Silence. A deathly silence.
Crocodile and Smoker had both fallen into complete stillness at this moment.
The only thing that changed was the expression in their eyes... their gloomy, cold faces gradually transforming to show shock and disbelief.
"Admiral Kojin!!!"
Smoker cried out in surprise.
This unexpected man's appearance was so abrupt that Smoker's mind went blank momentarily from the shock.
"It seems your training over the years hasn't been neglected."
Kojin said with a smile, his back to Smoker.
"I've always looked up to you, admired you, and worked desperately hard to reach your level!" Smoker replied excitedly.
His intense joy and excitement caused tears to well up in his eyes.
To him, the man in front of him was like family. He had guided Smoker into the Marines and helped him become the person he is today.
Throughout his time as a Marine, Smoker had followed this man as his role model, tirelessly pursuing the justice he believed in.
But as time passed, he gradually realised just how difficult that justice truly was.
Because of this, he admired and respected the man even more, appreciating the magnitude of Kojin's achievements.
If there was anyone in this mistaken world who was capable of saving it, Smoker believed it could only be the man standing before him.
"Not bad."
Kojin nodded, his gaze landing on Crocodile.
"But right now, there's a slightly troublesome fellow standing in front of us that needs to be dealt with."
Hearing this, Smoker revealed a relaxed smile.
He knew that, in the presence of this man, even someone like Crocodile, a member of the Shichibukai, would have no chance of resisting.
"Crocodile!"
The next second, Kojin's deep voice rang out.
Crocodile's body trembled slightly as he stared fixedly at the man before him, as if he still couldn't believe that this person had truly appeared.
As in the past, the man's face looked young and was almost unchanged in the memory. Only the traces of time hidden within his eyes revealed the years he had experienced.
His powerful muscles seemed ready to burst through his thin Marine uniform. At first glance, his body had an overwhelming visual impact.
It was an aura of pure strength that was almost oppressive.
"For the sake of Pluton, you actually dared to attack my elder brother. You've got quite the nerve."
His voice remained calm, yet the air suddenly felt frozen.
Even the Marines standing behind Smoker felt their hearts tremble with fear at that moment.
They had no idea who this figure, who had appeared out of nowhere, was, yet merely seeing his back was enough to make them shiver.
Crocodile remained silent for a long while.
Then, he slowly took a cigar out of his coat, lit it with a click, put it in his mouth and took a deep drag.
Raising his eyes to look at the man before him, he suddenly smiled faintly.
"I took a huge risk as well. After all, not many people can withstand your anger." Crocodile said softly.
Smoker noticed that the hand his former superior was using to hold the cigar was trembling slightly.
Whether from fear or the joy of reunion, he couldn't tell.
"And you think you can endure it?" Kojin asked.
Long before they arrived, his Observation Haki had already enveloped the entire country of Alabasta. He could see Cobra sitting blankly on the throne in the royal palace, with Vivi by his side, lost in thought.
"Since you've returned, then my failure can only be considered a meaningless mistake. But for everyone, that's actually good news."
Crocodile shook his head.
"Over the years, the Baroque Works organization I built has grown considerably. They are useful people."
His tone was serious and sincere.
"If possible, I hope you'll treat them well."
Exhaling a deep stream of smoke, Crocodile relaxed completely, a trace of melancholy appearing in his eyes.
"The moment I did this, I knew what consequences I would face. I'm willing to accept any punishment or price."
"When facing you, I have no reason to resist."
Kojin listened quietly.
Seeing the other man give up all resistance, he also fell into thought, considering how to deal with this audacious subordinate.
Kidnapping Nefertari Cobra and threatening him to find out the location of the Poneglyph... Without question, that was a bold act, one that had nearly tipped Kojin over the edge.
However, unlike in the original situation, Crocodile's motive was to obtain the power of Pluton in order to rescue him.
"You really…"
The moment those two words left his mouth, brilliant blue arcs of lightning exploded across Kojin's body, and he instantly vanished.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of Crocodile.
He was moving so fast that almost no one could react.
Smoker's pupils contracted as he prepared to shout for Kojin to stop.
But Kojin moved even faster.
Within the flashing thunderlight, his right hand, wrapped in lightning and infused with Conqueror's Haki, suddenly stretched out and pressed down towards Crocodile's head.
"You really are unbelievably stupid!"
His deep voice faded as the lightning-covered hand slammed downwards.
Crocodile shut his eyes tightly, calmly awaiting the outcome he had long expected. After all, laying hands on the family of one's superior was a crime that could never be forgiven.
However... The next second, when that large hand landed on his head, Crocodile suddenly opened his eyes wide in disbelief and confusion.
"Why?" He muttered.
The lightning infused with the Conqueror's Haki that had covered the hand dissipated rapidly. All that remained was a slap on the head, as though a father were disciplining a child.
