One Piece: Start as a mythical beast, practice to become stronger.

With the final document settled in the meeting room, everything was finalized.

Crocodile left his seat and walked towards the door, each step appearing exceptionally light, his face filled with smugness.

Kong and the others had already left, leaving only Jin An to accompany him.

Jin An's task was not yet complete, and now he stood up, preparing to go with him to the port.

They walked through the long corridor, their footsteps echoing between the walls of the old Marine Headquarters.

The two walked out of the building, sunlight shining on them, and the sea breeze gently blowing with a warm and humid air.

"I didn't expect that I would need you to accompany me back to the port in the end."

"Actually, I could have gone alone."

Crocodile looked up at the vast sea ahead.

That would be the starting point of his ideals, and also the beginning of a new journey.

Jin An stood quietly beside him as an escort, his hands behind his head, seemingly ignoring what Crocodile said.

That bastard, always subtly mocking him in his words.

He better not let him catch him with any excuse in the future, otherwise, he would send this sand crocodile to Impel Down to accompany Bullet.

If he remembered correctly, after the sand crocodile arrived in Alabasta, in order to maintain his image, he captured pirates for a long time and was featured in the newspapers many times.

Crocodile didn't expect an answer anyway, smiled, and walked towards the port.

They walked one after the other, their steps coordinated, slowly moving towards the port.

At this moment, every step Crocodile took seemed to announce to the world that his plan had succeeded, and every breath was filled with longing and confidence for the future.

As Crocodile got closer, the scene of the port gradually became clear, waiting for him was a ship ready to go, and the infinite possibilities of the future.

......

The waves gently brushed against the hull, climbing onto this old ship, every plank exuding the taste of time.

Crocodile frowned, looking at Jin An behind him in confusion, a few strands of black hair appearing on his forehead.

"Aren't you a Marine?" He suppressed the urge to beat him, and asked word by word: "What are you doing following me on the ship?"

A figure followed behind Crocodile.

Jin An's footsteps were heavy but helpless as he stepped onto the pirate's deck.

Facing Crocodile's questioning and the oncoming wind, Jin An rolled his eyes, his face full of unwillingness.

"Do you think I want to go?"

He finally met Shanks and Kuma, and now he needs to accompany Crocodile to Alabasta, he is the most depressed one.

But orders cannot be refused.

The old man Kong's instructions echoed in his ears: "Send Crocodile to Alabasta."

"You'll get a promotion and a raise when you come back."

Kong's promises were like farts.

The reward he said he would give him last time hasn't been seen yet.

Promising everything before the mission, and pretending to be forgetful after the mission.

He really lived such a long life in vain, not respecting the old......

Crocodile's gaze wandered over the cargo and debris on the deck, eventually resting on Jin An, who was already sitting aside.

His voice was filled with awkward suspicion, as if probing a secret full of loopholes: "Why didn't I see Fleet Admiral Kong ask you to explain things?"

Jin An sat down quietly, casually picked up a rope blown by the sea breeze and fiddled with it, a smile returning to his face.

His answer was teasing with some concealment, "What else did you care about besides the terms the Navy gave you at the time?"

Crocodile coughed lightly, wanting to let the embarrassment dissipate with the wind.

He paused for a moment, then suddenly turned his head, looking in the direction of Marineford that had disappeared from view, recalling those dense negotiations and clauses.

Crocodile's eyes slightly condensed, admitting his momentary negligence, "It seems so."

He pondered, frowning, and couldn't help but feel a new vigilance about this voyage.

It was also his fault for being careless and not noticing this at the time, otherwise, there might have been room for maneuver.

Now that there is an extra burden, he has to carefully consider the next steps, at least he has to hide his previous preparations and not let Jin An know.

Jin An leaned against the old ship's side, his eyes as deep as the waves, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his lips.

His eyes briefly swept over Crocodile's figure, a look that saw through him.

Like an old hunter who knows everything about the light-footed beasts in the forest.

Jin An understood what the other party was planning in his mind.

He turned his face indifferently, with his back to the sunlight, a shadow seemed to merge with his outline.

Crocodile's figure shuttled back and forth on the deck.

"Everyone work harder, we need to get to Alabasta as soon as possible."

His eyes were fixed on the movements of the crew, and orders jumped out of his mouth one after another.

Even though Jin An was beside him, he was as if he didn't exist, Crocodile's entire attention was focused on the work in front of him, his brow furrowed.

Plans can't keep up with changes.

He raised his right hand, directing the crew to lift the cargo, and with the loud click of the pulleys, heavy boxes were lifted from the deck and then placed firmly in the corner of the cabin.

......

Jin An leaned against the wall, playing with a silver coin in his hand, his eyes seemed to look through Crocodile, towards the deep sea.

The corner of his mouth was hooked with his usual sarcasm, his tone light and confident, "Crocodile's plan along the way is not bad."

"If you ask me, why don't you just join the Navy."

"The Navy's benefits are actually not bad."

"Do you want to consider my suggestion?"

Crocodile stood by the table, tapping a bronze compass with his fingers, his usually cold eyes flashed with a brief surprise.

Soon, he returned to his usual arrogance, "Vice Admiral, you flatter me."

"There are already enough talents in the Navy, they don't need me."

"Besides, my dream is to be the Pirate King, I'm not interested in joining the Navy."

He said, his lips slightly raised, outlining a smug smile.

"So, you joined the Seven Warlords of the Sea just to improve your strength faster, right?"

Jin An tossed the coin into the air and then caught it skillfully.

"Of course."

"In this world, everyone is looking at benefits."

"Of course, I can't be an exception."

Crocodile didn't hide it and directly admitted it.

He knew from a young age that only benefits can make people progress.

Heaven punishes those who are not for themselves.

The light of the oil lamp jumped between the two, and the atmosphere between them was like a string stretched on a bow, full of subtle tension.

...

...