"None of that. I just wanted to see what a 300 million Berries pirate looks like."
"Your collaborator is a Shichibukai. Do you need to be so surprised?"
Although Crocodile only had an 80 million Berries bounty, it was because his bounty was fixed when he became a Shichibukai. Therefore, his actual bounty was much higher than 80 million Berries.
Nico Robin thought to herself, as expected, this pirate knows about the Alabasta Kingdom.
At the same time, she also became wary of Rosen. A 300 million Berries pirate was definitely a dangerous existence that no one could ignore.
"Is Crocodile in Rainbase now?" Rosen asked.
Nico Robin's expression changed again. Rainbase was the headquarters of Baroque Works. It was originally a barren land, but Crocodile used Dance Powder to make it rain there, turning it into an oasis.
However, Dance Powder's effect was to forcibly gather rain clouds from other places, which meant plundering rainfall from other areas.
Therefore, the prosperity of Rainbase came at the expense of the prosperity of other parts of Alabasta.
"It seems he is there. I also want to meet this Shichibukai."
Saying Crocodile was the weakest Shichibukai was because he appeared early. Looking at him during the Marineford War, he fought back and forth with various powerhouses, which was enough to show that he was not weak, and could even be said to be ranked high among the Shichibukai.
Nico Robin's expression was conflicted. Rosen looked at Nico Robin: "What? Aren't you here to invite me?"
"Baroque Works is not my personal domain. I need to report to Crocodile."
Rosen made a gesture of invitation. Nico Robin took out a Den Den Mushi and contacted Crocodile.
"White-Haired Ghost wants to see you."
"Then bring him over."
Crocodile was very confident, after all, he was a Shichibukai.
He was also a Logia-type Sand-Sand Devil Fruit user.
Rainbase gathered a large number of pirates, and for these pirates to live well in Rainbase, they had to pay protection fees.
This was the headquarters of Baroque Works, possessing absolute dominion.
Rainbase and Alubarna were equally prosperous, but the two cities were different. The prosperity of Alubarna was due to it being a port city, with thriving trade and a dense population.
The prosperity of Rainbase, on the other hand, was due to plunder. This was the largest black market distribution center in the East Blue.
A large number of pirates gathered here to fence stolen goods, and all these stolen goods became the funds to support Baroque Works.
Rosen and Nico Robin walked into Rainbase. Nico Robin pulled down the brim of her hat.
As the Child of the Devil, Nico Robin was worried about being ambushed or betrayed even at her own doorstep.
This was also why she had always sought the protection of strong individuals.
In the past, she had joined many pirate crews or organizations. Without exception, those pirate crews or organizations would eventually betray her, and then she would expose all their secrets, leading to their downfall.
This was also the origin of her title, Child of the Devil.
Entering a manor, Rosen saw Crocodile, as well as Daz and Pola.
It must be said that the aura of a Shichibukai was still very strong.
Crocodile, with a cigar in his mouth, a cold gaze, a tall figure draped in a cloak, a slicked-back hairstyle, and a golden hook on his left hand, gave off the impression of a mafia boss.
Crocodile stepped forward and extended his hand, a meaningful smile on his face.
Rosen also extended his hand, but when Rosen's palm clasped Crocodile's, his skin was covered with a thin layer of Armament Haki.
Crocodile could directly absorb moisture from others' bodies through contact.
When the two hands clasped, Crocodile activated his ability.
Then… nothing happened.
Crocodile looked up at Rosen in surprise.
Rosen's smile remained, but the strength in his hand was increasing.
Crocodile's cold sweat poured out. He tried to elementalize.
But he couldn't break free from Rosen's grip.
Armament Haki was a natural counter to the elementalization of Logia users.
Desert Spada!
Crocodile's left arm suddenly transformed into a blade and struck towards Rosen.
Rosen released Crocodile, stepped back, and avoided the blade attack.
Crocodile spread his palms, and two sandstorm whirlwinds appeared between them.
He wasn't controlling wind, but rather controlling sand particles to spin at high speed, thereby creating the whirlwind.
Shinra Tensei! A black repulsive force suddenly spread out.
This was the effect of Rosen integrating Armament Haki flow into Shinra Tensei after mastering it.
Black repulsive force was more easily noticed than colorless repulsive force, which was its drawback.
However, against Logia types, Armament Haki was essential.
Crocodile had nowhere to escape from the black repulsive force. He was hit head-on by the black repulsive force and sent flying.
Seeing this, Daz and Pola immediately attacked Rosen.
Daz's arms turned into blades, and Pola's body grew countless sharp spikes, rushing towards Rosen while spinning.
Rosen pointed his finger at Pola, then flicked it towards Daz on the left. Pola immediately felt her body being pulled by some force, crashing into the blades on Daz's body.
Daz quickly retracted his blades when he saw this, but the moment he retracted them, the spikes on Pola's neck also pierced into Daz's body.
