"!!!"
Nico Robin's brain felt like it had been struck by lightning. She looked in disbelief toward the direction the voice came from, but all her eyes could see were a few silhouettes walking out of the glare.
This person…
How could he possibly know about that Poneglyph?
"Hm?"
Crocodile glanced at Nico Robin's reaction and more or less realized the other party might be telling the truth. He slowly turned his head to look at the newcomer's figure, narrowing his eyes.
"You lot… who are you supposed to be?"
Just who were these people that had suddenly shown up?
Why would they know Pluto's hiding place, and even appear here!
Crocodile's vigilance instantly shot up. He knew the other side definitely wasn't some benevolent bunch—no normal person would casually leak this kind of secret!
That was the legendary weapon, Pluto…
Them…
Could they already have taken away the slumbering Pluto?
"What a pity. Wano Country is Four Emperors Kaido's turf."
The red-haired boy spread open his palm. He didn't answer Crocodile's question, instead continuing on his own, "Crocodile, you're probably not much of a match for Kaido, so I can kindly throw in another piece of news for free: in Water Seven, the city closest to Alabasta, there are still Pluto's blueprints hidden. You can build another Pluto…"
"!!!"
The shock in Crocodile's eyes deepened.
These guys…
They even knew where Pluto's blueprints were!
"Of course…"
The red-haired boy's voice was mechanical and calm, yet the words he spoke made Crocodile's expression change drastically: "Before that, you'll have to first escape from the hands of the two Admirals of the Navy Headquarters, Admiral Sengoku, and Vice Admiral Garp who have landed in Alabasta…"
"!!!"
Crocodile's face turned completely overcast.
Two Admirals, one Navy Admiral, one Navy Hero…
Even with Crocodile's overwhelming confidence in his own strength, and despite having long prepared for retreat, he still didn't think he could get away safely under the pursuit of that lot!
"We know you probably won't be able to escape."
The red-haired boy looked at the grim-faced Crocodile and calmly went on, "To thank you for helping us open Queen Lily's Underground Palace, when we leave Alabasta we can take you along with us…"
"Oh, right."
"We haven't introduced ourselves yet."
"We are the Konoha Pirates. The information about the existence of this Golden Underground Palace was spread by us. Our goal was to lure you, the Sand-Sand Fruit user, into helping us open the Golden Underground Palace…"
"…"
Crocodile's gaze grew gloomier.
Because Crocodile had indeed seen the inscription on the stone tablet: only he, this Sand-Sand Fruit user, could open this Golden Underground Palace…
But…
Being used as someone else's chess piece…
Still inevitably made this Sand Crocodile, who loved treating others as chess pieces, burn with rage!
Crocodile's figure suddenly turned into yellow sand and vanished from where he stood, his body shooting toward the people present. "You bastards… the way you talk really pisses me off!"
"I'm very sorry…"
The red-haired boy raised his palm, and a cannon barrel extended out from his hand. A jet of high-pressure water shot out from the barrel in an instant. The moment the high-pressure water sprayed out, it expanded, directly blasting Crocodile's body away!
As a Sand-Sand Fruit user, water was the last thing Crocodile wanted to encounter. Once he ran into water he would be restrained, yet at this moment he was drenched on the spot, and his Sand-Sand Fruit body could no longer resist physical attacks!
Clearly…
This newly appeared Pirate crew had come fully prepared!
As Crocodile's body was soaked through, a figure behind the red-haired boy instantly appeared at Crocodile's side, and with just a few punches and kicks sent this Sand Crocodile crashing to the ground!
"Bastard…"
Crocodile spat out a mouthful of blood while lying face-down.
All these years, Crocodile had never suffered such a crushing defeat. He had never expected to be taken down so quickly by some Pirate crew that had popped out of nowhere!
And even…
In such a ridiculous and simple way! He was Sand Crocodile Crocodile, and he'd actually been floored by a splash of water and a few punches and kicks?
Mr. 1 Daz Bonez, who had been standing to the side, hesitated in place, unsure whether he should strike at the Konoha Pirates. He knew all too well how terrifying this Pirate crew was!
"Crocodile, I apologize for our rough methods."
The red-haired boy glanced at Crocodile, who had been knocked to the ground, and spoke in a mechanical, youthful voice, "If you find this upsetting, then I must ask you to endure it for the time being."