Several days had passed since Nico Robin boarded their ship.
During that time, the woman who called herself Miss All Sunday behaved with perfect calm. She read books on the deck, answered Nami's questions only when she felt like it, and occasionally tossed out some remark that made the navigator's forehead vein throb.
Then, the moment their ship reached Alabasta, Robin disappeared while giving Shiki a farewell wink.
By the time Nami noticed, Robin had already walked down the gangplank and vanished into the crowd, like a shadow slipping into sunlight.
Shiki kept his promise and did not stop her from leaving. Since she had led them here, that part of the deal was over. As for the rest, it depended on the future.
Nami had been so angry that she nearly grabbed him by the collar, but knowing him, she would definitely not be handled gently for such disrespectful behavior. In the end, she managed to stop herself, at least physically.
"Why did you let her go?! She knows about Crocodile, Baroque Works, the Poneglyphs, and who knows what else!"
Shiki only glanced at her.
"That was what I promised her. Besides, I have no reason to bind someone to my side."
"Uhhh!"
Nami groaned and lowered her head in defeat.
And that had been the end of it.
Now, the three of them were walking through the streets of Alabasta.
The sun hung high overhead, pouring white heat over the sandy roads and clay-colored buildings.
Merchants shouted from shaded stalls. Children ran between the crowds with laughter ringing behind them. The smell of roasted meat, spices, and fresh fruit drifted through the air.
Compared to the grim picture Vivi had painted during the voyage, the town before them seemed peaceful.
Nami adjusted the cloth over her head to block the sun, then glanced around with a thoughtful expression.
"So this is Alabasta…"
"It's more lively than I expected."
Beside her, Vivi walked silently.
Her blue hair swayed beneath her hood. Her eyes moved across the crowd, but her mind seemed to be somewhere far away.
Nami glanced at her suspiciously.
"Vivi-chan?"
Vivi still did not respond. Her gaze remained fixed on the street ahead, but there was a troubled look on her face. It was not exactly sorrow. It was something more complicated than that.
Nami frowned, then stepped closer.
"Vivi-chan?"
"Eh?"
Vivi jumped in place as if someone had fired a cannon beside her ear.
"Yes! Yes, what happened, Nami-san?"
Nami stared at her with narrowed eyes.
"What do you mean, 'what happened'? I called you three times."
"Y-You did?"
"You were completely spacing out."
Vivi lowered her eyes awkwardly.
"I'm sorry…"
"What is it? You've looked strange since we entered town."
Vivi's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her cloak.
"It's nothing," she said quietly. "I just… feel a little relieved."
"This place is still doing better than I feared. People are still smiling. At least I still have time to fix things."
Nami exhaled quietly and nodded in agreement.
"Yeah," she said. "This town really is happy."
Shiki, who had been walking slightly ahead of them, finally stopped. He turned his head and looked at Vivi.
"So?"
Vivi blinked in confusion.
"So…?"
"How do you want it?"
Nami immediately looked between them.
"Huh?"
Shiki faced Vivi fully and spoke in a calm, blunt tone.
"My way of doing things is straightforward. I don't have the patience for sneaking around, playing spy, or waiting for Crocodile to finish whatever little stage play he's prepared."
"If you want Crocodile dragged out in front of this kingdom, I'll drag him out right now."
Shiki was not bluffing.
The roundabout way Crocodile and Alabasta were handled in the anime was not something he wanted to experience himself. He really did not like the suffocating heat, and he had no interest in wandering through the desert for the sake of adventure.
It was better to end things fast and cleanly, then enjoy himself here with the treatment he deserved.
Just as Vivi hesitated over how to answer Shiki's question, far away on the other side of the kingdom, in Rainbase, another conversation was taking place.
Inside the casino known as Rain Dinners, the air was cool and heavy.
The sound of coins, laughter, and spinning roulette wheels echoed faintly beyond the walls, but within the private chamber, everything was still.
Crocodile sat on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, a cigar resting between his fingers. Smoke curled lazily into the air as his sharp eyes settled on the woman standing before him.
Nico Robin had returned.
As always, she wore a calm smile, graceful and unreadable, as if nothing in the world could disturb her.
Crocodile stared at her for a long moment before his lips curled.
"Ku ha ha ha…"
The low laugh echoed through the room.
"You're late, Miss All Sunday."
Robin smiled faintly.
"Ara, am I? I thought I returned rather quickly."
"I didn't ask for your opinion on punctuality."
Crocodile tapped the ash from his cigar into the tray beside him.
"I asked you to bring me news."
Robin's eyes remained soft.
