Chapter 196: Old Crocodile: You Have Another Boss on the Outside?
Wait.
That sentence sounded like a boring word game.
The other agents just shrugged upon hearing it.
As senior agents of Baroque Works, what other options did they have besides helping the boss?
But Bon Clay understood.
What if there were two bosses?
The others didn't know, but Bon Clay did. Robin also knew—
From the hints in her words, Bon Clay could sense that Miss All Sunday was aware of Ralph's existence as a "boss."
She was the second-in-command around Crocodile!
Even she knew about Ralph...
Didn't that mean everything Ralph said was true?
And just now, the one who had called out was Lufia-chan...
Thinking about the conflict between the two "bosses," recalling the happy times of eating and dancing together on the Straw Hat Pirates' ship, Bon Clay felt he couldn't just stand by.
He stood up.
"I-I'll go take a look..."
He stammered, then headed toward the exit of the secret chamber.
As he moved, the other agents stirred.
"Can't hold back anymore, Mr. 2?"
Miss Merry Christmas sneered.
"I'd be curious too," Miss Doublefinger put down her coffee cup, "What kind of power does the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile, truly possess?"
"Since Mr. 2 is going, there's no reason for us to lag behind."
Mr. 1 also stood up.
The senior agents left their seats one after another, following behind Robin—
She skillfully manipulated the mechanisms, opening another passage.
"This passage leads directly to the boss's office."
Robin said,
"We can 'observe the battle.'"
However, when the agents reached the office, everyone froze.
The anticipated great battle was nowhere to be seen.
Crocodile sat leisurely in his boss chair, a cigar in his mouth. His enemy, the Straw Hat Girl, was already locked inside a massive cage.
"Let me out!"
Lufia shouted from inside the cage, pounding on the bars with all her might,
"I came here to knock you out! How dare you set a trap, you coward!"
Crocodile exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression indifferent.
"As the owner of a casino, with so many Devil Fruit users in the world, isn't it normal to install a Seastone cage in the office?"
He said, "Blame yourself for being too reckless."
"I've seen plenty of Pirates like you who don't use their brains!"
"You'll only ever be Pirates!"
But he was somewhat curious.
Why did this Straw Hat Girl come looking for trouble with him?
They had no grudge between them.
But before he could resort to threats, bribes, torture, or even ask a single question, Lufia in the cage spoke first.
"Bon Clay!"
She shouted toward the corner of the office, "You really are here! That means I didn't come to the wrong place! This guy with hooks on his hands must be Crocodile, right?!"
Bon Clay's face instantly turned pale.
Crocodile in the office, along with the other agents, were stunned.
Crocodile followed Lufia's gaze and saw that his agents had disobeyed his orders and come up without permission. But that wasn't what angered him the most.
This Pirate who dared to attack him seemed to know one of his agents.
"And you!"
Lufia continued firing at Crocodile, "You're the one who caused this country's drought! Destroyed so many cities! Made Vivi suffer and grieve! Let me out! I'm going to punch you into the sky!"
The cigar in Crocodile's mouth fell onto the table.
His eyes widened.
The nation... drought... Princess Vivi...
How could this insignificant little pirate know so much?
And he even knows Mr. 2...
Crocodile suddenly turned his head.
"Mr. 2."
His voice was icy.
"It's your turn to explain."
All the agents' gazes focused on Bon Clay.
Bon Clay's mind went completely blank.
How did things end up like this?
Wasn't it agreed that employees wouldn't have to take sides?
Wasn't it agreed that after Crocodile's plan failed, Boss Ralph would return to take over Baroque Works?
Why suddenly...
Only one name remained in his mind.
"Lufia-chan... where is Boss Ralph..."
These words reached Crocodile's ears.
Crocodile's expression froze.
"Ralph... Boss?"
He repeated the title, his gaze gradually turning dangerous.
The other agents in the secret room were also stunned.
Boss Ralph?
Who is that?
Does Mr. 2 have another boss outside?
Just then—
BOOM!!
The office door was blasted open by a wave of scorching flames!
Wood splinters flew everywhere, dust filled the air.
Three figures emerged from the smoke and dust.
At the front was Ace, wearing a cowboy hat and bare-chested.
His fists were still emitting wisps of flame.
On the left was Zoro, three swords already drawn, his eyes sharp as blades.
On the right was Ralph, a cross hanging around his neck, the little dinosaur Munch-Munch perched on his shoulder.
His expression was helpless, as if saying "I knew this would happen."
Zoro glanced at the situation in the office and clicked his tongue:
"Looks like we're late."
"Not late."
Ralph sighed, "At least everyone's safe."
"I 'politely asked' all the casino guests to leave."
Zoro said, "We can go all out now."
Ralph smiled bitterly:
"I heard everything clearly outside the door. Lufia spilled everything. Besides going all out, there's no other way."
Zoro grinned crookedly:
"Suits me just fine."
As for Crocodile, his gaze swept over the three faces, finally settling on Ralph.
He understood from the earlier conversation—
This black-haired man was the so-called "Boss Ralph."
"Who are you?"
Crocodile's voice was low, "What exactly do you know? What's your purpose in coming here?"
Ralph looked at Crocodile, his mind racing.
Crocodile's words made it seem like he didn't recognize him—
That wouldn't do.
He had already spread the lie about being the "former boss of Baroque Works." Bon Clay and Robin both knew. If he got exposed now...
He wouldn't be able to show off!
He had to think of a way...
Suddenly, inspiration struck Ralph.
"You actually don't recognize me," Ralph pretended to be hurt, shaking his head, "Iva sends his regards."
The moment these words fell, Crocodile's expression shifted from confusion to shock to terror in less than a second.
He abruptly stood up, his chair toppling backward with a screeching sound.
Sweat visibly beaded on Crocodile's forehead.
His face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with unbelievable panic.
The agents were all stunned.
Bon Clay's jaw dropped, Robin narrowed her eyes, Mr. 1 showed a surprised expression for the first time, and Miss Merry Christmas and Miss Doublefinger exchanged bewildered glances.
They had witnessed their boss with their own eyes.
That Warlord of the Sea, that ambitious schemer plotting to overthrow a nation.
Upon hearing the name "Iva," he had instantly turned into this panicked state.
And the one who uttered that name was the black-haired man, Ralph.
Zoro also looked at Ralph in astonishment—
He knew Ralph had many secrets, but to make a Warlord of the Sea this terrified... Wasn't that just too exaggerated?
Ace raised an eyebrow, showing an intrigued expression.
Only Lufia shouted from inside the cage:
"Ralph! Let me out now! I'm gonna punch him away!"
But no one paid her any attention.
Everyone's focus was fixed on Ralph and Crocodile.
Seeing Crocodile's reaction, Ralph was secretly surprised as well.
He had only intended to use the name "Ivankov" to intimidate Crocodile—
After all, in the original story, Crocodile had been caught with a weakness by Ivankov in Impel Down.
But he hadn't expected the effect to be this good.
It seemed Crocodile's fear of Ivankov ran deeper than he had imagined.
"You... What is your relationship with Iva?"
Crocodile's voice was still trembling.
Ralph smiled faintly but did not answer.
Sometimes, not answering was more intimidating than answering.
He took a step forward, and Munch-Munch jumped down from his shoulder, landing on the ground and transforming into its small dinosaur form.
"It seems you didn't recognize me, but that's not important anymore."
Ralph said, "Now, can we talk, Mr. Crocodile...?"
"..."
He paused, looking into Crocodile's eyes:
"Should I call you the 'current' boss of Baroque Works?"