After giving the order to the members of Baroque Works not to provoke Sherwin group, Nico Robin had been looking for a chance to act alone.
Although she could easily come up with an excuse, and Crocodile most likely wouldn't stop her, after over a year of working with him, Robin knew very clearly what kind of man the Sand Crocodile was.
It would be simple enough to just leave openly, but who could say Crocodile wouldn't send people to keep an eye on her? With Robin abilities, it wouldn't be difficult to shake off a tail—but doing so would only serve as a signal to Crocodile that she had something to hide.
Having managed to maneuver on her own among countless underground forces for so many years, Robin naturally wasn't about to make such a foolish mistake.
So, she spent a little time engineering some "problems" for the unlucky bunch at Whisky Peak, which conveniently resulted in Crocodile assigning her out on a task.
And thus, Robin smoothly left Alabasta, arriving at Little Garden. Before long, in the middle of the jungle, she ran into Klee Meow, who was busy "treasure hunting."
"Waaah! It Robin big sister! Long time no see, meow!"
(=`=)
Sensing her presence with Observation Haki, Klee Meow had dashed over from afar and leapt straight into her arms.
"It been a long time, Klee."
Catching the little doll-like figure who flew into her embrace, Robin revealed a long-lost smile.
"Klee, is this someone you know, meow?"
As the "administrator," Huamei Meow followed along, curiously sizing up Nico Robin. This was the first time she had seen someone other than Klee Meow and Sherwin being this close.
"Yeah, yeah, this is Sister Robin. She traveled with us in the West Blue for a really long time, meow." Klee Meow introduced both sides, "This is the very amazing Sister Huamei. Even Brother Sherwin has to listen to her, meow!"
After the introductions, the little plush doll pulled Robin along into the island, chatting non-stop as they ran—
"Brother Sherwin should be with Uncle Dorry right now. Uncle Dorry is a giant, you know, taller than these trees, meow! It such a pity you didn't travel with us, Sister Robin. Later we came across so many interesting things, meow…"
Robin let Klee Meow pull her through the jungle, listening with an indulgent smile as the little plush doll enthusiastically shared her experiences from their time in the Four Seas.
"Brother Sherwin—! Sister Robin came to play with us, meow!"
Soon, Klee Meow brought Robin before Sherwin and Dorry.
After a brief moment of surprise, Sherwin quickly gathered the other Felynes, then called Dorry and Brogy over, and once again they held a banquet.
When the banquet was over, Robin followed Sherwin and the others to the Dodo Advance, which the giants had moved onto the island.
"What a cute ship." Robin caressed Klee Meow figurehead, sincerely complimenting it, then came back to her senses and said to Sherwin, "Your name has become quite famous recently. I even heard about the Hunter name back in Alabasta."
Sherwin sighed inwardly. From the moment Robin appeared here, he realized she hadn't followed his advice to seek out the Revolutionary Army, but instead, just like the original course of events, had thrown in with Crocodile crew.
The reason needed no explanation: it was for the Poneglyph hidden within the Alabasta Kingdom.
But it didn't matter anymore. With what Sherwin had seen and learned in the South Blue, his opinion of the Revolutionary Army was no longer as high as it once had been. If Robin hadn't gone, then she hadn't gone.
As for why she was here now… could it be that she thought he couldn't defeat Crocodile, that discarded pawn of a version?Sherwin rubbed his chin, thinking with a wry smile.
"So, you're working under that guy Crocodile now, right?"
Seeing Robin still hesitating over how to begin, Sherwin simply brought up Crocodile himself.
"You know?!"
Robin looked at Sherwin in surprise. After all, the core principle of Baroque Works was secrecy. Aside from a handful of senior agents, even members who had received codenames didn't know who Mr. 0 really was.
What more, Crocodile plan had only just begun, and even the name Baroque Works was something scarcely known to outsiders.
"Mm, I have a special source of information." Sherwin casually brushed it off, then asked, "You didn't come here just to stop me from giving Crocodile trouble, did you?"
