Daz Bones—better known as Mr. 1—never expected that the man Vivi brought with her would draw a sword and slash at him without saying a word.
Fortunately, his reflexes were fast.
In an instant, he activated his Devil Fruit ability—turning his entire body into steel blades using the powers of the Dice-Dice Fruit (Supa Supa no Mi), a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit.
Over the years, Daz had faced many swordsmen and survived countless deadly encounters. There had never been anyone who could cut through his steel body.
But Luo Ye's slash was not something an assassin like Daz could withstand.
Even if it were Dracule Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman, Luo Ye would not be outmatched in skill or ferocity.
As the blade connected with Daz's body, he immediately felt something was off—but by then, it was far too late.
All he could do was grit his teeth and brace himself.
"Bang!"
The force of the slash sent Daz flying backward, slamming into the wall and leaving a deep, bleeding gash across his metal chest.
Vivi stood frozen behind Luo Ye, her mouth agape in disbelief.
Mr. 1—the Baroque Works' strongest officer agent—had been overpowered with a single strike.
This… this was the strength of a Marine Admiral?
Vivi had always harbored doubts about the World Government and its Marines—especially after their apparent indifference to Alabasta's suffering.
But now, seeing the new Admiral not only step into Alabasta himself but also cut down those behind its chaos, she couldn't help but be shaken.
Daz Bones coughed and forced himself to rise, eyes wide in alarm.
"Who the hell are you?! Why are you attacking Baroque Works!?"
Luo Ye didn't answer.
Instead, his gaze turned to the other side of the room—where Crocodile had just arrived, clearly aware of the commotion.
The former Warlord of the Sea, one of the Shichibukai, scowled as he surveyed the damage.
He'd been orchestrating civil unrest across Alabasta for years, all to secure control over the kingdom and uncover the location of the Ancient Weapon Pluton.
Victory was within his grasp. The royal army and rebels were tearing each other apart. It was only a matter of time.
But now… someone had interfered. And not just anyone.
A stranger—someone who knew far too much.
Still puffing his cigar, Crocodile stepped forward and growled, "Are you out of your mind? Do you know who I am?! You've got guts, stirring up trouble in my territory."
Luo Ye was unfazed.
"Cut the act, Crocodile," he replied coldly. "Your little game in Alabasta ends here. As for the Ancient Weapon—forget it. You'll never lay a hand on Pluton."
What?!
Everyone around them froze.
Even Crocodile's own agents looked stunned.
Their boss's ultimate objective—his secret plan to find Pluton, the ancient warship said to lie hidden somewhere in Alabasta—was known to only a select few.
Yet this unknown Marine had just exposed it in one sentence.
Vivi's eyes widened as she recalled hearing whispers about Pluton from her father, King Cobra.
She had begged him to explain, but he'd kept it secret, even from her.
Now hearing it from an outsider sent a chill down her spine.
"Who are you really?" Crocodile demanded, lifting the golden hook on his right hand and glaring at Luo Ye.
Even within Baroque Works, few knew the truth about Pluton.
Yet this man—someone he didn't recognize—knew it all.
Crocodile clenched his jaw.
His plan had been simple: use Alabasta as a front, gain control, and dig up Pluton. Then return to the New World, where he could challenge the likes of Whitebeard and claim a place among the Four Emperors (Yonko).
But now this mysterious Admiral had ruined everything.
Crocodile cast a glance at Daz, who was still bleeding heavily from his chest.
All that damage—from one slash.
The Admiral hadn't even used his full strength yet.
Gritting his teeth, Crocodile bit down on his cigar and snarled, "You want Pluton? You'll have to pry it from my cold, dried corpse!"
He raised his hook with menace.
"If you think I'll let some brat ruin everything, I'll suck every drop of moisture from your body and turn you into a damn mami!"
Even as he spoke, Crocodile hesitated.
A fight wasn't ideal.
This unknown opponent was clearly powerful. Maybe another New World monster.
Still, Crocodile wouldn't back down.
But Luo Ye just laughed.
"Pluton? I couldn't care less about an ancient warship," he said coolly. "But your life? That's something I'm interested in."
Crocodile's pupils narrowed.
There was no avoiding this now.
The sand swirled at his feet as his Logia-type Devil Fruit, the Sand-Sand Fruit (Suna Suna no Mi), activated.
"I've been gone from the New World too long," Crocodile growled. "You little punks think I'm weak now? Let me show you what real power looks like!"
With a rush of sand, he launched himself forward.
Luo Ye sighed.
Logia users—they were always too confident.
Smoker had been the same way.
They all believed their intangible bodies made them invincible.
But what they didn't know was that Armament Haki was the perfect counter.
Luo Ye's right foot shimmered black, coated in Haki.
As Crocodile closed in, Luo Ye raised his leg—
"Bang!"
Crocodile's eyes bulged in shock as he was kicked clean across the room, faster than he came in.
Before he could recover, Luo Ye followed.
Bang! Bang!
Each kick sent Crocodile flying in a different direction.
The Warlord—one of the seven elite pirates chosen by the World Government—was being kicked around like a ball.
Finally, Crocodile managed to dodge one of the incoming strikes.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he staggered to his feet, glaring at Luo Ye.
"Who the hell are you?! Why have you come to Alabasta?!"
Luo Ye's lips curled into a smirk.
"I came here… to kill you."