In a certain part of the New World, a massive pirate ship was making its way across the waters. Its figurehead was shaped like a crocodile, and the pirate fg it flew bore the image of a skull with two crossed bdes and purple wings.

  This was the fgship of the infamous Sand Crocodile—Crocodile himself. Known as one of the more promi pirates of the New World, Crocodile had been sailing the seas ever sihe dawn of the Great Pirate Era.

  Unlike Dofmingo and others who kept their pasts shrouded in mystery, Crocodile's history was more transparent. As his reputation grew, so did the unc of his earlier life.

  While the presence of Cudius behind the ses remained unknown, it was widely accepted that Crocodile had once been a member of Captain John's cretain John, famous for being the "Treasure Pirate," was said to have hidden tless riches, leaving many on the seas cm to cim his fabled legacy.

  Crocodile had used this e to his advaer setting out on his own. With Cudius providing financial bag i, Crocodile became one of the wealthiest pirates around, bolstering his reputation by g he khe location of Captain John's treasure. This cim attracted many strong and ambitious followers.

  At this moment, Crocodile stood on the deck of his ship, holding a Den Den Mushi, having just ended a call.

  The call had been from Cudius, instrug him to cooperate in taking down Dougs Bullet and Byrnndi World.

  "This feels a bit like dealing with Dofmingo ba the day," Crocodile muttered quietly.

  Just then, a young man approached him from behind. With a stern expression and shaven head, he exuded an air of quiet strength. This was Daz Bones, Crocodile's first and most trusted recruit, now one of his most valued subordinates.

  "Boss, should we pull out of the New World for the time being? The iigation into Abasta has ed up, and it's exactly what we were looking for," Daz Bones said in a low voice.

  "Not just yet. My old 'master' has assigned me a ask," Crocodile said with a wry smile.

  Daz Bones frow that. He'd long suspected that Crocodile had someone powerful bag him, and now the suspi was firmed.

  After a brief pause, Daz Bones asked, "Boss, with our current strength, we don't o ao anyone. Are you pnning something else?"

  Crocodile took the cigar from his mouth, exhaled a thin stream of smoke, and smirked. "Bones, you're right. With the power we have now, there's o bend the ko ahe world is wide open to us."

  "Then—" Daz Bones said, eyes filled with anticipation.

  "But," Crocodile interrupted, "I owe that man my life. An agreement is an agreement. Until the day I best him, I'll work for him, with diligend without pint. And when that day es…"

  "Will we break free then?" Daz Bones asked immediately.

  "No, it's actually quite enjoyable w under him. Once I defeat him, that's enough for me. It's more about proving a point," Crocodile said with a chuckle.

  Daz Bones was taken aback. His boss was fiercely proud, so hearing him speak like this about someone else was ued. It seemed Crocodile had a degree of respect for the man who stood above him.

  But that revetion didn't bother Daz Bones. Knowing his boss wasn't being forced into anything ged everything.

  "Fet about Abasta for now. Set the course for Cybori Isnd. There's going to be a major event there soon, and we're going to be part of it," Crocodile said calmly.

  "Uood, boss," Daz Bones replied, heading off to rey the and without another word.

  Crocodile's i in Abasta had been piqued not by the A on, Pluton, but rather by a task Cudius had assigned him.

  Abasta was one of the inal kingdoms that had fouhe Wover 800 years ago, simir to Dressrosa. However, uhe Donquixote family, which had moved to Mariejois to bee Celestial Dragons, the ari royal family had chosen to stay behind, remaining in Abasta.

  This gave Abasta a uatus. While it was one of the Wover's member nations, it held a higher standing pared to others. The ari family was known for their sense of justid fairness. They often cshed with the Wover at the Reverie, much to the frustration of the Five Elders. But because of their special status, dealing with them directly was a plicated matter.

  In 1504, during the st Reverie, Abasta had stirred up more trouble than usual by pushing for policy ges that included a redu iribute known as the "Heavenly Gold." The Five Elders, of course, rejected this ht, as making such a cession could set a pret. If the tribute was reduced today, who's to say someone wouldn't push for its total abolition at the meeting?

  The Heavenly Gold wasn't just a tribute; it symbolized the diviatus of the Celestial Dragons, ting their legitimacy. It was a erstone of the Wover's system, and under no circumstances could it be promised.

  The Five Elders' irritation with the ari family grew, so they tasked Cudius with finding a way to ensure Abasta's plia wasn't an urgent mission, but a long-term ohe Five Elders werereme enough to ask for the destru of the ari family; they just wahem to fall in line.

  But Cudius had his own thoughts. Abasta was an impressive nation. Its long history, culture, and deep-rooted heritage made it the oldest kingdom known to mankind.

  The Tree of Knowledge in Ohara had only been around for 3,500 years, but Abasta's capital had already been standing during that time. Cudius had been studying Abasta's history and found records proving that the kingdom had beeablished at least 4,000 years ago.

  The ari royal family hadn't ruled Abasta sihe dawn of its history. By Cudius's research, King Cobra ari was the 12th geion of his line, aligning perfectly with the events of 800 years ago.

  Cudius specuted that the ari family might have seized power in Abasta around that time, subsequently being part of the alliance of twenty kings that formed the Wover.

  Still, these historical musings were just a side i. What truly captivated Cudius was Abasta's immense military strength.

  Abasta was situated on the massive isnd known as "Sandstone Isle," se that calling it an is like an uatement. Despite its desert climate, the nation had a sizable popution and numerous cities and towns. The capital city, Alubarna, alone boasted a standing army of 600,000 troops. At its peak, Abasta could muster a million soldiers—an impressive force by any standard.

  ***

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