Seven Warlords System

Late at night.

In the underground prison, the heavy iron door slowly opened amid the silence.

"Clang—"

The sound of metal scraping echoed through the corridor with startling clarity.

The Marines who had originally stood guard had been transferred away beforehand, leaving the entire hallway empty.

No one knew what Rock had discussed with Crocodile in the cell. They only knew—

When the iron door opened again.

Crocodile walked out.

The Seastone chains had been removed, though marks remained around his wrists.

Yet the shock on his usually cold, arrogant face was impossible to hide.

As if he had been struck by stakes far beyond his expectations.

Or as if he had glimpsed a game so vast it was suffocating.

Rock stood at the end of the corridor, his expression calm.

"I've paved the road for you."

"How you walk it is up to you."

Crocodile stopped and fell silent for several seconds.

The corner of his lips slowly curled up as he let out a quiet, mocking laugh.

"You really dare to gamble."

Gambling on a pirate's ambition.

Gambling on a pirate's pride.

Gambling on a danger that might turn on him in the future.

Rock gave no answer and simply turned away.

His footsteps gradually faded, as though he did not care about the outcome at all.

That night.

The wind howled at the harbor.

A small wooden boat was casually pushed into the sea.

Crocodile stepped onto the stern as the sea breeze swept through his hair.

He raised a hand, his fingertips twitching as yellow sand gathered behind him.

Fine grains spun and converged in the darkness.

The next instant—

"Boom—"

A whirlwind erupted.

The Sand Tempest became a thrusting jet, and the wooden boat suddenly accelerated.

It sliced through the waves, sending spray flying as