Rosen walked towards Crocodile. In just this short time, Crocodile had transformed from a mafia boss into a down-and-out one.
His clothes were torn, his hair was messy, and his face and body were covered in injuries.
Just then, Crocodile's golden hook on his left hand fell off, revealing a dagger, which he suddenly stabbed towards Rosen.
Rosen did not dodge. Crocodile thought he had succeeded.
This dagger also contained a potent poison. An ordinary person would die instantly if even a little touched their blood.
However, the dagger could not reach Rosen.
There was clearly no obstruction, but it just couldn't break through that last centimeter.
"You are so weak, extremely weak!" Rosen said: "How about this, for the next period of time, you need to accept my training. If your strength still doesn't satisfy me after one month, then I will kill you."
"What exactly do you want to do?"
"Nothing much, I just need you to become a true King of the Desert."
Everyone present couldn't understand what Rosen wanted to do.
The current Crocodile, if he encountered the Straw Hat Crew, would truly be beaten soundly.
He clearly possessed the Heaven-Defying Logia-type Devil Fruit, the Sand-Sand Fruit.
Crocodile had neither developed the Sand-Sand Fruit to its Awakening nor Cultivated the Three-color Haki.
His current strength could be said to lower the minimum standard for a Shichibukai.
"President, what exactly does that guy want to do?"
Crocodile's face was gloomy. How could he know what the other party wanted to do?
He was neither related to him nor owed him anything, yet he wanted to train him.
The next day, before dawn, Rosen pulled Crocodile, Daz, and Pola out of their beds.
"First, run a hundred laps around Rainbase. If you don't finish before the Sun rises, I will break your legs." Rosen said, sitting on the ground: "Now, start running."
But the three of them stood still, showing no intention of running.
Bang, bang, bang—
Rosen immediately broke the legs of the three of them, without a second of hesitation.
The three lay on the ground wailing until the Sun rose. Only then did Rosen step forward and use the Mystical Palm Technique to heal their legs again.
At this moment, the three no longer dared to doubt whether Rosen would follow through on his words.
Whatever Rosen wanted them to do, they would do.
"A dignified Shichibukai, yet he doesn't know Haki. How do you have the nerve to flaunt yourself under the name of Shichibukai?"
Crocodile was furious. When had he ever been so humiliated?
But facing Rosen, who had an absolute overwhelming advantage in terms of power, he had no strength to resist at all.
His biggest regret at this moment was provoking Rosen.
How could he have been so foolish as to invite such a bane upon himself?
Only Nico Robin, Rosen did not ask her to do anything.
All of Crocodile's affairs were also handed over to Nico Robin to manage.
...
The first ten days were a nightmare for Crocodile, Daz, and Pola.
But after ten days, the three of them were already able to adapt to Rosen's training volume.
"Sand Crocodile, throw away that thing on your left hand. It's too shameful, and it's even poisoned."
"This is my trump card. It's smeared with the venom of the seven most poisonous snakes in the desert," Crocodile said confidently.
Rosen went up and directly removed Crocodile's golden hook. Then, holding Crocodile's severed hand, he activated the power of the Sun, combined with healing Ninjutsu.
Crocodile's severed hand regenerated at a visible rate.
Crocodile was utterly astonished.
"Is this a Devil Fruit ability of yours?"
"Of course, I am a Healing Fruit user. Any injury can be healed," Rosen said naturally: "You are almost up to standard in terms of physique. Next, I will teach you a new power system to complement your Sand-Sand Fruit."
"First, test your attributes." Rosen took out a Chakra paper.
According to Rosen's requirements, Crocodile's attributes were Wind, Earth, and Lightning.
"Wind, Earth, Lightning, three attributes. Earth is the main attribute."
Rosen formed hand seals, then pointed his palms forward.
Earth Release. Earth-Style Wall!
Rumble—
Accompanied by a world-shaking tremor from the ground, a stone wall, like a city wall, rose from the ground.
Crocodile, Daz, and Pola were all utterly shocked by this scene.
Rosen then looked at Daz and Pola: "I will teach you silent assassination techniques."
Both of them were assassins by profession, so they were already very proficient in killing techniques.
Now, with the mastery of silent assassination techniques, they would be even more formidable.
A month passed, and the strength of the three had significantly improved. At least in Rosen's opinion, the three had already qualified as Shichibukai.
"Then let me test your training over this past month." Rosen said: "All three of you come at me together."
Crocodile didn't hesitate and was the first to attack Rosen.
Sandstorm!
In an instant, an area of several thousand meters was covered by the sandstorm, and visibility was less than five meters.
"Ptooey, ptooey… A very good opening, obscuring the enemy's vision, but it's not enough."
Attacks came from the sand towards Rosen.
Rosen only needed to slightly shift his feet to avoid the attacks of the three.
"Be careful, everyone, I'm going to unleash a big move."
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