Chapter 184: Crocodile Makes His Entrance!

At this moment,

The sea fish that ate the Smoke-Smoke Fruit had a body that took on a smoky form, floating two meters above the surface of the sea.

Although it lacked intelligence,

It could sense a repulsive force from the ocean through its biological instincts.

"Get lost, all of you!"

The Pirate Captain let out a furious roar.

It was not just the Marine Headquarters; everyone witnessed a shocking scene.

A sea fish that had eaten the Smoke-Smoke Fruit—a Logia user—would undoubtedly be a top-tier combat asset if it could be captured and properly trained.

Especially an animal like this that lacked the capacity for complex thought,

Much like how the Arlong Pirates were able to dominate the East Blue partly because they possessed a terrifying sea beast that obeyed every command and would never defy the Arlong Pirates' orders.

This Smoke-Smoke Fruit sea fish was even more precious and powerful than that sea beast!

It was no surprise that it could incite a scramble.

"Hahahaha, the smoke sea fish is mine!"

A Pirate Captain hacked down his remaining competitors and cast a fishing net, precisely netting the fleeing smoke sea fish.

Bang.

The smoke sea fish turned into smoke, escaping the confines of the net.

That Pirate Captain was instantly dumbfounded.

"Hmph, what a fool. A Logia user needs to be captured with Seastone. Is this truly the weakest sea, the East Blue, where they don't even understand such basic knowledge?"

The pirates from the Grand Line sneered.

They were also feeling somewhat frustrated inside,

As they were all pirates who had rushed to the East Blue to seize the Trial Tower and treasures after seeing the broadcast on the Den Den Mushi.

However, the distance from the Grand Line to the East Blue was not short, and even by traveling at breakneck speed, most of the Contract Fruits had already been carved up by the native pirates of the East Blue.

Pirates like them from the Grand Line should have been terrifying existences far superior to the weakest East Blue,

But after encountering these pirates with all sorts of strange abilities and engaging in a series of skirmishes, they discovered they were no match at all.

It was too stifling.

"Apply Seastone powder to the fishing net and catch that smoke sea fish."

"Understood."

On a sailing ship that flew no skull flag but bore a special emblem,

A figure holding a pale yellow umbrella suddenly drifted up as if having lost gravity, holding a fishing net coated in Seastone powder, swaying as she drifted toward the smoke sea fish.

While called Seastone powder,

It was actually just sand and debris from the vicinity where Seastone was mined that had been slightly contaminated with oceanic energy.

Compared to expensive Seastone, this powder was much cheaper.

"Ms. Valentine, although it is a mindless sea fish, it is a Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, so do not be careless."

The Baroque Works member with the purple afro and an exaggeratedly good figure, Miss Doublefinger, called out a reminder.

"It's just a sea fish..."

Mikita, with her pretty face, said somewhat arrogantly, having already activated her fruit ability,

Kilo-Kilo Fruit.

Her slender, slim body felt like a thousand-pound boulder as she grabbed the net and plummeted at high speed, enveloping the smoke sea fish.

The smoke-bodied sea fish, sensing the arrival of danger, saw its smoke suddenly become dense, condensing into a grayish-white fish mouth that swallowed the rapidly falling Mikita in one gulp.

"Help!"

Wrapped in smoke, Mikita panicked and called out to Paula for help.

"I told you not to be careless."

The Spike-Spike Fruit user Paula leaped high, her snowy-white skin heaving with the intense movement as sharp spikes suddenly protruded, stabbing into the body of the smoke sea fish.

But it was of no use; she was dragged in and wrapped up as well, unable to move.

"You've got to be kidding me, a sea fish is actually this strong?"

Some pirates who had been itching to act showed signs of cowardice at the sight.

They had all heard of the notorious reputation of Baroque Works, a famous assassin organization roaming the waters near the Alabasta Kingdom.

These two seductive women were high-ranking officers with code names, core cadres of Baroque Works.

