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Nanohana.
Daifuku took Katakuri to find a doctor.
"The doctor? He's on a house call."
"Hey—"
Daifuku's expression turned menacing, but he stopped himself. He pleaded, "My brother is injured. Please, get him back here."
In the past, he would have just dragged the doctor over. He never would have spoken so humbly.
Fortunately, the nurse could see he was not a man to be trifled with and didn't dare refuse. She sent someone to fetch the doctor.
Meanwhile, Oven took the keys.
Guided by Stussy's people, he freed Smoothie, Perospero, and Galette.
"Oven, why do you look so battered?" Perospero wondered.
The three of them hadn't been mistreated after their capture. In fact, they looked to be in better shape than Oven.
"Don't ask..." Oven said with a grimace.
Galette, ever the sharp one, narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me... YOU GOT BEATEN UP, TOO?"
Smoothie and Perospero both stared at him.
"It wasn't just me," Oven admitted. "Daifuku and Katakuri... he defeated them, too. And we lost another fruit."
"WHAT??"
Perospero was so shocked his tongue lolled out of his mouth.
Galette's face darkened. "Brother Katakuri..."
This was beyond anything she could have imagined. Katakuri was so strong. How could he have lost? It was unthinkable.
"What happened?" Smoothie asked, her expression grave.
Oven gave them the short version.
When he was done, the three of them were silent.
'You three gambling fools! You should have just rescued us! You had to push your luck??'
And now look at the price they had paid.
Six Devil Fruits... Even for the Big Mom Pirates, that was a significant strategic loss.
The thought was painful.
But more than the fruits, they were worried about Katakuri. They rushed to the clinic.
——————————————
Rainbase.
Stussy returned to the city with Jin and Crocodile. She was now intensely curious about Jin, though she didn't show it. She had simply said she wanted to look around Rainbase and asked if they could give her a ride.
After getting out of the car, she briefly parted ways with them.
She entered a tavern and gathered her thoughts.
'The intel said he also possesses a powerful Logia-type Devil Fruit, but he didn't use it at all.'
The intel had come from Kizaru.
After exchanging the countersign, Stussy went into the back room of the tavern. It was a Cipher Pol listening post, set up to monitor Rainbase and Crocodile.
She took the #06 Den Den Mushi from the station chief and contacted her superior in CP0.
"Was the transaction completed?"
"Yes," Stussy nodded. "There was a bit of a... conflict, but it went smoothly."
She didn't mention that they had fought. Her superiors only cared about results, not the process.
"Good," the voice on the other end said, its tone serious. "While you're in Rainbase, I want you to investigate the connection between Crocodile and that king. We have some intel suggesting that the Bounty Hunters' Guild isn't just Crocodile's operation—the king is involved as well. CP0's duty is to protect the Celestial Dragons. We must preemptively neutralize any and all potential threats."
"Understood," Stussy replied.
——————————————
"Stussy," Crocodile said, his voice a low growl. "That woman is more than she seems. I suspect she has ties to Cipher Pol. Don't let her fool you."
They were in the Rain-Dinners casino.
"Haha, of course," Jin laughed. He knew Crocodile was worried he'd fall into a honey trap.
It seemed his reputation preceded him.
There were pros and cons to that.
To put Crocodile's mind at ease, Jin added, "You're right. She's one of them. And not just Cipher Pol—she's from the most secretive branch, CP0."
Crocodile's brow furrowed. "She followed us here. Are we being watched?"
"Cipher Pol is the World Government's intelligence agency. Their network is vast, almost unimaginable. They have agents in every country, every major organization, even the Revolutionary Army. They might not be as strong as the Marines in a straight fight, but when it comes to espionage and subterfuge, they're second to none."
He was worried.
"Don't worry about her," Jin said calmly. "Don't let this stop you. Do what you have to do. Our connection, while subtle, isn't completely untraceable. But so what if they find out? For now, the World Government needs the Warlords to maintain the balance of power. Stability... is paramount. As long as we don't cross that line, the Five Elders will turn a blind eye. To them, we're not a threat yet."
Crocodile's expression relaxed, and a slow smile spread across his face. Jin's words had restored his confidence.
This wasn't baseless confidence. It was built on the foundation of Jin's incredible power and the growing legend of their organization. As a member, he knew some of its secrets, and he had high hopes for its future.
"By the way," Jin asked, "have you decided? Which fruit will you choose for your second ability?"
"I've considered several," Crocodile replied. "None of them felt right. I'll go with your suggestion—the Bomb-Bomb Fruit. My Sand-Sand Fruit is geared toward crowd control. Paired with the explosive power of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, my offensive output will be much greater."
Jin nodded. Sand and explosions—a walking sandstorm. It was the perfect choice for Crocodile.
Through his bond with the demonic carrier, even from a great distance, Jin could access its interface. He granted the ability of the "Paramecia Bomb-Bomb Fruit" to Crocodile.
A deep, whale-like cry echoed in Crocodile's mind, and his very soul seemed to tremble. A kaleidoscope of bizarre colors flashed before his eyes.
He saw a massive warship, blazing with light, and a golden tether of flame connecting him to it.
A searing heat spread across his chest from the mark Jin had given him, and a strange energy surged through his body, merging with him.
———————————
[Position: Boatswain]
[Name: Sir Crocodile]
[Authority: Level 3]
[Height: 253cm]
[Abilities: Logia Sand-Sand Fruit | Paramecia Bomb-Bomb Fruit]
[Lineage: N/A]
[Haki: Armament | Observation]
[Composite Doriki: 16,750 - 28,410]
[Evaluation: Top-tier intellect and strategic mind. A master planner. His will was once broken, causing him to waste his potential. He has now reclaimed his ambition and reawakened his power.]
———————————
Crocodile's stats had changed. He had awakened two types of Haki, and his Doriki had nearly doubled.
He had rediscovered the man he once was. The change in his mindset, his will, his spirit—it was all fueling his rapid growth.
It seemed impossible, but it was perfectly in line with the unspoken rule of the pirate world: the power of will.
Mindset and will were everything. Once a person lost the heart of a conqueror, their Haki, their Devil Fruit abilities—everything would weaken.
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