After finishing his versation with Dofmingo, whivolved some lighthearted banter between brothers, Cudius hung up the Den Den Mushi and was just about to get up. He inteo che Hancod the others, to establish more familiarity and build es. However, before he could take a step, the ph again.

  "What's with today? It never ends," Cudius muttered, half-amused and half-exasperated.

  A quice revealed that it was Crocodile on the line. Setting aside his pns, Cudius settled back down on the sun lounger, picked up the receiver, and said, "Well, well, if it isn't the illustrious Warlord of the Sea. What I do for you?"

  "What's up with your phone, Cudius? I've been trying to reach you forever, but it just kept going unanswered. You need a new one?" Crocodile's annoyed voice grumbled through the speaker.

  Cudius chuckled. "Ahahaha, there's nothing wrong with the phone, my friend. I've just been tied up with calls. You're not the only orying to reach me, you know."

  "Is that so? Busy man, are you?" Crocodile's tone carried a touch of sarcasm.

  "Naturally. When you're at my level, where hundreds of thousands of Berries ge hands with every passing moment, life tends to stay busy," Cudius responded with a grin.

  "Perhaps," Crocodile said dismissively, as if hum him.

  "So, to what do I owe this call?" Cudius inquired.

  There ause before Crocodile spoke again. "It's been a year."

  Cudius raised an eyebrow, the out a ugh. "Oh? Are we talking about our little agreement? So, you're pnning to challenge me again this year?"

  Cudius and Crocodile had a standing arra: once a year, Crocodile could challenge Cudius to a duel. If he won, he would regain his freedom. He hadn't taken up the challehe previous year, so Cudius found this sudden annou intriguing.

  "Of course. Unlike you, Cudius, I spend my time navigating the dangers of the sea, growing stronger with each passing day. By now, both my experiend my strength should surpass yours. What do you say? Are you willing to face me, or will you admit defeat? I promise not to gloat," Crocodile's voice carried a biting edge.

  "Fair point. I may not be out there risking my life every day like you, but if you really think you've caught up to me, you're sorely mistaken," Cudius said with fidence.

  "e to Abasta, then. I'll be waiting," Crocodile challenged.

  Cudius paused, the out a hearty ugh. "Ahahaha, so that's yame. You've gotten a bit more ing, haven't you, Crocodile? You want to fight me on your turf, the deserts of Abasta. Trying to use the enviroo your advantage, are we? And all that talk before was that just to bait me into accepting?"

  Crocodile remained silent for a moment, but when he spoke again, there was no trabarrassment. "reement never specified ral ground, did it? There was no cuse saying we couldn't use any resources at our disposal. What's the matter, Cudius? Are you scared?"

  "Scared? Hardly. If I beat you in Abasta, I assume that'll make you feel even more defeated?" Cudius smirked.

  Crocodile let out a dry ugh. "Exactly. Who knows, maybe in another year or two, I won't be calling to challenge you at all."

  "Well, now that's a delightful thought," Cudius said, his tone amused. After a short pause, he tinued, "So, was this the only reason you called?"

  Crocodile gnced around the room of his new residen Abasta and replied, "Not quite. I wao inform you that the pn is already underway. Just today, I secured a le here in Abasta."

  "Ahahaha, is that so? gratutions, Crocodile," Cudius said, genuinely pleased.

  "But…" Crocodile hesitated, the mirth in his voice repced by a serious tone.

  "But what?" Cudius asked, curiosity piqued.

  "I initially estimated it would take about five years to seize trol of Abasta. But now, after getting a better sense of the pce, I've realized the influence of the ari royal family is deeper than I anticipated. I'm revising my estimate, it might take ten years or even more to achieve full trol," Crocodile admitted.

  Cudius went silent for a moment, processing the new information. Then, he responded, "That's fine. As long as we achieve our objective before the 'big ge' I've envisioned, I'm not worried. A decade is nothing to me; I have all the time in the world."

  Crocodile was taken aback, though he didn't show it. Cudius' immediate acceptance of his imeline, without a single question or reprimand, spoke volumes. It was trust, pin and simple. Crocodile realized that Cudius, with his ability to and loyalty and fidence, was indeed a master at managing people.

  It was strange. In some ways, Crocodile felt almost proud to be associated with him. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud, of course. He posed himself and said, "I have a few strategies in mind, but I might need your input now and then. Make your way to Abasta soon."

  "Don't worry, I'll make sure to beat you soundly," Cudius said with a grin. "But first, I have to finish my little errand at Little Garden. I'm close by anyway, and there's a certain dinosaur I'd like to catch."

  "One more thing," Crocodile interjected. "I need your assistah acquiriain… traband. I could ha myself, but why gh the trouble when I have you as a resource? I need a substantial amount of Dance Powder."

  Dance Powder was banned food reason; it was an artificial rain stimunt that could siphon precipitation from surrounding regions, leading thts and potentially catastrophiflicts. While the Wover had officially outwed it, the bck market still thrived with the trade of such dangerous substances.

  "Ah, for the sake of stirring up trouble in Abasta, I see. I'll point you to Dofmingo. If it's illegal, he's yuy. I have a feeling you two will get along just fine," Cudius said with a chuckle.

  "We'll see," Crocodile replied, his tone as cool as ever.

  ***

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