Will had no idea what was going through their minds at that moment.
Taking advantage of his knowledge of the original story, he swiftly cut off their pointless chatter.
He turned to Robin immediately, getting straight to the point. "Alright, Robin," he said. "I know you're a smart woman, so I won't waste time with unnecessary talk. Since you've met Crocodile before, you must have some idea of where he might be. Once we reach the Alabasta Kingdom, I'll need you to lead the way."
His words carried an undeniable authority.
Robin's eyes flickered, and she tilted her head slightly, offering a gentle smile. "Will-san, is that an order?" she asked softly. "It doesn't quite feel like the attitude of someone asking for a favor. I do have a general idea of where that man might be, but…"
She paused mid-sentence, her fingers subtly shifting as if preparing something.
Whoosh—!
Before Robin could activate her Flower-Flower Fruit powers, a sudden gust of air zipped past her ear, slicing through her hair and hurtling toward the sea behind her.
Boom!
The water behind her exploded in a spray of foam, as if struck by a cannonball.
Will, standing at the bow of the ship, noticed her subtle movements cease. Slowly retracting his finger, he warned in a calm tone, "Don't try anything, Robin. I know far more about you than you might think. So trust me when I say I can stop you before you even attempt anything."
As he spoke, a faint red glint flashed in his eyes, and a subtle aura emanated from him, precisely enveloping only Robin.
Feeling an overwhelming pressure descend upon her, Robin's composed smile vanished. A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead. "My body… I can't move…" she muttered. She tried to resist, but her mind was gripped by an intense tension, rendering her unable to activate her abilities. The mysterious force pinned her in place, immobilizing her completely.
Realizing she had been effortlessly subdued, Robin's eyes trembled slightly. Only now did she understand that she had underestimated the tall man before her from the very start.
Seeing the shift in her expression, Will ceased his Haki, speaking with a meaningful tone. "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything to you. Just lead me to Crocodile as requested. After all, you wouldn't want your other identity—or your current whereabouts—to be spread around, would you?"
Robin's eye twitched at his words, fully aware that he was threatening her. If she didn't want her secrets exposed, she had no choice but to stay by his side.
Yet, despite the threat, Robin didn't feel overly panicked. Years of living as a fugitive had exposed her to countless similar situations, and she had grown accustomed to handling them. Moreover, she had her own crucial objective that required Crocodile's involvement. Agreeing to Will's demand outright, however…
After a few seconds of silence, a smile crept back onto Robin's face. She proposed a condition. "I can take you directly to him, but in exchange, you must help me accomplish something. If you don't agree, I won't lead you to him—no matter what you threaten to do with my identity."
Seeing her resolute stance, Will raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Alright, let's hear it. What's your condition? I don't make promises I can't keep."
Robin felt a slight relief at his response. Clearly, this man wasn't planning to brush her off with empty promises. "My request is simple," she said. "After you've achieved your goal, you must take me to see the Poneglyph safeguarded by the Alabasta Kingdom."
"Huh?!" Vivi, overhearing the mention of the Poneglyph, felt a jolt of surprise. Her mind raced, and she blurted out, "Are you saying your goal in trying to take over the Alabasta Kingdom is to obtain that Poneglyph?!"
Since Robin had already revealed her intentions, she saw no need to hide further. Smiling, she replied, "The Poneglyph is indeed our true objective. Taking over the kingdom is merely a means to an end. It's precisely because our goals align that I chose to work with Crocodile."
In her heart, however, she knew that while she and Crocodile both sought the Poneglyph's secrets, their intentions were entirely different. This was the primary reason she had chosen to help Vivi uncover the truth.
Before Vivi could respond, Will nodded decisively. "Fine. Even if the Alabasta Kingdom refuses, I'll help you find the Poneglyph's location afterward."
"What?!" Vivi exclaimed, alarmed. "Will-san, you don't have to agree to her terms! If you escort me back to the capital, Alubarna, I can use my authority as a princess to mobilize the entire kingdom's forces to help you find Crocodile. You don't need her to guide you!"
Will, however, remained unmoved by her words. "You're not wrong," he said calmly, "but she's more efficient. She'll lead me to Crocodile faster. As a princess, you likely don't have the authority to directly command the kingdom's resources to search for him. And I don't have the time to wait for you to convince your father, the king, and for him to send people to investigate."
Vivi's heart sank, a mix of anxiety and frustration swirling within her. She knew he was right—mobilizing the kingdom's forces would require her to persuade her father, which would take time. Though she was confident she could succeed, it wasn't an immediate solution.
Still, giving up so easily felt unbearable. She had been on this ship for so long—why was she being sidelined the moment this ever-smiling woman showed up? It was as if she had become irrelevant, a dispensable presence on the ship…
"Why did it turn out like this…?" Vivi muttered, her voice heavy with emotion. "I was the one who boarded first…"
Seeing the complex expression on Vivi's face, Robin's eyes glinted, and she offered a gentle, teasing smile. "My apologies, Princess Vivi," she said. "It seems I've inadvertently taken your place as the guide. It's a bit unfortunate, but it's not exactly something I can control. I hope you won't take it too personally."
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