"Crocodile!"
Fossa naturally couldn't not recognize Crocodile.
For one, no matter how down on his luck Crocodile was, he was still one of the former Seven Warlords of the Sea, a pirate who once dominated a territory. He certainly didn't lack fame.
For another… this guy had been beaten up by Whitebeard before. That wasn't exactly a secret within the Whitebeard Pirates.
"You, you actually made it to the New World?"
Fossa didn't look down on Crocodile just because he had been defeated by Luffy. His hand was already on his sword hilt, clearly ready to fight at the slightest provocation.
He was responsible for the safety of this island. After receiving word from his subordinates about the presence of dangerous individuals, he had rushed to the scene immediately.
"Hah... I'm really being looked down upon, huh."
Crocodile glanced sideways at the other's hand gripping the sword, then disdainfully blew out a puff of smoke.
That puff of smoke seemed to sound a certain signal.
The next moment, the sound of metal clashing abruptly rang out.
Clang!
Fossa drew his long sword, black Armament Haki covering it, and he precisely blocked the swiftly attacking Mr.1.
Feeling the tremendous force transmitted through his arms, even Mr.1, who was usually deadpan, instinctively frowned.
'Strong!'
'As expected of a Whitebeard Pirates' division commander.'
'Moreover, the Haki-coated long sword was quickly cutting into my own blade.'
Under the effect of the Supa Supa no Mi, Mr.1's body itself was a weapon. While this granted him a powerful physique, it also indirectly planted a hidden danger.
If his weapon got chipped or even broken, he would also be severely injured.
"Hmph!"
The corner of Fossa's mouth curled up, then he exerted force with his hand. Mr.1's figure was sent flying backward rapidly.
Taking in this scene, Crocodile made a rough assessment in his mind.
He didn't intend to give up on Mr.1.
In fact, within the entire Baroque Works, aside from Robin, Mr.1 was the only one he valued.
But it couldn't be blamed on Crocodile.
After all, looking at the other oddballs and then at Mr.1, who was ruthless and spoke little, anyone would know which side to favor.
It's just that the gap in strength was indeed still somewhat large.
It seemed he had really somewhat neglected individual strength during these years he was obsessed with excavating the Ancient Weapons.
Of course, these were all things for later. Right now, it was—
"Hahaha! I should be the one saying I'm being looked down upon, right?!"
Seeing that Crocodile's subordinate couldn't withstand a single blow, not even able to use Armament Haki, the contempt in Fossa's eyes grew even stronger.
"Is that so?"
Yet the next moment, the smile on his face stiffened slightly.
'When?!'
Perhaps due to carelessness, or perhaps because Crocodile still had some skills-
Somehow, the Desert King had already appeared behind Fossa, looking at him with a sinister gaze.
"Desert Spada."
...
Boom!!
"Huh? What happened over there?"
Baby-5, who had just set foot on land and was about to look for a shipyard, was drawn by the sudden loud noise. Along with the people around her, she looked in that direction.
But Yamato and Sasuke had sensed something was wrong even before the explosion occurred.
"You go first—"
Sasuke immediately thought of Yamato's likely intention. He instantly turned to look at her, reaching out to grab her at the same time.
However, he still underestimated a wild child who had been suppressed for years.
When he met those spirited big eyes, Sasuke read a few words in them.
'I want to join the excitement.'
Like a husky let off the leash, Yamato charged toward the source of the commotion almost without any thought process.
Sasuke only had time to grab her clothes before he was dragged along, flying through the air by her unreasonable brute strength.
There was no helping it… without the [Karma] buff stacked up, Sasuke's current strength was simply no match for Yamato's.
Their physical prowess wasn't on the same level at all.
And when Baby-5, a bit slow on the uptake, looked at her 'darling', she only saw Sasuke, like a human-shaped flag, being dragged 'horizontally' through the air by Yamato due to the high speed.
"???"
"Hey! You wait for me!"
"Put my darling down!"
Baby-5's hands immediately transformed into two giant axes raised high, and she scurried off in the direction Yamato had gone.
—It must be said, compared to the Supa Supa no Mi, which could only turn into blades, Baby-5's versatile Buki Buki no Mi was an all-around upgrade.
…
When Yamato arrived at the scene, what she saw was Crocodile slowly retracting his arm, and Fossa lying dazed on the ground.
The fight hadn't lasted long.
In the face of a Crocodile who, after feeling ashamed and determined to improve, had re-mastered Haki, the Division Commander Fossa, who didn't have any particularly outstanding abilities, still fell.
Even though he had rich combat experience and both types of Haki, it wasn't too troublesome for Crocodile.
"Bast...ard... Don't think... about attacking this place..."
Even after being knocked down, Fossa still hadn't let go of his weapon, even though the long sword now had weathering cracks.
"If it were Diamond Jozu or that Marco here, I might pay some attention. As for you..."
Crocodile took out another cigar from his pocket and lit it, not finishing his sentence.
But his meaning was already clear.
You are not worthy.
At that moment, Yamato suddenly lowered her voice and asked Sasuke,
"Hey... which side is good and which side is bad?"
She was the type to learn from her mistakes. She had had an experience where she acted without discerning right from wrong, almost letting a robber escape from the hands of someone who was trying to uphold justice.
Sasuke unhurriedly straightened his clothes, messed up by the fierce wind, then subtly tugged at Yamato's somewhat open collar, ensuring she wouldn't have a 'wardrobe malfunction', before saying,
"Judging from those people's words, the guy lying on the ground should be the good one."
Yamato followed Sasuke's pointing finger and saw some local residents and merchants looking nervously in their direction. She also caught snippets of conversation.
"Commander Fossa, don't fall!"
"What should we do? Are these pirates going to attack us?"
"Hurry, has anyone notified the other Whitebeard Pirates?"
After hearing this, Yamato pretty much understood.
"Mhm! Looks like it's time for us to step in! Partner!"
Saying so, she strode straight toward Crocodile's direction.
"When did I become your partner..."
Sasuke complained under his breath, but still followed.
Actually, by now he had also recognized both sides.
One side was someone he had seen once at the celebration banquet on Sabaody Archipelago, belonging to the Whitebeard Pirates.
The other side was the Level 6 escapees they had encountered during the prison break at Impel Down.
Both are old acquaintances.
The sand-user, somewhat similar to Gaara, and who had also been embarrassed by Karin.
Just as Crocodile was about to order Mr.1 to deliver the final blow to Fossa, an untimely voice came over.
"Oi! Hook-hand over there!"
"Hmm?"
Crocodile turned back somewhat displeased, just in time to come face-to-face with Yamato, who was walking toward him.
"If possible, could you spare the person at your feet?"
Although she spoke words of 'seeking opinion', there was no pleading expression on Yamato's face.
"Also, it would be even better if you, who started this commotion, were willing to leave this island on your own."
Seeing Yamato, a new face, Crocodile immediately snorted disdainfully.
"Clueless fool!"
But the next moment, Sasuke's figure emerged from behind Yamato.
No helping it… Yamato was just too big. Sasuke, who is not in his beast-man form, was completely blocked by her.
"You!"