In Abasta, Crocodile sat in the underground chamber of the Rain Dinners o, the graablishment he had built iy of Rain.

  The facility was vishly structed, featuring an enormous underground aquarium. However, instead of housing typical marine life, the tank tained a group of colossal Banana Gators.

  These creatures were vicious, massive aremely aggressive. While they weren't Sea Kings, they were even more ferocious than those deep-sea behemoths. In fact, Banana Gators were known to hunt Sea Kings in coordinated packs, making them apex predators in their ht.

  Crocodile had a particur fondness for these creatures. He had personally domesticated them in Rain, treating them as his little pets.

  Many of the pirates he captured ended up as snacks for these Banana Gators. Now, as he lounged in his chair, he watched with amusement as the massive creatures tore into a gigantic sea beast within the aquarium.

  The Baroque Works anization, which Crocodile had established in the first half of the Grand Line, wasn't particurly strong in terms of individual bat power. However, it was vast in numbers and prised a siderable force of bounty hunters.

  After all, Abasta could be sidered a "beginner's isnd" for many pirates entering the first half of the Grand Line. Every year, tless rookies poured into these waters. Even though Crocodile owerful enough to domihe region, he had no i in personally dealing with every upstart that showed up.

  Thus, he formed Baroque Works, gathering a rge work of bounty huo serve under him. Their primary role was to cull the weaklings among the fresh pirates. Only those who survived this initial trial would be deemed worthy of fag his higher-ranking subordinates.

  And as for the few who mao slip through all those cracks? That was when Crocodile himself would step in.

  By employing this method, he had signifitly reduced his workload. Meanwhile, his reputation as the heroic "protector" of Abasta only grew.

  But this was just the beginning.

  The grassroots bounty hunter work of Baroque Works was gradually being ied into Abasta itself. His agents had already begun stirring the pot, sowing discord between the on people and the nobility, undermining the authority of the ari royal family, and carrying out all manner of covert operations.

  Sitting in front of the massive aquarium, Crocodile observed his "little darlings" squabbling over their meal when Mr. 3 ehe chamber, holding a stack of dots in his hands.

  Upon seeing Crocodile's broad back, a chill ran down Mr. 3's spine.

  He had always feared his boss. He knew all too well how powerful and how cruel Crocodile could be.

  F himself to remain steady, Mr. 3 quickly reported, "Boss, our o's revenue in Rain has dropped signifitly this quarter."

  Crocodile remained in his chair, still fag the aquarium, his gaze never leaving his beloved pets. He didn't even turn his head as he asked casually, "What's the reason?"

  Mr. 3 quickly expined, "First, the domestic situation is deteriorating. Many iial families and major businessmeransferring their assets and leaving Abasta. Sed, we have a powerful new petitor. I don't know if you've heard of Gild Tesoro?"

  Though Crocodile didn't turn around, his brow arched slightly. "A gambler?"

  "Yes," Mr. 3 firmed. "A very big one. He owns a colossal gambling ship, the size of aire isnd.

  "They've been sailing around the first half of the Grand Line, drawing in hordes of high-stakes gamblers. Until now, Rain Dinners was the most renowned o in these waters.

  "But with Abasta's unstable political climate, mahy fn gamblers are choosing to avoid us. And unlike our fixed-location o, Tesoro's roaming gambling ship has the advantage of mobility. Acc to our analysis, that's the primary reason for our dee in revenue."

  After delivering his report, Mr. 3 felt his heart tighten.

  He knew his boss wasn't a man of patience, and he had seey of people thrown to the Banana Gators for much less. Regardless of how valid the reasoning was, Crocodile did not tolerate failure.

  However, to Mr. 3's surprise, Crocodile's response was indifferent.

  "Oh? That's hardly a ," Crocodile said ftly. "Just focus on your own duties."

  Mr. 3 was momentarily stunned.

  He didn't uand the significe of Gild Tesoro. But Crocodile, as one of the key figures in Cudius' fa, was well aware of what Tesoro truly represented.

  After all, wasn't that floating o Tesoro's creation?

  Soon enough, it would evolve into the financial hub of CP-X. Word had it that even rger gambling ships were already in stru, vessels that would bee the world's premier eai metropolis.

  Sihis was internal business within his o, Crocodile saw no reason to himself with it.

  After all, he didn't rely on the o for his wealth.

  Without Cudius' financial bag, how could he have built such a rge operation in Abasta? Every year, he received vast sums of funding, allowing him to develop his power while secretly tightening his grip on the kingdom.

  After a moment of thought, Crocodile asked, "What's the situation with the rest?"

  Although Mr. 3 didn't uand why his boss was so uned about Rain Dinners' deing revenue, he was relieved. At the very least, it meant he wouldn't be turned into crocodile food today.

  Calming himself, he quickly reported, "The military factory is nearly plete, so there are no major issues on that front. However, within Abasta, some local guerril fas have transformed into full-fledged rebels. It seems they're preparing for an uprising."

  Crocodile suddenly burst into ughter.

  "AHAHAHAHAHA… So it's finally beginning?" he said, grinning.

  "The emergence of rebels means that the ari family's reputation has hit ro. As long as the rebel forces tio groill iably break out.

  "And war…" Crocodile smirked. "War brings opportunity."

  After a brief pause, he tinued, "Mr. 3, quietly anize our forces to support the rebels. Ehey reach a certain scale. Use the press to trol the narrative, make them seem like an army of the oppressed, bravely rising up against tyranny. Do you uand?"

  Mr. 3 nodded immediately. "Uood, boss."

  "This is our ce to pnt our people within their ranks," Crocodile said. "Make sure ents infiltrate their leadership. Wheime es, I want to be able to manipute this rebel army however I see fit."

  "Yes, boss," Mr. 3 responded without hesitation.

  Having issued his orders, Crocodile lost i in the versation.

  Even though he hadn't ourned around during the entire exge, Mr. 3's resped fear for him only deepened. Without another word, he left to carry out his instrus.

  Once he was alone, Crocodile finally turned around in his chair, biting down on a cigar. A smirk pyed at the ers of his mouth as he murmured to himself,

  "When the rebels grow strong enough, I wonder… will Cobra finally beg the Wover for help?"

  He pohe thought for a moment before chug again.

  "Not that it matters. Even if they do, the Wover won't lift a finger.

  "This kind of problem… I'll let Cudius deal with the headache.

  "As for me? I'll just foy own pns."

  What Crocodile didn't know was that CP-X had already begun taking a, w behind the ses to further destabilize Abasta.

  If anything, the Wover was more likely to make things worse than to offer aid.

  Snuffing out his cigar, Crocodile shifted his gaze to the map of Abasta spread out on his desk. A cold grin curled his lips as he muttered,

  "Five years… At most, five more years, and Abasta will be mine.

  "And ohat happens, the final stage of the pn begin.

  "Let's see, Cudius… just what kind of storm are you pnning to unleash upon this world."