Who told him to become the Pirate King!

Chapter 156 The Cross Guild is Officially Established! (5th update, 190,000 words, please subscribe!)

"No! Daddy!"

Edward Weebull clutched the hem of his shirt tightly with both hands, his face showing an incredulous and aggrieved expression, looking like a large dog suddenly abandoned by its owner.

"Why? Daddy! Don't you want me anymore?"

Over the past few decades.

Buckingham Stussy had been indoctrinating Edward Weebull.

Even when Edward Weebuhr was sleeping, Buckingham Stussy would whisper in his ear—

"You are Whitebeard's son, and you are the only one who can inherit Whitebeard's property."

Decades have passed.

Edward Weebuhr believed Buckingham Stussy's words without a doubt.

You could even say that...

Edward Weebull's purpose in life was to become the Whitebeard's son and then inherit his father's fortune...

But now.

Edward Weebull felt as if the sky was about to fall.

Meeting my father for the first time, and having a happy and fulfilling family—two joyful things happening at the same time—should have been a dreamlike, magical moment…

Why did it turn out this way?

"Dad, look!"

Edward Weebull stroked his white beard as if showing off.

"Our beards are exactly the same! I have a white beard too! I am your son!"

Until this very moment.

Edward Weebull couldn't figure out the true identity of the "Clay Weebull" opposite him.

"White Dragon, what are you doing?"

Mihawk found Storm's actions utterly incomprehensible.

"Are you... playing a fool?"

Mihawk had figured it out completely.

Edward Weevil, the so-called "Whitebeard III," only inherited the physique and strength of the young Whitebeard, but not his wisdom.

Edward Weevil possesses high physical strength, but his intelligence can only be described as...

Roughly equivalent to mentally challenged.

Mihawk was greatly disappointed with "Whitebeard III" and had completely given up on challenging him.

His anticipation for the yet-to-be-met "Whitebeard II" has plummeted due to Edward Weebull's lackluster performance.

Whitebeard III is a fool...

What will Whitebeard II be?

but.

Regardless of Mihawk's views on "White II" and "White III".

Regardless of Edward Weebull's actual level of intelligence.

None of this is a reason for the White Dragon to play with this fool!

"I wasn't 'playing with' him."

Storm didn't look at Mihawk and answered casually.

"To be precise, I want to take his 'ownership' back from his 'mother'."

Edward Weebuhr was indeed not very intelligent.

Storm knew this too.

He just didn't know that this guy's intelligence level was so low...

To be fair...

There are indeed many villains, bad guys, trash, and scum on the sea.

However, there are differences between different kinds of dregs.

Some scum are born evil, so bad that they are beyond redemption.

Some scum are manipulated into becoming "villains".

Edward Weebull stood out even among a group of rubbish.

According to Storm.

Edward Weevil was indeed a pirate who committed unforgivable crimes.

but.

He's an idiot.

A fool who lacks even the most basic ability to make his own decisions.

Edward Weebull's life was constantly being manipulated by Buckingham Stussy.

In other words.

Edward Weebull was merely a "tool".

Such a silly tool.

Storm had no intention of killing the other party.

In his eyes, Buckingham Stussy was far more despicable than Edward Weebull!

But Edward Weebuhr was a "good boy" who believed Buckingham Stussy's words.

A fool, a fool's tool, a fool's tool mama's boy...

Storm did not intend to let Edward Weebuhr continue to stay with Buckingham Stussy.

That would only cause harm to the ocean.

Storm intends to take over "custody" of Edward Weebull.

Mihawk wasn't too impressed with White Dragon's explanation; he understood Storm's meaning through a more "pirate" lens of thinking.

"You've taken a liking to Edward Weevil's power, so you want to recruit him as your subordinate."

"That's one way to understand it!"

Storm readily admitted it.

"Number Two, do you want to come here?"

"You've tried it, my dragon, it's big and convenient."

"……boring."

Mihawk's lips twitched violently a few times, and he stopped interfering with the white dragon's actions.

The White Dragon's method of recruiting Edward Weevil was somewhat despicable.

