Several years had passed since Nico Robin left Marine Headquarters and infiltrated Alabasta.
Initially, she hadn't directly contacted Crocodile, but she learned from Diarmuid that Baroque Works was Crocodile's organization. Thus, Robin quickly joined Baroque Works in Alabasta.
Using her excellent intelligence capabilities, sharp mind, and decent strength, Robin managed to contact Crocodile, who was hidden behind Baroque Works, in just two years. She then spent another half a year earning his attention.
Today, she had become Crocodile's most trusted right-hand woman.
Of course, this trust was only apparent in Crocodile's demeanor towards his subordinates.
In reality, ever since his major battle with the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World, where his subordinates turned against him and stabbed him in the back, Crocodile had stopped truly trusting anyone. This applied equally to Nico Robin.
However, because this woman was genuinely capable of helping him quickly handle non-critical trivial matters and was indeed a clever and excellent strategist in many major affairs, Crocodile outwardly showed great trust in her.
Crocodile picked up the newspaper on his desk and asked casually, "I hear you're looking for Poneglyphs?"
"I believe the accurate statement is that you are having me look for Poneglyphs," Robin corrected.
She casually sat down on the office sofa, poured herself a cup of tea, and took a sip before continuing: "Didn't you want to find the Ancient Weapon hidden in Alabasta? Pluton. That's why I'm looking for the Poneglyphs."
"Instead of searching for Poneglyphs, you should start with the Nefertari Family. After all, even if you find the Poneglyph, you can't read it, can you?" Crocodile responded.
Then, his expression turned slightly surprised: "Doflamingo? That bastard..."
Doflamingo and Crocodile had known each other for a long time. Doflamingo had already interacted with Crocodile even before Roger's execution. Doflamingo had also invited Crocodile to cooperate several times.
But Crocodile was arrogant at the time, completely looking down on Doflamingo, the country bumpkin from the North Blue, and had no intention of collaborating with him. After his defeat in the New World, he focused all his attention and energy on Alabasta, doing little else. Thus, any basis for cooperation between the two gradually diminished.
Not long ago, after Doflamingo became a Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile had mockingly commented: "That guy finally managed to catch up to my heels."
This was the arrogance of a veteran.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, before he could even settle things in Alabasta, Doflamingo had already become the King of Dressrosa. Comparing this to his own title of 'Sir,' Crocodile felt rather awkward.
However, he wasn't overly anxious. Crocodile knew very well that the sheer scale of Alabasta was incomparable to a small nation like Dressrosa. Are you kidding? What was the population of all of Dressrosa? About two million.
And Alabasta?
Alabasta's standing army alone was at least two million. In terms of territory, Alabasta was tens or hundreds of times larger than Dressrosa!
As for geography, Dressrosa was in the New World, where chaos reigned, making it easy to employ various unconventional tactics. In contrast, Alabasta, in the first half of the Grand Line, had significant constraints, and many unorthodox methods were simply unusable.
"Boring. If you think this kind of news could bring me joy, then you are sorely mistaken," Crocodile said, tossing the newspaper onto the table.
"Aren't you in Alabasta with the same goal as Doflamingo? To become the King of Alabasta? I thought Mariejois's tacit approval would make you happy..." Robin said calmly.
Crocodile raised an eyebrow slightly, then laughed: "That, I didn't consider. If you put it that way, then I am indeed a little happier."
"So, should I stop looking for the Poneglyphs?" Robin suddenly changed the subject.
Crocodile glanced at Robin, then said: "I won't question anything you want to do. Just ensure you carry out the tasks I assign you, and don't cause me any trouble. You can amuse yourself however you like."
Everyone has their own personal motives. Crocodile certainly understood this, so he didn't strictly forbid Nico Robin from doing anything. Since she wanted to find the Poneglyphs, he would let her search. Of course, Crocodile still harbored some suspicion about Robin's true intentions, but he showed no outward sign of it for now.
"Curiosity," Robin suddenly stated.
"Finding the Poneglyphs is my hobby, and I have this hobby because I've noticed that someone else is coveting the Poneglyphs, and that makes me very curious," Robin said with a smile.
Crocodile didn't speak, just slowly took a drag from his cigar.
"Aren't you going to ask?" Robin looked at Crocodile again.
"I told you, I have no interest in knowing what you want to do," Crocodile dismissed with a wave of his hand.
"The Revolutionary Army..." Nico Robin suddenly said.
Crocodile, who had been expressionless, abruptly looked up, staring at Robin: "The Revolutionary Army?"
"My efficiency is quite good, isn't it?" Robin smiled, then continued: "Based on my investigation, the ones who have recently been causing trouble for us inside Alabasta are the Revolutionary Army. The leader should be one of their executives, Gecko Moria. Those damned zombies are likely his doing..."
