Starting as a pirate, he rose to become the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society.

Chapter 46 A Smile: This Bane has some serious connections in the Navy!

Meanwhile, in Crocodile's office below the Rain Banquet.

Crocodile, with a cigar in his mouth, was listening to Nico Robin's report.

"Is he upstairs right now?" Crocodile asked arrogantly, exhaling a puff of smoke.

"That's right, I told him to wait there and come down to ask you if you need him summoned to see you?" Robin asked, looking like he was Robin's loyal second-in-command.

Crocodile scrutinized Nico Robin with a critical eye for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "I'll wait for him here. Go and call him to come see me."

"Understood." Robin nodded gently and then left the room.

After Robin left, Crocodile thought for a moment, then deliberately adopted a more imposing posture. He turned his boss's chair around so his back was to the door, then bit his cigar and gradually tightened his expression to make himself appear more profound.

Clearly, Crocodile wanted to use these small details to leave Bane with the impression that he was not someone to mess with at their first meeting, thereby gaining the upper hand in the ensuing conversation.

While Crocodile was putting on a serious act, Robin went upstairs and searched around before finding Bane and his group sitting in the corner of the casino's buffet area with a blind man whose identity she didn't know, chatting about something.

As soon as she walked over, she heard the blind old man cursing, "I've only been to the Golden City once, and that Tezzolo has already slandered me like this! It's outrageous! Next time I go, I'll definitely teach him a lesson!"

"Yeah, that's going too far. That guy is obviously no good, always talking badly about people behind their backs!" Bane chimed in with unwavering agreement.

He had absolutely no awareness that he was the one who talked badly about people behind their backs.

Nico Robin was puzzled by these conversations. How did they end up being involved with Tezzolo again?

She slowly walked behind Bane, and Ichiro, sensing something, looked towards Robin.

Bane, of course, noticed this as well. As soon as he turned around, Robin said, "Crocodile said he's waiting for you to see him in his office downstairs."

When Crocodile's name was mentioned, Issho's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He hated pirates, and Crocodile was a pirate. It sounded like he owned this casino.

This made Yixiao secretly resolve never to come again.

At the same time, he had felt somewhat guilty for misunderstanding Bane, and since they had gotten along quite well, he had a good impression of Bane. However, upon hearing that Bane had been associating with Crocodile, he immediately felt that this guy was probably not a good person either.

But before he could even finish the thought, he heard Bane wave his hand dismissively and say, "That guy likes to wait, let him wait a little longer. Can't you see that Brother Yixiao and I are having a great chat?"

Robin?

No, sir, have you forgotten why you came here in the first place?

Judging from Bane's tone, he seemed to dislike Crocodile very much. He wanted to ask him, but felt it was inappropriate.

But if he didn't find out whether Bane's relationship with Crocodile was good or bad, he wouldn't know how to treat Bane. So after a brief hesitation, he couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Lord Bane, if I may ask, what is your relationship with that Shichibukai?"

Bane might have tried to fool anyone else, but with Crocodile, he was genuinely sincere, grinning as he said, "No need for presumptions. I haven't even introduced myself yet. I'm a bounty hunter, and I've come to find Crocodile to take his dog's head!"

Upon hearing this answer, Yi Xiao was dumbfounded!

No? You're here to kill Crocodile? Then why would Crocodile invite you to meet him?

Does this make sense?

Nami, standing nearby, proudly added, "Brother Yixiao, you might not read the newspapers, but you've probably heard that the Whitebeard Pirates' captain was killed, and that was done by our boss, Bane!"

Xiao had indeed heard about this, but since he couldn't read the newspaper, he naturally didn't know Bane's portrait. Upon hearing this, he became respectful and said, "I see. You dared to take action against the Whitebeard Pirates. It seems you are a person with a heart for justice."

"I do indeed have a heart for justice. To be honest, I have a very close relationship with the Navy. I'll be visiting former Navy Admiral Zephyr at the Navy Headquarters soon. And if nothing unexpected happens, I'll be invited to join the Navy," Bane said in a very humble tone.

Upon hearing this, Yixiao was also somewhat tempted.

As a man who later rose to the rank of Admiral in the global recruitment drive, how could he not yearn for the Navy?

However, Yixiao was also quite confident in his own strength. In fact, he had considered joining the Navy in the past two years, but he did not intend to start from the bottom. However, he did not have any connections in this area, so he had no good solution until he waited for the opportunity of the World Military Draft and was able to rise to a higher rank in one fell swoop.

Of course, he couldn't predict any global conscription at the moment. But when he heard Bane's tone, it sounded like he had a big background in the Navy. He said he would go to the Navy Headquarters to see a former admiral, and he did so in a tone as if he were visiting a neighbor. This made Yi Xiao's heart flutter.

Before Bane could even finish his thought, Nami, that clever little devil, had already seen through his idea and said in a very cooperative tone, "Not only that, not long ago in the East Blue, my boss Bane went on a secret mission with Mr. Garp."

Bane gave Nami an admiring look, then waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Hey, Nami, don't talk nonsense. This is a core secret of the Navy. Fleet Admiral Sengoku repeatedly warned us not to reveal this kind of secret during this period."

Zoro, standing to the side, was dumbfounded upon hearing this. Wasn't it Captain Smoker who gave the instructions? How did it become the Fleet Admiral who gave the instructions?

The two of them were singing and dancing in harmony, which made Yi Xiao's heart flutter.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

Good heavens, he was just a former admiral a moment ago, and now he's a naval hero and a fleet admiral!?

This Bane has some really powerful connections!

With a thought forming in his mind, Yixiao inquired after a moment's consideration, "So, your trip to Alabasta to deal with Crocodile is also related to the Navy?"

Bane paused for a moment after hearing this before saying, "Brother, we hit it off immediately. I think you're a man with a heart for justice. So, I won't hide it from you. That's right, I came here to deal with Crocodile on behalf of Senior Zephyr."

I killed Crocodile so that I would have enough funds and a mature supply chain to support Zephyr in building a new navy in the future. So what I'm saying isn't wrong, is it?

This guy, Yixiao, clearly respected Admiral Zephyr, who had a very good reputation on the seas. Upon hearing this, he immediately became solemn and said, "Since you've opened up to me, Brother Bane, I'll speak frankly as well. I actually also have my heart set on the Navy, but I haven't had a suitable opportunity until now."

After a brief self-introduction, he smiled and said, "Crocodile has committed numerous atrocities in Alabasta. If Brother Bane needs any assistance with this operation, I will be happy to help!"

Upon hearing this, Bane was immediately delighted. Although he was already confident of defeating Crocodile, now that even Issho was joining in, he felt that Crocodile had been having a run of bad luck lately and was doomed this time.

"No problem, I have some connections in the Navy. If you want to join our righteous family, then come with me to the Navy Headquarters. We'll join the Navy together then. Don't worry, I have connections!" Bane patted his chest and said very generously.

Yixiao had been waiting for these words, and immediately agreed.

Meanwhile, in his office on the second basement floor, Crocodile, who had been trying to appear serious, was almost stiff with worry. He was very puzzled. More than half an hour had passed, so why hadn't that bastard come yet?

(End of this chapter)