However, compared to that, Mihawk still loathed Buckingham Stussy, who had previously abandoned Edward Weevil without hesitation!

not to mention.

Wasn't Haku always such a despicable guy?

Storm ended his conversation with Mihawk and turned his attention back to Edward Weebull.

He doesn't like repeating the same thing twice.

But Edward Weebull's mind really doesn't work well...

"I am not your father, Weevil."

Clay Weevil repeated the sentence again.

"Your power, your bloodline, your genes, all come from the real Edward Newgate the Whitebeard!"

"Whitebeard is your father!"

"White beard?"

Edward Weebull stopped stroking his crescent-shaped beard and stared blankly at the clay Weebull with his big eyes.

"Aren't you Whitebeard? Aren't you my father?"

Explaining something to an idiot is really difficult...

Storm sighed inwardly, but then he suddenly realized something.

Why did he need to explain to Edward Weebull?

"Weebull".

Clay Weevil raised his right hand and released another huge lump of clay, shaping it into a tall and sturdy clay hut.

"Go inside and get some sleep! When you wake up, you'll see a different 'new world'."

What "bloodline," what "genes," what "new world"...

Edward Weebull didn't understand any of it.

However, he can understand the word "sleep".

Since his father told him to go to sleep, he should go to sleep.

Edward Weebull strode toward the clay hut that had suddenly appeared, entered it without realizing it, and then began to snore loudly.

"Snoring...snoring..."

In less than a few seconds.

A deafeningly loud snoring sound came from the clay hut.

Edward Weebull fell into a deep sleep.

After resolving this "big problem," Storm used the power of the Clay-Clay Fruit to grab Buckingham Stussy, who had just been carried over by Edward Weevil.

He originally intended to execute this "remnant of the old era" on the spot.

However, recalling Crocodile's previous reaction, he stopped in time.

Storm brought the unconscious Buckingham Stussy to Crocodile's side and then forcibly awakened the "Desert Crocodile".

Crocodile awoke from his coma, still feeling a twisting, sharp pain in his lower abdomen.

The aftereffects of Storm's "abdomen punch" are still being felt.

"Mixed protein dragon..."

Crocodile looked up at the sky, having lost count of how many times he had said those words.

"Old Sha, wake up, get up!"

Storm's voice reached Crocodile's ears at just the right moment.

"Do you still want this woman?"

mother-in-law?

Crocodile was startled and immediately tried to sit up straight.

However, a strange sensation coming from below directly hindered his movements.

A giant banana crocodile, nearly several meters long, tried to sit up, but was blocked by its thick tail, causing the crocodile's body to fold into a peculiar arc in mid-air.

Click!

Mihawk, who was standing nearby, captured this scene perfectly.

Crocodile, however, paid no attention to the commotion coming from Hawkeye's side. He stared in disbelief at the incredibly thick banana crocodile tail that had appeared beneath him.

He wanted to touch it, but then withdrew his hand—no!

hand?

Crocodile stared at his short, thick crocodile claw, and his brain completely went blank.

Click—click—

Mihawk made full use of his sharp eyesight and seized the opportunity to take several pictures in succession.

Crocodile was stunned for a full half minute before he barely regained his senses.

Although he didn't know what was going on.

But his keen intuition immediately pinpointed the suspect—

"Mixed-up dragon!"

The banana crocodile opened its blood-red maw and roared at Storm.

"What did you do to me?"

"A tiny, insignificant 'enhancement'."

"Stromb asked with great interest."

"I didn't have a chance to ask Hawkeye before, but now I can ask you."

"How are you feeling right now? Um, to put it more clearly..."

Do you think that crocodile tail is "grown" onto your body, or "attached" to it?

Storm is actually quite interested in this question.

The eight-star Clay Fruit allows him to freely modify the shape of other life forms according to his wishes.

But what is the difference between the acquired shape changes granted by this Devil Fruit ability and the innate physical characteristics?

Can the "Nendoroids" modified by Storm possess corresponding body manipulation abilities?

For example, Mihawk.

Can the "harpy" he transforms into fly with wings?

Take Crocodile for example.

