In the endless desert, Noyer — disguised as Crocodile — headed toward his destination.
He had a map of Arabasta from the shop and had found the direction to Rainbase.
Rain Dinners, the luxurious casino Crocodile had built with his status as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was located right there.
Transformed into wind and sand, Noyer had an undeniable advantage in the vast desert. Merging his body into the earth, he found Rainbase with almost no effort at all.
Rainbase was known as the City of Dreams — the most prosperous place in Arabasta besides the royal capital, Alubarna.
From afar, the greenery and water sources of Rainbase looked completely out of place, at odds with the surrounding expanse of yellow desert.
Noyer straightened his clothing and walked into the city with his chest out and head held high. He'd barely taken two steps when crowds of people looked at him with the reverent gaze reserved for heroes.
"Lord Crocodile!"
"The Lord Warlord is such a fine, upstanding man!"
"Ah! I love you, Lord Crocodile!"
Crocodile had played the role of national hero quite well, Noyer thought with surprise.
The guy's popularity far exceeded his expectations. Almost all the citizens showed genuine love and admiration for this foreign pirate.
Even a few young ladies stared at him with coy, inviting looks. Unfortunately, Old Croc was just an insensitive brute who knew nothing of romance…
To maintain the persona, Noyer kept a cold face and completely ignored the citizens who saw him as a hero.
The citizens were used to it. The Lord Warlord was just like that — always silently driving away enemies, never craving the people's adulation!
A true hero!
Wherever Noyer went in Rainbase, cheers and burning gazes followed.
Bearing this enthusiasm, he found "his" property — the Rain Dinners casino.
If Rainbase seemed out of place in the desert, then Rain Dinners was equally out of place in Rainbase itself.
The massive casino had a front courtyard and back garden. Expensive jade stone tiles covered the ground, and precious water resources were abundant. Several fish even frolicked happily in the front courtyard.
The casino's design was interesting — Noyer crossed a stone sculpture bridge over water before reaching the main entrance. He pushed through the door, and the guards froze for a moment before respectfully opening it for him.
After Noyer entered, one guard asked in confusion, "Didn't Lord Crocodile just go out? How did he get back so quickly?"
Another guard nodded, "Yeah, and his clothes changed. Even the golden hook on his hand is gone."
The two had barely exchanged a few comments when the patrol captain came over and barked, "Less talking! Is the Lord someone you can gossip about?"
The two immediately shut their mouths and stood at their posts.
Noyer walked into the casino and was immediately dazzled by the decorations. The phrase "resplendent and magnificent" truly wasn't an exaggeration. Golden sculptures, gemstones, and other luxury items were everywhere.
Richly dressed men and women crowded around gambling tables, constantly shouting. The scene was lively yet orderly — more like an elegant club for high society than an ordinary casino.
After Noyer glanced around, a fat man in a black suit with a handlebar mustache came running over.
With an ingratiating smile and his cheeks jiggling, he asked, "Boss, didn't you say you were going out to handle some business? You finished so quickly?"
Noyer sized him up — this must be the person Croc put forward to manage the casino, right?
Using the voice that automatically became Crocodile's, Noyer nodded, "Just some small matters. Finished quickly."
As if showing concern for a subordinate, he firmly patted the manager's shoulder.
"Little Fatty… boss has something to ask you."
The manager's fat body swayed from the patting. Grimacing in pain, he hurriedly smiled, "Boss honors me. What can I do for you?"
Noyer smiled like an old fox, pulled the manager into a corner, and asked directly, "Boss is asking you — where is all the casino's revenue stored?"
"Huh?"
The manager looked at him suspiciously. How could the boss not know this?
Seeing his expression, Noyer knew he was becoming suspicious, so he put on a stern face, "What are you looking at? I have countless affairs to manage — is it not perfectly normal to forget such a trivial matter?"
"But…"
The manager wanted to say something, but Noyer grabbed his chubby shoulder. The tremendous force gripped him until he could barely breathe.
