The hierarchy within Baroque Works is distinctly defined.
At the very top are definitely Crocodile and his partner, followed by senior agents with the code names Mr and Miss.
Of course.
Senior agents may be discarded by Crocodile anytime due to failure or weakness, so replacements are needed. For this purpose, Baroque Works has a reserve force of up to 200 people.
These reserves are called Billionaires, beneath whom are the Millionaires totaling 1800 people, mainly composed of proficient pirates or enforcers.
The entire Baroque Works organization totals over two thousand members.
Though most are mediocre, and only a few possess Devil Fruit powers, it can still be considered a significant force.
"The problem is..."
"I have received the latest news."
The woman wearing a high hat shook her head, sighed deeply, and said, "During your absence, someone reported something to me..."
"Clown Buggy is here..."
"!!!"
Crocodile's eyes suddenly became sharp.
Clown Buggy.
If Clown Buggy was once just an obscure little pirate, he has now become the talk of the world!
Because...
This pirate dared to kill a Celestial Dragon!
With the feat of killing a Celestial Dragon, Clown Buggy's bounty has shot up to an astounding 730 million bellies; an exceedingly rare bounty amount even on the Grand Line!
Pirates have a unique view of strength, judging a pirate's toughness by the bounty placed on them by the Navy.
Crocodile, being one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, has had his bounty rescinded by the World Government, though prior to that, it wasn't even in the hundred millions...
Although Crocodile knows his strength far exceeds that amount, a bounty of 730 million bellies on Clown Buggy will undoubtedly present a problem...
Damn it...
The Straw Hat crew was already troubling enough...
After all, I want to kill the Straw Hat crew myself...
But now Clown Buggy is here to join the chaos...
And this should've been disclosed earlier!
Otherwise, I shouldn't have let Mr. 3 and his group go, I might have been able to make use of them, but their strength really isn't up to much use...
If Clown Buggy behaves well and follows the rules, it's all good, but if he refuses, I'll have no choice but to try and eliminate him!
However...
Is that possible?
Clown Buggy dared to kill a Celestial Dragon, let alone challenge a Warlord of the Sea; a massive conflict between the two is inevitable!
"By the way..."
"You sent Mr. 2 Von Klay to eliminate Mr. 3 Galdino's group, and the mission isn't completed. I suggest not clearing Mr. 2 due to mission failure at this time..."
The woman with the hat threw another comment seeing the anger building on Crocodile's face: "Mr. 2 reported that Mr. 3 has taken refuge with Clown Buggy, seemingly receiving Clown Buggy's protection..."
"I am not that foolish."
Crocodile felt a wave of irritation, muttering subconsciously, "Mr. 2 Von Klay's Clone-Clone Fruit is quite useful, where on earth is Mr. 1 Daz Bonez?"
Daz Bonez, a formidable assassin from the West Sea and a Paramecia-type Slash-Slash Fruit user, had earned Crocodile's respect as he thought Bonez could help with the Straw Hat crew problem.
"On the way to Alabasta..."
The woman with the hat finally offered some good news, but also a dose of bad news: "But Mr. 1 reports that the Navy is also heading to Alabasta..."
"The Navy, huh?"
Crocodile's eyes suddenly sharpened with ferocity. He knew the Navy's presence signified trouble: "But it doesn't matter. Once we obtain Pluto, I won't need the Warlord of the Sea title, and the World Government will have to bow to me... Instruct all senior agents to assemble immediately so we can begin our utopian battle plan as soon as possible!"
On the vast sea.
Crocodile could never have foreseen.
At this time, Mr. 1 Bonez Danis, Mr. 2 Von Klay, and the abandoned Mr. 3 Galdino were all on different pirate ships.
Buggy Pirates.
The Buggy crew was heading to Alabasta to seek the Golden Underground Palace when they ran into the fleeing Mr. 3 Galdino and invited him aboard.
Originally...
Mr. 3 Galdino intended to avoid Baroque Works' pursuit and meet its boss to discern who was truly in charge.
However, Clown Buggy's arrival made him realize that Buggy must have plans in Alabasta, creating an opportunity for Galdino to find refuge.
The result...
This Mr. 3 lived up to the title of a senior agent.
Spending two to three days with the Buggy Pirates, Mr. 3 figured out the workings of the crew and suspected that Clown Buggy's 730 million belly bounty had some exaggeration...
After all...
The Buggy Pirates lacked strong individuals.
Being a Wax-Wax Fruit user, Mr. 3 felt he could handle the crew himself and planned to report Clown Buggy's intel to Baroque Works' boss to plead his case.
After all, capturing Clown Buggy for the Navy's bounty would be enough to atone for their offenses, wouldn't it?
Moreover...
Alabasta concealed the colossal Golden Underground Palace left by a king from 800 years ago, news shocking enough to spare Mr. 5, Miss Valentine's Day, and Miss Golden Week's lives!
"..."
Mr. 3 Galdino, with his candle-like hairstyle, discreetly hid in a corner watching the Buggy crew celebrating their future discovery of the Golden Underground Palace: "With this information for the Baroque Works' boss, we can surely atone for our previous failures, and everyone can survive..."
Elsewhere.
Straw Hat Pirates.
Aboard the Straw Hat Pirates' Golden Merry.
Mr. 2 Von Klay accidentally fell into the sea and was rescued by the Straw Hats. In gratitude, he displayed his powers to the crew.
Clone-Clone Fruit.
Anyone Mr. 2 Von Klay touches, he can mimic their face.
Unfortunately...
Alabasta's Princess Vivi was aboard too, and during Mr. 2 Von Klay's show, she saw him reveal the face of her father, King Cobra!
This meant...
The guy had impersonated the king!
After Mr. 2 Von Klay left, Vivi immediately informed the Straw Hat crew, raising everyone's alert.
Aware of Von Klay's disguises, they tied white bands on their arms to prevent being impersonated.
Lastly.
On the Konoha Pirates' great sea ship.
The ship was surrounded by debris, having recently finished a leisurely afternoon tea-like battle; the Nine-Headed Wooden Dragon had crushed the opponent's ship.
However...
The opposition hadn't completely lost their fight.
A resolute-looking man suddenly transformed his arm into a sharp blade, charging towards the Konoha Pirates on deck!
"That's... a Devil Fruit User!"
The researchers of the Konoha Pirates immediately took interest.
Though they'd caught a rare Logia-type Ice-Ice Fruit user before, studying him proved inconvenient due to identity issues!
"Flying Thunder God Slash!"
Senju Tobirama suddenly appeared beside the enemy, swinging his blade to cut into the foe's iron-hard body, spilling blood profusely!
"This guy is Mr. 1 Bonez Danis, a Paramecia-type Slash-Slash Fruit user, a senior agent of Baroque Works. He can help us execute our plan efficiently..."
Red Sand Sasori's voice was muffled, softly suggesting, "Let's keep him for a few days for experiments aboard, and once we arrive in Alabasta, send him back as a spy in Baroque Works..."
"By the way..."
"I've been permitted to use your abilities for a transformation experiment..."
Red Sand Sasori approached Bonez Danis, gazing at the captured man with vacant eyes: "Do you have any opinions on this, Mr. 1 Bonez Danis?"