Smoker and a group of Marines filled the hall of Rain Dinners. Across from them stood Crocodile and the high-ranking members of Baroque.
Jitte in hand, Smoker said grimly, "Princess Vivi, once the fighting starts, leave. The rest of you, take on those officers. Crocodile is mine."
Smoker wasted no time. His body turned to smoke and surged upward as he swung his Jitte at Crocodile.
Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit let him move in much the same way. He could turn his lower body to sand and travel through the air, though not for long.
Clang!
The Jitte struck Crocodile's Golden Hook, sending sparks flying.
Crocodile's Golden Hook seemed almost to be part of his hand. After all, who else could be thrown in prison and still openly carry a weapon?
Many suspected Whitebeard had cut off Crocodile's left hand when they fought, and that sand in Elemental Form had held the hook to his body ever since.
Of course, there was no single explanation for why Crocodile always wore the hook. One thing was certain: the golden-looking hook was remarkably tough.
After that clash, Smoker raised his Jitte and stabbed at Crocodile again. If the Seastone touched him, the fight would be over.
But to Smoker's surprise, Crocodile saw through his plan and turned to sand to evade the thrust.
Crocodile grinned viciously and slashed his Golden Hook from upper left to lower right. Smoker watched in disbelief as his own blood sprayed through the air.
Clutching his wounded chest, Smoker dropped back to the floor. He looked at Crocodile's Golden Hook. At some point, a black coating had appeared on it.
"Armament Haki?"
Crocodile leisurely took the cigar from his mouth, tapped off the ash, and laughed. "Hahaha! Smoker, you really are pathetic. I'd heard you did whatever you