All external operations and business for Baroque Works were handled by Robin.
Crocodile himself almost never appeared.
So the moment he picked up the call and heard a woman's voice, Oboro had already guessed who it was.
There was no denying it — Robin was exceptionally intelligent… a sharpness honed by everything she had lived through.
A life spent running and hiding since childhood had forged her extraordinary wisdom and instincts.
Even so, she still lacked composure.
Just speaking her name aloud had been enough to make her panic.
Crocodile claimed he could protect Robin, but in truth, he was only "hiding" her — giving her a new identity and keeping her in the shadows.
If word ever got out about his connection to her, then even as a Warlord of the Sea, Sir Crocodile would be powerless against the World Government's pressure.
He might very well simply abandon her to save himself.
"Was that Crocodile's people?" Dom asked, looking over.
"Mm," Oboro replied.
He tossed the Den Den Mushi aside and returned to his seat.
He had no particular interest in Sir Crocodile or Robin, nor did he have any intention of inviting her to join his crew.
It was true she could read the Poneglyphs, but Oboro's goal was never to find the One Piece.
His true aim was to overthrow the Celestial Dragons' tyranny, wipe out that scum as thoroughly as possible, and tear down the world's order until it collapsed into chaos.
Judged by that standard, Robin did not fit the kind of crewmates Oboro sought. This encounter with Baroque Works had been nothing more than an accident.
Oboro found a nautical chart.
Looking at the coordinates, Bonam Island lay upstream from Little Garden and downstream from the Kingdom of Alabasta along the parallel lines of the first half of the Grand Line — though not exactly on the same horizontal route.
That meant, if they followed the standard course, they would reach Reverse Mountain very soon.
"Let's go."
Oboro skimmed through the latest newspapers, gathering news and information from across the seas.
Now that his purpose here was fulfilled, he saw no reason to stay any longer.
He signaled Dom and they left immediately.
He wasn't overly worried about the Navy arriving. After all, traveling inside a Sea King like a living submarine was a method no one else could predict or trace.
"Captain… someone's there."
They had just stepped out of the main entrance when Dom stopped in his tracks.
Oboro saw a lone figure standing in the empty street.
The town had long since been abandoned… yet here was someone brave — or foolish — enough not to have fled.
It was the old man they had met overseeing the miners.
He wore a tattered, sweat‑stained shirt. Seeing them come out, he simply sat down cross‑legged right on the ground.
He watched Oboro with keen interest.
"Something you want?" Oboro asked, though he knew the answer.
His identity was already exposed, and the Slick Pirates were wiped out. For the old man to approach him now… it was clear he no longer cared whether he lived or died.
Bonam Island's fate was already sealed.
The World Government's forces would arrive soon.
This island would likely be erased from all charts and routes.
"I've spent most of my life sailing the seas… and this is the first time I've ever met anyone bold enough to kill a Celestial Dragon!"
The old man smiled, looking at Oboro as if he were some rare, exotic creature — speaking with the wisdom of years.
He picked up a cigarette he had just found, lit it, and seeing they were preparing to leave, continued, "To be honest… at first I thought you two were just reckless fools from nowhere. Never imagined you'd actually wipe out the Slick Pirates…"
He shook his head. "But… they were just small fry. You've completely ruined Sir Crocodile's business here…"
"Though… it doesn't matter anymore. Nothing I say now changes anything. You might not even make it out alive. This island isn't far from a Marine branch that answers directly to Headquarters… Judging by their speed, they should be arriving any time now."
"In other words… you have about one hour to get your ship out to sea and break through their encirclement."
"Are you enjoying this?" Oboro raised an eyebrow.
"Not at all."
The old man took a deep, satisfying drag. "I was a pirate once… I came to find you simply because I think it would be a waste for someone like you to die here."
"Come with me. I know these waters better than anyone. There's a hidden route — a stretch of sea where the currents are wild and treacherous, full of hidden undercurrents. This is the Grand Line… strange weather and unpredictable dangers are everywhere. If you want even a glimmer of hope, you'll have to leave it all to fate… But only if you get there fast enough. Whether you actually escape or not? That I can't promise."
He stood slowly and began to lead the way.
Dom was about to scoff at the old man's presumption, but Oboro stopped him.
They followed him out of the town.
"Why help us?" Oboro asked, walking beside him.
"Hmm… If I had to give a reason… it's because you have a certain feeling about you that I recognize."
"What feeling?"
"That of a great man… of someone truly strong in this sea."
The old man said, "I've seen so many pirates in my time… Some look powerful but are hollow inside. Others rise to fame overnight, shaking the whole world, only to crumble and vanish just as fast… Not everyone has what it takes to stand tall and survive here year after year. To put it simply: staying alive, and outliving everyone else, is a talent in itself. You escaped from Sabaody… so I know you must have extraordinary abilities. But what I really admire is your courage."
