Outside the palace…
Inside a lavish crocodile-drawn carriage, Robin sat gracefully, reporting every detail of the conversation to Crocodile.
Crocodile's face darkened.
He had already regarded Alabasta as a feast laid out before him, a kingdom waiting to be devoured. And now, someone dared to reach their hand into his platter?
…
Night had fallen.
Inside the royal palace, light blazed in every hall. Nobles, both great and minor, from across the kingdom had gathered for an urgent council.
Meanwhile, in a hotel not far from the palace—
Maya was diligently training in the Six Powers of the Marines:
Shave, Iron Body, Paper Art, Moonwalk, Tempest Kick, and Finger Gun.
These techniques pushed the limits of human physical ability.
They were, in some sense, the foundational form of Haki.
Though many strong individuals looked down on them—particularly Iron Body, which had earned its fair share of unfortunate casualties—in truth, the Six Powers constituted a complete combat system. For those below the rank of Vice Admiral, they provided a significant boost in strength.
Not everyone was born a prodigy.
And the Six Powers were designed for those vast legions of "non-prodigies."
As a training foundation, they were solid—reliable.
Jin sat cross-legged on a cushioned chair near the window, eyes closed, immersed in silent meditation. His breath was even, his presence calm, like still water.
Suddenly—
His eyes snapped open.
Knock knock…
The sound rang crisply through the quiet of night.
Maya halted her training.
"Go answer it," Jin said casually.
Maya opened the door—and a man and a woman stood outside.
The man was over two meters tall with slicked-back hair and a long, horizontal scar cutting across his face. An earring dangled from his right ear, and he wore a black fur coat over an orange plaid long-sleeve shirt. In his left hand, he held a wine bottle, and a cigar smoldered at the corner of his mouth.
His presence was unmistakable.
The woman was young and stunningly beautiful, with an hourglass figure and long, slender limbs. She wore a dark, low-cut denim cowgirl outfit that clung to her curves. Her facial features were sharp and exotic—high nose bridge, slender eyebrows, long, narrow eyes. Her pupils were a deep ocean blue, and her skin was porcelain smooth.
"You are…?" Maya asked, wary.
The two ignored her and walked directly into the room. The man spoke.
"You're the king of Alabasta—Jin, correct?"
Jin raised his hand to stop Maya from intervening and said with a smile, "That's me. Crocodile, showing up uninvited—what's the occasion?"
Crocodile's eyes flashed with a glimmer of surprise.
He recognized him? Then again, with a name like his, perhaps Jin had done his homework.
Fine by him. That would make things easier.
"I'm here to talk business," Crocodile said flatly.
"Oh?"
Robin studied the man before her—a young king, sitting calmly in his chair, his eyes relaxed but keen, carrying a light, sardonic smile.
Crocodile continued, "I'll buy all your goods. The ships from Drum Kingdom are leaving Rainbase."
"After this, you are not to return."
Jin propped his chin up on one hand and said lazily, "Alabasta is vast. You want it all for yourself, is that it—Sir Crocodile?"
Crocodile's gaze turned sharp. His words were cold and direct.
"I'm not negotiating. I'm informing you."
Jin chuckled softly. "Well, then allow me to inform you too—no deal."
Crocodile's voice dropped. "So you're choosing to make an enemy of me?"
Jin leaned back. "And if I am? You think I should be afraid of some mere Warlord of the Sea? You plan to kill me?"
Robin was startled. Mere Warlord? The man's arrogance was astounding. And yet—he gave Crocodile no respect whatsoever.
Crocodile's forehead throbbed, veins bulging with fury. His face turned darker than the night outside. The two locked eyes, silent and tense.
Then—he smiled. Cold and mocking.
"How could I? You're a king, after all."
"But beware—the seas are treacherous. A king should tread carefully."
Jin grinned. "Thanks for the advice. The rougher the sea, the higher the price of fish."