They had seen with their own eyes how Paula and Mikita had destroyed an East Blue pirate ship without any effort.

Their strength was beyond doubt.

Yet they were trapped by a smoke sea fish.

"This is the power of a Logia user. Even if they have just eaten the fruit, as long as they don't encounter Armament Haki or Seastone, they can run rampant through the first half of the Grand Line!"

A low, gravelly voice rang out.

Golden sand whistled, whipping up a massive sandstorm on the sea surface, gradually condensing into a tall figure.

A golden hook was embedded in his left wrist, he wore a dark green fur coat, a cigar hung from his mouth, and a scar running across his entire face made him look extremely ferocious.

With a wave of his right hand,

The golden sandstorm he controlled crashed into the smoke sea fish, knocking down the two entangled Baroque assassins.

"Although it is the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, you two are so weak it makes me laugh. You are a disgrace to me!"

Paula and Mikita were swept up by the flow of sand, their throats gripped, making even breathing a luxury.

Even these high-ranking cadres did not know the true identity of the boss of Baroque Works.

However,

When the Trial Tower appeared, they received orders from the Boss to head to the East Blue, and were told they would make contact with the Boss.

Combining this with the words of this person who suddenly appeared, he is the mastermind behind the Baroque Works.

"He is... one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

Pirates and Navy personnel recognized the identity of the person who arrived and could not help but exclaim in shock.

The Seven Warlord who rules the seas of Alabasta, possesses the qualification for legal plunder, and is the hero of the Alabasta Kingdom.

Crocodile!

"Boss... spare us..."

"You are all my subordinates, how could I kill you?"

Crocodile revealed a kind smile, loosened his hands, and let the two collapse onto the ship's deck.

It was exactly the same as the heroic image he displayed in the city of Rainbase in Alabasta.

But only the trembling Paula and Mikita knew,

The Crocodile from just a moment ago truly wanted to kill them both; he was not joking.

"Rest assured, I am here."

Crocodile's smile remained unchanged; under the broadcast of the Den Den Mushi, he had to maintain his image as the hero of Alabasta.

Otherwise, he really would have just sucked them both dry into mummies earlier.

In his world, useless trash has no value in continuing to live; the high-ranking officers of the Baroque Works are merely convenient tools.

If a tool does not complete the task it is supposed to do, it needs to be scrapped and replaced with a new batch of tools.

Boom.

The sandstorm suddenly grew larger, and sand grains danced wildly.

Crocodile transformed into a sand flow, blocking the smoke sea fish that wanted to escape; streams of sand rolled and tumbled, forming an airtight cage that completely enveloped the smoke.

"Take out the Seastone chains from the ship!"

The two climbed up with lingering fear and hurriedly pulled out the Seastone chains from inside the cabin.

The sand flow swirled, and Crocodile's figure emerged at the front, about to land on the deck.

At this moment,

A jet-black streak of light crashed into the sand flow, slamming a fist into Crocodile, who was still maintaining his elemental form.

Thud.

Crocodile's body solidified, crashing heavily onto the deck, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

"Sorry, this smoke sea fish cannot be taken by you, Mr. Seven Warlord."

The thin figure who landed back on the Navy Warship, their right arm covered in Armament Haki, gripped the struggling smoke sea fish tightly and glanced at Crocodile, saying: "My fist is far from being as good as Garp's; I only want to obtain the smoke sea fish and have no intention of making an enemy of Mr. Seven Warlord, so please forgive me."

After the smoke sea fish was wrapped in the Seastone chains, it was thrown into a fish tank.

Crocodile climbed up, and after seeing the person clearly, he smiled, his eyes filled with wariness, and said: "Of course it doesn't matter, I just didn't expect that you, Vice Admiral Tsuru, would also come to the East Blue; this really surprises me."

Marine Headquarters, Vice Admiral Tsuru.

Arriving in the East Blue aboard a top-tier warship, a collision occurred with the Seven Warlord Crocodile!

(End of chapter)