"Those old bastards in the Holy Land Mary Geoise have ruled this world for far too long.But I... I will one day surpass them and stand at the very peak of this world."
Renji Kai's voice was calm and unhurried, as if discussing something as mundane as the weather.
"You're a smart man. You should know how to make the right choice. I'll give you one minute—think it over carefully."
If these words had been heard by the wrong ears, they could've sparked a global uproar.
A pirate who had just escaped prison, now the most wanted man in the world, was openly declaring war on the World Government. Such arrogance would only make his situation more precarious.
And yet... something in his tone made even the defiant Sand Crocodile falter.
Douglas Bullet, standing nearby, walked forward and spoke solemnly to Sand Crocodile."Crocodile, I suggest you board this ship with him. There's a force in this guy… a kind of gravity. The kind that will slowly bind us to him… and make us stay willingly."
That got Crocodile thinking.
"…Will you let me go down with dignity? Otherwise, I can't accept this!" Crocodile finally replied.
Clearly, he still wanted a fair fight with Renji Kai.
"Hmph, still so stubborn. Fine then—Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Renji spat out a thick, swirling mist once again, flooding the air around them.
"Hah! That same trick won't work on me twice! Desert Storm!"
Crocodile wasted no time. Sand spun from his palm into a miniature desert cyclone, which rapidly grew as it twisted forward. The storm whipped up the mist, tearing it apart almost instantly.
As the fog dispersed, Renji suddenly appeared—charging straight at Crocodile without hesitation.
"I want to see what else you've got! Desert Grand Blade!"
Crocodile released his most powerful move, transforming his arm into a massive blade of sand and thrusting it directly at Renji.
Renji didn't flinch. He kept charging.
In a flash, Crocodile's sand blade pierced straight through Renji's torso.
Everyone froze in shock.
But Crocodile's expression twisted into a scowl. Something felt off.
Renji Kai wouldn't just run headfirst into an obvious death trap… right?
Of course not.
In the next instant, Renji's body dissolved into mist and vanished completely.
"I'm behind you."
That chilling voice sent a jolt down Crocodile's spine.
"No way—!" he gasped, spinning around.
But he was too late.
A soaking-wet arm shot forward with incredible speed, wrapping tightly around his throat.
Renji's right hand, dripping with water, latched onto Crocodile's neck—drenching it instantly.
Now, Crocodile's body could no longer fully turn to sand. Elemental transformation was rendered useless.
"My patience has limits. Move one more inch, and you might not live to regret it," Renji growled coldly.
He had no interest in wasting more time on Crocodile. His temporary fusion ability was nearly up, and he had already spent 300,000 reputation points to pull this off. He couldn't afford to burn another use of it so recklessly.
Crocodile finally understood the massive gap between them.
With a defeated sigh, he muttered, "…I concede."
As soon as those words left his lips, a mechanical voice echoed in Renji's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully defeated your opponent. You have gained 50,000 reputation points."
"Damn it… only fifty thousand?" Renji's heart bled internally.
He had spent 300,000 points preparing for this fight, and now he was down 250,000. Had he known it would be this underwhelming, he would've just let Douglas Bullet handle it.
He had hoped Crocodile would be worth at least 100,000 or 80,000 points.
But thinking it over, it made sense. Crocodile wasn't particularly strong yet, even with a Logia-type Devil Fruit. His weaknesses were glaring, and anyone who prepared for them could shut him down easily.
As Crocodile admitted defeat, the entire casino erupted into chaos.
The crowd stared in stunned silence at their defeated boss.
Nearby, Daz Bonez lay half-conscious on the ground, unable to do anything but watch.
And this wasn't just any casino—this was in Alabasta, a powerful and influential kingdom.
The news of Crocodile's defeat spread around the world in mere moments.
Renji turned to the bystanders and barked, "What are you all gawking at? Go check on the guy lying over there. But be careful—he might still be a bit hot to the touch."
Having handled Crocodile, he addressed the rest of the casino. Now that their leader had fallen, no one dared resist him.
"What's your next move?" Crocodile asked grimly. "You've beaten me. According to the World Government's rules for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, I've officially been stripped of my title.That makes you the potential successor. But… it'll all depend on whether the Government is willing to sit at the table with you."
Crocodile's tone had changed.
He had already decided to follow Renji Kai—for now.
But he wanted to know what kind of man he had chosen to follow… and what Renji's plan was next.