"That was unbelievably stupid! What difference would it have made if you had obtained information about Pluton?"
"It's nothing more than a powerful ancient weapon. What real effect could it possibly have against the World Government?"
"Haven't I told you before? The strongest power belongs to the individual!"
The slightly angry voice left Crocodile frozen in place.
"Besides, the real Pluton is actually..."
Crocodile's eyes lit up as he stared at Kojin. This man actually knew the true location of Pluton.
"You need to understand something! That truly powerful people are far more terrifying than Pluton itself!"
Kojin sneered, mocking the naïve thoughts in Crocodile's mind.
Crocodile's expression shifted repeatedly, but he remained silent.
"West Blue Marine Rear Admiral, Crocodile!"
The man before him suddenly shouted sharply.
Crocodile was stunned for a moment before reacting suddenly. Excitement and emotion surged into his eyes. The aura he had carried as a Great Pirate vanished instantly, replaced by the straight-backed posture of an iron-blooded Marine.
"Sir!"
"As Marine Headquarters Admiral and Commander of the West Blue Base, I hereby order you! Your mission as an undercover agent officially ends this moment. You are to return to duty immediately!" Kojin declared in a deep voice.
Crocodile's eyes lit up and his whole body trembled slightly. Upon hearing those words, he nearly choked up.
"Yes, sir!"
His loud response trembled with emotion yet remained clear and powerful.
"During the years I was gone, you fools really managed to stir up quite a mess and create all kinds of problems." Kojin's indifferent voice drifted through the air.
Crocodile lowered his head.
"But it doesn't matter. I'll personally go meet each of them and ask whether they still remember who I am!"
By the time his voice had echoed, Kojin had already stepped forward and started walking ahead.
Smoker hurried after him, while Crocodile took a deep breath before catching up.
From this moment onward, his identity as an undercover operative was over.
His new identity was that of a Marine Rear Admiral.
He could still vaguely hear the words Kojin had spoken years ago when he was assigned the task of becoming a Great Pirate and establishing Baroque Works.
It had been an incredibly long mission, one that had driven him to the brink of collapse countless times.
He had gone from being a rookie pirate who had once barged into the Whitebeard Pirates to arriving in Alabasta and building Baroque Works while recruiting large numbers of subordinates.
Ultimately, he had even become one of the Shichibukai.
And yet the mission still hadn't ended!
Who could endure that?
—
Alubarna Royal Palace.
Cobra sat blankly on the royal throne, seemingly still unable to recover from the shock.
The former subordinate of his younger brother had actually stirred up a civil war in Alabasta, leaving his emotions in a complicated state.
The reason behind it all was the mysterious stone that his family had guarded for generations.
He knew a few things about the Poneglyph, but he had long since forgotten the exact contents carved upon it.
"Father…" Vivi stood beside him, calling softly with concern visible in her eyes.
Although Crocodile had been defeated, her father was clearly not well. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot into the palace hall and arrived before Cobra in the blink of an eye.
Then a brilliant blue light exploded outwards, filling the vast chamber with sharp crackling arcs of electricity.
"What is that?!" Vivi widened her eyes in fear.
The wildly dancing lightning made her afraid instinctively.
Cobra was momentarily stunned, then stared fixedly at the lightning before him. The sight of the electric arcs awakened memories buried deep within his mind.
"I'm sorry. While I was away, Crocodile dared to do something so reckless." A deep voice echoed through the hall as a figure stepped forward and appeared before the father and daughter.
Igaram, who had just entered the palace, widened his eyes upon seeing the figure in the hall; he was so overcome with emotion that he could not speak.
Cobra himself opened his mouth slightly; the light in his eyes was brighter than ever.
Only Vivi still looked confused.
"Kojin!" Cobra called out in a trembling voice, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes.
"My younger brother... you've finally returned!"
Kojin looked at Cobra's visibly aged appearance and felt a mixture of emotions and nostalgia.
"Yeah. I'm back. And this time, I'll make the entire world hear my voice!" Kojin nodded heavily.
"What happened with Crocodile will never happen again!"
Hearing this, Cobra took a deep breath, then shook his head and sighed.
"I don't blame him. He also intended it for your own good. It's just that the Poneglyph that our family has guarded for generations... I cannot just hand it over to others."
Kojin smiled lightly.
"As long as Big Brother understands."
"Of course I understand!"
Whether it's you or Little Crocodile, you are both bravely striving for true justice.
"And he was very respectful towards me as well. He never did anything excessive."
Cobra sighed emotionally.
Kojin's expression relaxed slightly while Vivi stood nearby, completely dumbfounded.
'Who exactly was this man?'
'Father, if you weren't tortured or mistreated after being captured, why did I have to go through wind and rain, seek help from pirates and struggle so much?'
'Was I really the only unlucky one here?!'
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395