After entering the tavern and beginning to drink, Crocodile finally couldn't hold back his question.
"Captain Renji Kai, this guy you mentioned—Bartolomeo—is he really worth stirring up so much trouble just to find him?"
After all, the three of them had caused quite a commotion upon arriving in Loguetown. Even an idiot would know that news of this would've reached the World Government and the Marines immediately. And now, with Sakazuki's fleet already searching for them in the East Blue, if they happened to be nearby, they might run into an Admiral any minute.
"He's a small-time pirate, but his Devil Fruit is rather interesting. His strength is average, but if we can recruit him, his loyalty would probably far exceed yours," Renji Kai said calmly.
Hearing Renji bluntly claim that he wasn't loyal, Crocodile simply scoffed.
The idea that he would willingly serve under Renji Kai was laughable. He wasn't someone who'd follow others easily, especially after what Smoker had said earlier—which, in truth, had stung.
Still, Crocodile knew the strength gap between them was clear. For now, he had no choice but to endure and bide his time.
"So what kind of Devil Fruit power does this guy have?" asked Douglas Bullet with curiosity, intrigued by Renji's high praise.
"He's a Barrier-Barrier Fruit user—classified under the Paramecia types. Don't underestimate it. He can create absolute defense barriers that are virtually indestructible. These barriers can also be used offensively. Which means, even someone incredibly powerful would struggle to break through them. This ability is especially valuable in group battles. If he joins us, we'd have a serious edge in large-scale fights—whether against the New World powers or the Marines," Renji explained.
"Tch, a barrier that no one can break through?" Crocodile scoffed, blowing a smoke ring dismissively.
He had seen too much to believe in truly unbreakable defenses.
"You'll have the chance to test it yourself," Renji replied coolly, taking a sip of his whiskey.
By the time evening fell and they had just finished dinner at the tavern, the tavern door suddenly burst open with a loud bang.
In walked a man who looked exactly as Renji had described earlier—Bartolomeo. He was followed by a group of menacing thugs.
His appearance was so spot-on that Crocodile and Douglas Bullet were genuinely startled. It was as if Renji had seen him before.
How did he know Bartolomeo would show up looking exactly like that?
"Bartolomeo, you're later than I expected," Renji said as he swirled the whiskey in his hand.
"Hmph, I heard from those weaklings that someone was looking for me—and even said I wouldn't live to see tomorrow. I'm scared of many things, but death isn't one of them. So I figured I'd come see which lunatic was bold enough to say that," Bartolomeo sneered.
His men all drew their weapons at that.
"Seriously? You brought your little gang along to collect your corpse afterward?" Renji asked, giving a sideways glance.
"So you do know who I am," Bartolomeo said, frowning slightly.
"Born in Loguetown. You control the underworld here. You're a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user, specifically the Barrier-Barrier Fruit. I'm right, aren't I?"
"Since you know my ability, you've got guts coming here to die."
"I'll give you a chance to rephrase that. Right now, you're speaking to someone who just broke out of the world's most secure prison, defeated a powerful pirate crew from the New World, and recruited a Warlord of the Sea and a legendary pirate from the era of Gol D. Roger. I came here to offer you a spot on my crew. But if you want to keep acting arrogant, I have no problem making sure you never walk out of this place."
Renji's face, once playful, suddenly turned serious and cold.
Bartolomeo visibly flinched. He had recognized Renji and the others the moment he walked in—they were the infamous pirates shaking the world.
Even with his near-invincible barrier powers, he knew he might not stand a chance.
But Bartolomeo was wild and prideful by nature. He wouldn't kneel so easily.
"I'm walking out right now. Try and stop me if you dare," he said and turned to leave.
Renji didn't move.
But Crocodile couldn't hold back any longer.
He was already irritated that they'd traveled all this way for some low-tier thug. And now the guy dared to act like they were beneath him.
Crocodile could sense that even Renji was starting to lose his patience. So he decided to make the first move and test just how tough Bartolomeo's Devil Fruit ability really was.
In a flash, Crocodile whipped out his poison hook and darted at Bartolomeo like a gust of wind, aiming to end the fight before it even started.