After the three Night Raid members who infiltrated were 'approached' by the chat group members, they couldn't even
What else could they do when they were trapped inside the enemy base?
In addition, they were curious about why the leader of this city wanted to let them in and wanted them to work with them. Was it just to protect this city? They were an assassin group, and their specialty was killing, not protecting the city. Besides, it was clear that they could do this independently without help from others.
Misaka, Nico Robin, and Kazehana led the three Night Raid members to the government building in the center of the city, and they were amazed by what they saw.
Unlike other buildings in the Paradise city, the pce where Crocodile was was specially made like a mini Roman imperial pace castle, made of white marble bricks and some gold ornaments. In fact, Sakuya clone spent a day just to design this area according to Crocodile's wishes.
...
As the three Night Raid members entered Crocodile's private room, Crocodile greeted them arrogantly with a grin, "Welcome to my office, members of Night Raid."
"..."
Because Crocodile's appearance was more suited to a vilin, the three Night Raid members were momentarily doubtful of what they saw, especially after seeing the scar on his face and the hook on one of Crocodile's hands. Was this city safe with someone like this leading it?
Leone was even feeling threatened, and her animal instinct from Teigu told her that this guy in front of her was not a good person! (She's not wrong)
"Umm... Are you the leader of this city, Sir Crocodile?" Mine encouraged herself to ask him, as she believed Misaka wouldn't harm her, "I'm sorry, but your appearance gives the impression of a bad person rather than a good person."
...!!!
""Pffft...""
Hearing what Mine said, the three members who were also in the room (Misaka/Kazehana/Nico Robin) ughed, while Crocodile trying his best to hold back his anger as he was aware his appearance always caused prejudice.
...
"Yes, that's right, my name is Crocodile, and I now act as the leader of this city." Crocodile answers weakly, "I am sorry for my unconvincing appearance."
"I hope you guys don't judge someone by their appearance, because I've also tried my best to guard this city." Crocodile quickly straightened out their opinions.
Hearing what Crocodile said, Mine immediately became embarrassed and quickly apologized, "Sorry for asking a rude question!"
"It's okay." Crocodile waved his hook in annoyance and then adjusted the topic, "Before we talk about the main topic, what do you think about our Paradise city?"
"It's Revolutionary." (Lubbock)
"The drink in this city is the best." (Leone)
"Very safe, much better than Imperial Capital. I would like to live here!" Mine followed, praising the city order and security, "Speaking of which, I am sorry, but can I ask you again?"
"That sand wall outside the city... is it really under your control all the time?"
"Ah... Of course." Crocodile acknowledged it by nodding and expined, "Although it cost an immense amount of mental power to do it all the time, I did control the wall that protected this city."
As one of the first generation chat group members, Crocodile has grown and become more proficient in using his main abilities, controlling sand. Especially after he robbed the jutsu in Sunagakure in the Naruto world, he can now control various types of sand and even create any complex structure made by sand without any problems whatsoever.
Crocodile can now also use his sand and absorb energy directly from the ground/pnet, so the amount of sand he can control is extraordinary these days. If he has enough preparation time before a battle, the current Crocodile can control a whole desert at once as long as he is connected to the earth-- easily destroying any army in one attack!
Therefore, It's fact that the current Crocodile has become the top 10 strongest member in the chat group, and main source of confidence why Crocodile himself dares to build and protect the city.
...!!!
"...Amazing."
Leone commented about realizing how terrifying the man in front of him was and asked, "With such power... why did you create a city like this? What is your end goal?"
Crocodile, who expected this question to come, grinned at her, "Our purpose? Of course, it's to conquer the whole world!"
...!!!???!!!
Hearing Crocodile's answer, the three members of Night Raid gasped, became very anxious, and even the three members of the chat group in the room also stared at Crocodile seriously-- wondering if this man was out of control.
"..."
*Cough* *Cough*
Realizing what he said was quite a thought-provoking sentence, Crocodile coughed multiple times and immediately expined, "Although our ultimate goal is to conquer the world, we will not make radical steps that will endanger innocent people."
"The creation of this city is our first step to achieve our ultimate goal."
"Ultimate goal?"
"Yeah... Our goal is..."
...
Crocodile then expined that their first step (his pn) was to build a good reputation among all the citizens in the empire by creating the safest city in the empire under their governance, so that the people of other areas in the Empire would gradually trust them after hearing the information of their city from merchant.
Once they were well-known enough, over time, their good reputation would only get better, and after most people trust them, they were ready for the next step.
Naturally, Crocodile knew that the Empire, Revolutionary Army, and other factions would certainly not remain silent and would try to attack this city ter-- but as Crocodile said, they were not afraid that their defenses would be breached by another faction since they were strong enough to protect this area.
As long as they have proved to be successful in protecting the city from outside threats without fail, the people will trust them more and their reputation will improve-- making them "heroes" in the eyes of the people.
When their reputation is at its peak and a lot of people are willing to support to side with them, they will be ready to conquer and take over the Empire in one fell swoop.
Crocodile believes that, with the full support of a majority of the people who have seen their hard work protecting the Paradise city, their takeover process will have minimal impact on the civilians, and most will even welcome and be happy with such an event.
In the end, the crocodile's idea to minimize the impact is simple.
Show the proof of their work, let them see it, and people can judge for themselves whether Team 2 is good or not.
...