"We'll see who laughs last," Crocodile spat, turning on his heel and storming out.
Robin lingered behind for a second.
"Miss Robin," a voice whispered. "care to switch employers?"
Her heart skipped a beat.
She whipped around.
Jin sat there, still with that half-smile on his lips, watching her.
Robin swallowed her nerves, feigning calm. "What did you say?"
"Nothing much," said Jin. "Just make sure to close the door on your way out."
…
After they left, Maya's brow furrowed with concern.
"Your Majesty… will he retaliate?"
"He will," Jin said, tone casual but firm. "Crocodile's a snake. He's brewing something big here. That's why he didn't strike today."
"But to drive us away… what will he do?"
Maya's mind turned over his cryptic warning. "The sea's dangerous," he had said…
She answered slowly, "He'll target our ships?"
Jin chuckled. "If my guess is right, our ships at Nanohana are already under attack."
…
Outside the hotel.
Crocodile climbed into his lavish crocodile-drawn carriage and closed the curtain.
"Mr. 1," he ordered, "burn that ship."
"Yes, boss!"
Mr. 1 glanced toward the harbor, eyes narrowing as he pulled up his hood.
"You go first," he told the others.
"Yes, sir!"
A dozen Baroque Works agents—"Millions"—slipped into the shadows, heading straight for the Winter Kingdom's cargo vessel.
So smooth.
Mr. 1 smirked.
Perhaps he wouldn't need to act at all.
But after a few minutes… he frowned.
Strange. Why hadn't the fire started yet? Why was it so quiet?
Sensing something off, Mr. 1 led the rest aboard.
The moment they landed on deck—
Thud!
Crack—
"What the hell?!"
Mr. 1's face twisted in confusion.
Where was the deck?
Trap?
Too late.
The wood beneath them split open like a hungry beast, and all of them plunged down into darkness.
…
Back at the hotel, Jin set aside the map of Sandy Island, hands weaving together as he cracked his knuckles.
"Well done. Quick work."
He exhaled through his nose.
"You know what they say—tit for tat."
Jin had no interest in monopolizing Alabasta's resources. But Crocodile? That bastard wanted everything. No negotiations. No partnerships. Just devour and destroy.
And now he was trying to cut off Jin's supply lines?
Force him to abandon his post?
Was that how you treat a guest?
"Tsk, tsk. That's just bullying."
"Can't we all make money together like gentlemen?"
"Old Sandboy, you made the first move. Don't blame me for what comes next."
Crocodile had declared war.
Jin? He didn't back down from war.
…
Far from the palace, in a secluded part of the capital…
Inside a brightly lit carriage—
Crocodile sat with eyes closed, arms crossed, waiting for word that the ship had gone up in flames.
Robin held a newspaper in her lap but wasn't reading it.
Her mind replayed that king's voice again.
"Miss Robin, care to switch employers?"
She was sure this was exactly what he had said.
But… why didn't Crocodile react at the time?
Did he not hear it?
Robin's gut churned with unease.
Then—
Knock knock.
The sound made both of them jolt.
Who could approach this carriage unnoticed—when it was pulled by carnivorous banana-crocs?
Without hesitation, both Crocodile and Robin leapt out—one through the door, the other the window—landing light as cats.
They stood alert, eyes forward.
And there, on the back of a banana crocodile, a figure stood beneath the moonlight, casting a long, noble shadow.
He was handsome—strikingly so. Tall, slender, and elegant in demeanor.
"King Jin."
Crocodile stared up at him, voice calm, but laced with rage and threat.
He came. He actually came?
He dared to come here, uninvited, alone?
Crocodile had already been furious over the king's rejection.
Now the man had come to provoke him in person?
And the worst part—he stood there on high, gazing down with effortless superiority, like a god addressing an insect.
A blaze ignited in Crocodile's chest.
Still—
He was no fool. The Warlord swallowed his fury.
"You came to regret your decision?" he asked coldly.