Crocodile staggered back, his body covered in dust and injuries, while Vane stood tall and unscathed. The outcome was clear at a glance—Crocodile had been defeated.
"Crocodile was actually defeated!"
Vivi's eyes widened in shock, and even Robin looked momentarily surprised before regaining her composure. After all, the man before them wasn't ordinary—he was on the level of the Pirate Emperors. Defeating a Shichibukai was nothing unusual. That was the weight of an Emperor, one of the few who ruled the New World as true sovereigns of the seas.
"Nico Robin, come with us."
Crocodile's voice was weak, nothing like the arrogant tone he was known for.
Vivi wasn't mentioned, so she quietly stepped back. Robin, however, instantly understood. Crocodile wasn't really calling her—it was Vane who wanted her presence.
Her gaze lingered on the young man walking past. His sharp, devilishly handsome features seemed almost unreal, every angle captivating.
Vivi also found herself drawn to Vane. For a girl her age, his presence carried an irresistible charm. Yet, he didn't spare her a single glance, which left her faintly disappointed. Still, she couldn't forget what he had told her before—that he would save this country. Now, seeing Crocodile defeated, she realized he truly meant it.
But the details were still beyond her understanding.
—
They entered the upper floor, Crocodile's office. The hall below still held several of his unconscious subordinates, while shattered windows bore the mark of Vane's earlier battle.
Inside the office, only three people remained: Crocodile, Nico Robin, and Vane.
Vane sat casually on the tiger-skin sofa opposite Crocodile's desk. Robin moved gracefully, placing a drink in his hand before remaining silently by his side. She didn't dare sit down.
Crocodile had already been defeated. To someone like Robin, it was obvious—Vane could crush her effortlessly if he wished.
"It's fine if I become your subordinate," Crocodile said, forcing the words out as he spat blood to the side. Two of his teeth were missing, thankfully not from the front. "But I want complete freedom."
Robin's eyes widened at his words. Crocodile, the prideful and ambitious warlord, was actually submitting? Of course, it wasn't voluntary. He had no choice after being overpowered.
And what about her? What role did she play here? Surely it wasn't just to pour tea.
Robin was clever enough to know her value. She was beautiful, yes, but Vane didn't seem the type to be distracted by such things. Crocodile certainly wasn't. No, it was something else.
Vane leaned forward, his calm gaze fixed on Crocodile. "Do you really think you have a choice? Freedom or not, you'll follow me."
Crocodile frowned. "Do I need to go to Wano with you? I still have things to accomplish here."
"You mean the ancient weapon, Pluton?" Vane's smile was sharp. "Do you really believe a single warship will let you dominate the world?"
The words froze both Crocodile and Robin. How did he know their goal was Pluton?
Alabasta was said to hold secrets about the ancient weapon, possibly even its very body. As one of the twenty royal families who had once stood at the foundation of the World Government but never moved to Mariejois, the Nefertari family had always been tied to these legends.
Robin, an archaeologist, had allied with Crocodile precisely because she was the only one alive who could read the Poneglyphs. Crocodile needed her knowledge, while she sought the truths of history.
But now, Vane was stripping away their secrets with casual words.
"Don't worry," he continued, his tone oddly reassuring. "I have no interest in Pluton. It's just external power. If strength doesn't come from yourself, then what's the point? Even if you find Pluton, do you really think you can control it?"
Control Pluton?
Vane's words cut straight through. Crocodile might have power, yes, but compared to the true monsters of the New World, he was far from the top. At his level, trying to wield such a weapon was nothing but delusion.
Pluton wasn't like the Sea Kings or the forces of nature that couldn't be tamed. It was a battleship—something that would always belong to whoever had the strongest fist. And Crocodile's fist wasn't nearly strong enough.
"So, you're saying I shouldn't chase after Pluton?" Crocodile's face twisted, dissatisfaction flickering in his eyes.
Vane leaned back, utterly unfazed. "Chase it if you want. But even if you succeed, the World Government will immediately move to take it. Can you fight the Navy Headquarters and the entire Government?"
The truth was merciless. Crocodile was formidable in his own right, but nowhere near the level required to challenge the true giants of the era.
And Vane knew it better than anyone.