"The situation at Whiskey Peak became somewhat troublesome. Princess Vivi escaped, and the bounty hunters there were wiped out."
"That much, I know."
Crocodile's voice did not change.
Instead, he leaned back against the sofa, his golden hook gleaming beneath the lamplight.
"So?"
Robin tilted her head.
"So?"
"Don't play the fool."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"What happened there?"
Robin lowered her gaze slightly, as if thinking.
"Nothing worth troubling you over, Mr. 0. A pirate interfered, that is all."
"A pirate?"
"Yes."
"And that pirate's name?"
Robin's smile remained perfectly composed.
"I did not confirm it."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Crocodile laughed again.
"Ku ha ha ha ha!"
The sound was slow, dry, and cruel.
"My subordinates have already reported it."
Smoke slipped from his mouth.
"Shiki. The new pirate with a bounty of three hundred million berries."
Robin's expression remained the same, showing no reaction whatsoever.
But deep inside, her thoughts were far from calm.
So he already knows. Well, that much was expected.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed.
"That man has stepped foot in my country."
He placed one hand against his cheek, as though amused by the situation.
"Now then, Miss All Sunday. What should I do about him?"
Robin understood the meaning behind his words.
He was not simply asking for advice. He was testing her.
If she hid too much, he would suspect betrayal.
If she revealed too much, Shiki would become an enemy before she had even decided where to stand.
For a woman who had survived for twenty years by walking between blades, the safest answer was neither truth nor lie.
It was usefulness.
Robin smiled gently.
"If possible, you should try recruiting him first."
Crocodile's brow lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
"A man with that kind of strength could be useful. If he can be brought into Baroque Works, then Princess Vivi's return will no longer matter."
"Hmm... But a pirate like him should be rather arrogant. He doesn't look like the type to bow his head easily. What if he refuses?"
Robin's tone stayed smooth.
"Then you should deal with him the pirate way."
Crocodile stared at her, then smiled with amusement.
"Ku ha ha ha…"
He did not say whether he believed her.
Without turning his head, he spoke.
"Mr. 1."
From the shadows near the wall, Daz Bones opened his eyes.
"Yes."
"Are they ready?"
"Yes."
His reply was short and cold.
"The agents have already been mobilized."
As he spoke, Mr. 1's gaze drifted toward Robin.
It was not open hostility, but there was nothing friendly in it either.
Robin noticed, of course, and gave him a smile in return.
So he already moved them.
In such a short time?
No.
Robin's thoughts turned quietly.
Perhaps he prepared this in advance.
Then that means…
Crocodile had never trusted her report from the beginning.
He had already suspected she might hide something.
Crocodile slowly rose from the sofa. His tall figure cast a long shadow across the room, and the golden hook at his wrist caught the light with a cold gleam.
"Miss All Sunday."
Robin looked up at him.
"Yes, Mr. 0?"
Crocodile walked past her, stopping only when he was beside her shoulder.
His voice was low enough that only she could hear.
"I hope the day never comes when our partnership has to end."
The smoke from his cigar brushed past her cheek.
"Because if it does…"
His eyes turned toward her, deadly killing intent flickering within them.
"I'll have to deal with you myself."
For a brief instant, the room became so still that even the distant noise of the casino seemed to disappear.
Robin's smile remained gentle.
"Ara, Mr. 0…"
She turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze from the corner of her eye.
"Please don't worry."
Her voice was soft, smooth, and impossible to read.
"That day will never come."
Whether she meant Crocodile would never have the chance to kill her, or that she would never betray him, even Robin herself did not say.
Crocodile said nothing after that. He gave her one last look before leaving.
...
On the other hand, Vivi had already made her decision.
Even so, one thing was still bothering her, and Shiki saw through it.
"Are you worried the people may never understand what happened?"
Shiki's golden eyes stayed on Vivi.
"Your worry is not misplaced. To them, one unknown pirate will have attacked another famous hero of Alabasta."
Vivi's expression changed.
That was exactly what she had been thinking.
And that was not something she wanted to see happen, not only for the kingdom, but also for Shiki. She did not want Shiki to be labeled as a criminal after saving her and her country.
Crocodile was not merely a pirate here.
To the people, he was a hero.
A Warlord who protected the kingdom from criminals.
A savior who appeared whenever danger threatened them.
If Shiki suddenly crushed him without proof, the country might not thank him.
It might fear him.
Or worse, it might turn against the very princess trying to save it.
Vivi lowered her head and bit her lip hard.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I know Crocodile is the enemy. I know he's the one destroying Alabasta from the shadows. But the people don't know that."
