Ron's information was still incredibly limited, barely substantial. Crocodile had also made contact with the Marines, but his knowledge of Ron was equally scant. From Crocodile's perspective, this information seemed to be nothing more than a ruse.
How could someone who hadn't even ventured beyond East Blue have any knowledge of the elusive Ancient Weapon Pluton? Even if it was made up, the level of detail Ron provided was astounding.
Crocodile found it hard to believe that both his subordinates and the Marines could be deceiving him. The current state of Navy intelligence seemed to be on par with the somewhat weak Baroque Works it had assembled.
"You're not as competent as the previous generation, Marine!" Crocodile chuckled, dismayed by the weak intelligence system. It seemed to be in a league similar to the intelligence gathered by the Baroque Works, possibly even housing some qualified operatives.
" Boss, should I go to sea and bring him back?" asked Bonez nonchalantly, apparently considering it an easy task.
"No, he's coming to us," Crocodile replied flatly. Ron had hinted that whoever defeated his partner would divulge more information, almost like raising a Gu, selecting the most suitable partner in this way. Crocodile didn't perceive Ron's words as a genuine threat; A group of young novices at sea posed a small challenge for someone like him, who had encountered and overcome countless adversaries in open water.
Nonetheless, he harbored a keen interest in Ron's abilities, having committed himself to Hawkeye on two occasions. despite their encounters, Crocodile continued to doubt his prospects against the renowned swordsman.
The title of the world's greatest swordsman was not one that Hawkeye had earned lightly; even the Four Emperors looked at him warily. The parity between the two was evident; Each would find it difficult to outdo the other.
"By the way, bring back MR.3 with Golden Week. Likely, the two of them won't be able to handle the Straw Hat Crew," Crocodile instructed. Bonez obeyed, dialing the small phone microphones they had in their possession. However, there was no immediate response. After a brief pause, the faint voice of the chandelier crackled through the device.
"Boss, help! These guys are like monsters!" The line was abruptly cut off, leaving an eerie silence in the room. Crocodile and Bonez exchanged a look, and the corners of Crocodile's eyes twitched. It seemed that his team had been completely defeated; even the Straw Hat Crew was proving to be a formidable challenge. Perhaps the subordinates he had selected were not sufficiently prepared for the task at hand.
"Call the other agents. For now, shelve the operation that involves inciting rebellion. We can get to that later. There's no need to expose our staff unnecessarily," Crocodile said, contemplating the apparent weakness of his subordinates, whom he had once found effective.
Crocodile didn't expect his subordinates to show so little strength. The one who had been defeated immediately called for help. Were there no capable individuals left?
He reflected on the competence of his remaining men, acknowledging their abilities, but lamenting their lack of power. It seemed that, aside from Bonez, there was no one with the strength to match his abilities.
"The next time I look for subordinates, I'll make sure they possess real strength," Crocodile said suddenly.
"Yes," Bonez acquiesced silently. Ron fixed the Candleman with a fierce gaze. The corner of Zoro's mouth curled into a sneer as a surge of murderous intent enveloped his entire being. He stood like a demon, fiery red pupils resembling entities emerging from the depths of hell.
The Candleman's complexion grew even paler than the wax he was named after. Merely picking up a phone call had led to a threat of having his hand severed. This Ron fellow appeared to be utterly unreasonable.
" No!" Miss Golden Week interjected urgently, halting Ron's intent. The brutality displayed by the individuals aboard the ship had caught her off guard. They seemed ready to sever limbs at the drop of a hat, showing no regard for the sanctity of life
."You have two options. The first is to become a maid on my ship, and I'll let you go. The second is to perish here today," Ron stated with a sneer, addressing Miss Golden Week. Surprisingly, Miss Golden Week appeared even more adorable than Ron had anticipated, resembling a living doll. Ron even contemplated outfitting her in a Lolita costume, while Mikita would be better suited for Hess.
The ship suddenly seemed more captivating, instilling a newfound sense of hope in Ron's life. Initially, there had only been four beauties on the ship, but now, with the addition of two more, Ron found himself anticipating an even more exciting voyage.
Zoro sheathed his sword, assuming that Ron was intending to seek retribution from the Candleman. To his surprise, Ron was persistently using their companions as leverage, earning him the label of a scoundrel.
