The past few days had been an unmitigated disaster for Sir Crocodile. Admiral Borsalino had humiliated him without apparent effort, the elite operatives of Baroque Works had been slaughtered on Drum Island, and his primary target—Princess Vivi—had escaped aboard the Straw Hat Pirates' ship. The former Shichibukai felt like the victim of some cosmic joke.
At least his officer corps remained intact. As long as these core agents survived, he could rebuild Baroque Works from the ashes, recruiting fresh bounty hunters to fill the ranks. Crocodile would remain the undisputed boss of Paradise's rookie hunting grounds.
During their extended stay on Drum Island while awaiting extraction, he had spent countless hours studying the Sky Screen's revelations. The good news was that no mention of Crocodile appeared in the 5-years timeline. The bad news was exactly the same—his complete absence from future events suggested either death or irrelevance. The Marines' abolition of the Shichibukai system in that timeline meant every former Warlord faced an uncertain destiny.
Marshall D. Teach had demonstrated appropriate caution, immediately commandeering a pirate ship and fleeing Drum Island with his crew. The revelation that he would become a Yonko by stepping over Whitebeard's corpse hadn't surprised anyone familiar with his long-term machinations. The Sky Screen's information aligned perfectly with Blackbeard's known ambitions.
Crocodile and his remaining agents had been at sea for only a day, still trailing far behind the Going Merry. The Straw Hat Pirates should have reached Arabasta well ahead of them. If Admiral Borsalino hadn't shown uncharacteristic mercy during their confrontation, the rookie crew wouldn't have survived to leave Drum Island at all.
"Okama Sanji," Mr. 2 Bon Clay mused dreamily as his ship approached Crocodile's position. "I simply must meet him and discuss the sublime art of okama transformation. Only fellow practitioners can truly appreciate such dedication."
Mr. 1 Daz Bonez, still wrapped in bandages from his last battle, rolled his eyes at his colleague's obsession. The Straw Hat Pirates were Baroque Works' sworn enemies, yet Bon Clay sympathized with their crew members.
"When you meet Black Leg Sanji, he'll probably try to kick your head off," Daz observed dryly. "He's not an okama yet, so this meeting will only disappoint you."
Daz couldn't fathom what traumatic experiences could transform a normal man into someone who embraced wearing dresses and makeup. The psychological implications were genuinely disturbing.
Bon Clay's admiration for future Sanji's okama lifestyle was genuine—a man who valued friendship wouldn't show mercy when it mattered. However, another woman aboard their ship presented a far more immediate concern. Her loyalties remained questionable, and she posed a constant backstabbing risk.
Not Miss Goldenweek or the former Miss Wednesday—this was the boss's partner, who had become Baroque Works' greatest internal threat. Everyone needed to remain vigilant around such a dangerous individual.
Robin understood her unwelcome status perfectly, standing alone on the deck while replaying the Sky Screen's images in her mind. The joyful scenes with the Straw Hat Pirates seemed almost surreal to someone known as the Devil's Child.
She was accustomed to false smiles and manufactured expressions, but her laughter aboard the Thousand Sunny had been genuinely heartfelt. The concept of treating sincere companions with such openness was foreign to a woman who had spent her entire life in flight.
Living perpetually in shadow meant constant betrayal threats, yet Robin's intelligence had consistently guided her to safety. Her pursuit of historical truth through scattered Poneglyphs remained her sole motivation for survival in this cruel world.
"Robin, you're still my subordinate," Crocodile declared, approaching his partner with obvious irritation. "That straw hat idiot isn't your captain yet. Remember your current position. Only a Shichibukai's protection can shield you in these waters."
Robin regarded Crocodile with an amused smile. Was this arrogant man genuinely unaware, or simply pretending ignorance? The Sky Screen had exposed her ability to interpret Poneglyphs to the entire world. Did he truly believe a mere Shichibukai could protect her now? Had he consulted the Marines about this decision? What about the Yonko?
"Even if a Marine Admiral arrives personally, I won't surrender you to them," Crocodile continued with typical bravado. "Only you can reveal Pluton's location. I've waited far too long for this opportunity."
"I hope you won't lose your nerve when the moment comes," Robin began, her words cut short as the surrounding seawater began freezing at a terrifying pace. Their sail-powered ship became trapped instantly in an expanding ice field.
"So he's finally arrived," Robin whispered, closing her eyes and drawing a steadying breath to control her mounting fear. She simply hadn't expected him to locate them so quickly.
"Why is our ship frozen? What happened to the ocean?" Mr. 2 wondered aloud, scanning the horizon until he spotted a figure pedaling a bicycle across the ice surface, approaching their position with casual confidence.
Faced with this overwhelming presence, none dared move rashly. The cyclist reached their ship and leaped aboard without ceremony, his mere presence suffocating everyone on deck with barely contained power.
"Robin. Your journey ends here. Come with me."
"A Marine Admiral!" Mr. 3 Galdino stammered in terror. "We barely survived Admiral Borsalino, and now—"
Kuzan found the Candle Man's panic annoying and froze him solid without a second thought.
The dark-skinned archaeologist lowered her head and began walking toward the Admiral. Despite her reluctance, she understood that resistance against such overwhelming force would prove futile. Before a Marine Admiral's absolute strength, Robin was merely a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"Wait." Crocodile's hand seized Robin's arm, his grip desperate with the knowledge that his future ambitions depended entirely on her abilities.
"Admiral Kuzan," Crocodile declared with forced authority, "I am one of the Shichibukai, and she's a Baroque Works employee. Even considering her past bounty, the Warlord system grants me special privileges. You have no jurisdiction to arrest her. The Marines haven't abolished the Shichibukai yet."
Future timelines meant nothing in the present moment. The Marines didn't command twelve Admirals currently, and the seas' balance of power remained in pirate hands.
"Crocodile," Kuzan replied with chilling calm, exhaling visible frost. "The world is changing. Your vision and strength are pathetically limited."
The Admiral's breath flash-froze the arrogant Shichibukai into a solid ice sculpture. What could the Suna Suna no Mi (Sand-Sand Fruit) accomplish against such power? Logia Devil Fruits varied dramatically in strength, and without sufficient force to back up his words, Crocodile remained an insignificant insect.
Witnessing their boss's instant defeat, the remaining Baroque Works officers summoned their courage for a desperate charge against the Admiral. Mr. 2 Bon Clay led the doomed assault with characteristic bravery.
"Stop!" Robin commanded, her voice cutting through their battle cries. "Do you want to die alongside Crocodile? The Marines need me alive."
She understood that Kuzan was simply executing orders. As long as uninvolved parties didn't provoke him, the Admiral wouldn't escalate violence unnecessarily.
Every surviving Baroque Works agent watched helplessly as Robin followed Kuzan off their ship. Her solitary figure seemed to have lost all vitality, becoming an emotionless walking corpse resigned to whatever fate awaited her.