Thud.
Crocodile's package dropped from his hook arm and hit the ground. He felt it—this was the end. Judgnt had co.
Behind him, Mr.1 had already transford his arm into a blade, seemingly preparing for a desperate final stand.
Chiga glanced sideways at him and said calmly,
"Crocodile, your subordinate seems a bit agitated. Need to handle him for you?"
Crocodile froze. He turned sharply to see Mr.1 's blade-arm and imdiately barked,
"Idiot! Put that away! Do you want to die?!"
Mr. 1 stared silently at him before obeying and retracting his ability. Among the Baroque Works agents, Mr. 1 was the most loyal to Crocodile.
Crocodile had always favored him. Even during the Summit War, when Mr. 1 had been knocked out by Dracule Mihawk, Crocodile never voiced displeasure. Instead, he went on to challenge Mihawk himself, gaining a reputation for going "fifty-fifty" with the world's strongest swordsman.
Of course, such a reputation ant nothing in front of Uchiha Chiga.
He understood that if Mr. 1 so much as twitched in the wrong direction, they'd all be buried in the desert instantly.
Crocodile hurriedly stood down and turned back to face Chiga. A fine layer of sweat coated his forehead.
Chiga folded his arms, his fingers twitching slightly. The motion instantly put Crocodile on edge, as if standing before an apex predator.
But it was rely a habit of Chiga's when he was thinking.
After a mont of silence, he said,
"Crocodile, originally, I planned to erase you. But... considering your recent attitude, I'll offer you a choice."
The first half of that sentence filled Crocodile with dread. So when he heard the rest, he imdiately bowed his head and responded,
"Thank you, Admiral Purple Kirin! Just say the word!"
Chiga paused.
"You'll be spared from death, but not punishnt. I want you and your n to serve as guards to the King—for five years. Do you accept?"
As he spoke, his Rinnegan glowed faintly with dangerous light. Crocodile swallowed hard.
He had no illusions. If he even thought of refusing, Admiral Purple Kirin would reduce him to ash before his next breath.
So he yielded.
Crocodile gave a stiff nod of submission.
Chiga looked away, and Crocodile imdiately felt the pressure ease. He exhaled slowly, his legs shaky with relief.
But when he rembered the five-year sentence ahead, his expression turned bleak—like a salted slug in the sun.
Chiga didn't concern himself with Crocodile's feelings. Sparing his life was the rcy. If he couldn't understand that, then he wasn't worth keeping.
Instead, Chiga was distracted, pondering the physics of lightning interacting with sand.
Behind him, Robin had observed the entire exchange. Her understanding of Chiga deepened.
He was ruthless to his enemies—rciless, even. Anyone who stood against him could only count their days.
Yet, from what she'd seen during the battle with Aokiji, and afterward, it was also clear he was gentle, almost protective, toward his own people.
To belong to him... was to have security.
She felt a spark of gratitude for her own courage in seeking him out. It had truly been the smartest decision of her life.
Aokiji had also been watching Robin. He noticed her gaze hadn't left Chiga for a long while.
He clicked his tongue, then pulled his sleep mask down over his eyes—out of sight, out of mind.
With Crocodile handled, Chiga gave a small stretch, then turned to the vast desert surrounding them.
This desolation was Crocodile's doing. Dance Powder. Who knew where he'd even gotten it? Whatever the case, it had drained the land into this parched state.
Chiga gave Crocodile a sideways glance. Crocodile seed aware and nervously puffed on his cigar—hard. Half the cigar was gone in one drag.
Chiga found the reaction amusing and chose not to scold him.
But the forr Warlords of the Sea were always tethered to the Marines. Mistakes couldn't go unpunished.
He decided to fix the damage. Partially for Vivi, the princess.
Chiga stepped forward. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he brought his palms together and muttered,
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Ergence."
Rumble!
The ground quaked.
Everyone flinched. Aokiji yanked his mask back up, curiosity piqued.
And then—they saw it.
Massive, towering trees erupted from the sand. The barren desert was overtaken by an erald flood of life.
Chakra surged through Chiga's technique, and the trees quickly grew dense and thick, forming an oasis where monts ago there had been nothing.
Chiga lowered his hands, looked up at the rustling canopy, and nodded in satisfaction.
When it cos to environntal restoration, you can't beat Wood Release.
The stunned silence behind him spoke volus.
From their perspective, it was as if he had created the forest out of thin air. Logic failed them.
Aokiji, at least, fared better. He knew Chiga had multiple Devil Fruit abilities, and assud this was one of them.
"A Logia-type, maybe... Mori Mori no Mi?" he guessed.
He was wrong, of course. Chiga had used Wood Release—part of Hashirama cells, not a Devil Fruit.
Ironically, the real Mori Mori no Mi would eventually belong to Admiral Ryokugyu.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, Chiga turned to Robin and Aokiji.
"Alright, this matter is resolved. Let's head back."
He opened a Door-Door portal, motioning for Robin to go through.
She didn't hesitate. Having used it before, she stepped through without a word.
Then Chiga looked to Aokiji.
"Kuzan. Want to co?"
Aokiji shook his head.
Chiga was undoubtedly faster, but at this mont, Aokiji preferred solitude—riding his bicycle over the ocean waves was just more peaceful.
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100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters.
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