Chapter 359: The Three Rice Buckets

What He and the others had seen and heard in Inazuma had already shaken them, and now they learned that Saint Saint Saiwen's dream was to build a Star and World where everyone could eat their fill.

This finally gave He and Zephyr a decision.

When the war breaks out in the future, the Navy will try to station its main forces across the Four Seas, and even give Saint Saint Saiwen the green light in certain aspects.

The corrupt and greedy World Government indeed should be overthrown.

However, this matter is of extreme importance.

They still need to return to Headquarters and negotiate with Sengoku; after all, Inazuma's strength against the World Government does not actually hold much chance of victory.

Unless Saint Saint Saiwen has more preparations.

"Let's go back first," He suggested.

"If we several leave Headquarters for too long simultaneously, it is inevitable that those with ulterior motives will notice."

The World Government has planted many spies within the Navy, especially after the Great World Conscription; many officers take pride in becoming the World Nobles' lackeys.

This is also the reason Sengoku did not come.

The identity of Navy Fleet Admiral is simply too conspicuous; once discovered, it will be impossible to explain later.

"No need to worry," Garp muttered.

"Did you forget Inazuma is a member nation, and Saint Saint Saint Saiwen is a World Noble? We representing the Navy to purchase Sea Prism Stone is very reasonable."

Hearing Garp's words, He couldn't help but laugh.

"That makes sense!"

Is there any problem with Navy high officials visiting a member nation?

Absolutely no problem at all; isn't Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's identity given by the Five Elders and the World Government?

"Shall we stroll around some more then?"

Alabasta, Mustard Port.

Crocodile's secret base.

After hospitably treating Moria for over a month, Crocodile suddenly awkwardly realized:

He had spent three Devil Fruits to invite the Moria Three Brothers, yet Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen never came, making his own behavior look somewhat like that of a clown.

To use Inazuma's storybook phrasing, he had developed paranoid delusions.

Subconsciously, he believed that Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's state visit to Alabasta must still harbor some undisclosed schemes.

For instance, the historical stele recording the Ancient Weapon Pluton, and himself, one of the Saint Saint Saiwen Warlords.

Even so, as long as Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen did not leave for a day, Crocodile would have to continue treating Moria well with good food and drink.

Better safe than sorry.

If he sent the Moria Three Brothers off with his front foot, only for Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen to kill over with his back foot, he would have nowhere to cry.

Precisely because of this, Crocodile had been in pain yet happy during this period.

He was relieved that Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's target was not him, yet felt angry about this.

Good for you, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen; wherever you went before, you recruited people, yet arriving in Alabasta, you ignored him.

Does this old man not enter your eyes?

What kind of joke is this?

This old man is at least called the King of the Desert, once challenged the Yonko Whitebeard, and is still one of the Saint Saint Saiwen Warlords.

You, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, are not extremely picky with your eyesight, right? Does this old man not surpass the interns on your ship?

However, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen did not come.

This made Crocodile feel ignored, wishing he could confront him directly: Why look down on this old man?

Yet he dared not act rashly.

If the other party originally had no interest in him, and he now voluntarily offered himself, wouldn't it be like throwing a meat bun at a dog with no return?

The more Crocodile thought, the more irritable he became.

And the Moria Three Brothers, invited to hold the fort, were simply rice buckets.

Especially Brook; although his body was in a skeleton state, he could not only eat and drink normally but also loved drinking milk.

Does milk not cost money?!

To invite Moria over to hold the fort, three Devil Fruits had almost emptied Crocodile's savings from these years.

The three brothers gorged themselves for a month; just holding banquets consumed a full billion Berries.

His, Crocodile the Sand Crocodile's, bounty was only 81 million Berries.

Glancing at his shriveled wallet, Crocodile wanted to cry but had no tears: Damn Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, are you coming or not?

If you are not coming, this old man will immediately send away the three rice buckets!

If these three rice buckets continued holding banquets, Crocodile seriously suspected he would become the first bankrupt Warlord.

Not only would he lose face, but if it got out, how could he be a person in the future?

How could he recruit subordinates in the future?

Who would follow a bankrupt boss?

"Brother Crocodile."

Moria patted his belly while walking: "What are we eating tonight? That desert yak from last time tasted great; how about another twenty?"

Upon hearing this, Crocodile gave a strange laugh.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

Twenty desert yaks, plus alcohol, milk, appetizers, and desserts, would cost at least another ten million Berries.

These days are truly unlivable!

"Brother Moria, let's change our taste tonight and eat something light."

Remembering his shriveled wallet, Crocodile made up his mind: he would go outside the city later to hunt some wild game and just get through tonight.

He would have Mr. 3 transfer some money from the Baroque Works account, determined not to let Moria discover he was broke.

After all, he was one of the Saint Saint Saiwen Warlords; he had to save face!

"Very well," Moria nodded.

Before Crocodile could even sigh in relief, Moria's demonic voice rang out again.

"Then order more wine and spirits; that desert date wine from last time was good. Bring fifty jars to start."

Desert date wine was a low-alcohol sweet wine, brewed from fermented dates, with an amber hue, rich fruity aroma, and a hint of sweetness with honeyed notes.

It was a specialty fine wine of Alabasta.

It was a drink for royal and noble banquets, priced exorbitantly; commoners only took a few sips on festival days.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

"Brother Moria, wait a moment; I will go place the order for the meal right now."

Crocodile left with steady steps; with his wallet shriveled, he planned to visit a wealthy merchant in the city and rob some money to get through tonight.

Tomorrow, he would send the three glutton brothers away.

As for Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, let him come or not, he didn't care.

At worst, he would be kidnapped by Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen; could it be worse than it is now?

After carefully layering disguises, Crocodile infiltrated a certain wealthy merchant's mansion; after a friendly negotiation, he successfully begged for ten million Berries in valuables.

Ten million was neither too much nor too little; it was just enough to pay for tonight's wine.

As for the food, he would have to hunt some wild game outside the city and cook it himself upon return.

Since begging was far too embarrassing, Crocodile slipped away from the wealthy merchant's house in a furtive manner, very worried about being discovered.

But the very thing he feared most came to pass.

"We are lucky; we actually ran into a little thief."

Crocodile looked toward the direction of the voice, and after just one glance, he fled without hesitation toward the secret base.

It was Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen!

Damn it, how could his luck be so bad!

If it had been anyone else, Crocodile would have absolutely killed to silence them, but the person approaching was Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen and several interns.

Besides fleeing, he had no other choice.

Once caught, his face would be utterly ruined.