Because Kahn's warship was exceptionally fast, and the sea area between Kahn's location and Alabasta wasn't vast, it took only two days for Kahn and his crew to arrive at the port of the desert country ahead of schedule.
Pochi's voice reported, "Reporting to Lieutenant General Kahn, we've detected pirate ships in the port ahead. It seems like these pirates are attacking the residents on the shore."
There was a note of anger in Pochi's tone. While money was important to him, he hadn't forgotten his duty.
Kahn's response was straightforward, "What are you waiting for? Capture the pirates!"
"Yes, Lieutenant General Kahn!" Pochi promptly left to execute the order.
Kahn had confidence in Pochi's abilities, considering their two years of partnership. Nonetheless, Kahn decided to follow along.
Evidence of pirate raids was evident throughout the town, with the cries of civilians audible from all around. As a seasoned observer, Kahn had seen these kinds of situations play out countless times.
"Any way you look at it, pirates like these deserve to be taken down," Kahn mused.
Then, a woman's voice rang out among the chaos, "Navy soldiers, they're Navy soldiers!"
In no time, the sounds of battle erupted, signaling the clash between marines and pirates.
Given that the pirates were a small and relatively unknown group, the elite navy soldiers from the headquarters quickly established dominance. The battle was clearly one-sided.
"Look, it's Crocodile, Lord Crocodile," a woman's voice exclaimed.
The crowd's mood shifted positively, and they appeared even more joyful than when they had spotted Kahn and his navy.
Kahn was intrigued, his memory bringing forth a particular scene. "So, Crocodile is here for damage control," he thought.
Crocodile stood atop a tower, observing the skirmish between Marines and pirates with a perplexed expression. He was wondering why the Navy had intervened, as this area was under the jurisdiction of the Warlords of the Sea, and Navy presence was rare.
He was also frustrated, as his attempt to flood the area with sand had seemingly gone to waste due to the Navy's intervention.
Eventually, Crocodile heard the cheers and shouts of the woman and the nearby residents, which seemed to improve his mood. He jumped into the fray, joining the battle.
The overall atmosphere grew more animated, but Kahn's expression turned darker. Some sailors had suffered injuries due to Crocodile's sand manipulation.
Kahn recalled that these sailors had actively participated in repelling pirates. "Reckless, Crocodile," he thought, frowning.
Without hesitation, Kahn sprang into action. Using his incredible speed, he reached Crocodile almost instantly and launched a powerful domineering fist at him.
Caught off guard, Crocodile transformed his body into sand to evade, but Kahn's fist contained Haki . The punch connected with Crocodile's chin, causing him to fly backward and crash into a wall, generating clouds of dust and debris.
This sudden turn of events astonished everyone present. Crocodile, a Warlord of the Sea and a powerful figure, had been struck and sent flying by the Navy.
Crocodile's subordinates were worried, yelling, "Lord Crocodile!"
Confusion and anger filled the air. "Why is the Navy attacking Lord Crocodile? What's happening?" People voiced their confusion.
Kahn maintained his composure. When Crocodile emerged from the dust, his face was a mixture of anger and pain, with blood trickling from his mouth. Kahn's eyes flickered with disdain as he witnessed Crocodile's appearance.
To him, Crocodile's claim to invincibility was a fallacy. The notion that Crocodile could remain unscathed in his sand form without any vulnerabilities didn't hold up. In the grand scheme of piracy, strength was crucial—standing still meant falling behind.
"Release him!" a voice demanded from the distance.
Emerging from the ruins, Crocodile walked out with a look of intense anger. Blood continued to stain his lips, and he was clearly injured.
Kahn's expression displayed a hint of mockery. The concept of invulnerability in Crocodile's sand form was simply a myth, and his failure to advance his strength since his defeat by Whitebeard was a testament to his stagnation.
Crocodile's voice carried anger as he shouted, "Navy, what is the meaning of this?"
Crocodile's actions and words garnered favor from the crowd, which appeared to empathize with him. They were increasingly resentful of the Navy's interference.
Kahn, however, offered a smile in response. "Civilians, right? Yet somehow, this guy over here seems more like a senior agent from Baroque Works."
Crocodile's expression shifted, showing his concern. Kahn noted, "Civilians wouldn't have been able to stand up so boldly under my haki."
Regardless, the revelation held little consequence now. Whether he was or wasn't, it made no difference.
"Tell me, who are you?" Kahn inquired, his gaze steady.
Just as the middle-aged man's face changed with fear, Kahn spoke up again. "I seem to recall that failure in your mission leads to death. But if you're captured by me, there's a chance you'll survive. Of course, I'm quite irritated at the moment, so maybe I'll just kill you."
Fear gripped the middle-aged man. "An arrogant old Navy man, I am a Warlord of the Sea! This is the territory of Baroque Works. Since when does the Navy have authority here?"
"And what's Baroque Works? And who are the Warlords of the Sea? Why should I even care?"
(End of this chapter)