Life is always full of surprises. Edie had just read about Crocodile in the newspaper, and now, as if by fate, the Shichibukai himself had walked right into his path. A wild Shichibukai, and a Logia user at that—this was an opportunity Edie had no intention of letting slip by.
"I've decided," Edie mused, his eyes narrowing with intent. "I'm going to draw this tube of blood."
"Chenlong, hold his arm steady," Edie instructed with a calm precision.
Chenlong obeyed immediately, locking Crocodile's arm in an unyielding grip. With deliberate care, Edie produced a syringe and inserted it into Crocodile's elbow, extracting the precious blood that held untold secrets.
"What the hell are you doing to me?" Crocodile snarled, his voice laced with fury. He couldn't see what was happening, his head forcibly pressed into the floor, his arms restrained by Chenlong's ironclad hold. As a Logia user, Crocodile was unaccustomed to such vulnerability, his elemental body usually allowing him to slip through any physical trap. But now, with his true form captured by the overwhelming force of Armament Haki, he was utterly powerless.
The shame of it burned deep.
Once the blood was collected, Edie straightened up leisurely, as if the act had been of no more significance than a routine task. "Let him go," he said, his tone dismissive.
As soon as the suppressive force lifted, Crocodile dissolved into a swirling mass of quicksand, his body scattering and reforming at the tavern's entrance. He immediately inspected his elbow, noting the small puncture wound where the blood had been drawn, a single drop of blood oozing out. His expression twisted into one of pure venom as he locked eyes with Edie.
"Who the hell are you? And what do you want with my blood?" Crocodile demanded, his voice seething with barely-contained rage.
Edie, unfazed by the hostility, simply smiled—a smile that carried both mystery and menace. "Sometimes," he said, his tone almost teasing, "knowing too much just adds to your troubles."
He took a step closer, his gaze sharp and calculating. "But let me ask you something, Crocodile. Four years ago, when Roger was publicly executed in Loguetown, East Blue, where was his body buried afterward?"
The question hung in the air, laden with implications that sent a shiver down Crocodile's spine. This man wasn't just after his blood—he was digging for something far deeper.
Crocodile sneered, his eyes narrowing with murderous intent. "Don't think you can just walk away from this! Go to hell—Sandstorm!"
In an instant, a swirling vortex of sand formed in his right palm, growing with terrifying speed as he unleashed it towards Edie and his companions.
BOOM!
This was no mere skirmish like before. The sandstorm surged with immense power, rapidly expanding until it engulfed the entire tavern and beyond, transforming the surrounding area into a chaotic storm of sand and debris. The sky darkened as yellow sand filled the air, obliterating the tavern, sending tables and chairs spiraling into the sky, and sweeping up anything—and anyone—in its path.
The once bustling street turned into a scene of pandemonium. Pirates who had been milling around the tavern were caught in the storm's fury, their cries of panic echoing through the maelstrom.
"Ahhhh! Run, it's a Shichibukai—a Logia user!"
"Devil fruit users are fighting!!"
The pirates scattered in all directions, desperate to escape the destructive power of Crocodile's sandstorm.
As the storm finally began to subside, the tavern was no more, buried beneath a thick layer of sand that stretched for hundreds of meters. Crocodile stood amidst the devastation, his eyes scanning the wreckage.
"Where are they?" he muttered, his brow furrowing in frustration. Had they been crushed in the chaos? Killed so easily?
Just then, a voice rang out from behind him, calm and unbothered. "He's really got a temper. Let's help him cool off a bit."
Crocodile's eyes widened in shock as he spun around, but before he could react, a powerful leg slammed into his face.
BOOM!
Chenlong's kick, infused with advanced Armament Haki, struck with bone-shattering force. Crocodile's face caved in from the impact, and he was sent hurtling across the street like a cannonball, tumbling for hundreds of meters before coming to a stop.
The speed... it was too fast! Crocodile's mind reeled as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. How could someone be so powerful in the first half of the Grand Line? Wasn't this just a small island near Alabasta? This wasn't the New World!
Blood poured from his mouth, staining his hands red as he struggled to push himself up. His vision blurred, but he could just make out the figure of the man in the grimace mask approaching, his steps unhurried, as if he were merely strolling through a garden.
