Chapter 35 : Little crocodile! Very good!

Kahn's expression held a hint of intrigue.

"Little Crocodile, you're quite bold. So, how much are you willing to pay?"

Crocodile, feeling relieved, regained his smirk.

"Indeed, you're no saintly navy," he remarked.

Extending his hand, Crocodile confidently displayed five fingers.

Kahn was taken aback.

"Fifty billion?"

Crocodile nearly choked on his cigar, and his smile froze on his face.

"Five billion," he responded through clenched teeth.

Fifty billion was an astronomical sum, exceeding even his worth.

In fact, it surpassed the Baroque Works' entire wealth.

"Are you a beggar? Five billion?" Kahn retorted, rolling his eyes.

Crocodile's expression twitched ever so slightly.

Five billion was no small amount; it was equivalent to one-third of the Baroque Works' wealth. He had worked tirelessly to amass that fortune over more than twenty years since his return from the New World.

If the money was handed over, he, Crocodile, would be reduced to a beggar.

"If that's all you've got, then forget it. The old man might be part of the navy, but he's certainly not swayed by money," Kahn declared.

Crocodile: "???"

"Eight billion, that's my limit," Crocodile stated, his expression unwavering.

Although he was presenting a considerable sum, it weighed heavily on his heart.

"Eight billion?" Kahn pondered aloud.

"It seems the Baroque Works' treasury is truly substantial," Kahn mused inwardly.

The fact that Crocodile could produce such a large sum indicated that he must possess wealth far exceeding that figure.

"Don't strain yourself. If this doesn't work, we'll resort to fighting it out," Crocodile coldly declared.

"Hehe, the fish is biting the hook? Don't overestimate yourself," Kahn scoffed.

Crocodile did not retort verbally, but his expression was determined.

"Alright, this figure will suffice. I agree," Kahn stated decisively.

Crocodile breathed a sigh of relief, but simultaneously his resolve solidified. As soon as he achieved his goal, he vowed to make Kahn pay for his insolence.

"Wait here for a moment. I need to gather the funds," Crocodile said, his tone indicating the urgency of the situation.

"Gather funds?" Kahn questioned.

"What's the point of that? The Baroque Works would need substantial time to collect such a massive sum," Crocodile stated.

Surprised, Crocodile blurted out, "Collect? What do you mean?"

A shrewd grin crossed Kahn's face.

"Did you really think you were going to bribe me with my own money? It's time for you to learn – the moment I set foot here, everything owned by the Baroque Works became mine. You're the one attempting to bribe me," Kahn clarified.

The situation caught everyone off guard.

As Crocodile prepared to retaliate verbally, Kahn's massive foot in his face cut him off.

Kicking Crocodile with overwhelming force, Kahn sent him flying into a wall.

The collision with the wall left Crocodile dazed and vulnerable.

"Who do you think is playing games? The moment I walked in, everything the Baroque Works possessed became mine. It's you who's playing games," Kahn asserted firmly.

In the ensuing chaos, the casino's inhabitants rushed into the fray.

A full-fledged brawl erupted, but given Kahn's strength, the outcome was apparent.

Amidst the wailing and commotion, Kahn's dominance became clear as he effortlessly subdued his opponents.

Amid the chaos, Crocodile managed to rise, anger and frustration boiling over.

"I'll kill you!" he roared from the rubble.

Simultaneously, Mr. 1 launched an attack from the side, his arm transformed into a blade.

However, Kahn's disdainful response was swift.

Utilizing Busoshoku Haki, he neutralized Mr. 1's slash with his bare hand.

Raising an eyebrow, Kahn remarked, "I've heard your body's as tough as steel."

Nonetheless, Mr. 1's attack seemed insignificant, and Kahn's confidence remained unwavering.

With his arm covered in Haki, Kahn seized Mr. 1's slash, preventing him from extricating his weapon.

"Iron Fist of the Fire Dragon," Kahn declared, igniting his right fist.

The intense heat unnerved Mr. 1, whose pupils constricted.

Kahn seized the opportunity, striking Mr. 1 forcefully in the abdomen.

The combination of heat and force caused Mr. 1 to cough up blood and his eyes to bulge.

Flying through the air, he collided with a gambling machine, his life hanging by a thread.

"Steel? It's worthless!" Kahn sneered.

Crocodile's Sandblade followed, attempting to pierce Kahn's defenses.

"The same trick won't work on me."

Crocodile's Sandblade struck Kahn's shoulder, but to no avail.

"Do you know why I didn't dodge?" Kahn's arrogance persisted.

Crocodile, frustrated, avoided a potential response. Yet Kahn wasted no time in launching another attack.

"The Claw of the Fire Dragon," Kahn announced, his hand morphing into a dragon claw.

Seizing Crocodile's head, Kahn exerted pressure.

Simultaneously, Kahn's voice resonated, "Because it's unnecessary! Your attacks can't even break through my defense."

Crocodile's complexion shifted dramatically. He evaded barely, yet Kahn's foot swung out.

Kahn's powerful kick connected, sending Crocodile's elementalized form into the sand.

Kahn, unrelenting, emitted flames as dragon scales emerged, culminating in dragon claws that increased his strength considerably.

Intense heat radiated as Kahn seized Crocodile's sand form.

"Desert Diamond Sword."

"The Roar of the Fire Dragon!"

The two forces clashed, with Kahn's roar proving far superior.

Crocodile sustained further injury, but before he could react, Kahn grasped his head again.

Mirroring the morning's events, Crocodile found himself slammed into the unyielding floor.

A resounding crash echoed as the floor shattered.

Kahn promptly released Crocodile, his hands unstained by blood.

Kahn's foot followed, stomping down on Crocodile.

The fight was far from over.

Kahn's foot burst into flames, revealing tough dragon scales that transformed into dragon claws, further increasing his strength.

Intense heat surged as the forceful kick met Crocodile's chest.

As Crocodile's sand form attempted to reform, Kahn's foot pressed him against the ground.

With the fury of flames, Kahn asserted, "Shaved!"

Intent on preventing Crocodile from escaping, Kahn approached.

"Desert Diamond Sword."

"The Roar of the Fire Dragon!"

The two forces clashed once again, but Kahn's power overwhelmed Crocodile's.

With a grim expression, Crocodile launched a final attack, his gollden hook aimed at Kahn.

But his effort was in vain. Kahn countered decisively.

"The Claw of the Fire Dragon."

Kahn's dragon claw seized Crocodile's golden hook.

"And this is why the same trick won't work twice," Kahn declared.

Crocodile's face contorted with anger as his plan unraveled.

Kahn's voice filled the room, "Because, you see, my attack can easily break through your defense."

As the clash continued, Kahn's domination was evident.

Amid the battle, Kahn seized the upper hand and victory was imminent.

A terrifying high temperature came out.

Coupled with the huge force, Crocodile's golden hook instantly deformed and even shattered directly.

The poison inside was also burned.

Kane showed a look of disgust on his face.

"I've been annoyed by your hook for a long time."