Pirates: Building High Walls Starting from the East Blue

"..."

What does this guy mean?

No, when did my image in the ocean become like this?

Nami sees him this way, Kuzan sees him this way, and now even his partner Crocodile sees him this way?

"Oh, what a degenerate naval captain." Kuzan, who was watching the drama, looked at Shache with schadenfreude. "No wonder he's been hiding in the East Blue all this time~"

“…” Xia Che ignored Kuzan, who was watching the commotion, stared into the distance, and, forcing a smile, said through the Den Den Mushi, “I saw it, I saw it!” He chuckled awkwardly, “By the way, what did you need me for? If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up!”

"That agent didn't say?" Crocodile frowned upon hearing Shacher's words, then snorted coldly, "What a stupid agent, oh well."

The Den Den Mushi, with a cigar in its mouth, seemed to exhale a puff of smoke, its face bearing a serious expression.

"I do need your help with something this time!"

"Please say!"

"Baroque Works has obtained intelligence that Nico Robin, the Devil's Child, is currently hiding in the East Blue. I need your help to find her and bring her to the Kingdom of Alabasta!"

As Crocodile's voice faded.

"..."

Everyone narrowed their eyes, even Kuzan, staring at the Den Den Mushi.

He seemed to have no idea that Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was targeting the World Government's Devil Child.

As Nico Robin is capable of deciphering historical texts, there is only one reason why pirates seek her out.

Is that guy also interested in so-called historical texts?

Kuzan looked up at Shache, his face expressionless. "What will you choose?"

How to choose?

Xia Che's eyes narrowed slightly, then he said with a surprised expression, "The Demon Child is in the East Blue? Is your information reliable, Brother Crocodile?"

“I don’t know yet, but Baroque Works has indeed received news that the Devil Child has fled to the East Blue. So, I hope you can help me find her. After all, as a naval captain in the East Blue, you'll have more convenient access there.” Crocodile’s Den Den Mushi said with a serious expression, “If you find her, I won’t treat you unfairly!”

“Hey, I am…”

"One hundred million? I can offer a better price than the World Government!" Before Xia Che could finish speaking, Crocodile, seemingly anticipating Xia Che's words, directly and without hesitation offered his price: "As long as you hand her over to me!"

The words fell.

"..."

Xia Che did not answer him immediately, but instead narrowed his eyes again.

And this moment.

After hearing Crocodile's words, the entire hall fell silent again. Everyone lowered their heads to look at Shache, who was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, not at all like a righteous naval officer.

What would you choose?

Even the usually lazy Kuzan sat up straight, his hands crossed in front of his chin and resting on his knees. His face was expressionless as he glanced at Robin, who was looking at Shattrath with a faint smile.

Nico Robin, was this the right choice you made?

But it wasn't just Robin; even Nami, standing nearby, curled her lip upon hearing "one hundred million," thinking, "Just one hundred million..."

Although there are many, who are you looking down on?

If we just have Moke make another trip, wouldn't that solve the problem?

And they still have a gold mine to mine!

just.

Seeing that Shachet didn't immediately refuse Crocodile, Nami glanced at Robin, then looked at Shachet again. Although she knew Shachet wouldn't really be interested in the 100 million, she still anxiously opened her mouth, "Shachet..."

The words are not finished yet.

But Robin stopped him immediately.

Robin shook her head at Nami, then smiled at Shache, "I believe him!"

She had already entrusted herself to him.

Now that you've made your choice, how can you doubt your boss?

And this time.

Xia Che, his eyes slightly narrowed, finally spoke, leisurely reclining on the sofa, swinging his legs, and smiling as he said, "Of course I'll help you, brother! But..."

Before the Den Den Mushi could even show a satisfied smile...

“I want 500 million! After all, the East Blue is a huge place, and it’s not easy to find someone who is hiding. My men also need to eat, and this is very dangerous for me as a Marine. If the World Government finds out, I’ll be in big trouble.”

"..." Faced with Shattrath's bid increase, Crocodile's Den Den Mushi fell silent, then, seemingly suppressing its inner rage, said, "Five hundred million, you know yourself..."

only.

The words are not finished yet.

"Crocodile, you don't want the Marine Headquarters to hear that you're searching for the Devil Child, do you?"

As Shache finished speaking, Crocodile's Den Den Mushi fell silent once again.

“Three hundred million! That’s the most I can offer! You should know that the Marine Headquarters wouldn’t tolerate a Marine captain who keeps pirates at home!” Crocodile said expressionlessly through his Den Den Mushi. “And I haven’t even met the Devil’s Child yet!”

"Alright! For Crocodile's sake~" Shache chuckled, calling him "brother" again, and said, "But could you transfer the money first?"

