Crocodile had been neck-deep in work for over a month, juggling the responsibilities of a newly formed alliance that had already started shaking the world. When Zephyr approached him with the offer to join the Seven Sins, Crocodile wasn't surprised. His network in the underworld had already tipped him off to Zephyr's movements and the peculiar absence of a crew.
What did surprise Crocodile was how little information existed about Zephyr himself. The man's activities from the last three years were a complete mystery. Rumors whispered he had once been part of the Heart Pirates, though most dismissed the idea outright. Trafalgar Law was strong, but Zephyr was on a completely different level. A Yonko candidate, wielding all three forms of haki, including advanced conqueror's haki. It's an unofficial understanding between people that Sword King was the strongest among the three Yonko candidates.
Still, strength alone wasn't enough. Crocodile understood that better than most. A pirate without a crew was just a powerful drifter. That was why Zephyr's plan intrigued him.
The Seven Sins weren't a crew in the traditional sense. Each member represented one of the seven deadly sins and operated independently, with full autonomy to pursue their own interests. They answered only to Zephyr, the Sin of Pride and were obligated to carry out the tasks assigned to them by him. For Crocodile, it was the perfect arrangement. No blind loyalty, no constant oversight—just freedom and opportunity.
Crocodile was tasked with being the organization's public face. As the Sin of Greed, he served as a beacon, a signal to the world that the Seven Sins existed and were more than rumors. The rest of the Sins—Pride, Wrath, Envy, and others—remained hidden, their identities unknown even to him.
Zephyr's secrecy was deliberate. Trust among the members was nonexistent, and for now, that was how he wanted it. Crocodile's role was to draw attention, to let the world speculate about the Seven Sins' strength and intentions. The mystery fed the fear, and fear was a powerful tool.
For the past few months, Crocodile had kept himself busy gathering intelligence, working off leads provided by Envy, the group's unseen information broker. A secure system of dropboxes delivered Envy's reports, and Crocodile worked to prioritize actionable intel. It was a chaotic process, but he was starting to see patterns emerge.
Big Mom was trying to seize Whitebeard's old territories. Blackbeard had solidified his control over Hachinosu, the Pirate Paradise, etc. The seas were alive with power struggles, and Crocodile had documented it all.
But today's message was different. It wasn't just another status update. It was a directive—a name, a location, and a target that demanded immediate attention.
Crocodile set sail for a desolate, icy island where the target waited. His ship flew the Jolly Roger of the Seven Sins, a haunting black-and-white design. At its center was a skull with hollow eyes, surrounded by seven ominous symbols: a coiled serpent, a goblet, a treasure chest, twin flames, a dagger piercing dice, a shattered heart, and a blazing skull. Seven icons representing the sins, bound together by a motif of death and ambition.
The closer Crocodile got to the island, the colder the air grew. The chill wasn't just physical—it was unnatural, biting deeper than any ordinary frost. Few people dared to venture out into the frozen streets of the island.
His destination was a small, dimly lit bar where the man he sought was said to frequent. As Crocodile stepped inside, the freezing air seemed to intensify. In the far corner sat an impossibly tall man, slouched over a drink, his unruly curls and heavy-lidded eyes unmistakable.
Kuzan, the former admiral.
Kuzan didn't bother to look up as Crocodile approached. "Took you long enough," he said, his voice heavy with indifference. "I thought your boss would come knocking the second I lost to Sakazuki."
"That's what I suggested," Crocodile replied. "But Zephyr told me to wait. Wait until you start showing yourself openly. He said that this would be a signal to symbolize that you've considered the offer he made in Marineford."
Kuzan snorted softly. "That man thinks too much. Always figuring people out before they even figure themselves out."
Crocodile reached into his coat and slid an envelope across the table. "He told me to give you this."
Kuzan took the letter, breaking the seal with a single motion. The handwriting inside was precise, sharp, and deliberate, every word weighted with intent.
Kuzan,
I hope that you've had enough time to mope about your defeat. It's your own fault for trying to fight with an opponent who's directly counter to your power. Especially when your haki isn't strong enough.
But I'm not here to lecture you. You already know what I offer, and I know why you left the Navy. Losing to Sakazuki isn't enough to break you. Maybe you're working with the Revolutionary Army, or maybe you're still loyal to the Marines. It doesn't matter, and frankly, I don't care. I don't expect loyalty from you.
Our organization isn't built on loyalty—it's built on results. I hope that you'll start trusting me in the future. For now, stay in your role as the sad, drunken ex-admiral. When the time comes, answer the call. But let me be clear: spy for whoever you want, but if your actions ever harm someone I care about, I will kill you. That's a promise.
Welcome to the Seven Sins, Kuzan. The Sin of Sloth. Greed will fill you in on the details.
Pride.
Kuzan closed the letter and sighed. In an instant, the paper froze solid, crumbling into frost as it slipped through his fingers. His irritation was palpable.
Crocodile sat down across from him, signaling the bartender for a drink. "I know what you're thinking," he said, raising a glass. "And yes, you're right."
Kuzan raised an eyebrow, waiting.
"He's a fucking asshole," Crocodile finished, taking a long sip of his drink.
Kuzan let out a short laugh, his breath visible in the icy air. "You're not wrong."
Despite his irritation, Kuzan didn't leave. The weight of the letter—and what it represented—hung heavily between them. For all his frustrations with Zephyr's arrogance, there was something about the man's vision that resonated with him.
The former admiral reached for his drink, finishing it in one slow, deliberate motion. He wasn't ready to give his answer aloud, but both men knew it was already decided.
The Sin of Sloth had joined the Seven Sins.