Can this "banana crocodile" whip its target with its tail?

"Hawkeye..."

Crocodile instantly realized something from Storm's words.

He wasn't the only one who was "modified" by Haku; the world's greatest swordsman was also among them!

Crocodile glanced at Mihawk.

Mihawk, who had just been enthusiastically taking pictures of the sand crocodile, suddenly turned ashen-faced.

Everyone has a past they'd rather forget...

Being transformed into a "half-human, half-eagle" by the White Dragon is Mihawk's darkest history.

Crocodile had gleaned some information from Mihawk's changing expression, and his mood improved as a result.

As long as I'm not the only one suffering, then there's no problem.

No wonder!

Crocodile put those distracting thoughts aside.

His combat experience is also very rich.

He had realized that his transformation stemmed from Haku's Devil Fruit ability.

If it's a Devil Fruit ability, then Armament Haki is its natural enemy!

Crocodile mustered his strength and unleashed his Haki, hoping to dispel Strom's power directly.

however.

What Mihawk once accomplished.

Crocodile, however, could not do that.

Even when Crocodile unleashed his Armament Haki, he was unable to dispel the shape change that Strom had placed on his body. Instead, it was as if a solid layer of Armament Haki had wrapped around his crocodile scales.

"What a shame, Old Sha."

Storm's sarcastic remarks reached Crocodile's ears.

"It seems your [domineering aura] can't dispel my power!"

It possesses a domineering and restraining ability, but it is not absolute.

Storm's [Clay Fruit] ability development level has reached eight stars.

Crocodile's "Haki" is still a long way from being at the eighth-star level.

under these circumstances.

Crocodile's Haki naturally couldn't dispel Strom's ability.

In comparison.

Mihawk's [Haki] is stronger, so he can directly dispel that "Harpie" form.

Crocodile saw that even with the eruption of Haki, he was unable to dispel the power.

He panicked.

He was really anxious.

"Vongola Storm!"

Crocodile gritted his teeth and glared at Storm, calling out the latter's full name.

"Get rid of that damn ability of yours right now!"

"So, what's the price?"

Storm tilted his head, completely unfazed by the crocodile's angry expression.

"What price are you willing to pay for me to remove this ability?"

Crocodile wanted to say that as long as he could get rid of this bizarre crocodile form, he would even be willing to let that bastard Hakuryu die immediately!

But Storm was right in front of him.

Crocodile ultimately did not say those words.

This time, he was simply transformed into a banana crocodile.

Who knows what that bastard White Dragon will turn him into next?

Crocodile paused for a moment, then passed the "ball" back to White Dragon.

What do you want?

"Old Sha, look how nice the weather is today."

Storm suddenly uttered a seemingly inexplicable remark, but his next sentence revealed his true intentions.

"Isn't this a good day to form an alliance?"

Recruiting Crocodile... is quite difficult.

Even though Storm has a hold on Crocodile's weakness, he isn't very confident he can recruit him.

Then we have to settle for the next best thing.

Recruiting won't work.

Let's switch to cooperation!

"An alliance?"

Crocodile glanced at his crocodile tail.

Given the current situation, you're saying you want to form an alliance with me?

That damn white dragon bastard!

Crocodile was unwilling to give an immediate answer, and he looked at Mihawk, who seemed indifferent to the matter.

"Hawkeye, what are your thoughts?"

"I?"

Mihawk replied indifferently.

"This is between the two of you—"

Mihawk hadn't finished speaking.

Suddenly, a very beautiful photograph appeared in Storm's hand.

"Mihawk, look."

Storm waved the harpy portrait in his hand, seemingly extending an invitation sincerely.

"The crocodile is 'sand,' and you are 'eagle.' When you two are combined, you become the 'desert eagle'!"

"What a great name! It sounds incredibly powerful."

Mihawk didn't want to talk.

He simply reached out and touched the hilt of the Black Blade Night behind him.

He now wants to fulfill his previous promise—

Slay the White Dragon!

And at this time.

Crocodile, who had just been looking furious, was the first to calm down.

