Chapter 237 New World Gate Warning
"Crocodile, you are much weaker than I imagined."
Sig said these words with a straight face, words that even he himself didn't believe.
In all fairness, Crocodile's performance was much stronger than Sig had anticipated.
He had set up a Seastone trap in advance, and using his Suna Suna no Mi ability, he had unleashed a sandstorm far exceeding his usual strength, a sandstorm powerful enough to destroy a city...
Sig almost capsized several times.
However, he continued to follow the script he had written, speaking calmly:
"The Sand Crocodile who could fight evenly with Barrett, after failing to challenge Whitebeard, set his sights on the ancient weapons."
"Did you realize that the difference in strength between you and Whitebeard was too great, so you abandoned personal strength and turned to seek the military power of ancient weapons? Sand Crocodile."
Sig looked directly into Crocodile's eyes and said coldly:
"That's why, after so many years, you have become weaker."
Crocodile raised his eyelids slightly and looked up at Sig.
"Sig, don't think that just because you won once, you're qualified to point fingers at me."
His tone was chilling, his face still cold, without the slightest awareness of being a prisoner.
"Just won once?"
Sig smiled but didn't say anything.
Kuro, who was beside him, pushed his glasses up with the heel of his hand and spoke up:
"Crocodile, you said that no one could defeat you in the desert."
"You used traps, you used your ability to stir up a sandstorm in advance, but that's irrelevant."
"After all, there's no such thing as despicable in battles between pirates."
As Kuro said this, he couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration for Crocodile.
He and Crocodile were the same kind of people, both ruthless, scheming, and even their hairstyles were the same slicked-back style.
Both externally and internally, Kuro could sense the similarities between them.
But Crocodile's methods were indeed beyond his reach.
Despite Captain Kuro's many schemes, his previous scope of influence was limited. It was only after staying by Sig's side that his vision gradually broadened.
"Crocodile."
Kuro said:
"In your most advantageous desert home ground, you used so many schemes, but in the end, you still lost to Boss Sig."
"A thousand schemes are no match for Boss Sig's formidable strength. You call this just winning once?"
Kuro sneered.
Crocodile glanced at Kuro but remained silent, not speaking for a moment.
After a while, Crocodile finally said:
"Sig, what's your purpose? Did you come here specifically to provoke me, this... loser?"
Crocodile raised his head, revealing a mocking smile.
Before Sig could speak, Crocodile continued:
"I admit that you are stronger."
"But if you're going to say something ridiculous like joining forces with me, then don't bother."
He sneered, his cold eyes staring at Sig:
"I will not join forces with anyone, even if I become your prisoner now, or die by your hands, it's all the same."
Sig's heart sank slightly.
Crocodile's reaction was even more stubborn than he had expected.
He seemed to be a person who was unwilling to be subservient to others, a person with great ambition. After all, many years later, he still yearned to take Whitebeard's head.
However, Kuro beside him didn't react much. He directly took out a wanted poster from his arms; it was Crocodile's current wanted poster.
"Boss Sig, this 600 million bounty is not a small amount."
"Since he refuses to submit..." A cold smile appeared on Kuro's face, his round glasses reflecting a cold light: "Boss, why don't we hand him over to the World Government and exchange him for the bounty?"
Kuro's words were filled with a thick threat.
The Navy's wanted posters were basically aimed at bounty hunters and other neutral powerhouses. Logically speaking, Sig, as a wanted criminal, couldn't take Crocodile's head to claim the bounty.
But with Sig's current status and position, there were some loopholes to exploit.
For example, with Sig's current status and influence on Whole Cake Island, he could completely go through channels in the underworld and find intermediaries to claim the bounty on his behalf.
Or, if Sig contacted King Cobra of Alabasta and let the Alabasta Kingdom act as the intermediary, Cobra would probably not object.
Upon hearing these words, Crocodile's face gradually darkened, and his brows furrowed.
"You're treating me like merchandise to be bought and sold?"
There's a chance!
Sig's heart stirred.
The previous conversation had basically followed Kuro's script.
To put it simply, it was to first wear down Crocodile's spirit, then use verbal attacks to find Crocodile's weakness, and depending on the situation, use threats and inducements... This was Captain Kuro's usual tactic.
"But... this might not be enough."
Sig pondered in his heart.
The original Crocodile, after his ambition was worn down, completely gave up resistance and semi-actively accepted arrest by the Navy, entering Impel Down.
If it weren't for hearing about Whitebeard, Crocodile would probably have stayed in Impel Down.
This level of threat should only make Crocodile unhappy, but it wasn't enough to make him compromise.
After thinking for a moment, Sig made a decision in his heart.
"Crocodile, I'm very interested in that secret of yours."
"In Rainbase City, you revealed your secret yourself, but that wasn't the truth, was it?"
As soon as these words were spoken.
Crocodile's face remained expressionless, only his breathing became slightly heavier.
His reaction was very subtle, but in the quiet prison cell, both Sig and Kuro were sharp-minded individuals, and immediately had a guess in their hearts...
We got him!
The same thought appeared in both Sig and Kuro's minds.
Sig smiled slightly and continued:
"Sand Crocodile, with your intelligence network, you must be very clear about my past."
"My relationship with the Revolutionary Army is actually quite good."
"I don't know exactly what secrets Ivankov has about you."
"But..."
Sig took out a small Transponder Snail from his arms, but his gaze remained fixed on Crocodile.
"Do you want to bet whether Ivankov will tell me this secret himself?"
"You...."
Crocodile's expression clearly changed. He glared at Sig, anger burning intensely in his eyes.
"Oh, your xpression in one's eyes is quite good..."
Sig calmly added fuel to the fire.
"Ivankov is the user of the Horu Horu no Mi. He has a move that can open the doors to a new world for people..."
"You should know this better than I do, right? Crocodile?"
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