"Don't get cocky, damn it!" Crocodile roared in defiance, his right arm transforming into quicksand as he launched his next attack.
"Desert Sword!"
A blade of razor-sharp sand shot out, tearing through the ground as it sped toward Chenlong. But before it could reach him, Chenlong vanished, disappearing from Crocodile's sight in an instant.
BOOM!
A crushing weight suddenly pressed down on Crocodile's head, slamming his face into the ground with brutal force. Chenlong's foot pinned him down like a bug underfoot. And then, without a moment's pause, Chenlong lifted his foot and stomped down again, and again, and again.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The relentless stomps echoed through the air as Chenlong stomped Crocodile's head into the dirt, his actions almost contemptuous.
"That's enough. Don't kill him," Edie finally called out, his tone firm but calm, stopping Chenlong before the beating could turn fatal.
Chenlong hesitated, his foot still poised over Crocodile's battered form. "Heavenly Father, this Bozo just tried to attack you," he growled, his voice filled with barely restrained anger. But despite his frustration, Chenlong obeyed, stepping back and refraining from delivering the final blow.
Crocodile lay on the ground, battered and humiliated, his once formidable presence reduced to that of a defeated foe. Edie, meanwhile, remained composed, his gaze fixed on the now broken Shichibukai. There was a cold calculation in his eyes, as if even this encounter was merely a step in a much larger plan.
Crocodile lay on the ground, half-dead and teetering on the edge of consciousness. As he struggled to stay awake, memories from a few years ago came flooding back to him. Back then, he had been full of ambition and pride, daring to challenge the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World. But that boldness had cost him dearly—he was beaten within an inch of his life and lost his hand in the process.
It was that crushing defeat that opened his eyes to the harsh reality of the "level gap" that existed among pirates. The difference in power was so vast that it was as if comparing humans to cockroaches. After that humiliating loss, Crocodile had retreated from the New World, biding his time, nursing his wounds, and laying low.
Eventually, the World Government extended an invitation, offering him a place among the Shichibukai. He accepted, regaining some semblance of power and status. But now, history was repeating itself—not at the hands of Whitebeard, but by two seemingly random figures.
"Keep your head up, Crocodile."
The voice of the young man cut through the haze, dragging Crocodile back to reality. With great effort, he lifted his bloodied face from the ground, consciousness slowly returning.
"Have you calmed down?" Edie stood before him, hands casually tucked in his pockets, an air of calm indifference about him.
Crocodile's vision blurred with rage as he squinted up at the man. With a deep, pained breath, he forced out a question, "Who are you?"
"Edie, a passing scientist," Edie replied nonchalantly. He studied Crocodile for a moment, then shook his head in mild disappointment. "You're too weak. You didn't last more than five seconds against Chenlong."
Five seconds. In the grand scheme of things, Edie mused, that wasn't terrible. After all, Chenlong was considered an Emperor Level Combat Power.
Crocodile, still struggling to regain his bearings, fell silent. The name Edie meant nothing to him—he had never heard of this so-called "scientist" before. But the fact that he had been overpowered so effortlessly, by someone he had dismissed as insignificant, gnawed at him. It was a bitter reminder of the gulf that still existed between him and the true powers of the world.
"Stop talking nonsense. I'll ask, you answer." Edie's tone was sharp, cutting through the tension. "Four years ago, when Roger was executed, you were in the execution square, right? Where is Roger's body buried?"
Crocodile, still reeling from the beating, hesitated. The question had an odd weight to it, one that hinted at intentions far beyond mere curiosity. But as the pain in his body reminded him of his helpless situation, he decided against defiance.
"In Loguetown," he finally answered, his voice low. "That's Roger's hometown. Marine Vice Admiral Garp buried Roger's body."
"Garp?" Edie's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Monkey D. Garp, the Marine hero, was also the grandfather of Monkey D. Luffy, the future Pirate King. It was known that Garp had a special relationship with Roger during the Pirate King's lifetime. The idea that Garp had buried Roger's body made sense, especially considering that Garp had secretly raised Roger's son, Ace, away from the eyes of the World Government.
"Interesting... Do you know the exact location?" Edie pressed further.
"I don't know," Crocodile replied, but the hesitation in his voice was palpable.
