"Ah? We just drank one glass of wine, and you want to leave already?"
Before Robin could say anything, Garp, who was drinking heartily, immediately voiced his dissatisfaction. "The sun hasn't even set yet! It's not dark! How is it late?"
"Robin is pregnant now; she needs more rest."
After righteously retorting to Garp, Ian looked at Robin, who was secretly smiling, and said, "Let's go home!"
"Alright, dear!"
Robin gave a helpless smile but didn't object.
She playfully blinked and stood up.
Ignoring Garp's shout, Ian yelled: "Drink as much as you want!"
Then, amidst the cheers of the crowd, the two left the shabby bar and headed home.
However, once they got home, Ian didn't lie down.
Instead, he picked up his new axe with one hand and said to Robin, "I almost forgot, we're out of firewood. I'll go chop some."
"Okay, dear."
Robin smiled and nodded. "Please be careful."
"If you get hungry, eat first. Don't wait for me. It will probably take some time."
After saying that, Ian stepped outside.
But when the door closed, the smile faded from Robin's face, replaced with a flash of concern.
She muttered softly: "Who exactly was that?"
Meanwhile, Ian had only walked a short distance before spotting Crocodile leaning against a tree in the distance, leisurely smoking a cigarette.
Before Ian could say anything…
"Ian, huh? It's really hard to meet with you!"
Crocodile removed the cigar from his mouth, flicked the ashes off, and said, "I didn't expect to meet you here. Looks like my luck isn't bad today!"
As he spoke, a fierce wind suddenly surged from his body and swept outward.
Then he grinned ferociously at Ian, who was holding a golden axe. "I have a lot of questions for you. I hope you can answer them properly, Mr. Ian."
Feeling the fierce aura rushing over him, Ian didn't react much. Holding the Divine Axe Rhitta with one hand, he stared back expressionlessly as if he hadn't felt the pressure at all.
But before Ian could speak…
"Yo, Ian!"
A familiar voice rang out from not far away.
Both tense figures turned their heads at the same time.
Especially Ian, his face twitched when he saw Village Chief Martin strolling over casually.
Why did this old man suddenly show up?!
"Are you... Training here?"
Village Chief Martin asked cheerfully, then looked curiously at Crocodile while frowning. "And who might this be? A friend of yours, Ian?"
"Hey, old man!"
Crocodile raised an eyebrow, but before he could finish…
"... A friend. A very ordinary friend of mine."
Ian put away his axe and interrupted Crocodile with a smile. "He's showing up without warning... So, I wasn't prepared at all!"
"Is that so?"
Village Chief Martin smiled as well. "If you had a friend visiting, you should've told us! We could host a banquet to welcome him! How about going to the tavern for a drink? It just opened today, I was heading there!"
"No, no, we just came from there!"
Ian cheerfully rejected the invitation and walked up to Crocodile. His muscular right arm tightly wrapped around Crocodile's shoulder, stopping him from speaking.
Without giving Crocodile a chance, Ian continued to Village Chief Martin: "He and I have some private matters to discuss. Maybe next time!"
Then he walked away with Crocodile before Village Chief Martin could say another word.
Feeling the grip, Crocodile's expression changed in surprise. His eyes deepened with interest as he removed his cigarette from his mouth.
Seems he really underestimated the person beside him...
As the two walked away, Village Chief Martin's brows furrowed. He paused for a moment, then headed toward the tavern while muttering, "Friend? Acting so secretive... What are they up to?"
Elsewhere, the two men who had left found an open space and stopped.
"Just a frail old man."
Crocodile, finally released, didn't care. He flicked his cigarette and sneered: "I didn't expect that the boss behind Grado Security Company would care about these guys!"
"I suddenly remembered your Devil Fruit ability, so I was worried you would ruin the environment."
Ian replied calmly, resting the axe on his shoulder. "If that place becomes a mess, it will be a pain to clean up."
"What a boring concern. Looks like you know who I am... And what my Devil Fruit ability is."
Crocodile frowned, but his gaze grew sharper, then he quickly calmed as he took a puff of his cigarette. "So can you answer my questions now?"
He stared coldly at Ian, a chilling smile appearing on his lips.
"How impressive. That woman beside you... She's the Devil Child, isn't she?"
Hearing Crocodile's words, Ian couldn't help rubbing his forehead with his left hand while speaking helplessly: "So you really found out?"
"Hahaha, I didn't expect you would actually dare to take the Devil Child who's wanted by the World Government as your wife!"
After getting his answer, Crocodile's heart skipped, but he suppressed the excitement and suddenly let out a wild laugh. "This is truly interesting. Someone like you actually caught the attention of the high ranks of the Marines?"
After laughing, he looked at Ian with deep meaning. "So is this the Marine Headquarters' conspiracy, or is it simply your reckless courage?"
He had finally found it!
She may be pregnant, but so what? What he wanted was the Devil Child's ability to read historical text!
But the Marine Headquarters' high-ranking officials... That's trouble.
Even so, Crocodile still wore a conceited grin. He flicked his cigarette and looked at Ian. "You've piqued my interest. How about it? Come aboard my ship. The Paradise and New World are your stage, I'll lead you to change the world!"
"No thanks, I'm not interested."
Seeing Crocodile suddenly extending a random invitation, Ian raised a brow and said speechlessly, "What is it with you guys? You meet someone once and immediately invite them onto your ship!"
"You actually refused?"
After Ian's unwavering refusal, Crocodile frowned again and sneered: "Kid, do you know what you're turning down? That is the opportunity to overturn and change the world with me. The boss of the West Blue underworld forces? Just a country bumpkin, hmph!"
With disdain, he curled his lip. "That is just like children playing house. Only Paradise and the New World are the battlefields for the strong."
His eyes locked tightly onto Ian. "I don't know what your relationship is with that Marine Headquarters higher-up, but the World Government doesn't know the Devil Child is here, right?"
"A mere Marine's official cannot shelter her. If you follow me, I can give you both protection. Once my plan succeeds, even the World Government won't dare to provoke me!"