"Oh???"
Orin sat on the back of the Seagull King, enjoying delicious food while using Observation Haki to extend his senses—and instantly saw Crocodile locked down with Seastone, leaning against the prison wall reading a newspaper.
At the same time, he was still on a call with Doflamingo.
"You, of all people, coming to a small place like Paradise?"
Hearing Orin's teasing, a few drops of cold sweat immediately rolled down Doflamingo's face.
"Fuffuffuffuffu… I wouldn't call myself a big shot. It's just that because that Crocodile guy got captured, the World Government summoned the Shichibukai for a meeting. I'm just attending it. And while I'm at it, I'll take a look at some kid who's been borrowing my name."
"A kid?"
Orin wasn't interested in the World Government's meeting. At most, they were trying to probe his side again.
The Government had informed him as well, but he had zero intention of responding.
However, that last part caught his attention, so he asked casually. Doflamingo didn't bother hiding it.
"Just a nobody. A pirate with a bounty of a few tens of millions—Bellamy. That guy wanted to join my crew a long time ago, but in the end he's just a kid who lived too comfortably and wandered out looking for excitement."
"Is that so… I think I vaguely remember."
A crazed fanboy of Doflamingo―Orin did know about that.
But no matter how loyal Bellamy was, Doflamingo never truly accepted him.
At the core, Bellamy's ideals were different from those of the Donquixote Family.
He grew up a rich second-generation kid who despised dreams. He wanted to become evil and prove himself with power.
But anyone who knows about Doflamingo's childhood knows exactly why he despises kids who've never suffered—and why he always treated Bellamy as nothing more than a tool with no real strength.
Yet Orin felt that such a loyal—and still growing—underling was rare.
At least compared to Trebol, Bellamy was far more useful.
"Fuffuffuffuffu… Someone like that, and you actually remember him?"
Hearing this, Doflamingo's thoughts deepened a little.
But Orin didn't keep chatting. He hung up the Den-Den Mushi soon after. He planned to stroll through a few more islands before returning to the Sabaody Archipelago.
After all, it was his base of operations, and he hadn't been back in quite a while.
Around the same time the Straw Hat crew was likely landing on Jaya Island…
Crocodile finally awoke from unconsciousness.
"Tsss…"
But the moment she opened her eyes, something felt wrong.
"What is…"
The first thing she noticed wasn't the prison uniform or the Seastone shackles—but that familiar yet unfamiliar body shape.
Blue veins bulged across her forehead. The cigar in her mouth snapped in half from sheer pressure as her eyes burned with fury.
"What the hell is going on!!!"
Her enraged roar instantly alerted countless Marine soldiers—especially since the target was Crocodile.
Soon enough, Smoker—cigar clenched in his teeth—arrived with a squad of Marines at her cell.
"Quiet down, Crocodile!!!"
"Hmm???"
Hearing that voice, Crocodile turned her head and saw Smoker standing at the front.
"Marines??? Do you even know what you're doing?!"
She was furious. Not only had her gender reverted, but she was also now a Marine prisoner?!
Marines?
They dared to—
But Smoker stared coldly, speaking with no courtesy at all.
"Crocodile, you have already been stripped of your Shichibukai title by the World Government. You are now formally under arrest. I will deliver you to Impel Down!!!"
"Nani?!"
Crocodile's face darkened, but Smoker had no intention of wasting more breath. He only left one sentence before walking away.
"Don't expect a rescue. If you're being sent to Impel Down, that man obviously agreed to it."
When he left, silence once again filled the cell, leaving only Crocodile's angry breathing.
Because she could guess it—being locked up again, her body reverting… all of it was likely his decision.
She knew him far too well.
...
On the other side, the Straw Hat Pirates had reached Mock Town.
At the same time, the Blackbeard Pirates also arrived.
"Zehahahahaha… So this is Mock Town, the gathering place of pirates?"
"They're all weaklings."
"Wehahahaha! Watch me send them flying!!!"
The camera pulled back to reveal several figures stepping off a raft and onto the small island—though Lafitte was not among them.
Hades said nothing. But suddenly, he lifted his head, his eyes clearing for a moment.
Burgess immediately noticed.
"What's up, Vice Captain? You suddenly look wide awake. Planning to join me in smashing the place up? Wehahahaha!!!"
But Hades ignored him, instead staring at the town's name.
"Mushroom Town?"
"It's Mock Town!!!" Burgess snapped.
"Zehahahahaha… For now, everyone move freely. Do whatever you want~"
"Can I kill everyone?" Hades asked flatly.
"Of course!!!"
Blackbeard grinned viciously.
They were all true evil pirates. Causing chaos was simply natural.
Hades chuckled and walked into the town first.
The others dispersed as well—except Blackbeard, who headed toward a tavern.
...
Meanwhile, as countless major figures gathered in Paradise…
Holy Land.
In the Hall of Power.
A Marine knelt on the floor, reporting to the five Elders.
"Yes—Red-Hair and Whitebeard seem to be making contact recently."
"Red-Hair? At a time like this, what is he planning?!"
Already worn down from strained relations with Orin, the Elders scowled deeply at the news that Red-Hair and Whitebeard seemed to be stirring trouble.
"That man Red-Hair may not be as troublesome as Orin, but he is still someone to be taken seriously. However, he shouldn't act recklessly. For now, keep observing. Do not move rashly."
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro sat on a sofa, long blade in his arms, rubbing his temples with one hand.
"The most important thing right now is still the matter of the Shichibukai. Although Crocodile's capture was something Orin himself tacitly approved of, he was one of the forces maintaining the balance among the three great powers."
"His downfall will certainly make certain people at sea suspect whether gaps have formed between us and Orin. We must appoint a new Shichibukai as soon as possible!!!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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