A look of interest appeared on Kane's face.
"Little crocodile… you're pretty sensible."
"Go on—how much are you offering?"
Crocodile felt a wave of relief.
A smile returned to his face.
As expected… this Marine is no good person.
He confidently raised five fingers.
Kane froze for a moment.
"Five hundred billion?"
Crocodile nearly choked on his cigar.
The smile on his face stiffened instantly.
"…Fifty billion."
He gritted his teeth as he spoke.
Five hundred billion?
Even selling himself wouldn't be enough.
No—
Even selling all of Baroque Works wouldn't be enough.
"You take me for a beggar?"
"Fifty billion?"
Kane rolled his eyes.
Crocodile's lips twitched.
Fifty billion wasn't a small number.
That was already on the level of a Yonko's bounty.
But no one dared hunt a Yonko for their bounty.
Even for Baroque Works—
This amount would cut deep.
It was nearly one-third of everything he had built—
Over more than twenty years since returning from the New World.
If fifty billion was "beggar money"—
Then he might as well go become a beggar himself.
"If that's all, then forget it."
"No matter what, I'm still a Marine of justice."
"How could I bow to money?"
Kane said righteously.
Crocodile: "???"
"…Eighty billion."
"This is my limit."
Crocodile's face had gone completely blank.
Inside—
His heart was bleeding.
"Eighty billion…"
Kane seemed to think.
Baroque Works really is rich…
If this man could take out that much—
Then his total wealth must be far beyond it.
"Don't push your luck."
"If this still isn't enough—"
"Then we'll go down together!"
Crocodile said coldly.
"Heh… go down together?"
"Are you overestimating yourself?"
Crocodile didn't respond.
But his resolve was clear.
"Fine."
"That number works."
"I accept."
Kane agreed immediately.
Crocodile let out a breath of relief—
But inside, a vicious thought formed.
Once I achieve my goal…
I'll make this bastard pay.
"Wait here."
"I'll go gather the money."
"Gather?"
Kane frowned.
"With that amount—"
"Even Baroque Works needs time to prepare."
"Wait a second…"
"You're saying Baroque Works is paying this?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Then forget it."
Kane said flatly.
Crocodile had reached his limit.
"What exactly do you want?!"
A terrifying chill flashed through Kane's eyes.
Even Crocodile felt his heart skip.
"What do I want?"
"You're using my money to bribe me—"
"And you're asking me what I want?"
Crocodile froze.
For a brief moment—
He couldn't process it.
Then—
His face twisted in rage.
"You old bastard—"
"You're playing me!"
Kane's response—
Was a kick.
His Haki-coated leg slammed into Crocodile's head.
The bandaged Crocodile was sent flying—
Crashing straight into a wall.
"Playing you?"
"The moment I stepped in here—"
"Everything in Baroque Works became mine."
"You're the one trying to play me."
No one present expected this.
The next moment—
They all charged forward.
The battle began.
But they were nothing more than small fry.
Kane barely put in any effort—
Before crushing them all.
The hall filled with screams.
"I'll kill you!"
Crocodile roared from the rubble.
At the same time—
Mr. 1 attacked from the side.
His arms transformed into sharp blades.
Kane looked at him with disdain.
His left hand—
Coated in Armament Haki—
Caught the slash barehanded.
"I heard your body is as hard as steel?"
With overwhelming strength—
Kane restrained him completely.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist."
Flames erupted from Kane's right fist.
The terrifying heat made Mr. 1's pupils shrink.
Before he could react—
The punch landed directly in his abdomen.
The heat and force—
Sent him vomiting blood instantly.
His eyes bulged—
And his body flew out—
Crashing into machinery.
His fate—
Unknown.
"Steel?"
"Trash."
Crocodile's sand blade struck next.
"The same trick won't work on me!"
The blade hit Kane's shoulder—
But Crocodile felt no joy.
It was like striking steel—
No—
Something even harder.
"Do you know why I didn't dodge?"
Kane's mocking voice rang out.
Crocodile didn't answer—
Because Kane attacked again.
"Fire Dragon's Hook Claw."
His right hand transformed into a dragon claw—
Grabbing toward Crocodile's head.
"And the reason—"
"There's simply no need."
"Your attacks can't even break my defense."
Crocodile's face changed drastically.
He barely dodged—
But Kane's kick followed instantly.
Crocodile preemptively turned into sand—
The kick passed through.
"Not bad."
"You've learned to elementalize in advance."
"Seems my lesson wasn't wasted."
"But don't forget—"
"I'm a Fire Dragon."
Flames surged violently.
Crocodile, in sand form—
Let out a scream.
His body was blasted away again.
"Crocodile!"
Kane showed no intention of stopping.
He appeared before him instantly.
"Desert Spada!"
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
The two attacks collided—
But without question—
Kane's attack was far stronger.
Crocodile was injured again.
Before he could react—
Kane grabbed his head—
And just like earlier—
Smashed him into the ground.
BOOM!
The floor shattered instantly.
Kane released him quickly—
Avoiding getting blood on his hands.
The next moment—
He stomped down.
Crocodile tried to resist—
His golden hook stabbed forward.
Kane knew—
There was deadly poison inside it.
But—
Crocodile was far too slow.
Kane lifted his foot—
And stomped directly onto the hook—
Driving it into the ground.
And that wasn't all.
Flames erupted from his leg.
Dragon scales appeared—
His foot transformed into a claw.
The power surged—
Along with terrifying heat.
Under that force—
Crocodile's golden hook—
Twisted—
Then shattered.
The poison inside—
Was completely burned away.
A look of disgust appeared on Kane's face.
"I've hated that hook for a long time."
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