "Brother Issho, you might not read the newspapers, but you must have heard that a captain of the Whitebeard Pirates was taken out recently. That was done by our boss, Bane!"

Issho had indeed heard of this, but since he couldn't read the papers, he naturally didn't know what Bane looked like. Upon hearing this, he looked on with respect. "So that's how it is. To dare to move against the Whitebeard Pirates, you must be a man of justice."

"I am indeed committed to justice. To be honest, I have a very close relationship with the Marines. I'm planning to visit the former Marine Admiral Zephyr at Marine Headquarters in a while, and if all goes well, I'll be invited to join the Marines," Bane said with a very humble tone.

Hearing this, Issho felt a stir in his heart.

As a man who would eventually become a Marine Admiral during the World Military Draft, how could he not yearn for the Marines?

However, Issho was confident in his own strength. He had considered joining the Marines over the past two years, but he didn't want to start as a lowly soldier. Yet, he lacked the connections to do otherwise, so he never found a good solution until he eventually waited for the opportunity of the World Military Draft to rise through the ranks.

He couldn't possibly predict the World Military Draft now, but hearing Bane's tone—as if he had deep connections within the Marines, speaking of visiting a former Admiral at Marine Headquarters as if he were just popping over to a neighbor's house—made Issho's heart skip a beat.

Before that thought could settle, Nami, that clever little thing, had already seen through Bane's intentions and chimed in, "Not only that, but not long ago in the East Blue, our boss Bane even carried out a secret mission with Mr. Garp!"

Bane gave Nami an appreciative look, then waved his hand feignedly. "Hey, hey, Nami, don't talk nonsense. This involves core Marine secrets. Fleet Admiral Sengoku specifically warned us not to leak such classified information casually during this time."

Zoro, listening from the side, was dumbfounded. Wasn't it Colonel Smoker who warned them? How did it become the Fleet Admiral?

The two of them sang in harmony, leaving Issho feeling stirred and excited.

Good heavens, just a moment ago it was a former Marine Admiral, and now it's the Hero of the Marines and the Fleet Admiral!?

This Bane had some serious backing!

Issho had an idea. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "So, your trip to Alabasta to deal with Crocodile is also related to the Marines?"

Bane feigned silence for a moment before saying, "I feel like we're kindred spirits, and I can see you're a man of justice, so I won't hide it from you. That's right, my mission to deal with Crocodile is actually commissioned by Senior Zephyr."

I'm taking out Crocodile to secure the funds and mature supply chains to support the big boss Zephyr in starting the Neo Marines, so saying it this way isn't wrong, right?

Issho clearly respected Admiral Zephyr, who had a stellar reputation on the seas. Upon hearing this, he became solemn and said, "Since you've opened up to me, Bane, I'll be frank as well. I, too, am committed to the Marines, but I've never had the right opportunity."

After a brief self-introduction, Issho said, "This Crocodile has committed countless evils in Alabasta. If you need any help with your operation, I am duty-bound to assist!"

Bane was overjoyed. Although he was already confident in taking down Crocodile, with Issho joining the fray, he felt that Crocodile was having a streak of bad luck and was definitely doomed.

"No problem! I have some connections in the Marines. If you want to join our family of justice, let's head to Marine Headquarters together afterward. We'll join the Marines together. Don't worry, I have people on the inside!" Bane patted his chest and said generously.

Issho had been waiting for these words and agreed immediately.

Meanwhile, in the office on the second basement level, Crocodile, who was still trying to look profound, felt his face going stiff. He was deeply puzzled: it had been over half an hour, why hadn't that bastard shown up yet?