Marshal Kong sat in the center position and spoke, "The candidate who fits the Seven Warlords of the Sea is Crocodile, known as the Desert King."
"Regarding this candidate,"
"First, Crocodile is a Logia-type user of the Sand-Sand Fruit."
"Second, he has a hatred for the giants of the New World."
"Not long ago, Crocodile had a great battle with Heil. Nock in the New World."
"In the end, his entire army was wiped out, and he barely escaped the New World alone."
"The government has already found his tracks."
"They are preparing to send someone to make contact."
"To foster him and see how it works out."
"Does anyone have any questions, feel free to discuss."
Noisy discussions erupted from below.
Vice Admiral Tsuru clasped her hands on the table. "Regarding the power of the Seven Warlords of the Sea,"
"How extensive is the scope?"
Marshal Kong leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed. "This issue was discussed at the Holy Land last time."
"The power to plunder legally shall exclude the Navy."
"If they plunder naval vessels, their Warlord title will be directly revoked."
"And they will be imprisoned in Impel Down."
"Furthermore, they are not allowed to engage in large-scale plunder of the government's affiliated nations."
"Nor are they allowed to control the government's affiliated nations through various means, etc."
"Other powers remain as they are."
"This is a trial. Various conveniences can be provided when necessary."
"Allow them to grow as quickly as possible."
"Let's see how it works out."
"Then we can consider future personnel supplements."
Tsuru nodded, but said nothing further.
Like most, she still had some reservations about this system.
But it was a government order, and there was nothing that could be done.
Kong looked around at the people present. "Sengoku, what about you?"
Sengoku nodded. "No objections."
Then Marshal Kong looked at Sakazuki. "Sakazuki, what about you?"
Sakazuki nodded. "No objections."
"Where is his location? Let me go inform him."
Marshal Kong looked skeptical. "You're not planning to kill him on sight, are you?"
Sakazuki chuckled lightly. "No, I just want to give him a profound lesson."
"Let him know how to be a good dog."
Marshal Kong smiled knowingly. "Alright."
"What about everyone else, any thoughts?"
The high-ranking officials had no objections, and neither did the others. They all shook their heads.
Marshal Kong nodded. "In that case, it's settled."
"Meeting adjourned."
----------------------
On Sakazuki's warship in the Grand Line.
Barrett was leading his team in fervent training.
Barrett was fighting fifteen people at once, all sparring using Haki.
Enel sat on the railing with a golden fishing rod, fishing.
He called it fishing, but it was actually electrofishing...
Using Observation Haki to sense the fish's movements, he slowly moved the fishing rod closer.
"Ten Thousand Volt · Discharge."
A dazzling white light flashed from the fishing rod.
*Crack—*
Dozens of meters of water splashed up from the surface of the water.
The mist that sprayed over everyone on the ship brought a refreshing coolness.
Sakazuki stood on the second-floor deck.
He beckoned to a passing news bird.
After taking out the latest newspaper, he realized, "It's a new year again."
The date on the newspaper read January 3rd, Sea Calendar 1496.
He flipped through it, finding no particularly noteworthy news.
He casually handed the newspaper to Carol. "Make sure the soldiers being sent to the Four Sea branches are all arranged."
"Let them settle for two years and accumulate strength."
"The time is fast approaching."
Carol chuckled. "Understood."
Sakazuki said, "Where is Crocodile now?"
Carol replied, "According to the latest news, Crocodile has withdrawn from the New World."
"He is currently at Sabaody Archipelago."
"Government CP agents are monitoring him."
Sakazuki nodded.
The warship was not far from Sabaody Archipelago.
The towering giant red trees were already visible.
Standing on the deck, Sakazuki narrowed his eyes.
He could almost see the people fighting on the island.
"It seems our Seven Warlords of the Sea are quite lively."
"Accelerate."
---------------------
Sabaody Archipelago, Giant Tree No. 27.
The lawless zone.
