I the King of bandits of the East Sea

Chapter 248: Seeing the True Self

"If your pirate career is destroyed so easily, it just proves that you're merely a man... woman of that level."

As soon as these words came out, Crocodile's face instantly darkened to the extreme.

"Sig, I admit your strength is formidable, and your cunning and methods are not bad."

"But do you really intend to go this far?"

Crocodile looked straight at Sig with cold eyes, his tone still icy.

However, the beads of sweat on his forehead were increasing.

Sig's expression remained unchanged, even showing a hint of excitement.

"In battles between pirates, the word 'despicable' doesn't exist."

"Besides, I'm just helping you recognize yourself, to see your true self."

Sig paused, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Crocodile, or should I call you... Croco-Dako? Croco-Delle?"

Crocodile, sitting on the floor, watched helplessly as Sig and Ivankov got closer and closer.

But his body was restrained by Seastone shackles. His physical skills weren't very strong to begin with. Struggling fiercely only made the shackles clang, but he couldn't move at all.

"Your personality is too twisted. Perhaps I, who created you back then, bear some responsibility."

A hint of heaviness appeared on Ivankov's face.

He had naturally read the big news from a while ago about the Shichibukai Crocodile unleashing a sandstorm that engulfed a city.

"Now is the time to correct the mistake."

Ivankov raised his hand, his fingernails once again rapidly lengthening and becoming sharp.

"Sig!"

Bloodshot veins gradually appeared in Crocodile's eyes. He gasped as he looked at Sig, but for a moment, didn't know what to say.

Beg? Submit? Threaten?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but in the end, he only said coldly:

"Sig, you're ruthless."

But at this moment.

"Wait."

Sig suddenly spoke.

Ivankov, who was about to stab Crocodile, his nails almost touching Crocodile's skin, stopped abruptly at the last moment.

Beside him, Crocodile was now drenched in sweat, his breathing growing heavier.

"Sig BOY, did you change your mind?" Ivankov turned around doubtfully.

"Of course not."

Sig stood there thinking for a moment, pulled out a cigar from his pocket, and held it in front of Crocodile.

This cigar was actually spoils seized from Crocodile.

"Even death row inmates get a last meal. Let's leave him a cigar."

"Hmm?"

Veins bulged on Crocodile's forehead.

He had just felt a flicker of hope, thinking Sig had changed his mind.

"Are you messing with me?"

Crocodile roared in a low voice.

"Then you don't want it?" Sig's expression was calm.

"...."

Crocodile snorted coldly, reached out to take the cigar Sig offered, lit it, and took a drag, exhaling smoke.

After a couple of puffs, his composure returned slightly.

"What a heavy smoker."

Sig didn't say anything more. He and Ivankov quietly waited for Crocodile to finish half the cigar before finally speaking.

"It's time. The story of the great pirate Crocodile should end."

Sig said calmly.

Ivankov's nails plunged down, piercing Crocodile's skin.

"Female Hormones!"

Crocodile took a sharp drag of his cigar, his jaw gradually tightening.

His body also began to change.

His tall and burly physique became much smaller compared to before, his waist narrowed, while his chest gradually swelled, pushing his original shirt high into a breathtaking curve.

From the neatly combed-back smooth hair, two strands of fine hair fell to the sides of his cheeks, slightly obscuring the terrifying scar across his face, adding a touch of delicacy.

The originally rigid lines of his face softened somewhat, the fierce glint in his eyes seemed to fade slightly. His skin tone gradually became fairer and rosier.

She took a sharp drag of the cigar, amidst the swirling smoke, her icy gaze still fixed on Sig.

"Satisfied?"

She asked in a low voice, her tone still sharp and full of chill.

But her pupils trembled slightly.

"Making me return to this burdensome body... Sig, you better watch out, don't fall into my hands one day."

Sig also took a deep breath.

"Of course, I'm very satisfied."

Sig nodded.

But inwardly, he lamented, this burden was truly quite round.

"So, what's next?"

Ivankov turned to look at Sig, waiting for his idea.

Sig silently looked at Crocodile, his mind calculating.

Use the True Fragrance Card now?

But it seemed Crocodile hadn't reached the brink of mental collapse as Sig had expected, at least appearing calm on the surface.

How much of this was an act, Sig couldn't tell.

"Let's just leave her like this for now. Let her readjust to herself and find her place."

Sig finally said.

Willpower is a consumable resource.

Under accumulated pressure, there will eventually come a day of sudden collapse.

Crocodile's willpower seemed tougher than Sig had imagined, but Sig had time. He could wait slowly, continue thinking of ways to break her spirit, and wait for the day she couldn't bear it anymore.

After speaking, the two walked out of the cell.

The cell plunged back into darkness.

In the darkness and silence, only a low gasp could be heard.

........

"Are you finished?"

Dragon stood outside the door, looking at Sig and Ivankov emerging.

"For now, Croco... Delle is dealt with." Sig nodded.

Meanwhile, Ivankov took out a Seastone ankle shackle from his bag.

"Sig BOY, this is the Seastone ankle shackle I prepared during the month that Sand Crocodile guy spent recovering in our Kamabakka Kingdom many years ago."

"Looking at that guy's physical skills, they might be slightly worse than back then, so this shackle should be enough to handle her."

"The purity of the Seastone in this shackle should be enough to deprive her of most of her strength, reducing her to almost the level of an ordinary person."

"If she wears this shackle, even if we don't continue to imprison her and give her limited freedom to move around the ship, she shouldn't be able to escape."

Ivankov said solemnly.

Sig's mind stirred.

This was the precious item that could make Croco-Delle delicate and weak?

Sig decisively accepted it.

But he still had some doubts.

"What if she cuts off her own leg?"

Golden Lion Shiki was once imprisoned with Seastone shackles. At that time, he ruthlessly cut off his own feet and broke out of Impel Down alone.

Given Crocodile's ruthlessness, it wasn't impossible she'd do something similar.

______________________________________________________________

Read up to chapter 344 on patreon

patreon.com/Tetsuya12