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Chapter 116: Robin's Decision
"Are you saying that brat is coming straight for my territory?"
Crocodile's voice suddenly turned grim. He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his expression shifting uncertainly. "What is his objective?!"
At this critical juncture, just as he was about to seize the Ancient Weapon "Pluton," a core executive of a Four Emperor crew charging toward his base was hard not to interpret in the worst possible way.
Did the Whitebeard Pirates also have their eyes on Pluton?
But he quickly dismissed that thought.
Over the years, he had hidden his true goals extremely deep. Aside from Robin, the key figure capable of reading Poneglyphs, no one knew his true schemes in Alabasta.
And given Robin's identity and situation, betrayal was impossible.
A survivor of Ohara could never establish a foothold in this world without his protection.
Therefore, "Fire Fist" was likely here for something else.
Robin spoke up at the right moment, her voice steady as usual. "Then it can only be because of that recent incident involving the Whitebeard Pirates."
That incident, naturally, referred to the betrayal where Thatch, the 4th Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, was killed and the Dark-Dark Fruit was stolen.
The culprit was a man calling himself "Blackbeard," who had fled all the way from the New World to the first half of the Grand Line.
As the 2nd Division Commander, Ace had chased him all the way back here.
This matter was no longer a secret on the seas, and Crocodile had naturally heard of it.
"You mean that guy thinks I'm harboring a traitor from their crew?"
Crocodile frowned, the golden hook on his left hand tapping lightly against the windowsill, making a crisp ding-ding sound.
"It is very possible," Robin nodded slightly, then, as if recalling something, she smiled faintly. "There is another possibility. Perhaps he simply wants to help that Princess."
"Tch." Crocodile scoffed disdainfully, obviously not believing such a notion. "A core executive of a Four Emperor crew helping a princess of a small country out of selflessness? Don't make me laugh."
A Four Emperor crew would not casually move against a Warlord. This was the tacit understanding between the Four Emperors, the Seven Warlords, and the Navy—a balance maintained for years that would not be easily broken.
"Regardless of what that guy's goal is..." Crocodile's voice turned cold. "Coming to my territory and acting so arrogantly... I won't let him leave so easily."
He strode toward the door, his leather boots making heavy thuds against the floor.
Reaching the door, he stopped suddenly. Without looking back, he turned his face slightly and said:
"Notify Mr. 2 and Mr. 1. Have them eliminate that group of rookie pirates before the operation begins tomorrow."
"That trash Mr. 3... to think he let these small fry make it all the way here."
His tone carried obvious displeasure.
Clearly, Crocodile was quite dissatisfied that the Straw Hat Pirates had managed to break through all the way to the Alabasta capital.
With that, without waiting for Robin's response, he dissolved into flying sand in the blink of an eye and vanished from the doorway.
"Understood, Boss."
Robin nodded slightly at the empty doorway, as if Crocodile were still there.
Her expression didn't change at all; she remained as calm and composed as ever.
Only after confirming Crocodile had truly left did Robin walk back to the desk and pick up the dedicated Den Den Mushi.
Following orders, she contacted Mr. 2 Bon Clay and Mr. 1 Daz Bonez respectively, conveying Crocodile's command:
Before the large-scale operation begins tomorrow, gather at the café base in Rainbase to wipe out the Straw Hat Pirates together.
After the calls ended, the office returned to silence.
Robin stood still for a moment, then pulled out a wanted poster that had been deliberately suppressed at the bottom of a stack of documents.
The poster featured a girl with blue hair, blue eyes, and horns growing from her head.
Robin's fingers gently brushed over the face on the poster, her gaze complex.
She thought for a long time, long enough for the sky outside to begin darkening slightly, the noise from the casino downstairs drifting up faintly.
Finally, the corners of her mouth lifted in an imperceptible arc.
"Since you said we would meet again, then I shall go to Katorea to see you."
.....
Meanwhile, at a port city.
A pirate ship flying the Straw Hat Jolly Roger hastily sailed away from the harbor under cannon fire from a Marine warship.
On the deck, the crew members were sweating profusely, collapsing onto the wooden planks with the joy of surviving a disaster.
Splashes from cannonballs exploded not far from the stern, churning the sea into rough waves.
"Hard to port! Hurry!" Nami shouted commands from the helm, beads of sweat on her forehead.
With one last sharp turn, the Going Merry finally escaped the effective range of the Navy's artillery.
The silhouette of the warship gradually shrank in the distance, finally becoming a small black dot on the horizon.
Sunlight baked the deck, and the air was filled with the mixed scent of gunpowder and seawater.
"W-We're saved..." Usopp lay spread-eagled, his chest heaving violently.
Chopper reverted to his reindeer form, hooves pointing to the sky, tongue lolling out. "So—so scary... we almost got hit..."
"Luffy!"
Nami released the hand clutching her chest, spun around, put her hands on her hips, and glared furiously at her captain.
"We just went out to eat! How did you manage to provoke the Navy again?!"
Just half an hour ago, she had been happily haggling at a fabric stall in the port market. Just as she was about to secure a batch of fine Alabasta cotton at a 30% discount, she suddenly saw Luffy and Usopp being chased down the street by a swarm of Marines.
Helpless, she had to abandon the haggle, hurriedly buy the necessary items at full price, and sprint back to the Merry with bags in hand.
Thinking of the extra Berry she spent, Nami's heart bled.
"Do you know how much money I lost, you idiot!"
The more she thought about it, the more regret she felt. Flames seemed to materialize in her eyes.
She rushed in front of Luffy, grabbed the collar of his red vest, and began shaking him violently up and down.
"Uwah—Na-Nami—I'm gonna die—" Luffy's eyes rolled back, his rubber body flailing like a noodle.
If Ganyu were on the ship, she might have offered a word or two of persuasion.
But she wasn't here, and no one could save the captain from the enraged navigator.
Finally, Nami vented her anger and let go.
Luffy collapsed onto the deck with a thud, foaming at the mouth, temporarily unconscious.
"Phew..." Nami wiped the sweat from her forehead and let out a long breath, her emotions calming down slightly.
Only then did Usopp dare to stand up and explain the situation. "It was that Marine from Loguetown. It seems they came to Alabasta specifically to chase us."
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