Chapter 164: Crocodile (Part 1)

The Seven Warlords of the Sea, one of the three great powers in the pirate world, were established to maintain the balance of power across the seas. These three forces are the Navy, the Four Emperors, and the Seven Warlords. However, from Daniel Davis's perspective, it is unclear how the Seven Warlords could maintain this balance.

Nonetheless, the Seven Warlords hold a significant position on the seas, navigating both lawful and unlawful realms. Despite their ultimate fate of being abandoned, they currently possess substantial power.

During his interactions with Kuma, Daniel Davis gained a general understanding of the rights and obligations of the Seven Warlords. Upon learning this, he realized that the Seven Warlords were entirely a brainchild of the World Government, not an initiative from the Navy.

The Seven Warlords are required to pay tribute to the World Government annually. As for their obligations, it seems that only Kuma has been diligently fulfilling them; the others seem to be idling.

Hawkeye, due to his formidable strength, enjoys privileges without obligations and does not pay tribute. After all, Hawkeye still tends his own land. How could he have the money to pay the World Government?

The World Government likely gave Hawkeye a Warlord position to prevent him from getting upset and forming alliances, which would trouble the Navy by potentially giving rise to another Emperor's crew.

On these seas, truly top-tier individuals are few, but there are numerous second-tier individuals. Every year, new supernovas emerge who, if they do not meet an untimely end, typically become significant pirates.

When these people gather under a top-tier individual, they form an Emperor's crew.

Daniel Davis aimed for a Warlord position to establish his own power. On these seas, having a faction makes a big difference. Even the Straw Hat Pirates, who never sought alliances, ended up with a fleet of over 5,000 pirates.

For Daniel Davis, starting a new organization from scratch was not impossible, but too troublesome. If he were interested in the title of Pirate King, he might do so.

After analyzing the major forces on the sea, Daniel Davis found Crocodile to be the simplest target. Additionally, he could recruit Robin and liberate Princess Vivi's country in the process.

Robin could then manage the organization. Finding a suitable and trustworthy person was rare.

Among the Warlords, Hawkeye was out of the question due to his solitary nature and invincibility.

Donquixote Doflamingo was also untouchable due to his strength.

Jinbe had the Sun Pirates, but they were all fish-men, and they would not allow a human to lead.

Gecko Moria had a zombie army.

Kuma was an ally.

Daniel Davis was tempted to visit Boa Hancock and her island of women but doubted he could defeat her now.

Thus, Crocodile was the only option. His power was the weakest, and he had his own organization, including Robin.

"This is the entrance to the Grand Line. It's a miraculous place," said Daniel Davis at the entrance of the Reverse Mountain on the Grand Line. He threw a wooden boat he had previously crafted into the sea, landed on the deck, and had a self-shaped figure of Ekern control the rudder while he excitedly observed his surroundings from the bow.

Although he could fly over the Calm Belt to reach the Grand Line, Daniel Davis wanted to experience the journey through the Reverse Mountain's entrance, the rare thrill of ascending thousands of meters against the current and descending along with it.

"What's that?" As he descended the current, Daniel Davis noticed a massive wall ahead. At such speed, the ship inevitably crashed into it.

"An island whale, that's Laboon. So many navies can't handle one Laboon." The Reverse Mountain was the entrance to the Grand Line. With Laboon often blocking the exit, the resulting chaos was predictable.

With such rapid currents, few could save their ships or lives. Most would face shipwreck and death.

"Brook's whale." Hovering in the sky using Moonwalk, Daniel Davis gazed at the island whale briefly before taking out a flying skateboard and heading forward.

Laboon's long wait for Brook moved Daniel Davis, but he couldn't speak whale language, so he could only sympathize from afar.

"There's an old guy here." Glancing at the Twin Capes below and seeing no one, Daniel Davis continued without stopping.

"Two giants duel here. Should I check it out?" Sitting on the flying skateboard, Daniel Davis took out a detailed map of the first half of the Grand Line obtained from Dragon and flew towards his target.

For those entering the Grand Line, the most crucial item was the Log Pose. Without it, navigating the Grand Line was nearly impossible, even for Daniel Davis flying in the sky. Fortunately, he had a permanent Log Pose from Dragon.

Selling Log Poses was a lucrative business.

Only one sector had no future development: the mobile communication industry. The severe magnetic field issues in the Grand Line made phones functional on one island but useless once off it.

The second reason was the existence of the mystical transponder snails. Phones required fees, but transponder snails only needed food.