"Yes," Robin replied seriously. "I know your strength is very formidable now, and Crocodile is wary of you. But he is, after all, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Besides being a Logia user of the Sand-Sand Fruit, he also has several Devil Fruit users under his command. To clash with him would not be wise."
Sherwin rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment. "Come to think of it, you probably don't know what fruit Klee ate, do you?"
Robin was taken aback, then nodded, not understanding why Sherwin had suddenly brought this up.
"Klee ate a Logia too~" The little plush doll immediately jumped in to show off her power. "It the Flame-Flame Fruit, meow! I can turn into fire, meow!"
"You see? Logia users—we have them too." Sherwin spread his hands, then pointed at the nearby Felynes.
"And don't underestimate their combat strength. Seijuro, Link, and Sanji have already mastered both Armament Haki and Observation Haki. Crocodile Sand-Sand Fruit isn't anything special to us."
From Sherwin words, Robin caught the hidden meaning. She frowned and asked in puzzlement, "You want to go after him? Why?"
She knew Sherwin fairly well. Because he wanted to protect those adorable Felynes, he wasn't someone who liked drawing too much attention—especially when it came to avoiding conflict with the World Government.
Yet now he was openly planning to go after a Warlord of the Sea. That didn't fit his usual style at all.
"There are plenty of reasons—disgust with his behavior, wanting the Sand-Sand Fruit, and also the Devil Fruits of several in Baroque Works. On top of that, he trying to seize the Alabasta Kingdom. Once that information is leaked, the World Government will definitely strip him of his Warlord title. But of course, the most important reason is…"
Sherwin let out a light laugh, rare and a little showy. "Our strength now doesn't need to be as careful as it used to."
Seeing Robin still torn, Sherwin continued, "I know you want to see the Poneglyph kept in Alabasta, but even leaving aside how long Crocodile plan will take, how can you be sure he won't turn on you after he gets what he wants?"
"If this plan moves forward, many people in Alabasta will die. Miss Robin, your dedication to pursuing history is admirable, but what you're doing now—sorry, I can't agree with it, meow. How is this any different from the Navy destroying Ohara back then?"
Straightforward Seijuro Meow lifted his chin and stared into Robin eyes as he accused her.
Robin bit her lower lip, guilt showing on her face, and murmured a weak defense, "Even without me, Crocodile would do this. I just—"
Her words trailed off. No matter the excuse, the fact remained that Robin was helping Crocodile oppress the civilians of Alabasta, and with her abilities it wouldn't be hard for her to break away.
She had been convincing herself with the idea that "I can't change the big picture" for the sake of the Poneglyph.
Now that Seijuro Meow had pierced that rationalization, Robin could no longer avoid the issue.
Sherwin could understand Robin actions to an extent — this was, after all, common in the pirate world.
Robin had been on the run from the World Government for twenty years; that she hadn't turned dark, only hardened a little, was already remarkable.
"So let us handle this," Sherwin said, pulling Seijuro Meow back and then picking up Klee Meow to wave her in front of Robin.
"You just help by gathering some evidence against Crocodile. With that proof you can go to the King of Alabasta and trade it for a chance to see the Poneglyph. If he refuses, we'll come up with another plan for you."
"Exactly, meow! If that king won't agree, Klee will blow up his palace, meow!"
(=`=)The little plush doll growled and struck a dramatic pose.
Haibara Meow sidled up silently, suddenly producing a glass vial in her paw the gray-green liquid inside looked dangerous.
"I can poison the palace water supply. If they don't let you see the Poneglyph, I won't give them the antidote, meow."
"Uh… no need to be so extreme…" Robin mouth twitched.
"Don't you two little troublemakers stir things up here!"
Sherwin quickly held down the two restless little Felynes who seemed eager to cause chaos, then handed them over to Haibara Meow for discipline.
"You're being way too obvious, meow!" Haibara Meow poked the two little Felynes on their foreheads as she lectured, "Alabasta is a World Government member nation.
Even if we want to cause them trouble, we have to do it in secret—just like when the Admiral disguised himself as someone else to take out that guy called Beckley, meow!"
The two little Felynes immediately nodded in wholehearted agreement.
Sherwin: "..."
That not the kind of lesson I meant for you to teach them!