Nami's expression softened, and she hugged Vivi's shoulders to comfort her.
"Vivi-chan…"
Vivi inhaled slowly.
"My father is already being blamed. The rebels are moving. The people are suffering because they believe the royal family betrayed them."
Her eyes grew firm despite the fear within them.
"If Crocodile falls without the truth being exposed, then Alabasta's wounds won't heal."
Shiki looked at her in silence.
Then he waved his hand and said calmly,
"Don't think of me as a mere brute. The reason I asked you was naturally because of this, and I already have a plan for that. So killing Crocodile outright is no problem!"
"Ehhh!?"
Both Nami and Vivi exclaimed in surprise.
Then, after Shiki explained, their eyes widened.
"Then why didn't you tell us from the beginning?" Vivi asked with a slightly complaining tone, looking at him with a pout.
"I just felt like it."
Shiki shrugged, which was basically the same as saying he had wanted to tease them a bit.
This guy...
Nami and Vivi looked at each other with helpless expressions and sighed.
Then, suddenly, Shiki turned his head.
At the end of the street, a man in a neat black suit was walking toward them.
The man stopped several steps away, lifted his hat, and bowed politely.
"Shiki-sama, I presume?"
Shiki looked down at him, his eyes glowing gold.
"And you are?"
"A messenger."
"From Crocodile?"
The man's smile froze for half a second, but he quickly lowered his head further.
"As expected. You are quick to understand."
Vivi's expression stiffened, and she gave Shiki a nervous look.
She had not expected them to be exposed so soon. And if Crocodile actually wanted to see Shiki, did that mean he wanted cooperation?
What if Shiki agreed?
After all, Crocodile could offer far better conditions than her.
The man slowly took out an envelope and held it forward with both hands.
"Our boss wishes to invite you to Rainbase."
Shiki's lips curved faintly.
Instead of taking the envelope, he tilted his head and said calmly,
"Go back and tell Crocodile something. If he wants to speak to me, he can crawl out of his casino and come himself."
...
"That's what he said, Crocodile-sama. I'm sorry, but I couldn't force him. That man's aura made it hard for me to breathe. It was almost even…"
He stopped halfway through the sentence, his back drenched with sweat.
He had almost blurted out that Shiki's presence was far stronger than Crocodile's.
Crocodile's face did not look good.
Of course, he could guess what the man had been about to say.
With a wave of his hand, and amid the man's loud, begging cries, Crocodile threw him straight into the cage where he kept his bananawani.
The bananawani inside instantly swallowed him in one gulp.
Mr. 1 stood silently near Crocodile's side, arms crossed, his expression as cold and hard as steel as he watched the man get eaten alive.
Beside him, Miss Doublefinger smiled faintly while holding a cigarette between her fingers.
Mr. 2 Bon Clay spun in place with exaggerated elegance, one leg raised high as his swan coat fluttered behind him.
Mr. 3 adjusted his glasses with a gloomy expression.
Mr. 4 sat there with his usual dull look, while Miss Merry Christmas kept muttering impatiently.
Almost all of Baroque Works' top agents had gathered, with the exception of Miss Valentine and Mr. 5
Crocodile sat above them all, one leg crossed over the other, a cigar held between his fingers.
His expression was calm, but anyone with eyes could tell his mood was terrible.
A pirate with a bounty of three hundred million berries had entered Alabasta.
Not only had he destroyed Whiskey Peak, taken Princess Vivi, and ignored Crocodile's invitation, he had even sent back such an arrogant message.
If Crocodile wanted to speak with him, he could crawl out of his casino himself.
That sentence alone had turned the whole room cold.
Mr. 3 was the first to speak, his voice sharp with disdain.
"Galdino, galdino… What an arrogant fellow. Does he really think a bounty of three hundred million berries makes him invincible?"
Mr. 4 snorted.
"Three hundred million? So what? If he stands in front of me, I'll blow his head off before he even knows what happened."
Miss Merry Christmas slammed both hands on the table.
"Enough talking! Just dig a hole under him and drag him down! Pirates are all the same once they're buried!"
Mr. 4 slowly blinked.
"Mm…"
Beside him, his dog-gun sneezed.
Mr. 2 Bon Clay suddenly spun forward and struck a dramatic pose.
"Such a rude man! Refusing an invitation from Crocodile-sama is a crime against beauty itself! Leave him to me! I shall kick him until even his mother cannot recognize him!"
Miss Doublefinger exhaled smoke and said lazily,
"You're all too noisy. If he survived long enough to reach three hundred million, he should at least have some skill."