Since things had come to this point, and he couldn't immediately get out of this awkward situation, he could only consider more practical issues.

Although Bai Long is a complete scoundrel, he is indeed extremely powerful...

Hawkeye goes without saying; he certainly deserves the title of the world's greatest swordsman...

If there were an organization that absorbed both White Dragon and Hawkeye...

Crocodile suddenly realized that he didn't seem to need to search for any ancient weapons to obtain power comparable to that of the Four Emperors!

"Hawkeye!"

Crocodile looked at Mihawk and said in a deep voice.

"Although Bailong is a bastard, what he said makes a lot of sense..."

"The three of us together will form a powerful organization that the whole world cannot ignore."

"Sand crocodile."

Mihawk stopped drawing his sword and calmly looked at Crocodile.

"I know you. You never trust others, and neither do I."

"I can't trust either you or Bailong."

"but……"

Crocodile let out a soft laugh.

Doesn't this prove that we happen to be "the same kind"?

"Since they are 'pirates,' they should naturally 'group together like birds of a feather'!"

"As for the White Dragon..."

Crocodile looked at Storm and raised his crocodile claws again.

"Weren't you also under his control? You should have experienced his strength firsthand, right?"

Mihawk fell silent.

"Gentlemen, I once said this to someone else, and now I'll tell you about it."

Storm spoke up at the opportune moment.

"The so-called 'pirates' can act together as long as their interests align."

"Although the three of us are all 'Seven Warlords of the Sea'."

"But from an outsider's perspective, we are just pirates."

"Since we are pirates, our 'basic interests' are aligned."

"From this point on, we already have a basis for cooperation, don't we?"

Crocodile nodded in agreement.

Mihawk remained silent for a while before finally speaking.

"The World Government would never want to see three Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea) together!"

"When has Hawkeye ever cared about the World Government's opinion?"

Storm gave a sarcastic laugh, and then he continued.

"Besides, why should the World Government know about our alliance?"

"If the three of us know, then we'll know."

"Furthermore, we're forming an organization, not a pirate crew; it's just a loose alliance."

Storm has made his point clear.

Mihawk had no reason to refuse.

Although he still did not trust the White Dragon and the Sand Crocodile.

But adults only look at their own interests.

As Crocodile just said.

The mere fact that these three were Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea) together was enough to shock the entire ocean.

From this perspective, there's no harm in joining this loose alliance...

Mihawk looked at Storm and extended his right hand.

"photo!"

Storm raised an eyebrow and tossed a thick stack of photos of "Harpies" to Mihawk.

Seeing this transaction, Crocodile couldn't sit still any longer.

"Where are my photos? You two bastards!"

Mihawk didn't say anything, but simply showed all the photos of the "desert crocodile" he had just taken.

The same goes for Storm.

"Sand Crocodile, destroy them! Just in case, use your power."

Mihawk looked at Crocodile and gave him a direct reminder.

"It's 'Erosion of Reincarnation'!"

"Feed, feed..."

Several dark lines appeared on Storm's forehead.

"Destroying a few photos using an erosion cycle? Aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill?"

But it is quite obvious.

Crocodile did not think that doing so was making a mountain out of a molehill.

He unleashed the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit, completely destroying the stacks of photos of the "Harpie" and the "Desert Crocodile," leaving not a trace.

"In that case, our organization can be considered officially established!"

Storm spoke first.

"What should we call our organization? How about 'Stormguard Legion'?"

"It sounds awful!"

Crocodile refused outright, glancing at Mihawk, his gaze lingering for a moment on the cross-shaped Black Blade Night.

"How about calling it the 'Cross Guild'?"

Cross Guild?

Storm's lips twitched.

Old Sand, Eagle, and me?

So who am I?

Storm decisively refused.

"No way! This name is too ordinary! And it doesn't have any imposing presence at all!"

Mihawk hadn't had any particular thoughts at first.

However, seeing that Bai Long was so unequivocally opposed, he immediately cast a vote in favor.

"I agree! Cross Guild, a very good name!"

Two against one.

The objection was invalid.

The Cross Guild was officially established.

(End of this chapter)