Super Card System C.536: Arrogant Crocodile

For Jinbe, Ian’s appearance at Impel Down was quite surprising. He had never expected Ian to come and rescue him.

Nevertheless, Jinbewas delighted.

When he received the compulsory summons from the Marines and went to Marine Headquarters, Sengoku informed him about the war between the Marines and Whitebeard. Jinbe, as a Warlord representing Fish-Man Island, was appointed by the World Government with the clear mission of easing racial tensions between Fish-Men and humans to secure more living space for Fish-Men. Consequently, he had always been obedient and cooperative with the World Government’s orders.

Sengoku originally thought that Jinbe would support the war between the Marines and the Whitebeard. However, to his surprise, Jinbe turned out to be vehement!

There were two main reasons behind Jinbe’s strong stance. First, Whitebeard had a favor towards Fish-Man Island. Second, Jinbe was well aware of the consequences of a war between the Marines and Whitebeard. Regardless of the outcome, it would plunge the entire world into turmoil. Thus, Jinbe vehemently opposed it and refused to fight for the Marines as a Warlord.

This eventually angered Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who personally intervened, captured Jinbe, and threw him into Impel Down.

Even as a Warlord, Jinbe faced torture and abuse within Impel Down. However, he endured these torments and physical pain. What concerned him the most was the imminent war between Whitebeard and the Marines. Every time he thought about the impending conflict, he felt an urgent sense of anxiety.

The limitations of the terrestrial environment restrained Jinbe’s ability to exert his full strength, and the presence of Warden Magellan made it impossible for him to escape the prison.

Just when he felt helpless, Ian unexpectedly appeared!

So, Jinbe felt that Ian’s arrival was perfectly timed.

“Ha! Big Brother Jinbe, I finally found you!” Ian heard the shout and arrived in front of Jinbe’s prison cell.

“Ian, my brother!” Despite the numerous injuries covering him, Jinbe’s spirits were high. His hands were chained to the wall, preventing him from standing, but he joyfully asked, “Did you come for the war between the Marines and Oyaji?”

“That’s right!” Ian nodded. “According to the information I’ve obtained, the situation with Whitebeard’s Pirate Crew is not good. I need more help.”

Indeed, due to Ian’s actions, a significant portion of the Warlord forces on the Marine side was rendered useless. However, the situation on Whitebeard’s side was equally dire. Based on the information obtained from Aunt Shakky, the description of Whitebeard’s condition was dire: he’s dying!

In other words, there was a high possibility that Whitebeard himself couldn’t take part in the battle. Still, his subordinate captains would face three organized Admirals and a large number of Vice Admirals, not to mention Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp. Compared to the original Summit War, it was unclear which side had the advantage.

“Take me out, I can definitely help!” Jinbe became anxious upon hearing Ian’s words.

“Just wait, I’ll get you out!” Ian, not bothering to look for a key, drew the Senbonzakura, and black flames surged up the blade. With both hands gripping the sword, he swung it fiercely at the Kairoseki-made bars of the cell!

A muffled sound echoed as the Kairoseki bars snapped in response.

Ian now fully experienced the power of the Grandmaster-level Nen training. Seastone, known for its hardness, was something he could only cut slowly in the past using the Sword of the Darkness Flame. However, with the enhanced power of Nen training, cutting through seastone no longer required much effort.

This indicated that the demonic fire from Hiei’s card had elevated its heat level.

His seemingly casual slash, however, subdued the other prisoners in their cells. They were well aware of the construction of their cell doors, and it was the first time they witnessed someone cutting seastone in half with a single stroke.

“Hey, young man, release us too!” Several prisoners in a cell rushed to the bars and shouted to Ian. “We can help you too!”

However, these opportunists were promptly shut down by Eva’s Death Wink.

“Shut up, Level 6 punks!” Eva shouted, “Don’t trouble yourselves!”

But such threats did not deter these prisoners. When they realized that these people who appeared on the sixth level were really here to break out, they had already started to stir!

No one wanted to stay here. Those who could be detained on the sixth level were heinous criminals facing endless sentences. Even in death, their remains would be left in the cells. This was the origin of the sixth level being called the “Endless Hell.” While they had no chance to escape before, the opportunity was now available, and no one would sit here waiting for death.

So, these prisoners approached the cells, banging on the cell doors, pleading with Ian to set them free. Even Eva’s Death Wink couldn’t stop their actions.

However, Ian paid no attention to them, walked straight into the cell, and cut Jinbe’s shackles, setting him free.

