Chapter 32: You're Mr. 0? Then Who Am I?
Alabasta, Elumalu.
This city, which was filled with wailing and despair just half a month ago, was now revitalized.
The earth, once cracked from drought, had healed. Stalls were set up on both sides of the streets again.
Though the 'City of Green' was far from its former glory, it was clearly filled with hope.
The reason was obvious—everyone in Elumalu knew.
It was because of the rain brought by the 'Rain-Caller.'
On the western outskirts of Elumalu, there was a cafe.
A plain wooden sign read 'Spiders Cafe', standing in a desolate, uninhabited area outside the city.
It looked ordinary.
But right now...
A figure was walking toward the cafe.
He wore a sand-colored travel cloak. He lowered his hood, revealing slicked-back hair, a long scar across his face, and a cigar clenched in his teeth.
Most striking was his left hand.
It wasn't made of flesh and blood, but was a massive, golden hook glinting with cold, metallic light.
He looked at the hopeful atmosphere of the city with indifference.
He didn't like it.
Not because he had any particular malice toward the citizens, but because this hope meant his plan was being obstructed.
And the Warlord of the Sea, 'Desert King' Sir Crocodile...
Hated anything that stood in his way.
But it didn't matter.
"Hmph..."
He took the cigar from his mouth and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
According to the intel he'd received, the 'obstacle' had been removed.
"I just hope the clue Nico Robin found is actually valuable."
This was the reason he was here.
A while ago, he had ordered the Baroque Works executives to kill the 'Rain-Caller' hiding in the palace.
Two days ago, he received a report from Nico Robin.
"Target successfully eliminated."
This news didn't surprise Crocodile. His agents were battle-hardened Devil Fruit users. It was only natural they would succeed against one man, especially one whose ability seemed to be non-combat related weather control.
What surprised him was the other piece of information Robin included.
"While in the palace, I accidentally discovered a critical clue regarding 'Pluton'."
That news was what brought Crocodile back to Alabasta ahead of schedule.
He walked into the cafe.
Ding-a-ling!
The bell on the door chimed crisply.
And then, Crocodile froze.
Because right in front of him...
Sitting at the bar were two figures.
One he knew well—a slender, beautiful woman. Nico Robin.
But the other...
"'The Rain-Caller'..."
Looking at the Dragon Head Mask from the intelligence reports, Crocodile exhaled another puff of smoke.
A man like him realized the situation instantly.
The 'Rain-Caller,' who should have been dead according to Robin's report, was sitting right here. And Robin was clearly on his side.
The other agents were nowhere to be seen.
The meaning was obvious.
"You betrayed Baroque Works to lure me here?"
He spoke calmly to Robin.
"As expected of a woman who survives by constantly betraying others... Nico Robin."
Faced with his words, Robin looked nervous.
But before she could speak, she heard the voice of the man beside her.
"That's not a polite way to speak to a lady, Sir Crocodile."
Ryuji chuckled. "And... 'betrayed Baroque Works'? Where did you get that idea?"
He stood up, looking at the infamous pirate, and pointed to himself.
Then, he spoke the 'truth,' word by word.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am 'Ryuji.' This lady's partner, the President and shot-caller of Baroque Works. Or, you can call me... Mr. 0."
Even Crocodile was stunned by the sheer audacity of the statement.
You're Mr. 0? Then who the hell am I?
"I see..."
But in an instant, he understood.
As the founder of Baroque Works, he knew the organization's structure better than anyone.
Everyone used codenames. From Mr. 1 down to the Millions and Billions.
And the most mysterious of all was Mr. 0.
No one in Baroque Works had ever seen his face. almost all his orders were relayed through his partner, 'Miss All Sunday'—Nico Robin.
The reason was simple. As a Warlord appointed by the World Government, he couldn't openly lead a criminal syndicate.
In other words...
To any member of Baroque Works, as long as Nico Robin acknowledged someone as Mr. 0...
That person was Mr. 0.
Just like now.
"Ryuji..." Crocodile mused.
"And you... Nico Robin... Not only did you betray me, but you're conspiring with an outsider to steal my foundation?"
Understanding their goal, Crocodile suddenly laughed.
"A good plan."
He praised them.
But there was no humor in his smile. Instead...
"However, you seem to have forgotten one thing."
Only coldness remained.
Vmmm!
As his anger rose, the floorboards beneath his feet silently disintegrated into fine sand.
Countless grains of sand swirled around him like loyal guards.
He raised his left hand, the golden hook glinting.
"What do you think Baroque Works was built on? Why do you think it has survived and thrived on this sea?"
He took the finished cigar from his mouth and dropped it.
"It is Baroque Works because of me!"
"Because of... my power!"
The cigar vanished into the sand, swallowed as if by a bottomless abyss.
And then...
BOOM!
The abyss-like sand... erupted, surging forward like a tidal wave to engulf everything.
Crocodile's figure dissolved into the sandstorm.
Only his voice echoed, layered and magnified by the grit.
"On this sea, the only thing that truly decides everything... is power!"
☆☆☆
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