"You actually had the guts to provoke those two?"
Even Hawk Eyes couldn't help but sneer at Crocodile's ignorance.
"They were the Pirate King's right and left hand. They're the ones who founded the entire Cross Guild!"
"Damn it, of course I know that!"
Crocodile clenched his teeth and glared at Hawk Eyes.
It was all because, recently...
He had gotten cocky.
Whether it was his mastery of the Sand-Sand Fruit or his confidence in his own combat skills, it was this arrogance that gave Crocodile the courage to challenge the strong wherever he went.
But right now, when facing the very peak of the world's power, he still fell short.
The three wounds on his body—still unhealed even now—were proof of that.
The only reason he came to Alabasta was to avoid the pursuit that might soon be launched by the Cross Guild.
A single grain of sand may seem blinding when up close,
But when hidden within the endless desert, it became impossible to find.
"You still haven't said it—why are you here?"
Crocodile's gaze turned cold as he shot Hawk Eyes a look.
"Don't tell me you're here to kill me."
"I'm not really interested in killing you," Hawk Eyes tilted his head, sizing up the Sand Crocodile who, despite his injuries, still radiated a ferocious aura.
"I was just wandering aimlessly on the sea... but now, I do have a small goal."
"What goal?" Crocodile snorted.
"Forget it, I'm not interested. If you're not here for my head, then get out of my sight already."
"Well, I wouldn't say it's entirely unrelated to you."
Hawk Eyes didn't care one bit about Crocodile's tone.
"As the famed Desert King, I wonder if you've heard... about a mysterious and powerful Navy unit out there on the sea?"
Crocodile paused for a moment.
The Navy?
What did they have to do with him?
"Hawk Eyes, you're not a pirate, but it doesn't seem like you have much to do with the Navy either, right? Strictly speaking, you're a criminal who's even attacked the Navy before."
"That's not something you need to concern yourself with."
"...Tch. Fine."
"Of course I've heard of that infamous mysterious Navy unit," Crocodile stopped trading barbs and began speaking seriously.
"Rumor has it they're a secret force trained by Navy Headquarters with no clearly defined jurisdiction. They can interfere in almost everything—from internal corruption in the Navy all the way to hunting down pirates and slave traders on the sea..."
"But outside the Navy high command, no force—not even the World Government—knows the true identity of this unit."
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"Don't tell me... you've found a lead on them?"
"I've been tracking that Navy unit for two whole years," Hawk Eyes said with a faint smile.
"Because once... I witnessed that pure white flame. It was something that, from the bottom of my heart, made me feel..."
Hawk Eyes suddenly faltered.
Facing Crocodile's puzzled gaze, his lips moved several times before finally spitting out two words:
"...Fear."
"Fear?" Crocodile looked like he'd just heard the world's funniest joke.
"Someone actually made you, a freak with a Supreme Grade blade, feel fear!?"
"Sometimes, only after you acknowledge your fear can you truly confront it."
...
The next morning, Bell-mère managed to drag herself out of her hangover and, led by Stella, arrived at the estate where Michael was staying.
At the dining table in the garden, five little girls of various ages were already seated...
And Michael sat there, his face utterly dead inside.
"Yo, you're finally here," Michael nearly burst into tears when he saw Stella and Bell-mère.
"These five little princesses are completely impossible to deal with!"
Bell-mère chuckled in understanding.
Finally, someone else was tasting the pain of raising kids!
"We're not hard to deal with at all!"
"You're the hardest one of them all!"
Michael looked at little Hancock, nearly crying.
"I'm begging you, Your Royal Highness, can we please put aside all the royal etiquette just for breakfast!?"
In his whole life...
He'd never made this many kinds of breakfast!
Even picky eaters had limits, damn it, you little devils!
"Alright, Michael, enough clowning around. Today is Bell-mère's first official day on the job."
Stella stepped forward, picked up a slice of toast that looked fine from the front but was completely burnt on the back, and said dryly:
"Besides, judging by the look of this breakfast... I don't think you can blame little Hancock for being picky. You want this?"
"Of course not!"
Michael wiped his mouth and stood up.
"Bell-mère, starting today, you are officially appointed as Acting Commander of the Alabasta Navy Branch, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander."
"From now on, you'll be in charge of daily training and task execution."
"If there's anything you really can't handle, then come report to me."
Bell-mère was totally stunned.
She'd known she would be promoted from branch-level Lieutenant Commander to Navy Headquarters Lieutenant Commander,
But she never imagined that Michael would directly hand over the Alabasta Navy Branch for her to command.
And judging by what he was saying... he was really planning to let her take full charge?
"Uh, I just returned to the Navy, you know."
"I know. And since you just got back, you shouldn't rush to the front lines."
Michael nodded solemnly.
"The Alabasta branch is newly established, so for now the focus is on training and team cohesion."
"The important thing is that right now, Alabasta doesn't really need the Navy."
Stella took over the explanation.
"You should know the number of standing troops in Alabasta. Ordinary pirates wouldn't even dare invade this place."
Bell-mère nodded in agreement.
Six hundred thousand standing troops!
Most nations in the world don't even have a population that size.
It really showed just how powerful Alabasta's national strength was.
"But in the future, if there's no top-tier combat power from the Navy stationed here, Alabasta will inevitably be divided up by those monsters who can destroy the world."
"And that's why the Alabasta Navy Branch was established—to prevent that outcome."
Michael placed both hands on Bell-mère's shoulders and spoke earnestly:
"So for now, I'm leaving the Alabasta branch to you. I've got some things to take care of today..."
"...Too close."
"Huh?"
"I said you're too close!"
Bell-mère delivered a high kick—easily dodged by Michael.
"Uh, why are you blushing?"
"I'm full of energy!"
With that, Bell-mère scooped up the still-groggy Nojiko and Nami, and dashed out the door.