#141 - Chapter 141: Subdue Bondi Wilder
Crocodile wretchedly pulled himself up the cliff face.
Each movement sent loose rocks tumbling down, repeatedly striking his head.
This caused his lips to twitch uncontrollably.
Dirt and stones fell from his clothes, leaving traces of his struggle on the cliff.
His gaze remained fixed on the human-shaped crater, dust still swirling in the air, reflecting the violence of the impact that had just occurred.
Forcing a bitter smile, Crocodile vowed inwardly, "Today's events must never be revealed."
The mere thought of it being leaked sent a chill down his spine.
If word of this reached his subordinates, his carefully constructed image of iron-blooded invincibility would be shattered.
The honor he had accumulated and the authority he had painstakingly built were indispensable to Crocodile.
"Hiss... that Jin-an, to treat me like this..."
Shaking his slightly throbbing head, he then used his rough hands to destroy the evidence on the cliff.
Despite his clumsy movements, he couldn't allow himself to leave any traces.
After dealing with everything, he wearily started walking towards Jin-an.
Each step was heavy, and the anger rising in his chest burned.
A bitter taste lingered on his lips, and his eyes flashed with vengeful fire as he thought fiercely, "I will repay those two for the pain they have inflicted on me, tenfold."
His resolve had never been so firm.
"A pirate's revenge is a dish best served cold..."
Crocodile had not forgotten his dream; the pain was only temporary, while the flame of his ambition had been ignited in his heart.
Just then.
Jin-an's voice cut through the lush greenery of the Little Garden, like a warm breeze sweeping away the cruelty and dust of battle.
"Crocodile, your crew is calling you back to the ship for dinner!"
The words echoed in the fragrant air, as if injecting a touch of normalcy into the silent, post-battle scene.
Crocodile, having just reached the area where he had fought Bundy World, was momentarily bewildered by the call.
The surrounding environment still bore the marks of battle, disrupting the tranquility and harmony of the Little Garden.
He pondered for a moment, thinking to himself, "Has their fight already ended like this?"
The thought surprised him, as all indications suggested that the duel had reached a conclusion.
And the final result made Jin-an feel safe enough to call him back to the pirate ship.
So, he was the only one who ended up injured?
"Jin-an must have used some method to force Bundy World to submit."
He knew that Jin-an was not one to make such jokes lightly, especially when it came to matters involving pirates.
This filled him with curiosity about the unseen outcome of the battle, and his pace quickened unconsciously.
He slowly walked out of the Little Garden that had witnessed the battle, heading back to the ship.
Although his heart was full of questions, he accepted the present moment of peace.
The stars were about to fill the sky, and the night was deepening; for Crocodile, the capture of the World Destroyer was a consolation to his wounded spirit.
......
In the golden afterglow of the setting sun, the pirate ship gently rocked on the water.
The shimmering surface of the sea reflected Jin-an's return with his prize.
Jin-an walked steadily, firmly holding Bundy World, their figures stretched long on the pier.
Crocodile's subordinates had been gathered together, some repairing the hull, others cleaning the deck.
But the busy scene was broken at this moment.
"Vice Admiral Jin-an is back!"
When they heard the news of Jin-an's arrival, they immediately put down their work, their faces beaming with smiles as they welcomed Jin-an's return.
The air was filled with laughter.
They had obtained a permanent log pose from another pirate crew that Jin-an had brought back.
They only needed to wait for Crocodile and Jin-an to return before they could set sail again.
"Where's the captain? Why haven't we seen the captain return?"
"He's probably been delayed by something."
"Thanks to Vice Admiral Jin-an, we've captured this ship of pirates; we can probably get a lot of benefits from the Navy."
"As expected, following the big boss gets you fed."
But the enthusiastic atmosphere froze when they saw Bundy World beside Jin-an.
The cheers came to an abrupt halt, and the once-noisy pirate ship fell into an unbelievable silence.
They stared, wide-eyed, at the tall figure in shock.
"My god, is that the World Destroyer?"
"So, the pirates we captured were all his subordinates?"
"To think we could even capture a pirate of this level..."
"Maybe we should just follow Vice Admiral Jin-an from now on; being a pirate isn't all that great."
The pirate they had only seen in newspapers was now their prisoner.
At that moment, they realized that this was not just a victory in battle, but a sign of immense wealth beckoning them.
Jin-an didn't show much pride on his face; being able to subdue the opponent so easily was mainly because Bundy World's brother was in his hands.
He escorted Bundy World to Crocodile's subordinates, a scene that would be permanently recorded like a drop of water in the river of history.
The people on the pirate ship were filled with mixed emotions at this moment.
They rejoiced in the victory of the battle, and at the same time, they were full of fantasies about their future lives.
The young crew members may not have fully understood it yet, but the older pirates knew clearly that Jin-an's actions today had written a strong and colorful page in their pirate history.
"Vice Admiral Jin-an, if you need anything, just ask!"
The pirates crowded forward, looking at the great pirate who had been subdued by Jin-an.
"No need."
"Once your captain returns, continue heading to Alabasta."
Jin-an continued walking into the ship's cabin with Bundy World.
Without seastone handcuffs, Bundy World was still too dangerous for most people.
Facing the sound of the waves lapping against the hull, and the sea breeze running through every corner, Bundy World's eyes stared at the empty pirate ship in front of him.
"Where is my brother?"
Bundy World's voice sounded somewhat hoarse in the sea breeze, falling on everyone's ears.
Jin-an turned around, remained silent for a moment, and looked directly at Bundy World.
The determination in the other's eyes made Jin-an understand how much this man valued his brother.
Bundy World took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said with suppressed anger,
"If you lie to me, even if you are strong, I will use everything I have to die with you!"
His words revealed an undeniable determination and madness.
After hearing this, Jin-an did not respond immediately, but took a deep look at Bundy World.
"I, Jin-an, have always been straightforward in my actions, and I would never lie to you about something like this."
A subtle change flashed in Bundy World's eyes, and he relaxed.
He was already a lamb to the slaughter, and Jin-an didn't need to deceive him.
"Where is he?"
Jin-an looked at the sky,
"I will treat him well with good food and drink."
"As for where he is, you can't know yet."
...
