At this point, Karina's eyes sparkled with the glint of Berries. "This way, it won't interfere with your original plans."
"Plus, after you defeat Crocodile, the kingdom can send people to deal with the remaining members of Baroque Works."
"As for the escort fee, we'll just need to ask Vivi's father—the king of the kingdom—for a 'small' commission."
"Hey! That's a great idea!" Nami's eyes lit up, and she nodded thoughtfully.
In her mind, she was already calculating what kind of price would be appropriate to demand from the king.
"You two…" Vivi paused for a moment after hearing this, then gave a helpless smile.
Having spent so many days with them, how could she not know how much these two loved treasure? Every few days, they'd rush to the ship's treasure room to count their spoils.
That said, Karina's plan suited her just fine, so she had no objections.
As for the payment, it didn't matter to her. As long as she could return to the kingdom's capital quickly and inform her father of the crisis, no amount of money was too much.
After hearing Karina's proposal, Will thought it over and found no issues. He nodded and said, "Alright, let's split up then."
"Huh?" Chopper, who had been quietly listening, was startled by Karina's words. He looked up with concern and asked, "Is it really okay for Will to go after that guy alone? Isn't it too dangerous?"
Nami couldn't help but laugh. She bent down, patting the hat on Chopper's head to reassure him. "Don't worry, Chopper. Have you forgotten what happened on Drum Island? Will's safer going alone than if we all went with him."
Nami knew full well that if they all headed to Rainbase together and a large-scale battle broke out, their current combined strength might hold Will back. Splitting up, as Karina suggested, was indeed the best course of action. Not only would it help Will handle the aftermath, but it would also ensure Vivi's safety—and maybe even secure an extra commission from the king. What a perfect plan!
As for Will's safety, Nami wasn't too worried. After all, he had defeated members of the Whitebeard Pirates. This Crocodile guy was just one of the Shichibukai. He couldn't possibly be much stronger than Ace, right? And even if Will couldn't win, he'd have an easier time escaping on his own.
Robin, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "Why are you all so confident that your captain can defeat Crocodile? If he fails, the consequences could be deadly. You might all end up dead there."
Though Madman Will's bounty was higher and his track record impressive, and the overwhelming pressure she'd felt from him earlier had indeed shaken her, Robin wasn't entirely convinced he could defeat Crocodile. That man's Devil Fruit ability was terrifying, especially in the desert, his natural home turf. In her heart, she leaned toward Crocodile coming out on top.
The only reason she'd agreed to work with Madman Will was that she had already planned to betray Crocodile. Besides, she wasn't confident she could escape this ship. With Princess Vivi present, aligning with the kingdom offered another path to her goals. That's why she'd decisively chosen to help them take down Crocodile.
At Robin's question, Nami and Karina exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. "A mere Shichibukai? How could Will possibly lose to a guy like that?" Nami said.
"Exactly!" Karina chimed in. "Don't you know our captain is destined to become the strongest man in the world?"
Chopper, a bit stunned, didn't know what to say but nodded eagerly in agreement. "Y-Yeah! That's what I think too!"
Hearing their unwavering faith in his strength, Will gave a wry smile. "You guys, don't make it sound so exaggerated. Crocodile's still one of the Shichibukai. We should at least show him some respect."
Even so, the confidence in Will's eyes was unmistakable, radiating an unshakable belief in his own strength.
Robin couldn't help but turn her gaze toward him, a flicker of intrigue in her eyes. What kind of man is he? she wondered. And his crew… The trust they had in their captain was something she had never witnessed in anyone she'd met before.
Just then, Will happened to glance her way, their eyes meeting. Robin offered a slight smile before naturally looking away. Will didn't think much of it.
After a few seconds of thought, ensuring there were no oversights, he turned to Nami. "Nami, speed up the ship. Follow that sea turtle leading the way and get to our destination as fast as possible."
"Aye, aye, Captain!" Nami replied with a grin, heading toward the helm.
Robin, not treating herself as an outsider, casually sat down next to Vivi. Noticing a pot of tea on the table, she picked it up, poured herself a cup from an unused one, and took a sip, nodding in approval at the taste. Turning to Vivi, who was staring at her, she smiled. "We're all on the same ship now, Princess. Why not sit down and have some tea with me?"
"Uh… this woman…" Vivi hesitated at Robin's overly friendly demeanor, unsure of how to respond. She calmed herself and sat down slowly but didn't pour herself any tea. Her mind was elsewhere, already racing with thoughts of how to quickly convince her father of the truth—especially since Crocodile was still considered a "national hero" in Alabasta.
Robin didn't mind Vivi's reluctance. She turned to Karina and struck up a conversation about the treasures in Rainbase's casinos.
Watching this from the ship's bow, Will thought to himself, Robin's blending in so naturally. She must have been through a lot in the past. Her swift betrayal of Crocodile hadn't gone unnoticed, though he hadn't mentioned it. Her personality—shaped by being betrayed and betraying others—meant she might turn on him in Rainbase. But Will wasn't too concerned. As long as she helped him find Crocodile, that was enough.
He vaguely recalled that Crocodile could hold his own against just about anyone. Without Luffy's influence, the man's true strength was likely not to be underestimated.
A battle in the heart of the desert… Will mused. Crocodile, that's your natural home field. You'd better not disappoint me.
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