Robin's little thoughts were completely visible to Adrian.
"My crew still lacks a professional archaeologist,"
Adrian said with a faint smile.
"You happen to fill that vacancy perfectly."
His eyes rested on Robin calmly—
eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything in the world.
Robin's heart tightened.
How… how did he know she was an archaeologist?
"Surprised?"
Adrian's tone was one of absolute control.
"Nico Robin.
Born on Ohara of the West Blue.
The only survivor of the island.
Number one wanted criminal of both the Navy and the World Government."
Every detail hit the mark.
Nami and the others weren't surprised at all.
They were already used to Adrian's uncanny knowledge.
When Robin looked back at Adrian,
fear mingled in her expression.
Who wouldn't fear someone who knew every secret you had?
She had underestimated him.
Adrian's crew was not a place just anyone could join.
"How… how did you learn all this?"
Robin asked, losing her composure—something that hadn't happened for years.
"You don't need to worry about that.
Just remember one thing:
there is nothing in this world that I do not know."
As a bandit, Adrian didn't care much about the Poneglyphs.
Yet he thought—
exposing the Void Century to the world could be interesting.
And the World Government's ugly secrets would definitely net him reputation.
"All right.
The priority now is finding your former boss, Crocodile."
"Rest for the day.
Tomorrow, you'll guide us."
With a casual wave of his hand,
Adrian dismissed her.
Robin paused for a few seconds, then nodded and left.
Watching her retreating back,
Adrian's thoughts drifted.
Even without the historical angle,
he would've welcomed Robin—
one of the great beauties of the pirate world.
…
That night,
sounds from Adrian's cabin continued endlessly,
enough to make anyone blush.
After several exhausting "battles,"
Nojiko felt as if her bones were falling apart.
"Nami told me Vivi tried to see you the other day, but you refused?"
Nojiko asked thoughtfully.
She couldn't quite understand Adrian's plan.
"She tried to use her princess identity to pressure me.
With someone like that, you ignore them first."
Adrian said calmly.
With such an overpowering cheat-like system,
not building a massive harem would practically be a waste.
His goal was clear—
to tame every beauty in the One Piece world,
but step by step.
"Adrian, you're a man with ambition.
I don't regret choosing to be with you."
Nojiko said seriously.
"I can see you're interested in today's Nico Robin too.
Your women will probably only grow in number."
Adrian froze momentarily.
"Let me finish.
No matter how many women you end up having,
I only ask one thing—
that you never mistreat me or Nami."
She and Nami had suffered all their lives under Arlong.
The happiness they now enjoyed felt fragile, unreal.
She feared losing it.
"Don't forget," Adrian said lightly,
"I'm an unreasonable bandit.
You dare say such things to me?"
Nojiko stiffened instantly.
Then Adrian laughed,
warm and careless.
"As if I'd eat you alive.
Relax."
Adrian held her closer.
"I won't mistreat you two.
Not now.
Not ever."
Hearing this, Nojiko's heart finally relaxed.
She also felt even more reassured about pushing Nami toward him.
…
Time flew by.
The next day arrived before they realized it.
Led by Nico Robin,
Adrian and his group reached Crocodile's headquarters.
The patrolling guards outside didn't even have time to react
before Robin eliminated them instantly.
With the power of the Hana-Hana Fruit,
her combat effectiveness was far from weak—
a fitting show of loyalty for her new crew.
The commotion outside quickly alerted the people within the building.
Soon, several figures emerged—
each exuding a powerful aura.
At the front was a man with a horizontal scar across his face,
a heavy fur-lined coat draped over his shoulders,
and a golden hook on his left hand.
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—
Crocodile.
Completely calm,
he lit a cigar and took a long drag.
"What's going on here?"
Before the big boss spoke,
the burly man beside him stepped forward.
Adrian recognized him instantly—
Mr. 1, the Supersonic Slash user.
The man who had given Zoro trouble in the original timeline.
"Looks like that woman, Robin, betrayed us,"
Crocodile said coolly, instantly understanding the situation.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Allow me to introduce myself.
I am Adrian the Bandit."
A faint smile—
followed by a pressure that dwarfed Crocodile's instantly,
crushing the room silent.
Upon hearing his name,
Crocodile's eyes widened slightly.
Only months ago,
Adrian was an unknown nobody.
But now?
The newspapers called him the Fifth Emperor of the Sea.
His battles.
His feats.
His insane daring.
Everything was enough to shake the world.
"Well, well…
I didn't expect to meet the newly famous Adrian so soon.
A great honor, I suppose."
Crocodile said, forcing composure.
As someone who had once challenged Whitebeard,
he wasn't about to be scared by a rising star.
"But I'm curious.
You and I have no grievance.
What business do you have with me?"
Adrian spread his hands casually.
"Isn't it obvious?
I came all this way for one reason—
to beat the crap out of you."
His tone was natural, arrogant to the extreme—
completely unreasonable.
But bandits
were unreasonable by definition.
The atmosphere grew sharp and tense.
Not a single grunt dared breathe loudly.
Crocodile's expression darkened,
like an insect being roasted alive.
It had been many, many years
since anyone dared speak to him this way.
And it infuriated him.
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