As Crocodile passed by two passersby, he suddenly erupted.
"Crescent Dune."
His arm transformed into a massive crescent-shaped sand blade, instantly striking two disguised CP members.
The sand blade passed through their bodies without causing any cutting damage.
Instead, it instantly drained the moisture from the bodies of the two CP members.
They turned into dried husks, like mummies, and collapsed on the ground, struggling to breathe.
The people around them fled in terror.
Some bolder ones hid in the distance to watch the spectacle.
Crocodile, having just dealt with the two, looked around with a grim expression.
"Come out."
"Your presence has been revealed."
As his voice fell, after a few breaths, no one emerged.
Crocodile, secretly gathering his power, snorted coldly.
"Desert Greatsword!"
*Swish—*
Four tearing sounds ripped through the air.
From the trees, the ground, behind houses, and within the crowd.
Four sharp blades made of sand suddenly shot out.
They slashed diagonally.
The four figures who were attacked instantly disappeared.
They reappeared in the distance, encircling Crocodile.
Crocodile looked at two of them, their signature black suits.
"Heh—"
"Government lapdogs?"
But these CP members, brainwashed since childhood, said nothing.
They just stared intently at him, monitoring him.
No one replied.
This made Crocodile feel like a clown talking to himself.
The blows he had suffered recently, coupled with the contempt from the CP members,
Made his killing intent unstoppable. A sand tornado formed in his hand.
"Great Sandstorm!!!"
A tornado of sand and dust instantly formed.
It grew against the wind, like a gale that shattered everything in its path.
Crocodile, with a grim expression, continuously formed sand tornadoes in his hands and flung them outward.
In a short moment, the entire area of Tree No. 27 seemed to have transformed into a desert.
Crocodile, like a whirlwind of sand, swept through the surroundings.
"Desert Adamant Blade!!!"
His arms transformed into four colossal sand blades, slashing towards the four converging CP members.
*Clang!*
*Clang!*
The sound of clashing blades echoed.
Crocodile was like a berserk beast.
He furiously attacked everything around him.
Even the giant trees seemed to shrink slightly.
They had been drained of a considerable amount of moisture.
At some point, four figures appeared at the edge of the battlefield.
A large number of Marine soldiers were rushing towards them from the rear.
Sakazuki looked at this world made of sand.
"We can't let him continue this."
"Barrett."
Barrett grunted.
He looked at the howling sandstorm in front of him.
A cruel smile spread across his lips.
*Buzz—*
He instantly entered his Demonic Aura mode, fused with both forms of Haki.
His azure skin, scarlet eyes, and grinning mouth made him appear incredibly terrifying.
Enel, standing nearby, looked on with starry eyes.
"Cool!!!!"
Barrett's Observation Haki swept out.
He stomped his foot.
The ground instantly cracked for several meters.
He charged forward with a tempestuous surge of energy, rushing towards the swirling sandstorm.
The yellow sand in his wake was cleared by the air currents.
He headed straight for the center.
*Boom!*
A deafening roar.
Crocodile was struck by a punch from Barrett, who had suddenly appeared before him.
The swirling sandstorm paused, and he crashed to the ground like a meteor.
Without time to think, he re-formed his body.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression solemn as he looked at Barrett.
"Haki, huh?"
"And what is this form... Damn it."
"Where did this monster come from?"
Barrett, mid-air, tapped his feet.
White air explosions formed.
He charged towards Crocodile.
Crocodile activated his ability.
"Sandstorm Greatsword!!!"
A colossal sword made of sand blades, tens of meters wide and high, thrust diagonally towards Barrett.
Barrett's grin remained undiminished.
He retracted his arm, thrusting his right shoulder forward.
Like an iron mountain leaning forward, he smashed downward.
Cracking sounds echoed continuously as he shattered the dozens-of-meters-wide sand blade sword.
With undiminished momentum, he crashed directly into Crocodile.
*Crack—*