Chapter 88: Crocodile's Encounter!
The world's greatest prison, Impel Down.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"No, don't!"
Plop, plop.
In the Baptism Room on Sea Level, naked men and women lined up, their faces full of terror and despair.
Every time they heard the sound of someone falling into the water and a piercing scream from the front, their bodies would tremble uncontrollably.
Around them, Prison Guards holding Whips or Firearms stared expressionlessly at their every move.
Their gazes, cold and ruthless, were completely out of place in this hot, steam-filled space.
The few Prisoners at the front of the line were trembling, hesitant to take another step forward.
Because there was no path forward; the edge was less than a meter away.
Below the end was a black Iron Pot large enough to hold dozens of people.
It was filled with boiling Hot Water, and in it were 'Red Shrimp' desperately wailing, twisting, and struggling.
"Hurry up and get down."
At this moment, a burly, two-and-a-half-meter-tall Prison Guard, who was standing by, walked over impatiently.
With a bang, he kicked the few Prisoners, who were shaking with terror, down.
Then, with a large hand, he grabbed the Neck of the next female Prisoner.
Completely disregarding her graceful figure and frantic pleas for mercy, he casually tossed her into the boiling water.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
Below, at the other end of the giant Iron Pot, several Prison Guards holding what looked like Fishing Net Scoops took turns scooping up the 'steaming Red Shrimp' who had been boiled unconscious.
They casually tossed them onto the ground not far away.
There, someone put clean zebra Prison Uniforms on them.
Then they were handed over to another group of Prison Guards to be dragged to their respective floors and Prison Cells.
This was the entire Baptism process.
What was astonishing was that these Prisoners, after undergoing five minutes of 'disinfection' in one hundred-degree Celsius boiling water, were not boiled to death.
The most severe cases only fell unconscious.
Some individuals with powerful Aura could even be seen, although they still screamed incessantly, they could tremble, steam rising from their Bodies, and walk up step by step on their own!
However, as these individuals walked, they would glance back at a certain figure in the pot.
Many of the surrounding Prison Guards did the same.
Pairs of eyes, filled with surprise and even some admiration, were focused on the figure sitting cross-legged in the boiling water, resting with closed eyes.
Not only did the figure make no sound, but his Face was also very calm.
It was as if he had come here to soak in a comfortable hot spring.
"Tsk tsk tsk, impressive, impressive. Why have so many Strong people come in recently? How many Prisoners are there who haven't taken the 'Baptism' seriously?"
"Let me think, since last year, besides Pirate King Roger who received special treatment and wasn't Baptized or given a change of Prison Uniform, there was 'Golden Lion' Shiki, 'Devil's Heir' Bullet, and... cough cough, Moria and Tarklama, who are now our Colleagues."
The Prison Guards chatted and laughed with each other.
They completely disregarded the Prisoners who were constantly falling into the boiling water and screaming like dumplings dropping into a pot.
"What about this one? What's his background?"
"Hmm, I heard he's 'Sand Crocodile' Crocodile, with a Bounty of 320 million Berry. He's a Logia System Sand-Sand Fruit Ability User. I heard he challenged 'Whitebeard' two years ago and lost. I don't know how he got caught..."
"By the way, how much Time does this guy have left?"
"Two minutes and twenty seconds."
Meanwhile, Crocodile, in the boiling water, felt that things were unpredictable.
Everything happened too quickly; to be honest, he still hadn't fully reacted.
After becoming another failed challenger in the New World two years ago, he retreated from that Sea Area with a body full of Injuries.
Then he just wandered aimlessly along the various Routes in Paradise.
When he was hungry, he would eat his fill. If someone challenged him, he would casually eliminate them. He truly did as he pleased, unstoppable.
He didn't even need to use Haki; his Ability alone was enough to instantly kill these Small Fry.
But his Heart had been in torment.
Because he began to doubt his own capacity, doubting that he might never become the strongest in his life.
The overwhelming sense of crushing Strength displayed by 'Whitebeard' was simply too strong.
He gradually came to believe that there was no hope relying on his own Strength.
Until one day a month ago.
He accidentally heard the legend of the Ancient Weapon 'Dark King' from an old swindler who sold fake Antiques in a certain Kingdom.
The Power that was said to be able to turn an entire Island into dust with a single shot immediately made Crocodile feel that if he could find it, he might have a chance to defeat 'Whitebeard'.
And Military Power!
Didn't 'Admiral' Shiki of the Flying Pirates back then surround 'Pirate King' Roger with his massive Fleet?
If it weren't for that Great Storm that shocked the World, Roger and his crew might have been wiped out long ago.
If he were to use 'Dark King' as his flagship and possess an army of a million, forming an unprecedented Fleet far exceeding the scale of the Flying Pirates...
Such a desirable imagination immediately reignited his Ambition.
Next, having found his goal again, he began recruiting subordinates whom he considered the biggest of the Small Fry, while also investigating Intelligence about the Ancient Weapon.
Finally, a relatively clear piece of Intelligence pointed directly to the Alabasta Kingdom!
He even researched the past History of this Kingdom for this purpose.
When he learned that the Royalty of this Nation was one of the twenty Royalties who founded the World Government eight hundred years ago.
He immediately felt that everything he desired might be obtained from it.
Seven days ago...
Crocodile brought a group of subordinates, whom he considered the biggest of the Small Fry in his eyes.
Riding an unremarkable White Sail Seaship, he arrived at the port City of Yuba in this desert Kingdom.
After a few hours of looking around, they bought a Map of the Kingdom, enough Freshwater, Food, and over a dozen Camels.
Because he decided to cross the Sand Sea and head to the Capital, Alubarna.
"I'm starting to like this Nation, it's really good..."
Crocodile rode on a Camel, with Yuba, which they had just left, behind him.
In front of him was an endless golden Desert, and above his head, a Scorching Sun emitted infinite light and heat.
But he just felt comfortable, and his mood became much more pleasant.
Behind him, his subordinates, who looked like a motley crew, heard their boss's words.
Feeling the unbearable heat on their Bodies, their mouths twitched, and they secretly complained in their Hearts:
"How could you not like it? A sand user coming to the Desert is like a devil going to hell – it's like returning home!"
But as they got further and further away from Yuba.
Constantly stepping deeper into the Desert.
After crossing a Sand Dune, they saw a White Shadow appear in front of them.
"What is that!"
"It looks like a white dot, not moving. Is there anything white in the Desert?"
"It's a person!!"
As Crocodile and his group got closer, someone finally saw the White Shadow clearly.
It was a man nearly two meters tall, wearing a White Suit, White Gloves, a White Top Hat, and a White Mask that completely covered his Face.
Although his Face couldn't be seen, judging from the direction he was facing, he was clearly waiting for them.
This aroused everyone's vigilance and caution, and they quickly pulled back their Camels.
"Looks like he's here to cause trouble, what should we do?"