Jinbe stood up from the ground. His towering figure made Ian seem somewhat small. Although he still had many wounds slowly oozing blood, he rubbed his wrists, joyfully saying to Ian, “Thanks! Brother Ian! I owe you a big one!”

“Don’t say that!” Ian sheathed his sword and smiled. “Back in Dressrosa, didn’t you help me too? We’re friends, no need for these formalities!”

Jinbe didn’t express his gratitude with words, but he engraved this favor in his heart. Being someone who upheld the path of righteousness, he only thought about how to repay the kindness in the future.

“Let’s go!” Ian said, taking the lead out of the cell, with Jinbe following closely behind.

“Oh, ha!” Watching Ian and Jinbe walk out one after the other, Ivankov suddenly felt a bit excited. Two Warlords gathered together.

However, before he could finish marveling, a voice suddenly rang out, saying, “Ian, have you forgotten someone?”

Turning around, Ian looked at another cell on the right and found a man in prisoner’s clothes crouching in the corner.

Crocodile! The scar on his face was still so prominent.

“Mr.0?” Bentham, standing next to Eva, rubbed his eyes.

“Bo… Boss!” Mr. 3 also looked at Crocodile in the cell with a face full of fear.

In their impression, the boss always wore a trench coat, exuding an air of dominance. Who would have thought they’d see Crocodile in prisoner’s clothes?

“Ha! Sand-boy Crocodile, you’re here too!” Ian walked up to his cell, laughing. “What? Do you want me to rescue you too?”

“Humph!” Even though Crocodile was in jail, he remained as arrogant as ever, sneering, “The gate is sealed. Without me, you won’t be able to get out!”

What Crocodile referred to was his ability to turn things into sand. Indeed, once freed from the constraints of Sea-Stone, Crocodile’s ability was the most useful for escaping.

However, Ian shook his head and said, “That’s not necessarily true. I don’t believe anything can block my way under a Railgun blast!”

“You…” Crocodile was left speechless by his retort.

“If you want to get out, it’s not impossible!” Ian, rubbing his chin, smirked at him. “But… you have to ask me nicely, right!?”

Looking at Ian’s expression, Crocodile was infuriated, gritting his teeth. “Damn it, have you forgotten what you said back then?”

“What did I say?” Ian certainly remembered but pretended to be clueless. “Did I say something?”

“You…!” Veins bulged on Crocodile’s forehead. He hated to admit it, but he had to. “Back then, you said if I were willing to join you, you would give me a position as a chief of staff, remember?”

“Oh!” Ian slapped his palm, as if suddenly enlightened. “I seem to have said that… But, isn’t it un-nice of you? Why did you turn me down when I asked initially? Now, when you want to escape, you remember my offer. It lacks sincerity, doesn’t it?”

Crocodile, still as proud and arrogant as ever, made Ian feel it was time to strike a blow against him.

“…,” Crocodile remained silent. In fact, when he was defeated by Luffy and then arrested by the Marines, he suddenly felt a bit bored. After all the planning in Alabasta, the result was nothing. On the other hand, Ian, as a fellow Warlord, lived a carefree life. After all, pirates should take risks. Therefore, at that time, Crocodile copied the Poneglyph of Alabasta and took it with him, hoping to use it as leverage when Ian came to rescue him, joining Ian legitimately and leading a different life.

Unfortunately, after waiting for so long, Ian seemed completely unaware that Crocodile had the Poneglyph text in his possession. Crocodile, who was somewhat arrogant, didn’t want to beg to join Ian’s pirate crew. Instead, he hoped for Ian to invite him, creating an awkward situation. 𝐟re𝚎𝘄𝚎𝐛𝚗o𝚟el.c𝐨𝚖

Crocodile and Ian faced each other like this. After a long silence, Crocodile muttered with resentment, “The Poneglyph text of Alabasta is in my hands. Don’t you want it?”

Ian almost burst into laughter. The Poneglyph text of Alabasta that Crocodile relied on simply recorded the whereabouts of the ancient weapon Pluton. Originally, Ian thought about bringing Franky over and officially introducing him to Crocodile as the shipwright who possessed the design of Pluton, intending to give Crocodile a good hit. However, upon second thought, he decided to stop. After all, Crocodile had once been a Warlord, and if he embarrassed him in front of so many people, he might react with anger.

So, Ian pretended to be very interested and said, “Oh, really? Okay, deal. I’ll let you out!”

Sure enough, after hearing Ian’s words, Crocodile secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He was genuinely afraid that Ian would give him a hard time again.

For Crocodile, Ian had indeed cast a shadow over him.