Crocodile's forehead was slick with cold sweat.
"You… you're not serious, are you?"
He furrowed his brow, staring at Shirogai Yamikuro's indifferent expression, trying to read sothing—anything—from the man's calm deanor.
But there was nothing. Just an overwhelming sense of killing intent—raw and suffocating.
This man… was insane.
If not for the unfathomable strength emanating from him, Crocodile would have turned and walked away without a word.
"Reduce Mariejois, the Celestial Dragons' sanctuary and the heart of the World Governnt, to absolute rubble."
Shirogai's voice thundered in Crocodile's heart like a cannon blast.
He had t his fair share of lunatics before… but never soone who dared to declare open war on the Celestial Dragons like it was nothing.
Even the Revolutionary Army, led by Dragon, had never spoken so bluntly. They moved in shadows, spread ideology, and quietly pushed for revolution—but this man wanted annihilation.
When Crocodile had dealings with Dragon's faction, they tried to recruit him too. He rejected them, seeing them as nothing more than idealistic rats scurrying in the corners of the world—barely surviving, easily crushed if exposed.
To Crocodile, the Celestial Dragons ruled the seas and the skies. The Revolutionary Army didn't have the strength to challenge that dominance.
But this madman… he wanted to hunt the Celestial Dragons. And he was serious.
Looking into Shirogai's cold eyes, Crocodile got the clear ssage: if he didn't agree to join, he wouldn't be walking away.
Then, Shirogai calmly continued.
"Killing Celestial Dragons isn't particularly difficult. You, of all people, with your blood-soaked hands, are afraid to kill? Don't be ridiculous. This is the bare minimum for a pirate."
Crocodile took a deep breath, trying to calm the erratic pounding of his heart.
Where had this lunatic co from?
Did he not understand the consequences of declaring war on the Celestial Dragons?
Even Dragon wouldn't go this far.
This wasn't just rebellion—this was an act that would unite the entire World Governnt against him. The Marines, the Admirals, the Cipher Pol agents—everyone would be dispatched to hunt him down.
It was a declaration of war on the world.
Truly insane.
Even Dragon would have warned this man to tone it down.
"Crocodile, you don't have much ti to answer."
Shirogai's voice snapped him back to reality.
Crocodile's brows knit tightly. He stared hard at the man in front of him, finally asking the only question that mattered:
"What do I get?"
Shirogai's voice was low, but carried a magnetic weight.
"You'll get everything you want."
"Everything I want? Heh, sounds like you're selling
a dream."
Crocodile scoffed. He was used to making empty promises himself—he could sll one a mile away.
Shirogai only shrugged, completely unfazed.
"Believe it or don't. I won't beg you. What's your answer?"
Crocodile went quiet.
He knew the ga. If soone threw a list of benefits at you, it ant they were desperate. And desperate people had no power. No leverage.
But Shirogai didn't offer him anything tangible. Just one sentence.
Everything you want.
What did that even an?
Even he didn't know exactly what he wanted.
And yet… that one sentence kept echoing in his mind, stirring sothing dangerous within.
"Hmph… interesting."
He exhaled slowly, suppressing the long-dormant tremor of excitent surging through him.
"What's your reason for inviting ?"
Shirogai smiled, his cold expression replaced by sothing far more dangerous—a genuine grin.
"Because you're not content with the world as it is. Because you have ambition. That's enough."
Crocodile chuckled, eyes narrowing.
"Ambition? Every pirate has ambition. The ones without it are wagging their tails in Marine uniforms, barking when the Celestial Dragons give the order."
Shirogai's grin widened.
"Exactly. Gol D. Roger may have ignited the Great Pirate Era, but this world is still shackled by old hierarchies.
The Celestial Dragons have ruled too long. People worship them like gods, unable to resist even when their lives are being crushed beneath their boots."
Crocodile studied Shirogai carefully.
He was speaking madness… but with unnerving calm. His voice never wavered.
"I'll expose that false nobility, shred their so-called 'divine bloodline,' and drag them into the mud. I'll dissect their corpses before the world to show everyone the truth—these 'gods' are mortal.
And when that happens, resistance will rise. The world, long bent under their heel, will finally stand."
Crocodile raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"And what do I gain from your little revolution?"
Shirogai gave him a long look, then scoffed lightly.
"You really don't get it, do you?"
That mocking tone made Crocodile's veins pulse with irritation.
"Shirogai San, are you mocking ?"
Shirogai chuckled.
"The benefit… is to replace them."
Crocodile paused.
"Replace… them?"
Shirogai leaned in slightly, voice like a devil's whisper.
"Are the Celestial Dragons truly noble? No. They're just privileged parasites. When they fall, soone must take their place.
Why not us?
We'll stand atop the world they once ruled, and remake it as we see fit."
Crocodile stood frozen.
To beco the new Celestial Dragons. To control the world. To command the Marines and even the Five Elders with a word…
It was tempting.
It was madness.
And it was… possible.
Shirogai's voice dropped lower.
"Imagine it. You, Crocodile, at the peak. No one questioning your authority. No Marine daring to oppose you. No pirate foolish enough to challenge your rule. You ask, and the world delivers."
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Crocodile's heartbeat was thunder in his ears.
He was excited. Truly, deeply excited.
The vision this man painted was madness—but a beautiful, seductive madness.
"Beco the new Celestial Dragons…"
The words echoed in his mind like a mantra.
After a long silence, Crocodile gritted his teeth.
"I'm in."
In that mont, he felt as if he had signed a pact with a devil.
But that devil's promise was far too sweet to resist.
---
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