Edie's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You've got a golden pirate hook on your left hand. Want to try wearing one on your right hand too?"
Crocodile flinched at the threat, his resolve crumbling. "I'll show you the way!" he relented, his pride beaten down along with his body. He struggled to his feet, his legs shaky and unsteady.
Seeing Crocodile's condition, Edie turned to Chenlong. "Chenlong," he called out.
In response, Chenlong immediately transformed into an azure dragon, his massive form towering over the ruined tavern. The sight was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
With a graceful leap, Edie landed on the dragon's head. Crocodile's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you...Kaido!?"
Kaido, one of the Three Emperors of the New World, was a legend in his own right, standing at the pinnacle of pirate power alongside Whitebeard and Big Mom. The idea that such a powerful figure would serve as a mount for this "scientist" was beyond comprehension. It defied every notion Crocodile had about power and loyalty.
But there was no time for Crocodile to process the shock. Chenlong reached out with his massive claws, grabbing Crocodile like a ragdoll. The azure dragon then soared into the sky, disappearing in an instant.
Far below, the pirates who had been observing from a distance were left in stunned silence. It took them a moment to process what they had just witnessed.
"I can't believe it! Was that really Kaido?"
"Haha, Crocodile just became a Shichibukai, and he's already been beaten up by Kaido and taken away. This is a slap in the face of the World Government!"
"Are you all idiots? If you don't run now, the Marines will be here soon!"
"Bet they'll send an Admiral!"
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the pirates scattered, fleeing in all directions. The thought of an Admiral arriving to clean up the aftermath was enough to send them running for their lives.
Among the onlookers, there were also local residents who had witnessed the entire event. Panic and excitement rippled through the crowd as someone rushed to report the situation to the Marines, knowing that this incident would soon become the talk of the world.
Grand Line, Paradise Sea—Naval Headquarters, Marineford
Fleet Admiral Kong's expression shifted dramatically as he read the report in front of him. The contents were both unbelievable and alarming.
"Impossible! Kaido on Jaya Island? And Crocodile...captured?" His voice was tense, disbelief heavy in his tone. "Are you certain? This is no joke!"
After a brief pause, he nodded grimly, "Understood. Keep monitoring the situation closely."
He slammed the receiver down, his face a mixture of concern and anger. Without wasting a second, Kong picked up the phone again, this time dialing the direct line to the Admiral's office.
Moments later, the door opened, and a tall man with distinctive frog-like eyes entered the room. It was Admiral Sengoku the Buddha, one of the most respected figures in the Marine Headquarters.
"What's the matter, Fleet Admiral Kong?" Sengoku asked, noting the seriousness on Kong's face.
"Kaido appeared on Jaya Island!" Kong's words hit Sengoku like a hammer. "Impossible," Sengoku muttered, "We've had no intel from the New World…"
Kong handed him a photograph, his expression as grave as his words. "A witness managed to capture this. Take a look for yourself."
Sengoku took the photo, his eyes widening in shock. The image showed a massive azure dragon soaring into the sky, clutching Crocodile in its claws. But what truly stunned him wasn't just Kaido's presence.
Standing atop the dragon's head was a man, his figure blurred by distance, but unmistakably there. Dressed in a white coat with his hands casually tucked into his pockets, the man's identity was obscured, but his position was unmistakable.
"Who is this person?!" Sengoku's shock was palpable. "Riding Kaido like that? Not even Kaido would allow his former captain, Rocks, to stand atop his head like that!"
"I don't know," Kong replied, his voice low and serious. "The image is too vague to make out any details."
Kong's eyes hardened as he continued, "You must head to Jaya Island immediately. A pirate emperor appearing in the Paradise Sea is not something we can take lightly. This isn't a casual visit; we must be extremely vigilant."
"I understand," Sengoku nodded, his voice steady despite the tension. "Should we block the news? This could cause widespread panic."
"I've already taken steps to contain the information," Kong responded, his tone sharp. "Now, move out immediately."
Sengoku didn't waste any time. He turned on his heel and left the office, his mind racing with the gravity of the situation. A pirate emperor in the Paradise Sea wasn't just a threat; it was a potential disaster. As he moved swiftly through Marineford, he knew one thing for certain—whatever was happening on Jaya Island could change the balance of power across the seas.