"Release the girl," Sanji commanded unwaveringly, stepping forward to shield Miss Golden Week with a determined look in his eyes. To Sanji, Ron was akin to a devil who had descended to the mortal realm. He wouldn't allow the woman to be taken by him. If she were to be taken, who knew what might transpire? Even if she became a maid on the ship, she could still be alluring.
Sanji couldn't agree to any of this. Knights were meant to safeguard women. Zoro silently approached and deftly struck Sanji on the back of his neck with the hilt of his knife. While he had no intention of assisting Ron, he couldn't tolerate a fool like Sanji. Instead of engaging in pointless banter, he might do a few more push-ups to strengthen himself.
Miss Golden Week paid no heed to Sanji's actions, her attention fixated on the Candleman. Her gaze betrayed a glimmer of hope, praying that he wouldn't plead for assistance or perish valiantly. She had no desire to become a maid on the ship, observing Mikita standing behind Ron in her revealing attire, a twisted smile gracing her lips. She feared she might end up similarly conditioned, unwilling to be anyone's pawn yet equally averse to meeting her demise.
The Candleman comprehended Miss Golden Week's unspoken sentiments instantly. "Help me, I don't want to die here," he implored, the pressure of Ron's feet intensifying, causing excruciating pain that jolted his nervous system. Refusal to seek aid would only culminate in his demise at the hands of Ron.
"Make your decision swiftly. I won't give you much time," Ron interjected, casting a steely gaze at Miss Golden Week.
[Don't think I didn't understand the hints in the eyes between you, it's too early for you to fool me. Miss Golden Week, you will be a good maid on my ship. ]
[I specially prepared a Lolita costume for Nami and I can give it to you. ]
[Hahahahaha, I suddenly feel happy she must look very pretty in that dress]
The expressions of the girls underwent a subtle change. Nami, who hadn't yet encountered Ron, grimaced upon learning of his intention to gift her a Lolita costume. "Go to hell! I won't wear that kind of thing. Even if I did, it would still be alluring. How fixated are you on Loli? I'm already an adult," she spat, feeling that Ron's intentions were thoroughly sinister.
Perona's eyes gleamed at the mention of Ron's collection. Having spent several years under Moria, she hadn't had the chance to update her wardrobe. Her current attire was beginning to impede her growth, making acquiring a new dress challenging. The prospect of new clothing excited her, and she silently pledged to take down Ron upon their encounter.
"Agreed, I'll be your maid! But my dream of becoming a painter will persist," declared Miss Golden Week. She'd be no different from a deflated salted fish if she couldn't adhere to her dreams. Resolute in her determination, she wouldn't relinquish her aspirations even if she became someone else's captive.
"Excellent!" Ron nodded, releasing the Candleman without a second thought. There was no intention to kill him. Without the Candleman's support, how could Buggy D. Clown, have ascended to become one of the Four Emperors? Devoid of his assistance, Buggy would be merely putting on airs, unable to establish his dominance among his subordinates or extend aid during the Summit War.
The real fun was about to commence. There was no need to dispose of these valuable pieces of content. Moreover, the absence of the Candleman wouldn't grant Ron the Wax-Wax Fruit. Killing him was inconsequential.
"Let's head back to the ship and explore what I had prepared for you," Ron suggested, flashing a genial smile as he departed with Miss Golden Week. He now had two maids. Perhaps he could fashion them into a duo of Constellation Battle Maids, a concept that seemed rather promising.
After all, he was the vice-captain. It didn't matter what card the captain played; his cards were of paramount importance. Emphasizing the facade must take precedence. Strength might be fleeting, but the charm was eternal.
"What about him?" Zoro inquired, gesturing towards the prostrate Sanji. "Weren't you both competing to hunt the biggest game? Has that been achieved? Why not procure some provisions for the ship now?"
"As for him, let him be. I'm not one to renege on my promises," Ron replied, gazing benevolently at the fallen Candleman."Hmph, he only catches smaller prey than me. Forget it, I'll go find Luffy. It should be time to depart," Zoro declared disdainfully, casting a contemptuous glance at Sanji that seemed to liken him to refuse.
Sanji's brows furrowed, feeling the urge to retort, while the Candleman lay motionless beside him. Zoro didn't make any move to assist the fallen man. Were it not for him, Zoro wouldn't have been able to grasp the concept of the breath of all things, allowing him to ascend to the ranks of swordsmen.
Though he had barely received any updates during this time, he was penning a new book. He planned to press on with this renewed resolve, knowing his breakthrough was imminent.