Then Noyer extended his hand. A small sandstorm formed in his palm, whipping up sand so the manager couldn't even open his eyes. His boss's gradually icy voice reached his ears.
"Boy, do you think someone could impersonate me, one of the Seven Warlords?"
The manager's body trembled violently in fear.
That's right! Controlling sand was his boss's unique ability — how could anyone possibly copy it?
The manager forced open his eyes, now full of sand, and with tears streaming down apologized, "Boss, spare me! This lowly one is blind — I momentarily misunderstood you!"
Only then did Noyer withdraw his ability. He patted the promising fatty with satisfaction, "Now that's more like it! Quickly, take me there."
The manager nodded repeatedly and led him into "his own" office with his head bowed.
Walking down the steps, Noyer soon entered Crocodile's private domain. Glass walls on both sides held water housing Bananawani. The room was decorated simply and elegantly with that Warlord's taste.
The manager led Noyer to a wall in the corner. A huge square safe was embedded there.
The manager smiled ingratiatingly, "Boss, this is it. You should know the password, right?"
Noyer waved his hand casually, "Of course. You can leave now."
"Yes." The manager acknowledged and walked out of the office, closing the door behind him.
Along the way, he felt something was off, but quickly shook his head and dismissed the thought.
Same appearance, same abilities — how could such a coincidence exist?
With the troublesome manager gone, Noyer finally dropped his act. Pressing his face against the wall, Belly symbols dancing in his eyes, he giggled:
"Mine, mine… hehe, Old Croc's is all mine…"
The safe's password…
Of course Noyer didn't have it. But in the pirate world, could a safe really keep things safe?
He stuck his hand into the door gap, applied a little force, and his entire body turned into fine sand and flowed inside.
Ha! Come on, in this day and age, who eats a Devil Fruit and still uses the front door?
…Wait. How was he going to get out with the money?
◇◆◈◆◇
Meanwhile, Crocodile had no idea his home had been robbed. He followed Miss Doublefinger's directions, chasing like a madman.
But he'd already run halfway across Arabasta — why hadn't he even seen Noyer's shadow? Had the guy ascended to heaven?
Crocodile's patience was exhausted. Despite the scorching sun, his aura was frighteningly cold.
"Damn it! Did Miss Doublefinger lie?!"
Finally, Crocodile decided to stop chasing and headed back the way he came.
After another long stretch, the dusty Desert King returned to the Spiders Cafe. The shop was completely empty.
Crocodile scanned the area with confusion. An ominous feeling rose in his heart. After searching around, he finally reached the secret room.
The first thing that caught his eye was Miss Doublefinger, Zala, lying unconscious on the ground — completely naked, looking as if she'd been… well, you know.
The ominous feeling in Crocodile's heart grew stronger.
The "Great Desert Gentleman" gave her a gentle slap across the face. The sleeping woman immediately woke in pain. She opened her eyes wide, staring at Crocodile in confusion.
"Who are you?" Paula looked at the masked man before her with confusion, then suddenly clutched her chest in horror and screamed, "Where are my clothes?!"
Crocodile's eardrums ached from her shriek. Irritated, he raised his hand and grabbed her by the throat, roaring, "I'm Mr. 0! What the hell happened here?!"
Paula's throat was squeezed, her face turning purple as she hurriedly said, "Boss… that rookie just now… he knocked me out… He… Noyer transformed into my appearance!"
"What?" Crocodile stared at her in shock.
Transform into someone else's appearance? Wasn't that Mr. 2's Devil Fruit ability?
Wait, could it be…
Crocodile's face turned ashen — his casino!
That damned Noyer!
He had no time to think about why someone would have Mr. 2's ability. Only one thought filled his mind: Drain that brat who dared to play him for a fool and throw him into the desert!!
Watching Crocodile burst out the door, Paula trembled helplessly.
First stripped naked, then inexplicably slapped — was this Old Croc's depravity or Noyer's moral decline?