Hearing Crocodile's meticulous yet simple pn, they admit that it is very feasible and much safer than their idea to execute all corrupted nobles, which seems to be endless. They also like the idea of building a good reputation among citizens, since as an assassin group in the Capital, their reputation among civilians is quite precarious.
However, three of them also think that this pn is quite arrogant, especially the part where they stated that Team 2 will devour the Empire and the Revolutionary Army in one fell swoop.
...
"I admit, your pn might work well, and it's a good one." Lubbock commented, "But aren't you too overconfident, Crocodile-sama? I admit your ability to control the giant wall of this city is very impressive, a show of strength, but on the other side, some dangerous people are even stronger than you."
"Let me guess... Are you concerned about people like General Esdeath and Bude?"
"Yeah."
As a former soldier who had seen Esdeath fight on the battlefield, Lubbock remembered very well how terrifying and powerful the woman was, so it's understandable why their pn sounds foolish in Lubbock's eyes.
"Hahahaha!"
However, contrary to Lubbock's expectations, Crocodile just ughed loudly at his question, making him confused... before Crocodile answered him, "Esdeath? Bude? They were never a problem in our eyes in the first pce!"
"There are three... no, five people who can obliterate me or Bude, Esdeath, without much effort among our friends, and I am not exaggerating!"
(These five are : Saitama, Yuu, Kaito, Otsutsuki Kaguya, and Manaka)
...!!!???!!!
Hearing Crocodile's exaggerated words, Mine and the others were shocked, then looked at Misaka and the others to confirm the truth of what Crocodile said, only to be confirmed that it was true.
...
"Mr. 0 is right." Nico Robin replied, "The top people among our friends are that strong. You will see them someday if you decide to join."
"Although I hate to admit it, even I won't survive a single move from our top members." Misaka followed with a frustrated tone, "The difference between my strength and those people is are bit too much.
"If they wanted to, they could destroy all the countries in this world in a day or two." Kazehana added casually, "With Saitama-sensei, maybe even less effort."
"Pffft... Probably only took a single punch, right?" Nico Robin teased.
"That's unfortunately true." Crocodile nodded in agreement, also joking but quite terrified for the 3 night Raid members who heard it, "A single punch could destroy this pnet easily."
...!!
"But if you guys are that strong..." Lubbock raised his hand, "Why don't you guys just go directly to the Imperial Capital?"
"Good question, I would like to do that too, but unfortunately, most of our friends dislike that idea."
"Mainly because our group leader and the majority of our friends are particurly against doing something that would hurt a lot of innocent people."
Crocodile took a puff from his cigar and casually expined, "After all, taking over the Empire instantly would cause a lot of unrest, chaos, and unnecessary bloodshed among citizens."
...
Although Crocodile doesn't care that much about the lives of innocents, since most chat group members care about it, he is willing to cooperate and follow their way. However, Crocodile is also grateful for the situation chat group full of good people, since he would rather have upright allies rather than a group of benefit seekers or a bunch of backstabbing friends.
As one of the oldest members in the chat group, Crocodile has known very well how much he can trust other members in the chat group-- especially Kaito, who always doing his best to help and working the hardest, despite being one of the strongest in the chat group and the leader.
Because of that, Kaito is the only person Crocodile truly respects the most in the chat group, and the only one that he is willing to listen and follow his order.
""...""
"It seems our new friend is shocked, but the talk needs to continue."
Looking at three Night Raid members who have become deadly silent, Crocodile smiled and then offered, "So after hearing our pn on this world, would you like to switch sides and work under us, to support our cause?"
"...What do you want us to do?" Mine asked nervously. After learning a lot of shocking facts about this group of monsters, Mine felt her knees go weak in fear-- realizing their lives were now truly at their mercy.
"Persuade the rest of your group to work with us, and we promise to achieve your dream to make this Empire, no... this whole world better pce to live in."
"After hearing such secret information like that, it's not like we have any choice, right?" Leone muttered, also realize their situation is completely fucked.
"I... no, we won't force you, I promise." Crocodile shook his head, "The girls behind you won't let me force you, otherwise the top guy would punch me."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah... Annoyingly, I have a bad history and not all my friends trust me... but you can trust others keeping an eye on me." Crocodile sighed and then continued, "But anyway, after seeing this city that we manage, all of you should realize that the Empire would become much better in our hands, right?"
""...""
"Compared to the revolutionary army, which colluded with another country to take over the Empire, like inviting a wolf to your own home." Crocodile's sarcastic remark. "Isn't it better to work under us, who have shown the ability to make people happy under our rule?"
""...""
Hearing Crocodile's rhetorical question, the three Night Raid members admitted that he was right about it. Compared to the Revolutionary Army, which was at war with the Empire and also hurt a lot of civilians for the promise of "freedom" in the future, what Team 2 does right now is safer, better, promising, and a lot more effective, and you can immediately feel the change.
The only cons of this pn were that it would take time, but Night Raid knows even right now their reputation has also spread to the whole Empire... just a matter of time.
In addition, they were very interested in Crocodile's idea of conquering the Empire safely without much bloodshed. If what Crocodile said all fact, there's no risk that Crocodile's pn would fail.. even if the Empire decide to go full all war against this city.
They also believe that if other members of Night Raid learning all of this information and the great pn, they would also agree to change sides-- because they all know that most members in Night Raid are good people who don't like killing people.
In the end, the three Night Raid members were persuaded and convinced to join them, and the next day, the three of them left the city to return to the Night Raid base... so they could invite all of their friends to join Crocodule as well.
Renaxan