"Hmph."
Mr. 1 finally opened his mouth, his voice low and cold.
"No matter how skilled he is, steel will cut him down."
Among the agents of Baroque Works, Mr. 1's position was special.
He was Crocodile's strongest subordinate.
A man whose entire body could turn into blades.
A killer who rarely spoke, but once he moved, his target almost never survived.
Mr. 4 clicked his tongue in annoyance, but he did not argue.
Crocodile listened to their voices with a faint smile.
He did not care about their arrogance.
In fact, he liked it.
A tool needed confidence to be useful. Whether that confidence came from true strength or stupidity did not matter, as long as it could still cut before breaking.
Robin stood quietly at the side of the hall.
Her smile was gentle, but her eyes calmly swept across every person present.
They were all underestimating Shiki.
That was natural.
None of them had seen what she had seen.
They had not seen a man split the sea to the horizon with a single slash.
They did not know that the man they were laughing at was not someone who could be measured by bounty alone.
Still, Robin said nothing. She only lowered her gaze slightly and hid the faint amusement in her eyes.
Crocodile noticed her silence.
"Miss All Sunday."
Robin looked up.
"Yes, Mr. 0?"
"You seem rather quiet. Don't you want to share your opinion with your companions?"
"Ara," Robin smiled. "Everyone here seems very confident. I simply thought it would be rude to interrupt."
"Ku ha ha ha…"
Crocodile laughed slowly.
The next instant, before he could speak, the ceiling exploded.
Boom!
Stone, dust, and broken decorations crashed down into the hall.
The long table was shattered in half. Wine bottles burst apart. Thick dust surged through the room like a sandstorm, swallowing everyone's vision.
The agents instantly stood up.
"What happened?!"
"Enemy attack!"
"Who dares?!"
Amid the chaos, a figure descended through the broken ceiling.
He landed lightly on the ground.
Tap.
The sound of his foot touching the floor was not heavy, but for some reason, it struck everyone's heart like a hammer.
The dust slowly parted, revealing the appearance of the intruder.
A man stood there, golden hair falling around his face. Two swords hung at his waist. His cloak moved gently in the disturbed air, and beneath the shadow cast over his face, a pair of golden eyes glowed with a menacing light.
The hall fell silent.
No one had expected the person they were discussing to suddenly appear in front of them.
Robin looked at him and sighed softly in her heart.
He really came.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed as he carefully sized the man up and down.
So he is Shiki...
Shiki lifted his gaze, looked across the agents gathered in the hall, and smiled faintly.
"So…"
"How were you going to deal with me?"
What answered him was a figure moving fast enough to cut through the air.
Swoosh!
It was Mr. 1.
His arms transformed into sharp steel blades, and his body became like a living weapon. The air screamed as he cut through it, appearing in front of Shiki in an instant.
His blade-arm came down toward Shiki's neck.
"Die."
The strike was fast, cold, and merciless.
But surprisingly, Shiki did not draw his swords to block.
Nor did he make any move to dodge.
Instead, he simply raised one finger to meet the deadly blow aimed at him.
Clang!
The blade stopped in its tracks, held back by a single finger.
Mr. 1's eyes widened slightly.
His arm, which could slice through stone and steel, had been stopped by a single finger.
He pushed down harder. His muscles tensed, and the veins along his arms bulged. The floor beneath his feet cracked from the sheer force he was using.
Yet it was meaningless.
Shiki's finger did not move an inch.
Sweat rolled down Mr. 1's face.
Shiki looked at him calmly.
"That's it?"
Mr. 1's pupils shrank.
His instincts screamed a warning at the approaching danger.
Before he could pull back, Shiki moved.
It was only a casual backhand slap.
Pa!
The sound was crisp.
Mr. 1's face distorted under the impact, and even half of his head visibly twisted from the force.
His steel-hard body bent in a way no human body should bend. His eyes rolled upward, and blood burst from his mouth.
The next instant, he shot across the hall like a cannonball.
Boom!
His body smashed through the wall and disappeared into the darkness beyond.
Broken stone rained down.
Just one casual slap.
Mr. 1, the strongest agent of Baroque Works after Crocodile, had been sent flying like trash, his life and death unknown.
The arrogance that had filled the hall moments earlier vanished as if it had never existed.
Shiki lowered his hand and looked around with faint disappointment.
"If that was how you planned to get rid of me…"
His golden eyes swept across every agent present.
"Then I'd be disappointed."
A slow smile touched his lips.
"Surely that wasn't all?"
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