Little Garden, Sand Crocodile's Fury

The next morning, the sun rose over Whiskey Peak as usual.

"Luo Wen, are we heading straight to Alabasta?"

Holding the sea chart, Nami asked Luo Wen.

Vivi perked up her ears and listened to their conversation.

She desperately wanted Luo Wen to take her back to Alabasta right away, but she could not decide their actual route.

"Give me the chart. Let me think first."

Looking at the sea chart, Luo Wen fell into thought.

His recent target was Crocodile. He wanted to raise his role-playing progress through a battle with him and try to learn Armament Haki and Observation Haki from him.

Besides, he had accepted Vivi's commission of three hundred million Beli to drive Crocodile away.

If it were only the former, he could set off immediately.

As long as he fought Crocodile gradually, he could achieve all his goals.

But driving Crocodile away without Armament Haki would not be easy.

It was not that he could not defeat him. It was simply that without Haki, his attacks would cause far too much destruction.

Before Crocodile could even be driven off, Alabasta might be flattened by their battle.

Hmm, where could he find Haki?

This was troublesome. The places known to have Haki were all beyond Water 7, far too distant.

Luo Wen sighed and scanned the nautical chart, settling his gaze on nearby Little Garden as an idea came to him.

Two powerful Giants who had lived for 161 years were there. Dorry and Brogy had once been captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates, leaders of the Giant Tribe, and had bounties of one hundred million Beli a century ago.

Moreover, Luo Wen knew that those two still had impressive performances even late in the story. Together, they were stronger than even a Yonko commander.

With their experience and status, even if they did not know Haki, they should at least know how to train it.

Even if they did not, those two Giants were still worthy opponents.

After a hearty fight, Luo Wen believed his role-playing progress could definitely rise by three or four points, equivalent to three or four hundred million Beli.

By that calculation, the trip would be worthwhile no matter what.

"I've decided. We're going to Little Garden first. I want a real battle there."

"After that, I'll be more confident about dealing with Crocodile, and then we'll head straight for Alabasta."

Returning the sea chart to Nami, Luo Wen stated his decision.

Vivi and Nami were both curious when they heard it.

So far, the strength Luo Wen had displayed was only the tip of the iceberg.

With just a few casual moves, he had easily defeated formidable enemies in their eyes.

Who could possibly be on Little Garden that was worth Luo Wen going all out?

What made Vivi even more curious was what exactly was on that island that could help them defeat Crocodile?

"Luo Wen, what exactly is on that island? Tell me!"

Nami could no longer restrain her curiosity and clung to Luo Wen as she acted cute.

Vivi looked at Luo Wen with the same curiosity, her eyes brimming with a thirst for knowledge.

"Haha, you'll find out when we get there!"

Luo Wen laughed and decided to keep the mystery intact.

He wondered what expressions Nami and Vivi would make when they saw the dinosaurs on the island.

Luo Wen was already looking forward to it.

Nami and Vivi grabbed Luo Wen's hands, wanting to question him further.

But Luo Wen ran off to one side and personally taught Tashigi swordsmanship.

Left with their curiosity, Nami and Vivi could only set sail and follow the Log Pose toward Little Garden.

Behind the Windrider, Igaram piloted the massive transport ship as it followed along.

That transport ship not only carried every member of Whiskey Peak, but was also loaded with all of Whiskey Peak's food and liquor.

Those dozens of barrels of liquor were what Luo Wen had prepared for Dorry and Brogy.

At the same time, Vivi tied the intelligence to Karoo Duck and sent it toward Alabasta.

Rainbase, the only city in Alabasta unaffected by drought and civil unrest, was Crocodile's base of operations.

A vulture carrying a sea otter flew into Rain Dinners, the kingdom's largest casino, and placed a stack of sketches on a broad desk.

A commanding man in a black coat with a fur collar sat in the boss's chair, a cigar clenched between his teeth.

He stood roughly two and a half meters tall. A horizontal scar split his face in two, and his left hand was a gleaming golden hook.

He was the Sand Crocodile among the Shichibukai, the hidden boss of Baroque Works, Mr. 0 Crocodile!

Crocodile's expression was grim as he picked up the intelligence reports from the desk and flipped through them one by one.

The more he read, the angrier Crocodile became, until even his breathing grew heavy.

Beside him, Nico Robin, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, was somewhat curious.

What could have made Crocodile this angry?

"That princess and her guard actually dared to infiltrate Baroque Works and uncover my identity!"

"Are those senior officers all getting paid to do nothing?"

Crocodile was furious. He slammed Vivi and Igaram's portraits onto the desk.

Bang!

The immense force passed through the portraits, leaving a distinct palm print in the desk.

The sea otter and vulture before the desk trembled violently, shedding several feathers and hairs.

Robin, the culprit behind it all, calmly stroked her chin as though she were pondering who had leaked Crocodile's identity.

"And that Bounty Hunter from East Blue. He just arrived on the Grand Line and already started causing trouble for me. He really doesn't know his place!"

Crocodile picked up Luo Wen's portrait and stared viciously at that handsome face.

"He destroyed one of my bases and captured Miss Valentine and Mr. 5. He really doesn't take me seriously!"

Rage surged through Crocodile's heart, and the air pressure throughout the office seemed to drop several degrees.

The sea otter and vulture huddled together, both animals burying their heads beneath the vulture's wings.

Only Robin remained unfazed. She knew her situation well at this point and no longer cared much about life or death, so Crocodile's anger had little effect on her.

"Perhaps he does not know that Baroque Works is under your command?"

Robin's tone was casual. Though her words were meant to soothe him, they only further provoked Crocodile's nerves.

"He is with that Vivi. He clearly knows my identity."

"At this critical point in my plan to seize the kingdom, that Luo Wen is clearly trying to stop me."

Crocodile was already beside himself with rage, the aura of an enraged powerhouse filling the entire office.

"A mere Bounty Hunter can strut around in East Blue all he likes, but he dares interfere in my affairs!"

The Unluckies remained perfectly still, pretending to be statues.

Under the pressure of Crocodile's aura, even Robin found it somewhat difficult to breathe.

Crocodile took out a Transponder Snail and contacted Mr. 3 Galdino, who was far away on Little Garden.

"It's the boss. What is it?"

Galdino picked up the Transponder Snail in confusion. He was currently planning to kill the Giants and had no idea why Crocodile was calling him.

"Princess Vivi and her helpers will be heading your way soon."

"Kill every last one of them. If even one survives, I'll feed you to the crocodiles!"

Crocodile gritted his teeth.

After saying that, he hung up without waiting for a response.

"Yes, I definitely will not let a single one escape!"

Hearing the fury in Crocodile's voice, Galdino jolted and broke out in a cold sweat.

Without the slightest hesitation, Galdino immediately pounded his chest and gave his assurance.

Only after the Transponder Snail had been quiet for several minutes did Galdino finally calm down.

"Strange. Who made the boss this angry?"

Galdino was completely baffled.

But he knew that if he failed the mission, the boss really would feed him to the crocodiles.

Galdino immediately made his decision. No one who came to this island would be allowed to leave alive.

Meanwhile, in Crocodile's office.

Nico Robin had developed a strong interest in Luo Wen, who had dared provoke Crocodile.

If she had the chance, she wanted to meet Luo Wen.