One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 239: Crocodile: I Didn’t Have a Choice Before, Now I Want To

The prehistoric island of Little Garden had no official port—after all, no one lived on the island except for the ancient creatures roaming its expanse. Aside from two bored giants engaged in a centuries-long duel, there weren't any intelligent beings calling this place home.

Claudius had no interest in the two giants, so he didn't pay them any mind. It wasn't as if the island was completely untouched by humans either.

In fact, many ships would dock near the island every year to replenish their supply of fresh water and food. The giants often came across these "tiny visitors" but paid them no attention, seeing them as inconsequential.

After the Prometheus anchored in a natural deep-water harbor, Claudius and the others disembarked.

"How do you plan to catch a Tyrannosaurus?" Claudius muttered to himself as he stepped onto Little Garden, stroking his chin in thought.

Despite his casual demeanor, he felt a small surge of excitement. Finally, after so many years of imagining this place, he had set foot on the legendary island. It was a bit like checking off a long-standing item on his bucket list.

"The Pachycephalosaurus is cuter!" Robin said, stepping off the ship as well. Hearing Claudius talk to himself, she immediately voiced her disagreement.

Claudius shot her a blank look and retorted, "Just wait until we're back at Mariejois. I'll find the best psychologist in the world to fix your questionable sense of aesthetics. I'll make sure they help you recognize the tall, majestic brilliance of your Highness."

Robin frowned slightly, feeling a little insulted. Did he think she was sick? She didn't need a psychologist, she had read enough psychology books herself to qualify as one!

"Sister Stussy, which do you think is cuter? The Pachycephalosaurus or the Tyrannosaurus?" Robin turned to Stussy, attempting to gain an ally.

Stussy hesitated, looking slightly embarrassed. To her, neither the Pachycephalosaurus nor the Tyrannosaurus could really be called "cute." If anything, she found the Microraptor appealing—it was small, beautifully feathered, and no bigger than a bird.

"I think the Microraptor is cuter," Nia chimed in while flipping through the dinosaur atlas Claudius had been reading earlier. He spoke in his usual composed manner.

Stussy immediately latched onto his response, her eyes lighting up. "Yes! I agree!"

"What kind of taste is that? If you want a bird-like creature, why not just catch an actual bird?" Robin replied, visibly dissatisfied.

"Wait—did you sneak a look at my notebook?" Claudius asked, suddenly flustered.

In his spare time, Claudius had jotted down various impactful phrases he remembered from his past life, intending to use them at the right moment for dramatic effect. He hadn't expected Crocodile to catch him off guard with one of those lines.

"Why would I need to sneak a look? Do you think Nia and the others don't already know about your notebook? You're the only one who thinks it's a secret," Crocodile replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Damn it!" Claudius cursed under his breath. While the notebook didn't contain anything sensitive, it represented a part of his slightly embarrassing "second-rate" persona. The fact that Nia and the others had seen it only deepened his humiliation.

Crocodile, however, didn't dwell on mocking Claudius and shifted the topic back to their discussion. "Swords and simple weapons are one thing, but crafting artillery and guns is no easy feat."

"Are you saying there's a problem?" Claudius asked, smiling faintly.

"Ordinary artillery and guns are simple enough. But what you're asking for, top-of-the-line weaponry, that's not something just anyone can make," Crocodile said.

"Well, obviously, I'm not interested in the cheap stuff. I want the best," Claudius replied calmly.

"Then there's your answer. The best technology isn't floating around in the market, it's in the hands of the royal families or, more often, the World Government. If you can secure it, then sure, we can make it," Crocodile explained.

Regular guns and cannons were ubiquitous, practically littering the streets. But Claudius wasn't looking for that. He wanted advanced weaponry, the kind used to arm Marine forces.

As a Celestial Dragon, Claudius had the influence to obtain such technology from the World Government, though it required a certain level of discretion. Still, he wasn't overly concerned—Caesar, with his expertise, could reverse-engineer the technology and produce results.

"Caesar should have it sorted soon. I already spoke to Doflamingo. I've set up a fully functional arsenal assembly line in Alabasta. We'll use it to start building a reserve of weapons," Claudius said matter-of-factly.

Crocodile was silent for a moment before responding, "You're the boss. As long as you provide the resources, I can deliver."

But curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "What do you plan to do with all these weapons?"

"Poaching," Claudius replied with a wicked smile.