Fleet Admiral Kong sat in the central seat and spoke:
"The candidate for the Seven Warlords of the Sea is the one known as the Desert King, Crocodile."
"As for this candidate..."
"First, Crocodile is a Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit user."
"Second, he holds a deep grudge against a major power in the New World."
"Not long ago, Crocodile fought a fierce battle against Knock in the New World."
"In the end, his forces were completely wiped out, and he escaped the New World alone."
"The government has already located his whereabouts."
"We're preparing to make contact."
"We'll support him and see what kind of results that brings."
"If anyone has concerns, feel free to speak up."
The sound of quiet discussion rose from below.
Vice Admiral Tsuru rested her hands on the table, fingers interlaced:
"What about the powers granted to the Seven Warlords?"
"How extensive are they exactly?"
Kong leaned back in his chair, arms crossed:
"This was discussed last time at the Holy Land."
"The authority to conduct legal plundering excludes Marine forces."
"If they attack a Marine ship, their Seven Warlords title will be stripped immediately."
"And they'll be imprisoned in Impel Down."
"Additionally, they're not allowed to carry out large-scale plundering against World Government member nations."
"Nor are they allowed to use underhanded methods to control member nations."
"All other rights remain the same."
"This is a trial run. If necessary, we can offer various forms of support."
"Let's help them grow as quickly as possible."
"We'll evaluate the results."
"And consider future replacements if needed."
Tsuru nodded slightly, without saying more.
But like most present, she still had some reservations about the system.
Still, this was an order from the government — nothing could be done about it.
Kong looked around the room:
"Sengoku, what about you?"
Sengoku nodded:
"No objections."
Kong then looked toward Sakazuki:
"Sakazuki, your thoughts?"
Sakazuki also nodded:
"No objections."
"Where is he? Let me go inform him."
Kong gave him a skeptical look:
"You're not planning to kill him outright, are you?"
Sakazuki chuckled lightly:
"No. I just need to give him a deep lesson."
"Let him understand what it means to be a good dog."
Kong smiled knowingly:
"Fine."
"Anyone else have thoughts?"
The senior officials said nothing, and the others had even less to add — everyone shook their heads.
Kong nodded:
"Then it's settled."
"Meeting adjourned."
...
Grand Line — aboard Sakazuki's warship.
Bullet was leading his squad through intense training.
One against fifteen, all using Haki for sparring.
Meanwhile, Enel sat on the railing with a golden fishing rod.
He said he was fishing — but in reality, he was electrocuting the fish...
Using Observation Haki to sense fish movements, he slowly moved the rod:
"100,000 Volts: Discharge."
A blinding white flash burst from the rod.
Pop—
A towering waterspout erupted several dozen meters high.
A cool mist rained down on everyone aboard.
Sakazuki stood on the second deck.
He reached out to catch a passing News Coo.
After taking a fresh newspaper, he muttered:
"So it's a new year again, huh."
The date on the paper read January 3, Year 1496 of the Sea Calendar.
He flipped through it — nothing particularly noteworthy.
He casually handed the paper to Karol:
"Have all the soldiers bound for the Four Seas branches been arranged?"
"Let them settle down for two years and accumulate strength."
"The time is nearly here."
Karol chuckled softly:
"Understood."
Sakazuki asked:
"Where is Crocodile now?"
Karol replied:
"According to the latest intel, Crocodile has withdrawn from the New World."
"Currently, he's at the Sabaody Archipelago."
"The government's CP agents are monitoring him."
Sakazuki nodded.
Their warship was already not far from Sabaody.
At this distance, the towering red trees were now visible.
Standing on the deck, Sakazuki narrowed his eyes slightly.
As if he could already see the battle taking place on the island:
"Looks like our future Warlord is quite spirited."
"Speed up."
...
Sabaody Archipelago — Grove 27.
In the lawless area.
Crocodile suddenly struck as he passed by two civilians.
"Crescent Sand Dune."
His arm transformed into a massive crescent-shaped sand blade, instantly slicing through the two disguised CP agents.
The sand blade didn't cut — it instantly sucked all the moisture from their bodies.
They collapsed to the ground, dried up like mummies, barely breathing.
The surrounding crowd screamed and scattered.
Some bolder ones hid nearby to watch.
Crocodile, having just finished off the two agents, looked around coldly:
"Come out."
"Your presence is already exposed."
After a few moments, no one emerged.
Crocodile snorted, still quietly gathering power:
"Desert Spada!"
Swish—
Four tearing sounds cut through the air.
From the trees, the ground, behind buildings, even within the crowd—
Four sand-formed blades erupted at once.
They slashed diagonally through the air.
The four targeted figures immediately vanished.
Then reappeared in the distance, forming a circle around Crocodile.
Looking at two of them in particular, Crocodile sneered at their signature black suits:
"Heh—"
"Government dogs, huh."
But the CP agents, brainwashed since childhood, said nothing.
They only stared at him intently, monitoring every move.
No response.
Which made Crocodile feel like a clown muttering to himself.
The blows he'd suffered recently, combined with the CP's indifference—
He could no longer suppress the killing intent. A sand-formed tornado appeared in his hand:
"Heavy Sandstorm!!!"
A tornado of sand erupted instantly.
Swelling with the wind, it shredded everything in its path.
Crocodile's expression grew darker as he kept conjuring sandstorms, flinging them in all directions.
In mere moments, the entire Grove 27 area looked like a desert.
Transformed into a whirlwind of sand, Crocodile rampaged.
His arms transformed into four massive sand blades and slashed at the four surrounding CP agents.
Clang!
Clang!
Metal clashing against metal rang out nonstop.
Crocodile was like a berserk beast.
Frenziedly attacking everything around him.
Even the enormous trees were beginning to wither slightly—
Their moisture being drained away.
At some point, four figures appeared on the edge of the battlefield.
From the rear, a large force of Marines was rushing in.
Sakazuki gazed at the world of sand before him:
"He can't be allowed to rampage any further."
"Bullet."
Bullet gave a low "Mm."
He looked ahead, at the whirling storm of sand.
His lips curled into a savage grin.
Buzz—
His entire body entered his Haki-infused Oni form in an instant.
Azure skin, crimson eyes, and a feral grin — utterly terrifying.
Beside him, Enel's eyes sparkled with admiration:
"So cool!!!!"
Bullet swept the area with his Observation Haki.
Then pushed off with his foot.
The ground beneath him cracked several meters wide.
He charged forward, blasting through the sandstorm with raw power.
The raging sand was swept aside by his aura.
Straight toward the eye of the storm.
BOOM!
A thunderous crash.
Bullet appeared right in front of Crocodile and punched him directly.
The swirling sand came to a sudden halt — Crocodile flew like a meteor, crashing into the ground.
He barely had time to react before reforming his body.
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he looked at Bullet grimly:
"Haki, huh."
"And that form… damn it."
"What kind of monster are you?"
In mid-air, Bullet shifted his footing.
A white shockwave burst beneath him.
He lunged straight at Crocodile again.
Crocodile activated his ability:
"Sandstorm Greatsword!!!"
A giant sand blade, tens of meters wide and tall, hurtled at Bullet.
Bullet's grin didn't falter.
He pulled his arm back, shoulder thrust forward.
He smashed downward.
The sound of shattering rang out as he tore through the massive blade—
Unstoppable as he crashed straight into Crocodile.
CRACK—