Chapter 597

At this moment,

he was located a kilometer away from the Wang Gong in Alabasta.

When he saw

Barrett transform into a brute and storm into the Wang Gong, Lu En remained utterly unmoved, making no attempt to interfere with Barrett's actions.

His steps gradually halted as he stood still, waiting for Barrett—and Crocodile.

Since Barrett's goal was to seek out Crocodile for a duel…

his own purpose was nearly identical.

He, too, was searching for Crocodile.

Yet,

the difference lay in…

he represented the Navy, here specifically to deliver Crocodile an invitation to become a Warlord of the Sea.

While Barrett sought to duel Crocodile.

But overall,

with Barrett handling it, Lu En had no need to actively seek out Crocodile.

He only needed to keep watch on Barrett.

As long as he watched Barrett, he could find Crocodile.

He wouldn't waste excessive time.

Why not?

"Barrett versus Crocodile?"

"That's truly something to look forward to."

"Barrett, a monster of the old era, hailed by countless crewmembers of the Pirate King as a monstrous powerhouse, having swept across the seas and crushed countless top-tier powerhouses, his strength is unquestionable."

"And Crocodile, the Sand Crocodile, at this stage is no weaker—his Logia Devil Fruit, combined with his desert environment, allows his abilities to erupt fully."

"This battle between the two…"

"Will be fascinating."

Lu En's eyes held a hint of anticipation.

Both were top-tier pirates renowned across the seas.

Who was stronger?

Let's wait and see!

He naturally did not wish to miss this impending fierce battle.

He had a feeling.

Once these two unleashed their full power…

It would be a scene of cataclysmic destruction!

Possibly even sinking and depressing the entire area spanning thousands of meters…

into the earth!

No less devastating than the scene when he faced Doflamingo.

"Fights of this caliber are rare."

"Today…"

"I'm fortunate enough to witness one firsthand."

As Lu En had guessed,

when Barrett stormed into the Wang Gong,

he immediately charged through with brute force, obliterating every guard in his path, crushing hundreds upon thousands of palace guards in one-sided slaughter.

Causing panic throughout the Wang Gong.

Panic among the Nefertari royal family.

Ultimately—

Barrett successfully found Crocodile.

And bluntly issued a challenge!

"You challenge me?"

Crocodile's eyes narrowed, clad in a dark gray sweater, a cigar clenched between his lips, gray-white smoke curling upward.

He had a deep blue slicked-back hairstyle, eyes brimming with ruthless ambition, expressionless, exuding the aura of an elegant businessman.

Most striking of all…

he was missing an arm.

Of course.

Strictly speaking,

it wasn't an entire arm missing—only his hand.

Yet,

he had fitted a golden hook over the severed left stump, making it impossible to tell whether his left hand still existed.

But such a uniquely constructed weapon clearly implied his left hand held some hidden truth.

If it were intact, he would never have wrapped the entire limb in such an unusual device.

Clearly,

Crocodile's left hand had suffered catastrophic injury, possibly even been destroyed and vanished.

When he saw Barret,

Even as strong as Crocodile, he dared not slacken or grow careless.

He certainly knew.

The Barret before him was just how terrifying a top-tier powerhouse.

Several years ago,

He had briefly clashed with Barret.

Although no victor had been decided.

But even then, he had already deeply realized.

Just how strong Barret was!

And just how dangerous he was!

Even as strong as Crocodile, he had no confidence in defeating Barret.

This man was extremely strong!

Very likely the…

Strongest he had ever encountered in his life,

Second only to that bastard Bai Huzi!

"That battle back then…"

"On the surface, it ended in a draw."

"But in truth, I was already at a disadvantage."

"If no accident had occurred and we had continued fighting, my chance of defeat was extremely high."

Thinking of this, Crocodile's heart sank slightly.

Now…

Several years had passed.

Barret's monstrous strength had clearly grown even greater.

More terrifying than back then!

And more dangerous!

Even now, before either side had launched an attack, Crocodile could already sense from Barret a threat of death.

This threat forced Crocodile to brace himself fully.

Crocodile, a pirate of the same era, knew full well just who Barret was.

He was a monster who, even in his youth,

Had possessed the strength to join the Pirate King Luo Jie's crew.

A monster who had lost only once—in battle against Luo Jie.

Even Lei Li, the former vice-captain of Luo Jie's crew, the legendary "Pluto," a top-tier powerhouse of the seas, was rumored to have been unable to crush this monster.

Moreover…

After Luo Jie's death,

Over these years, the number of people who had died at the hands of Barret in his berserk state was countless.

Innumerable!

Among them,

Were many top-tier sea pirates of immense strength.

Who had also met their end at Barret's hands.

Many of these slain sea pirates were ones Crocodile himself had feared greatly.

Yet,

They had all fallen to Barret's hands.