◇◆◈◆◇
Meanwhile, at the casino, Noyer had infiltrated Crocodile's vault.
Looking at an entire room full of treasure, he was completely mesmerized. His face full of bliss, he threw himself into the gold and silver jewelry, scattering a huge handful of bills with his hands.
This vault held the casino's entire profits. Besides that, Crocodile's subordinates in Baroque Works should be bringing in even more money.
Thinking of this, Noyer felt a twinge of jealousy.
Old Croc, as one of the Seven Warlords, probably raked in who knows how much in a single day.
But with so much treasure, he couldn't carry it all away. And calculating the time, that fellow should be coming back soon.
Noyer looked at the room full of gold, silver, and Belly with distress. He packed as much as he could into a large bag, but what he could take was still less than one-tenth of the total.
What if… Noyer's eyes gradually brightened, and a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Transforming back into Domineering CEO Sand Boss, he reached out and pressed his hand against the vault door.
"Desertification — "
◆ Suna Suna no Mi ⥤ Ground Secco ◆
The Sand-Sand Fruit's ability activated. The door Noyer's palm touched instantly looked as if it had been eroded by wind and sand, breaking open with a huge hole.
He sneered disdainfully. Come on, in this day and age, who uses doors?
Having destroyed the door, Noyer called the manager, Little Fatty, over again. When the manager arrived, his entire fat face froze in shock.
The door? Where was the vault door?
Noyer paid no attention to his expression. He beckoned him over and began whispering in his ear.
The manager's expression grew more and more shocked as he listened. He cried out, "Boss! What… what are you doing?!"
"Cut the crap!" Noyer grabbed him by the collar with feigned ferocity, "Just do it!"
"Yes…"
The manager was extremely reluctant but ordered his subordinates to come in.
Noyer then walked outside to the spacious casino hall.
Casually taking a glass of red wine from a server's hand, he cleared his throat, "Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention!"
Here, the face of Warlord Crocodile was obviously quite effective. The patrons set down what they were doing and looked at him curiously.
Noyer held up the red wine and swirled it rather showily a couple times, "You're all my regular customers, and I'm very grateful for your patronage…"
The patrons' faces showed confusion — why was this gentleman suddenly speaking so politely?
"Everyone comes here to gamble for the fun of it. Money isn't really that useful anyway — it just keeps limiting our gambling pleasure." Noyer rambled on. The patrons grew even more puzzled.
What was he getting at?
Noyer smiled slightly and proclaimed with raised arms.
"So as the owner, today I've decided! I'll give you all money to play with! Today, everything is on the house, paid for by me, Crocodile!!"
As soon as he said this, the entire hall instantly erupted.
"Boss is so generous!"
"Worthy of being a Warlord of the Sea! What a good man!"
"His lordship is right! Let's enjoy ourselves!"
The upper-class patrons who had been pretending to be gentlemen immediately transformed into bootlickers, loudly kissing up to Noyer.
Speaking generous words while spending someone else's money, Noyer didn't feel bad about it at all. With a slight wave of his hand, a group of subordinates carried out bag after bag of valuables from the vault and distributed them.
The patrons who received the enormous wealth turned into thugs, their eyes red as they scrambled for the money.
They were all getting money — why act proper like usual? Wouldn't that be idiotic?!
Noyer watched the scene of everyone fighting over Belly with satisfaction. Now this was lively!
Just then, the door was smashed open by tremendous force. The real Crocodile, who had traveled a thousand miles, had finally rushed back.
As soon as he entered, he was nearly blinded.
Why had all his patrons turned into such dogs? Didn't they usually wear the facade of successful people?
Then his gaze shifted, and Crocodile spotted that face that woke him up with its handsomeness every morning!
Noyer!
He had transformed into his appearance and was handing out money to them?
In an instant, the fury in Crocodile's heart erupted like a volcano. He wanted to kill someone now!
He wanted to kill Noyer!
◈◈◈
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want more chapters of this novel or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)