"That is surprising news, yet completely unsurprising at the same time," Crocodile murmured, then asked: "Then, what is their objective?"
"Isn't the Revolutionary Army's goal obvious? They are doing the same thing all over the world. I assume it's to liberate this country?" Robin said after a moment of thought.
After a slight pause, Robin added: "Of course, they are also investigating the Poneglyphs, which is why I got involved. Do you need me to stop these activities?"
"Do as you like, just don't cause me trouble," Crocodile replied with a calm wave of his hand, then added: "I have a new task for you: quickly find out where the Revolutionary Army members are hiding and what their ultimate goal is. Also, stop those things you've been doing under the guise of the Revolutionary Army..."
"Are you afraid of retaliation from them? Heheheh..." Robin chuckled.
"I just don't want to create an unnecessary enemy for myself, at least not until I understand what they're trying to do," Crocodile stated coldly.
"You're quite dull," Robin grumbled, then stood up and walked towards the door.
However, just as Robin was about to leave, she suddenly stopped and said: "Speaking of which, are you really not planning to show your face in Baroque Works? Many people suspect that I am the true Boss."
"Isn't that great? If something goes wrong, I can just let you take the fall," Crocodile said matter-of-factly.
"So heartless?" Robin smiled, said nothing more, pushed the door open, and walked out.
"I only need two identities: Warlord of the Sea and the Hero of Alabasta. That's enough for me..." Crocodile murmured softly to himself.
Perhaps, to Crocodile, Baroque Works was simply his dark past. As a man destined to become the King of the Desert, he naturally wanted his identity to be purer, or at least not associated with a criminal organization like Baroque Works.
After Robin left the office, she soon encountered someone in the corridor. She frowned slightly, then a smile appeared on her face: "Caesar-san, have you made your choice?"
That's right, the man in the corridor was none other than M. Caesar Clown, the culprit behind the Punk Hazard gas leak incident.
To Diarmuid's surprise, this man hadn't gone to Doflamingo, nor to Kaido or Charlotte Linlin. Instead, he had sought out Crocodile, apparently intending to pledge his allegiance to him.
Upon seeing Robin, Caesar's face broke into a wicked smile: "Of course. Crocodile-san's terms were far too generous, Robin-san. From now on, we are partners."
Robin smiled and nodded: "That is truly an honor."
After a brief pause, Robin added: "Crocodile-san is inside. I won't interrupt your meeting."
Robin then left the area, and Caesar walked into Crocodile's office.
After walking out of the 'Rain Dinners' casino, Robin leaned against a coconut tree, gazing thoughtfully at the casino's entrance.
After a long while, she murmured softly: "Perhaps I should compile the information on Alabasta and report it to Headquarters... And Caesar. Two dangerous individuals have gotten mixed up together... the appearance of the Revolutionary Army... Tsk tsk, if I handle this correctly, I can definitely be promoted to Vice Admiral!"
And if she became a Marine Vice Admiral...
She could finally rescue her mother, Nico Olvia, imprisoned in Impel Down. Wasn't that what she was truly striving for?
"Mother..." Robin whispered, her tone full of nostalgia.
Having left Marineford for so many years, she naturally couldn't visit Olvia in Impel Down anymore.
"Baroque Works... Crocodile's lack of concern might just be my breakthrough," Robin mused again.
Glancing at the scorching hot weather, Robin finally smiled: "It's better to figure out the Revolutionary Army's intentions first. Both the Marines and Crocodile are taking this seriously."
…
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Admiral Sakazuki had been looking somewhat excited all day.
Vice Admiral Onigumo stood in his office, surprised to see him signing documents so quickly. Normally, Sakazuki was very meticulous, unlike Diarmuid, who completely ignored things and would sign any document Hina dared to give him. Sakazuki usually reviewed every document carefully before signing his name.
But today, he signed his name without even looking.
After tossing the documents to Onigumo, Sakazuki asked: "Nothing else, right?"
"Uh... no," Onigumo nodded.
"Is that so? Then I'm clocking out," Sakazuki said with a smile.
Then, ignoring Onigumo, he stood up and started to walk out.
Onigumo finally asked out of curiosity: "Admiral, where are you going?"
"To pick up something. It should have been delivered today. I ordered a custom-made revolver from the Ordnance Department..." Sakazuki replied without looking back.
Onigumo was bewildered.
A revolver? Are you a man who uses guns? Don't you just spew magma?
"Are revolvers in style now?" Onigumo murmured.
"Ah, it's a gift for Ace. He's going to the Marine Academy soon and will quickly become an official and glorious Marine," Sakazuki said in a very cheerful mood.
He sounded just like a proud father wishing success for his son!