"To strike at the Celestial Dragons… That's something even the Four Emperors wouldn't dare do, or even think about."
"You've met the Four Emperors?" Oboro caught the implication.
"Aye… One of them. Edward Newgate — Whitebeard."
The old man smiled. "Since you know about Crocodile, you've probably already guessed a thing or two about my past… I was part of his crew. Though 'partner' isn't quite the right word — back then, we were just his subordinates. I saw with my own eyes the battle between him and Whitebeard. I saw what it truly means to be the strongest man in the world."
"When the crew disbanded, I came back here. I served as the town mayor, helping Crocodile make profit from this island. But things changed over time… He became greedier and more ruthless. We had… disagreements. Conflicts. And now, here I am — just as you see me."
"Why didn't you leave?" Dom asked from the side.
"Haha… I'm an old man now. This is my home."
"Like leaves falling back to their roots… even if I die, I'll die right here."
He spoke with complete peace and acceptance.
"Do you not hate me?" Oboro asked softly. "If I hadn't come here, this island might not be destroyed."
"Look at the great rulers of this sea… Before they achieved greatness, didn't they all do something shocking, something that made the whole world remember their names?!"
The old man gestured broadly. "In the grand scheme of your destiny, dragging one unknown little island down with you is nothing at all. Besides… being weak, I have no right to complain. From the day I set sail and became a pirate, I knew the truth… If you want to change things, if you want to have a voice, there is only one way: absolute strength."
"Hating you… would that change anything? No."
He laughed at himself, then waved his hand. "But don't get too cocky… You certainly carry the mark of the strong… but you are still far, far away from being like Whitebeard, or Crocodile. One day you'll reach the New World, and you'll understand exactly what I mean… There are plenty of people like you there. You're just… a little more special than the rest. Right now? You're just a fugitive who could lose his life at any moment. Maybe one day you'll be a great man… but not yet."
"I came to meet you simply to see how you'd react to the World Government's manhunt."
"If I had seen fear or panic in your face or eyes… I would never have helped you."
A short while later, the old man led them to a secluded stretch of beach.
Hidden in a rocky cave near the shore, barely visible, was a small boat covered with black cloth.
"Go on."
He pulled out a detailed route map and offered it to Oboro.
Oboro didn't take it. He just looked at him and said, "Want to take a gamble?"
"Gamble on what?" The old man chuckled.
"You said it yourself… that one day I'll be a great man… So how about it? Come aboard my ship? Consider it an investment."
Oboro was making him an offer.
"I no longer have the heart or the spirit for that kind of life…" The old man laughed heartily.
"A pity."
Oboro truly admired the old man's character. People like him were exactly what Oboro had imagined pirates to be when he had only read the story back on Earth — not just robbers and killers, but men of experience and principle.
To have sailed into the New World with Crocodile, and fought against Whitebeard… very few people in the entire sea could claim such achievements.
He was truly one of the elite.
Besides, having an experienced elder to guide them would save them from countless troubles.
But… he had been refused.
"What is your name?" Oboro asked again.
"I'm just a man who's about to die… Does a name matter anymore?" The old man smiled faintly.
"True enough."
Oboro nodded.
The kindness and goodwill the old man had shown him confirmed one thing in Oboro's mind:
The will or destiny of the pirate world could not completely control or dictate every person's fate.
It influenced things, yes… but it was never absolute.
"Keep the boat… I doubt we'll meet again. It was good to have met you."
With that, Oboro turned and walked toward the open sea with Dom.
The old man stared in confusion.
He couldn't understand what Oboro meant.
If they didn't take the boat and flee now… weren't they just waiting to die?!
But in the next second, a massive shadow rose from the surface of the nearby sea. Waves crashed and surged, sending white foam flying everywhere.
Then, half its body rising from the depths, a Sea King emerged.
It opened its cavernous, blood‑red maw.
Under the old man's stunned gaze, Oboro and Dom waded into the water for a moment, then climbed up onto the creature's jawline and stepped inside. They paused and looked back at him one last time.
The Sea King did not close its mouth — it moved as if it were being guided or controlled.
Oboro stared hard at the small figure standing on the shore, then turned and followed Dom deeper inside the beast.
The colossal creature sank back into the ocean and vanished completely.
"So that's how it is… No wonder…"
The old man stood there, murmuring to himself.
Then he threw his head back and laughed aloud.
He suddenly felt a twinge of regret for turning down that young man's offer…
This boy… it wasn't just possible he'd succeed…
He was certain to achieve greatness.
Sadly… he would not live to see that day.
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