"You know me?"
Hearing Crocus say that, Don was momentarily taken aback.
"I've seen you in the papers."
Crocus's expression grew solemn as he regarded Don.
If it had been some fledgling pirate, newly arrived on the Grand Line, he might not have minded giving a word or two of advice.
But the young man standing before him was no ordinary pirate.
When he had read that Don hailed from the East Blue, he had immediately thought of his old captain.
He remembered the sigh he'd let out back then.
The weakest of the four seas had produced the Pirate King, and also the Navy's Hero, Garp.
And now, yet another remarkable young man had emerged.
And in the blink of an eye, that same man was now standing right before him.
"So that's how it is. Seems I've become something of a celebrity in the Grand Line already."
Don's tone was calm as he spoke.
"A celebrity, yes—but the kind that pirates are eager to hunt down."
Crocus locked his eyes on Don, unleashing his Observation Haki to fix squarely on him.
After all, he hadn't forgotten Don's title: Pirate Hunter.
And on his back, Don carried a bounty issued by the Navy—an enormous one at that.
Though the Roger Pirates had long since disbanded, their bounties were never rescinded.
If it were anyone else, Crocus might not have cared.
But facing someone who had crossed blades with two Navy Admirals, caution was unavoidable.
"I'm heading to Alabasta."
Looking at Crocus, wary and worn with age, Don twitched his fingers but ultimately smothered the impulse to strike.
Crocus's strength likely surpassed Chinjao's, but Don had just entered the Grand Line—he had no desire to bully an old man.
Just as Crocus was about to reply, he caught sight of Don's eyes.
And in that gaze, he read the young man's true thoughts.
He nearly laughed in disbelief.
So, the brat was looking down on him.
"Young man, you seem very sure of yourself."
Crocus tightened his grip on the harpoon in his hand.
"I wouldn't mind a good match against a strong opponent… but among Roger's crew, there are others—Rayleigh, Red-Haired Shanks, Jabba, Barrett…"
At those names, Crocus realized Don had recognized him.
"So you look down on me, then?"
His Observation Haki remained locked onto Don.
He knew well—if this man attacked, it would be like lightning striking without warning.
"Not at all. Don't mistake me."
Don shook his head.
"I just want your Log Pose. I've business in Alabasta."
"My pointer doesn't lead to the final island."
Crocus's voice was firm.
"I don't care about the final island. But if you don't hand it over… I'll just have to test your strength myself."
As Don stepped forward, a surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him.
The pressure weighed on Crocus—and even on Laboon, the island-sized whale beneath their feet.
"…Well now."
Crocus stared in astonishment.
Conqueror's Haki.
This youth actually possessed it.
Clearly, much had been left unsaid in the newspapers.
And those with the will of kings were never the type to be restrained.
It seemed this young man was destined to shake the Grand Line.
Crocus turned on his heel without a word.
Don did not stop him, simply waiting on Laboon's head.
From the ship in the distance, Robin had thought Don would clash with the man on the whale's head—but to her surprise, they never fought.
Crocus moved quickly, clearly eager for Don to leave.
He tossed his Log Pose to Don, who caught it and leapt back toward the ship, landing lightly on deck.
Laboon sank slowly into the sea once more.
"I thought you'd fight him."
Robin's eyes lingered on Don, who was examining the Log Pose.
"I'm not a warmonger. Besides, he's old. If I fought him, it'd feel like bullying."
Don tossed the pointer into her hands.
"The Grand Line's magnetic fields are chaotic—ordinary compasses are useless. That's no trinket; it's Crocus's Log Pose."
Robin caught it deftly, studied it, then nodded.
"Set course. If I remember right, the nearest island is one where pirate hunters gather."
Don sat down at the prow as he spoke.
Robin stretched out her hands, her powers guiding the oars.
Meanwhile, within Laboon, Crocus mulled over what had just transpired.
After sixty years on the seas, he had seen almost everything.
This, however, was different.
That boy's Conqueror's Haki had left him deeply unsettled.
Pulling out a Den Den Mushi, he walked down into the passage inside the whale.
Not long after, Laboon resurfaced, and Crocus dialed.
"How rare. You're actually contacting me?"
The snail's features shifted, morphing into the face of a man with one eye shut.
"Ran into an interesting young man," Crocus said, setting a beach chair down on the shore inside the whale before reclining.
"A young man? Someone I know?"
The voice on the other end was intrigued.
"Maybe you know him, maybe not—depends if you've sold yourself off lately."
Crocus's tone hinted at familiarity with the man's antics.
"You mean someone making enough waves that even I've heard about it? Shakky, bring me the latest paper."
The voice belonged to none other than the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh.
"Don, the Pirate Hunter."
Crocus's words were steady.
"Oh? Here it is!"
Rayleigh's voice grew spirited.
"A fine talent, this boy."
Rayleigh had skimmed the article quickly, absorbing the essentials.
"He has Conqueror's Haki," Crocus added, still troubled by the thought.
In all his years at sea with Roger, those who possessed it had been few.
And every one of them was a giant among men.
"Conqueror's Haki, is it? No wonder he clashed with two Admirals and came out unscathed. Still… he stirred up such trouble in the North Blue and wasn't even issued a bounty. Could he be tied to the Navy?"
"That I don't know. But when I met him just now, he mentioned you. And Shanks, and Barrett, and Jabba."
Crocus's voice carried a faint note of schadenfreude.
"…So he recognized you, then?"
Rayleigh ignored the jab, focusing instead on the details.
"Mm. Took my Log Pose, too."
Crocus's reply brought a long silence.
When Rayleigh finally spoke, his tone was dry.
"So the brat's set his sights on me? I've been retired for years."
"Who knows? With a bounty like yours, it's no wonder. Don't expect him to let you be."
Crocus smirked, voice amused.
"…You didn't tell him where I am, did you?"
A sudden unease crept into Rayleigh's words.
"Not exactly. But now that he's in the Grand Line, it won't be long before he reaches Sabaody."
"As long as you didn't. I'm just an old man in retirement, looking for a quiet life," Rayleigh muttered.
"Sure you are. If he finds you, though… I doubt he'll pass up the chance to test himself against the Dark King."
END OF CHAPTER
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