In Mariejois's arena, Crocodile was being firmly pio the ground by Cudius. After a few fruitless struggles, he finally gave up, panting heavily, though the look of defian his eyes remained. Still, he didn't curse or sh out further.

  Seeing that Crocodile had stopped resisting, Cudius eased up, releasing his grip. Poor Crocodile, he thought, such a promising future ahead of you, but you were unlucky enough to cross paths with me. You haven't even raised your pirate fg, yet here you are, already captured. What a pitiful twist of fate.

  Though Cudius was mentally poking fun at Crocodile's misfortune, he decided not to rub salt into the wound. Instead, he said, "Well, how about now? Even without using Shinsō or any of my ons, just fighting you with my bare hands and Devil Fruit ability, you still couldn't win. Do you still think you had the upper hand back then?"

  Crocodile swallowed his pride, sitting up slowly. "Fine," he muttered grudgingly, "I'll admit you're strohan me. But let me make ohing clear, just because you're stronger doesn't mean I'll bow to you. If you think I'll bee your obedient little sve, you're dreaming. You might as well kill me now because I swear I won't beg for my life."

  Cudius found Crocodile's youthful bravado amusing. The future warlord and kingpin, once a proud teenager, now reduced to this. The same Crocodile who had no problem using dirty tactianiputing situations to his advantage iure was here, full of honor and defiance.

  "ht," Cudius thought to himself with a smile, "Who wasn't a hot-headed tee some point?"

  Crocodile, watg Cudius from the er of his eye, was fused. This guy who couldn't be much older than him eaking like some wise elder. They were practically the same age, yet their circumstances couldn't be more different. One was born into unimaginable wealth and privilege as a Celestial Dragon, while the other had beerayed by his otain. It didn't seem fair. Same age, both wielding Logia abilities, yet the gap between them was insurmountable.

  Before Crocodile could sink too deeply into his thoughts, Cudius spoke again. "I told you from the start, putting the Celestial Dragon's hoof brand on you was just to save your life. I didn't brand you as a sve to humiliate or trol you."

  Crocodile's expression hardened. "That brand is humiliation. It's the mark of a sve," he said through ched teeth.

  Cudius chuckled. "You might even e to wear it with pride one day."

  "Ha! Are you crazy?!" Crocodile spat, the anger in his voimistakable.

  "Listen," Cudius said, his tone more serious now. "In my eyes, it's not a sve brand. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys trolling people like that."

  Crocodile was taken aback. He could see in Cudius's eyes that the guy was being sincere, as odd as that sounded. But after a pause, Crocodile still retorted, "That may be true for you, but in the eyes of the world, it's a mark of svery. That's the reality."

  Cudius gave him a knowing smile. "Then ge the world. ge the rules."

  Crocodile blinked, stunned. "What? ge the world?"

  "Why not? Who says I 't?" Cudius shrugged casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

  "You? ge the world?" Crocodile scoffed. "You're not ready for that. You're not strong enough."

  Cudius chuckled again, but this time there was a hint of steel in his gaze. "You're right. For now, I'm not strong enough. But I'm young, I've got time. I have the ambition, and most importantly, I have the position to do it. You'll see. One day, I will ge the world."

  Crocodile stayed silent, clearly weighing his words. After a moment, Cudius added, "So, how about it? Will you help me build this future? Or are you tent just sitting here, angry at the world?"

  Crocodile eyed him warily. "Help you? That's just another way of askio serve you. How's that any different from being a sve?"

  Cudius sighed. "This guy really won't budge, huh?" he thought.

  After a moment, Cudius asked, "Alright then, what is it that you want?"

  "Freedom," Crocodile replied instantly. "Let me go."

  Cudius shook his head. "That's not happening. Do you have any idea how hard I worked to keep you alive? You havely earned your freedom. Do I look like I'm here to do charity work?"

  Crocodile's defiance fred up again. "Then kill me."

  Cudius chuckled. "You're really a stubborn one. Fine, let's promise."

  Crocodile's ears perked up. "promise?" he asked, trying to mask his i.

  Cudius smiled. "Every year, I'll give you one ce to challenge me. If you win, I'll let you go free and even grant you three requests whatever they are. But if you lose, you'll work under me, no pints, for the rest of the year. I won't treat you as a sve, and no one else will either. In fact, as long as you don't openly reveal it, no one will know you're bound to me. How does that sound?"

  Crocodile mulled it over. It wasn't freedom, but it was better than being treated like a dog. He was about to respond when Cudius's expression shifted, and his voice dropped into a warning tone. "Crocodile, I like you. But don't mistake that for weakness. I am a Celestial Drago my patience, and you'll find out what it truly means to suffer."

  The room felt heavier, the atmosphere suffog. Crocodile knew better than to push any further. After a moment of tense silence, he nodded. "Fine. Your terms are fair. But you have to promise not to suppress my growth or hold me ba any way."

  Cudius smirked. "You really think you beat me in a year, after the beating I just gave you?"

  Crocodile's pride fred again. "Who do you think I am? I'm Crocodile. I'll be a legend one day."

  Cudius chuckled. "That much is true. You'll definitely be known around the world, that's for sure."

  Crocodile straightened up, a hint of pride returning to his posture. But before he could savor the moment, Cudius added with a grin, "Of course, it'll be under my banner. Everyone will know you as my Crocodile."

  Crocodile gred but said nothing. His pride wouldn't allow him tue baot when the pap between them was s.

  Cudius tinued, "Good, we have a deal. And not only will I not suppress yrowth, but I'll also make sure you have everything you o improve. Whatever you o get stronger, just ask. As long as it's within my reach, you'll have it."

  Crocodile's eyes lit up slightly at that. If this Celestial Dragon was willing to provide him with resources, then he could use this time to get stronger, and then… who knows? A year was a long time. Maybe he'd rise far beyond Cudius's expectations.

  Standing up and dusting himself off, Crocodile g his bare torso. "I'll need a coat," he said, his voice quieter now. "To cover this damn mark."

  Cudius, amused, waved to his butler, Nia. A moment ter, Nia handed over one of Cudius's signature brown-bck coats, lined with mink fur. Cudius tossed it to Crocodile without hesitation. "As long as you show your value, you have whatever you want."

  Crocodile threw the coat over his shoulders, c the humiliating mark on his back. "So, what do you wao do?" he asked.

  "For now?" Cudius said, turning away with a casual wave. "You're not ready for aasks. Focus oing stronger. We'll see how useful you are then."

  Crocodile watched him walk away, a flicker of frustration in his eyes, but he kept quiet. Cudius had made it clear this was the deal. He'd have to py along, at least for now.

  As Cudius left Nia, approached him with . "Yhness, are you sure this is wise? He's a Logia user, after all. It would be easy for him to escape. Shouldn't we at least put a seastone colr on him?"

  Crocodile's jaw tightened, hearing that. But Cudius, without looking back, waved the away. "No need for that. I believe in his word. If I'm wrong and he runs? Then I've misjudged him, and I won't want someone like that under me anyway."

  Crocodile's eyes twitched at Cudius's nont response, but he kept quiet, though the thought of escape was nowhere near his mind now. Cudius's words had a strange, uling effect. It wasn't fear, but rather a twisted sense of trust. Crocodile, for all his arrogance, could reize siy when he saw it.

  "I won't run," Crocodile said firmly, almost as if he was ving himself. "A year. That's all I o surpass you."

  Cudius smiled, not turning around. "Good. I like your fidence.