"Understood!" Seemingly unable to tolerate the degenerate naval captain's pragmatism any longer, Crocodile snorted coldly. "I hope you find it soon, otherwise..."

The words are not finished yet.

He then hung up the Den Den Mushi immediately.

"dududu~"

"..."

Shache continued to squint at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, then, ignoring Kuzan who was looking at him with a meaningful smile, he looked up, turned to Robin beside him, and sighed, "Looks like there are a lot of people who want to take you away!"

The words fell.

Robin, standing to the side, also smiled, seemingly unconcerned about Xia Che's words. With that elegant and intellectual smile, she winked playfully, "Then BOSS will have to keep a close eye on me~"

"..."

It's only been one night, and your secretary has become so skilled!

Xia Che smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Vivi in ​​front of him, "So now tell me what Alabasta can give me?"

……

at the same time.

"..."

Crocodile, who had also hung up the phone, stared at the Den Den Mushi in his hand with a grim expression. In the dimly lit office, he muttered to himself, "Dand Shacher..."

"Do I need to deal with that colonel myself?" Hearing his boss's meaningful words, the burly man beside him, with a white crew cut, black skin, Baroque Works agent codenamed Mr. 1, named Daz Bonis, said with a serious expression, "I'll make sure he obediently completes the BOSS's mission!"

“No need! He’s just a corrupt naval captain.” Crocodile shook his head, holding his cigar in his left hand and tapping the table with his right. “It’s not too late to deal with him after he finds the person I need.”

A genius colonel who was demoted by the Navy Headquarters?

It's laughable that someone who has stayed in the weakest sea for so many years, colluding with pirates, making money in the East Blue, playing around with female pirates, and has no achievements whatsoever, could possibly be a genius.

Although he had also escaped from the New World to the Grand Line, he did not fall into depravity. He had been looking for a way to re-enter the New World and prepare to avenge his previous humiliation!

And now...

He has already found a solution.

If it weren't for the fact that he had some strength and he wanted to turn that guy into his spy in the Navy, he, as a great pirate, wouldn't have bothered with such disgusting stuff at all.

Crocodile recalled the first time he met that guy. His peculiar swordsmanship had indeed surprised him, but the dignified naval captain was so secretive about the woman beside him. When Crocodile asked him questions, Crocodile deliberately changed the subject and wouldn't even let Crocodile glance at him.

And that daughter... although he didn't say it, the scent that woman exuded was not something a Navy officer would have.

The smell of criminals was all too familiar to him.

He's just a degenerate naval captain who was demoted to the East Blue, who sleeps around with pirate women, and is greedy and lustful.

But otherwise, how could I have bribed him?

That's why I haven't asked this guy for money all these years.

What a fool who still has some use!

Crocodile sneered, then looked up at Daz Bones beside him, flicked his cigarette ash, and said, "Baroque Works is still your responsibility for now. Don't let anyone discover my identity. Also, transfer the money as soon as possible, otherwise that greedy Marine won't work for me. As for that female agent, I guess... she's not coming back!"

……

the other side.

"I……"

Upon hearing Colonel Xia Che's words, Princess Vivi was immediately delighted, but then she frowned before she could even speak.

"Based on your introduction, the Alabasta Kingdom seems to be one of the top powers in the Grand Line." Hearing Shache's decision, Nami had some worries, but she could only accept it.

Next…

The negotiations will have to be left to her.

Nami's eyes gleamed with a familiar light, a professional smile playing on her lips. "How about a billion? For saving a country, that's not an exorbitant price!"

only.

Vivi's face fell when faced with Nami's offer.

Seeing Vivi's expression, Nami, who was used to dealing with money, immediately understood and looked at Vivi suspiciously, "A major power in the Grand Line, a mere ten billion...?"

"The Kingdom of Alabasta is indeed short of funds right now. Alabasta was once a peaceful and prosperous country, but in recent years, due to the weather, not only has the country's income decreased, but there have also been riots among the people. Now, the Kingdom of Alabasta is in chaos, and the country, which has suffered from disasters, has very little money left. Moreover, in order to benefit its people, it has to use most of its money to subsidize them."

Vivi gave a wry smile. "So, although I really hope you can help the Kingdom of Alabasta, the Kingdom of Alabasta simply can't come up with ten billion right now!"

"Is it that bad?" Nami scratched her head, feeling a bit of a headache, after hearing Princess Vivi's words.

Of course, Nami didn't hide anything from Princess Vivi, and she accepted her in her heart. Especially when she heard that a princess of a great country had actually infiltrated a criminal organization to save her country, it reminded her of her own past.

After sighing inwardly, she glanced at Xia Che beside her, then looked helplessly at Weiwei, "You're not planning to freeload, are you? Is there nothing good in Alabasta? Why don't you tell me?"