Crocodile

"Crocodile?"

Rock's fingertips stopped on the desk, cutting off their steady tapping.

Sunlight fell across the side of his face, revealing a faint trace of thought.

"That guy who always fights to a draw..."

His tone was casual, but it carried a hint of interest.

Come to think of it—

His intervention had changed this era.

Certain turning points had been cut short, and the seas were indeed much quieter than they had been in the "original course of events."

There were fewer pirates, and large-scale upheaval had been suppressed.

But—

The truly pivotal players—

Those destined to make their mark on this era—were still emerging one by one.

Not a single one was missing.

Rock's gaze darkened slightly. "In the original story..."

"Crocodile, at twenty years old..."

"Could fight Bullet to a standstill, even after Bullet ate the Combine-Combine Fruit and honed his skills aboard Roger's ship."

And now—

Bullet really was stronger.

His hand-to-hand combat was more polished, his Armament Haki more formidable.

After taking turns being "trained" by Zephyr and Rock, he was calmer than he had been in the original course of events, without so much pointless aggression.

But—

He had never eaten the Combine-Combine Fruit.

He lacked a way to unleash devastating firepower in an instant.

Crocodile, on the other hand—

He had yet to lose to Whitebeard or have his ambitions shattered by reality.

His confidence was at its peak, his edge at its sharpest.

He had probably already developed his Sand-Sand Fruit powers to a formidable level.

If the two of them really fought—

The outcome was hard to call.

Rock thought for only a few seconds before making his decision.

"Send Sakazuki over."

His voice was calm and left no room for argument.

The messenger froze. "Vice Admiral, you mean—"

Rock added