tion for this organization. It was merely a tool as long as it served its purpose.
Rosen also dismissed any concern. Before he left, he could simply order its dissolution. Many were killers, hunters—not good people. Their lives didn't matter to him. Disbanding early might save lives.
"How will you two decide: to continue following or leave?" Rosen asked. For the first time, he appreciated the convenience that the title of Warlord brought.
Otherwise, starting anew might mean encountering these two—people he could discard at any time. They were just small players, after all.
"We'll continue to follow the boss," Mr. 5, dressed as a rock singer, said in unison with the elegant killer, Mr. 1.
"Very well. Prepare yourselves. And Mr. 5, try not to pick your nose during fights. It's distasteful," Rosen added abruptly.
Mr. 5 tensed. How did the boss know? Were they under surveillance? It was unnerving.
Mr. 5 found Rosen's unpredictability unsettling.
"Yes," Mr. 5 answered respectfully. But if he couldn't pick his nose, what was an acceptable alternative? Pulling hair? Spitting?
This was a tough choice indeed.
"Bonez, what do you think of my decision?" Although Daz Bonez, known as Mr. 1, was fiercely loyal to Crocodile in the original story, Rosen needed assurance amid the current events.
Bonez remained expressionless. After a moment, he said slowly, "I'm pleased."
"Pleased?" Rosen was surprised. He hadn't expected such sentiment from the usually cold-hearted Mr. 1.
"Yes. I always believed you would seek more than life in a single country. I thought you had long-term plans, but I didn't expect this day to come so soon—abandoning Baroque Works after all these years," Bonez explained.
"Thank you for waiting," Rosen replied. Perhaps Bonez was swayed by Rosen's ambition and charisma. Such loyalty was reliable, not absolute, but not easily betrayed.
Rosen knew he lacked Luffy's charisma and had to be pragmatic. Neglecting details would lead to trouble.
Nothing eventful happened that day. After a day in the office, Rosen planned to leave. Stepping outside, he remembered he was in a gambling city where money vanished quickly. He hoped Robin could bring more funds when possible.
"It's Crocodile!" A passerby recognized him and approached excitedly. Before his schemes were exposed, Crocodile was a heroic Warlord fighting criminals in this country.
"Warlord, could you sign this for me?" A young, beautiful lady handed Rosen a small notebook and pen.
"It seems Crocodile made quite an impression on the surface, and most people in this world are rather straightforward," Rosen mused as he took the pen and absentmindedly signed "Rosen." Seeing the rich lady's puzzled look, he quickly crossed it out and signed "Crocodile."
Observing the lady treasure the signed paper, Rosen couldn't help but sigh. Crocodile had manipulated this country, yet under his and Nico Robin's control, Rosen unwittingly became a hero.
"It's absurd, but I have to admit, the original Crocodile was a master strategist," Rosen reflected, "but from today onward, that's all in the past."
Rosen contemplated the turmoil in the country. He honestly wanted to end the war, and he could easily do so by stepping forward, but such an outcome wasn't acceptable to him.
"That approach would be suicidal. It's best to leave it to Luffy and the others," Rosen thought. "Whether they take the blame or become heroes, at least it will end the war. Otherwise, I'd be left holding the bag, and it's clearly Crocodile's mess."
"Were you Crocodile?" Exiting the casino onto the street, Rosen suddenly faced a towering figure over four meters tall, carrying a massive longsword.
Rosen noted the sword's capability—it could effortlessly cleave a warhorse in half with a single stroke. Several people nearby had been eyeing him for some time, though they hesitated due to the rain, opting to maintain a guarded stance.
To ordinary people, the sheer presence of a crowd could be intimidating.
Without needing to ask, Rosen could tell their intentions by their expressions—most sought fame. Defeating Crocodile would make them celebrities in this world.
"Sorry, I'm not Crocodile," Rosen stated firmly, shaking his head, taking a drag from his cigar, and dropping the butt to the ground, prepared for a confrontation.
"Captain, it's him! Don't be fooled. His bounty's posted on our ship," a subordinate whispered.
"I'm not blind," alto lesz retorted. "Seems my reputation with the Blood Red Sword precedes me. Even a Warlord dares not face me. Looks like the future Pirate King stands before you. Here's your chance. How about joining my crew?" Alto Lesz chuckled, wielding his sword adorned with black and red stains—clear signs of recent bloodshed, clearly not a weapon well-maintained.
"These days, honesty is rare," Rosen remarked calmly, refusing to take the lead. Despite the man's seeming simplicity, sometimes a simple mind meant less cruelty.
In the world of One Piece, despite the prevalence of individuals who may seem intellectually lacking, many are dangerous murderers who operate outside the bounds of conventional wisdom and knowledge. Strength, whether physical prowess or the ability to instill fear in others, serves as the ultimate measure of respect and influence.
Rosen harbored no illusions about this reality.
"It seems you're not keen... then prepare to die. Once I've dealt with you, I'll take your place as the new Warlord. Haha! Don't blame us if you leave here without your entourage," Altoles declared with a grim smile, swinging his massive sword towards Rosen.
"I may lack direct combat experience, but I'm up for a little practice with you," Rosen replied calmly. He raised his golden hook in his left hand, and when Altoles' sword clashed against it, sparks erupted.
"Take this!" Altoles roared, attempting to overwhelm Rosen with sheer force. However, Rosen remained unfazed, not even budging an inch. It was as though he faced an ordinary opponent.
During his time, Crocodile commanded a bounty of at least 160 million Berries based purely on his strength. According to the original author, this bounty was twice its original value. Considering Crocodile's current strength and danger, it wouldn't be unreasonable for his bounty to reach 2 to 3 billion, or even 3 to 4 billion Berries.
Of course, bounties sometimes can't absolutely explain the strength. After all, the evaluation of bounty is based on comprehensive factors such as strength and risk.
In the first half, how many bounty pirates can have over 100 million?
Of course, they will not be easily encountered by Crocodile.