The vast desert was a dead, silent sea of sand. Time seemed to lose all meaning there. Wherever you went, whenever you looked, it was dry and desolate. Sand stretched to the horizon, making any human standing in it seem impossibly small.
In the midst of that sea of sand, Crocodile flicked ash from his cigar and said calmly to the mummy before him, "So what if you know Armament Haki? It won't protect you from the desert."
Crocodile had become a Shichibukai back when his bounty was eighty million berries—and had held the title for years. He had faced more enemies who knew Armament Haki than he could count. Aside from his challenge against Whitebeard, none of them had been able to withstand the encroaching sand.
Jones lay motionless on the sand ahead of him, unrecognizable. His once full, powerful muscles had shriveled like dried meat, dull and rigid.
Crocodile could not believe the petty thief was still alive in that state.
His anger spent, the Sand Crocodile turned to a more practical problem.
The surroundings were barren, with nothing to see all the way to the horizon. Clearly, his stolen treasure was not hidden behind some dune.
Finding it was what mattered most.
Crocodile took out his Den Den Mushi and called Nico Robin. "The thief's been dealt with. Have the Works Agency members across Alabasta watch every ship and vehicle coming and going. Don't let the goods leave."
During his time in Alabasta, the Sand Crocodile had done more than play the hero. He had laid plans in secret as well. Dara in Nanohana was one of his planted agents. He had people like that throughout Alabasta, and they were one of the foundations of his plan to steal the kingdom.
At his command, all of Alabasta