The Grand Line's entrance has seven routes. Choosing different paths means not encountering each other until the Sabaody Archipelago. That's why the supernovas from Luffy's generation didn't meet until they all arrived at Sabaody around the same time, due to different routes.

"Forget it, let's not bother the two giants." The two giants later befriended Luffy's crew because of a life-saving grace. Without that, Daniel Davis would only meet them briefly.

"A century-long duel over a little girl's words. Giants are quite willful." Their long lifespan made a century-long duel insignificant.

"Before heading to Alabasta, there's another place to visit." Daniel Davis's eyes focused on a spot on the map: Drum Island, ruled by a rare user of the Baku Baku no Mi, a powerful Devil Fruit wasted on its user. Similar to someone who wasted a Logia fruit.

The Baku Baku no Mi could turn what it ate into part of itself or combine new things. In some ways, this was like the powers of the Devourer but far superior.

Daniel Davis was curious about the effects of consuming vibranium or Captain America's shield. This character could produce rare materials, potentially stronger than vibranium or adamantium.

Using these new materials to build Iron Man suits or Pacifistas would undoubtedly enhance their power. Waldo later rejoined the World Government, likely due to the materials he produced.

In the pirate world, only Blackbeard noticed this guy, but no one else seemed to care. Daniel Davis, of course, wouldn't miss out on this fruit.

Drum Island is a winter island, small and perpetually cold. Despite its small size, it was famous as a medical nation, producing many renowned doctors.

Many pirate crews once sought doctors here until Waldo's rise and his peculiar policies led to a doctor shortage, and the country's medical reputation vanished.

The Straw Hat Pirates' Chopper is from here.

No doctors available for a medical nation. Such an absurdity could only happen in this bizarre world.

"My lord, please ask the king to save my child!" A couple knelt in the snow at the palace gate on Drum Island, holding their ailing child, pleading with the guards.

"You'd better find another way. The king won't send doctors to you." Dalton, the guard leader and user of the Ushi Ushi no Mi, was a kind-hearted man.

Despite knowing the king's temper, Dalton still requested help each time, much to King Waldo's dislike. Waldo planned to replace him.

Dalton later led the rebellion against Waldo and became the new king of Drum Island, renaming it the Sakura Kingdom.

That, however, was in the future. Currently, Dalton, although dissatisfied with the king, had not yet resolved to rebel.

"Loyalty is good, but it depends on the person." Walking through the Mirror Space, Daniel Davis shook his head at the scene and proceeded to the palace.

"Damn fool." Inside the palace, Waldo was furious, having been interrupted by Dalton. His advisors cursed Dalton and suggested removing him from his post.

"Good. Make it happen. I don't want to see him again." Waldo approved the plan, thrilled.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I have a better way to ensure you never see him again." A new voice echoed in the palace, and a golden portal appeared. Daniel Davis emerged, holding a katana.

"Who are you?" The advisor, Jace, blocked Waldo. Though not a good man, he was loyal to Waldo, as was the official on the other side, loyal to the king's whims.

"Someone ensuring you never see Dalton again." In an instant, Daniel Davis appeared beside Jace and decapitated him.

During his training with Dragon and Kuma, Daniel Davis had also learned some basic swordsmanship, enough to handle Waldo and his lackeys.

"Protect the king!" The official attempted to act, but Daniel Davis had already moved, using Soru.

"Waldo, transform!" Terrified but determined, Waldo tried to use his Devil Fruit powers.

"Room, Slaughterhouse." Before he could complete his transformation, Daniel Davis activated his Ope Ope no Mi, rendering Waldo helpless.

Dismembered and unable to use his powers, Waldo lay on the ground.

After disposing of the two bodies in the Mirror Space and cleaning the palace with alchemy, Daniel Davis ensured no trace remained.

Despite Waldo being a World Government-affiliated king, Daniel Davis couldn't risk the news of his assassination spreading. This world was full of Devil Fruits with unknown powers.

This was like small countries in his past life. Despite their weakness and size, they were independent nations.

Most Devil Fruits were combat-oriented, but some had other abilities. For instance, one Revolutionary had a fruit that seemed weak but was extremely potent on the battlefield.

Cleaning up and covering tracks was part of Ada's training.

"Hang on a bit longer, and things will get better." After eliminating Waldo, Daniel Davis followed the family he had seen at the palace gate to their home and cured their child.

With that, the fate of Drum Island was changed. Once Dalton discovered the king and his lackeys missing, he would surely ensure doctors treated the people.

No one would care where the king and his lackeys went, hoping they never returned.

"Didn't expect Chopper to be this small now. I wonder what would happen if a human ate the Hito Hito no Mi."

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