One Piece - I Am A Different Luffy! BOOK1!

Chapter 140 - Alabasta 09.

[Chapter Size: 2100 Words.]
Third Person POV

Alabasta, First Half of Grandline.

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The scenery shifts dramatically from the cold, starry desert to the opulent and illuminated interior of Crocodile's casino in Rainbase. The atmosphere is charged with the buzz of voices, the clinking of glasses, and the soft background music that floats in the air filled with expectation and intrigue. The casino, a labyrinth of luxury and decadence, shines with golden and silver lights, reflecting on polished surfaces and the eager faces of gamblers.

People from all corners of Alabasta and even from outside the country are gathered there, gambling in hopes of riches, even though most often they leave poorer than they entered. Some complain and demand compensation, but when the owner of the place appears, any confusion ends instantly, after all, who would like to provoke a Shichibukai?

At the heart of Rainbase's labyrinth of luxury and intrigue, far from the gaming tables and glittering machines, there is a room that few know and even fewer are permitted to enter. This is where Crocodile, the supreme lord of this realm of sand and secrets, plans his most decisive moves. The room is a sanctuary of power, each detail carefully chosen to reflect the magnitude and control of its occupant. Dark wooden walls are adorned with detailed maps and expensive artworks, while a large mahogany table dominates the center.

Seated behind this table is Crocodile, an imposing figure even at rest. His long coat, a symbol of his authority and style, is casually draped over a nearby chair. The cigar between his fingers emits smoke that curls in the air like the plans in his mind, while a glass of fine liquor rests within his reach, a toast to his own cunning. His gaze is fixed and penetrating, that of a predator awaiting its next prey.

At this moment of growing tension, the door opens. Mr. 1, an imposing presence in his own right, enters with the posture of someone well aware of the weight of their responsibilities. "Sir Crocodile, Vice-Admiral has arrived," he informs with a voice that resonates respect and urgency.

"Let him in," responds Crocodile, his words short and direct. Without another word, Mr. 1 nods and withdraws, his heavy footsteps echoing against the wooden floor.

Moments later, the figure of Vice-Admiral Momonga fills the entrance. He is the antithesis of the environment he now finds himself in: where the casino exudes excess and indulgence, Momonga radiates discipline and order. His uniform is impeccable, each insignia and medal a story of duty and battle. His posture is rigid, a pillar of unwavering authority and power.

The contrast between the two men is striking - one, a criminal with ambitions that stretch across seas and deserts; the other, a servant of the World Government, committed to justice and order. And yet, here they are, in the same space, united by a common purpose that transcends their differences.

Vice-Admiral Momonga, an imposing and austere figure, enters Crocodile's private room with the seriousness of someone fully aware of the power games he is about to engage in. A representative of the Navy and the World Government, his mission goes beyond the immaculate uniform he wears; he is the bearer of a delicate balance between justice and diplomacy. His eyes, trained to discern truth among shadows, assess Crocodile not just as a criminal but as a key piece on a much larger chessboard. Despite his position and the orders he must follow, Momonga carries with him an unwavering sense of justice, a flame that even the dark corridors of power cannot extinguish.

On the other side, Crocodile receives him not as a hostile but with the venomous courtesy of a predator who recognizes another predator. His smile, though superficially welcoming, does not reach his cold and calculating eyes. "Vice-Admiral," he greets with a voice that mixes cordiality with a touch of disdain. "What a pleasure to receive you in my modest establishment. I hope you find the accommodations to your liking."