Robin's heart, which had just settled, pounded once more under Sakazuki's shadow. Fear crept back in, leaving her mind blank.
Beside her, Lorca quickly supported her and forced a polite smile. "Forgive us, marine sir. She's just not feeling well. This child has been like this since she was young. An old illness."
As his words fell, Robin went along with him and collapsed weakly into his arms, her face pale.
Sakazuki stared at the two of them. "Oh? Is that so?"
He studied them for a few seconds, then turned without another word and walked away. Not far off, he gave a low command to Bullet. "Follow them."
Bullet grinned, twisted his neck, and left in pursuit.
Meanwhile, Lorca guided Robin through winding streets until they reached a quieter path. He pressed the bundle from his back into her hands and said, "Hide quickly. Use the time you have. I'll draw them away."
Her eyes widened in shock. "Mr. Lorca, wait—"
Before she could finish, he was gone. Robin slumped down, trembling, not knowing what to do.
Boom!
An explosion thundered in the distance, snapping her out of her daze. Forcing her body to move, she slipped into the crowd, and followed the sound toward the place of battle.
* * *
At the gates of the Rain Dinners casino, flowers decorated the entrance, and residents filled the streets. Crocodile stood at the center with a respectful smile, his men lined up stiffly at his sides to welcome Sakazuki.
Sakazuki cast him a cold glance. "Quite the show you've put on."
Crocodile bowed his head slightly, still smiling. "It's only proper. All to welcome Admiral Akainu."
A faint laugh escaped Sakazuki as he raised his right hand and tightened his glove.
Crack!
A crimson blur streaked through the air. The smile had not yet left Crocodile's face when Sakazuki's hand struck him like a hammer. He slammed into the ground, leaving a massive crater.
Inside it, Crocodile lay still. The smile was gone. His swollen face darkened with rage, veins bulging across his hands as he fought to contain it.
His men stood frozen, not daring to move. The surrounding townsfolk stared in silent fury, but no one spoke out against the admiral known for his brutal reputation.
Sakazuki crouched down, his gaze drilling into Crocodile. "What's this act supposed to be? A show of force? Did a little bit of good treatment make you forget your place? Think becoming a nation's hero lets you speak as an equal? Take a look at what you really are. Your little roleplay doesn't suit you anymore, does it? Hm?"
Slap! Slap!
He patted Crocodile's right cheek, each sound sharp in the air.
Then his eyes swept the underlings and the growing crowd before he slowly rose. "A dog should look like a dog. Until you have the strength to kill me, drop your pathetic little tricks."
He stepped forward, pressing his boot on Crocodile's head as he walked into the Rain Dinners.
Enel followed right after, twisting his heel against Crocodile with a smirk. The soldiers behind hesitated but chose to step around rather than trample him further.
Only after the Marines had entered did Crocodile's men rush to pull him up. No one dared speak. He brushed the dirt off his clothes and said flatly, "Leave me."
Turning, he strode into the casino toward his office.
* * *
Inside the Rain Dinners, in Crocodile's office.
Enel lounged on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, biting into an apple.
Sakazuki sat in Crocodile's oversized chair, both feet propped carelessly on the desk. He picked up a cigar from the table, slipped it between his lips, and lit it with a spark at his fingertip.
He drew in a long breath, then exhaled. "Huuuu…"
His eyes shifted to Crocodile, who stood respectfully in front of him. "How's the hunt for pirates going lately?"
By now the man had masked his earlier humiliation. He bowed slightly and answered, "I've established a bounty hunter town near Reverse Mountain. It's been working well. The hunters gathered there aren't particularly strong, but they can handle most small-time pirates and exchange them for bounties. As for the more powerful ones, they usually dig up information, which is then passed on to the Alabasta marine branch. It's used to build files in case of emergencies. The records of captured pirates are in the top drawer on the left."
Sakazuki turned in his chair, pulled open the drawer, and took out the thick record book.
He flipped through the densely written names and crews, then gave a slight nod. "Not bad. If you need support, tell the government. When you perform well, they won't be stingy with their backing. You may even take part in underground business across the first half of the Grand Line. That way, you'll disrupt the trade of those people in the New World. The New World belongs to them. The Paradise and the Four Blues belong to the Marines. Rest assured, go ahead and—"
Suddenly Enel, who had been lounging carelessly, stiffened. His Observation Haki flared, and he pulled a small paper from his pocket.
Sakazuki looked at him. "What is it?"
Enel's brows furrowed deeply. "Rosinante's Vivre Card... it's burning."
The card's corner had already started to curl away in ashes. He couldn't stay seated any longer. "I'm heading out first."
Crack!
Thunder split the air as he smashed through the window, his figure vanishing in a flash.
Sakazuki shook his head, unbothered. He glanced back at Crocodile. "Do your job without worry. The point of the Warlords is to suppress the New World. If you can't show your worth…"
He stood up and walked to the window, ignoring the look on Crocodile's face.
His right arm surged with molten heat, swelling until it filled half the room, forming a colossal fist of magma.
With a single swing, he hurled it outward. The fiery giant tore through the wall and shot out of sight.
Seconds later.
BOOOOM!
Far out in the desert beyond Rainbase, a mushroom cloud erupted into the sky, filling the horizon of every onlooker in the city.
The heatwave struck visibly, the temperature of the entire Rainbase soaring. In the endless desert, a new basin of lava spread wider than the city itself.
From the molten chaos, Bullet emerged carrying scattered objects, heading back toward the casino.
Robin, hidden among the crowds, stared at the world of magma in horror. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Mr… Lorca…"
* * *
Back in the office of the Rain Dinners.
The roar of heat pressed against the walls. Sakazuki closed his eyes, savoring the power he had unleashed. "If something serves no purpose... it doesn't need to exist. Do you understand?"
Crocodile's throat went dry as he gazed at the towering mushroom cloud and felt the overwhelming force. "I… understand…"
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