"You actually know us, hehehe! It seems we're quite famous. You must have gone to sea to follow in our footsteps, right?"
The young and proud Gecko Moria spread his arms and smiled.
"Chasing you? What a joke!" Before Kaizen could respond, Crocodile sneered, "Tch! You're dreaming!"
"Hey! You emotionless sandman, this is my ship. You'd better watch your words when addressing the captain!"
Moria shot Crocodile a serious glance.
"The strongest one is the captain, and that's me!" Crocodile replied coldly, a confident smirk on his face.
The two were at odds, neither willing to back down.
When they were younger, Crocodile and Moria were full of energy! Though they looked a bit greener, they were more sincere and less jaded.
"Then there's nothing more to say! Now that the rain has stopped, let's have a proper fight! Whoever wins will be the captain!" Moria declared.
"Okay! I'll show you my true power today!" Crocodile responded, excitement in his voice.
The two quickly made their way to the deck, assuming their fighting stances.
"Hey! Newcomer, do you want to place a bet and have some fun?"
The crew gathered around, eager to see the showdown. One of them called to Kaizen, grinning.
"The captain is fighting, and you're still interested in betting?" Kaizen leaned in, intrigued.
"Hey! We're used to it! They fight every few days. No matter how much we try to stop them, they'll only quit when they're tired!"
The minions shrugged helplessly, resigned to their captains' antics.
Kaizen, curious about their skills, sat cross-legged on the deck, ready to watch.
Crocodile and Moria faced off, poised to clash.
"KIIISHISHISHISHI! Take this! I won't show mercy!" Moria shouted confidently.
"Bring it on! I'm not afraid!" Crocodile shot back.
Their figures blurred as they exchanged blows, neither gaining the upper hand.
After a series of strikes, both were clearly frustrated.
"Damn it! How did you know I was going to hit there?" Crocodile exclaimed.
"Tch! You still know the direction of my attack!" Moria retorted.
Both seemed troubled, locked in a stalemate.
"Let's see how you deal with this!" Crocodile shouted, wielding a sand knife to slash toward Moria.
If this hit, Moria would be in trouble!
"I expected that!" Moria countered, deflecting the attack effortlessly.
As their battle continued, the sand knife went awry, heading straight for the ship's sail.
Suddenly, a figure dashed forward like lightning, executing a flying kick that sent the sand knife flying away with style.
"Whoa! What speed!"
The crew gasped as the figure landed on the deck, sand flying everywhere.
It was Kaizen.
"Ah! He broke Captain Crocodile's attack with a single kick! Is that for real?"
"That stance felt familiar!"
A group of minions gathered around Kaizen, looking at him with awe. One of them pulled out a newspaper, eyes wide.
"He's the one who faced Marine Admiral Zephyr in the East Blue!"
At that revelation, the crew buzzed with excitement, recognizing the hottest figure in the ocean.
Even Moria and Crocodile were taken aback.
After a moment, everyone crowded around Kaizen, eager to hear his story.
"It's a pity you aren't a pirate with those skills. Why not join me? I'm heading to Wano to take on Kaido soon. Defeating him will make me the Daimyo of Wano, and you can be my General!"
Moria said, his eyes sparkling with ambition.
"You should see that he just wants to use you. Kaido is nothing! After Roger's death, Whitebeard is the king of this sea. Only by defeating him can you be recognized. So, are you interested in teaming up with me to take down Whitebeard?"
Crocodile chimed in, a sly grin on his face as he nudged Moria aside.
"Hey! I made the invitation first! You, coming from behind, step aside. I want to use him for his ability, but I also want to be friends and partners!"
Moria protested, unable to stand being sidelined.
Kaizen watched the two bicker, amused. They seemed inseparable in their arguments, but it was clear they enjoyed the banter.
"Hahahaha! I just came from Whitebeard! Speaking of which, I still owe him a favor. Turning against him now would be unreasonable."
Kaizen refused with a logical smile.
"Hehehe! You've got no luck, Sandman!" Moria laughed, enjoying the moment.
But before Moria could finish his laughter, Kaizen added, "As for Kaido, Wano is complicated. I'm not interested in getting involved, and I recommend you stay away too."
Kaizen looked earnestly at Moria.
"Ah ha ha ha! Stinky bat! Your plans just fell apart!"
Crocodile cackled, relishing Moria's frustration.
"Shut up, smelly sandman!" Moria shot back fiercely.
"Then where are you going next? You know Marines are hunting for you everywhere. It's dangerous to be alone. The best way to survive is to stick together as a crew," Crocodile said thoughtfully.
"It's true that staying together is safer. But just because it's safer for me doesn't mean I can put others in danger. To be blunt, I'm a target right now. Anyone associated with me will draw Marine attention, so acting alone is the best option."
Kaizen expressed his reasoning clearly, showcasing his integrity, which earned him respect.
"What a shame! You'd make a great partner," Moria said, disappointed.
Crocodile looked at Kaizen, not pressing him further, his eyes conveying understanding. For him, it would be too shameless to plead.
Kaizen acknowledged Crocodile's gaze with a nod, a silent agreement between men.
"Captain! We spotted a Marine warship ahead, but it's strange!"
An observant minion shouted, his voice trailing off in confusion.