When Shinra heard Robin's offer, he knew that this woman was vicious, but he also couldn't deny the temptation that came from her words.
The Batto Batto no Mi, Model: Vampire was too far away, and with how he was, it would take a long time for him to get that Devil Fruit.
Instead of wasting his time getting that Devil Fruit, he might as well get those that were nearby, and naturally, the best way to become stronger faster was by getting the Logia type of the Devil Fruit, and fortunately, the place where he was now, the Jaya Island, could help him to get closer to two type of the Logia type of the Devil Fruit.
Frankly, instead of the Batto Batto no Mi, which was so far away in the New World, Shinra thought to get the Logia Type nearby, especially the Goro Goro no Mi, or Rumble-Rumble Fruit, the Logia type of the Devil Fruit that allowed him to become and manipulate lightning.
As the power typically used by the King of Gods in polytheistic religions, it was, of course, strong, and Shinra thought to use his Eye of Usurp on the person who owned this Devil Fruit.
Unfortunately, he didn't have enough confidence in the owner of the Goro Goro no Mi, even if this person lost in a funny way against Luffy.
However, what about the other user of the Logia type?
Suna Suno Mi, or Sand Sand Fruit, was owned by Crocodile, who was also Robin's boss, and because of that, Shinra thought that this woman was vicious.
"What's wrong? You don't know the "Desert King," Crocodile?"
"I know." Shinra nodded. "He is the famous pirate who can make himself into sand, right?"
"Yes." Robin nodded. "At the same time, he is also my boss."
"...you want to sacrifice your boss?"
"Even if our relationship is a follower and a subordinate, we're just using each other, so you don't have to worry."
Robin didn't lie, since whether she or Crocodile was involved, they were just using each other. While Crocodile needed her for something, she needed him for protection, as she was wanted, but she knew well that once her worth was no longer there, she would have to disappear, and because of that, she took the initiative to break away from him.
Still, it was also because of that that Shinra was confused. "You trust me so much. Why?"
"Because you are easy~!"
"...."
Shinra's lips trembled, shocked, unable to believe what he had heard, but... could he argue?
Yes, he was an easy guy who was seduced by this vicious woman.
As he let out a helpless sigh, Shinra lowered his head, wondering whether he could be better, yet facing his reaction, Robin laughed hard as she clung her womanly body to him. "It's fine. It's a good thing that you are easy since it means that you are healthy..."
Robin didn't lie because it was because Shinra was simple yet strong that she felt safe by his side.
At least, while he was simple, he was also smart, yet he had a significant weakness.
This long separation, during which he was nowhere to be found and didn't even mention her after their meeting, had made Robin truly believe in him.
After that incident during her childhood, Robin could no longer trust someone wholeheartedly, especially when she had a massive bounty on her, and those who stayed by her side had betrayed her for her bounty and to be on the good side of the World Government.
Yet, even so, she still longed for someone's company, a place where she could relax, trust, and rely, and she thought that it was Shinra, as his interest was in something else, a power.
While it wasn't something common, and everyone wished for it, Robin could see something different in him, and at least, compared to others, she trusted him.
"Do you want me to help you again?"
"...."
Once again, her floral-like scent filled his nasal cavity as her real hand gently rubbed against his thigh softly, in a gentle spiral, her eyes fixed on him.
Naturally, he reacted harder than anything before, but he shook his head and put her hands aside. "...let's talk about Crocodile first."
He might have put her hand aside, but Robin didn't get angry, and just continued to hold his hand as if dangling on it, like a sticky sweet nectar that stuck on his skin and exuded that a luscious pheromone that made him wish to jump into her like a bee that shook its lower body on the flower to pollenate it.
Still, enduring this desire deep inside his heart, Shinra had to say it was tough for him to grow stronger!
Regardless, Robin told him everything about Crocodile, the organization he founded, where he was, and what kind of power this pirate wielded.
The Desert King, Crocodile.
It was a famous pirate who had eaten the Suna Suna no Mi, but after his defeat by one of the most famous and powerful pirates in the past, Crocodile, he started to seek an ancient weapon from the past in the Alabasta Kingdom, and Robin was hired to read the poneglyph in that kingdom.
Yes, Crocodile's bounty might not be high and, more or less, about the same as Robin's, who had a bounty of 79 million bellies, but his power couldn't be just described by the number of his bounty, especially when he could be chosen as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a selection of seven incredibly powerful and notorious pirates authorized by the World Government.
Suna Suna no Mi.
When one had eaten the Logia type of the Devil Fruit, without a doubt, their future was as good as guaranteed, as only a handful of people could attack someone with such ability.
Still, if Shinra could get this ability, he knew that more or less, there were hardly any individuals who could defeat him, and frankly, he wasn't even sure how Crocodile could be defeated by Luffy when Crocodile had a terrain advantage in the original story, considering how the Alabasta Kingdom was a desert kingdom.
"So, Crocodile is in the Alabasta Kingdom trying to set up a coup d'etat to take over the kingdom?"
"Yes." Robin nodded, but inwardly, she wondered why Shinra's reaction was so flat, or had he seen something more dangerous or outrageous?
"But before we go, do you have the confidence to defeat him?"
"Hmm..."
How should he answer this question?
Did Shinra have the confidence to defeat Crocodile?
While he couldn't say that he had one hundred percent confidence, like in the world of Kengan or Kaiju No. 8, but unlike when he faced the user of the Goro Goro no Mi, even if he couldn't defeat Crocodile, he could somehow run away.
Yet, he had to say, he was tempted to take Crocodile's head, since if he took away Crocodile, he would gain many things. In addition to the Suna Suna no Mi, he also inherited the wealth that Crocodile had amassed, and with Robin as his assistant, the transfer of the wealth would be smooth.
"Or should you get the Batto Batto no Mi, Model: Vampire first?"
If Shinra had this ability, without a doubt, his victory over Crocodile would have been much higher.
As he wondered what to do, all of a sudden, Shinra quickly hugged Robin in his arms before a powerful slash cut deep into the earth, creating several deep cuts on the ground, log, and nearby trees as if being cut by sharp weapons.
Yet, those cuts weren't done by a blade, but by the fingers of a man before them.
"Mr. 1?"
While Robin was startled by the appearance of the man, the man before them frowned, never expecting that Shinra could dodge his attack, yet even so, there wouldn't be a next time for this young man.
Still, his sharp gaze turned toward Robin as he said coldly, "There is a price for betraying our boss, Miss All Sunday."
"...."
Before they made a move on Crocodile, it seemed he had made a move on them first.