You Can't

Chapter 36 You Can't

"Did you see the agent I sent? She was specially chosen by Miss Doublefinger—apparently the prettiest female agent of this batch!"

"..."

What was with this guy?

No, when had his image on the seas turned into this?

Nami looked at him that way, Kuzan looked at him that way, and now even his partner—Crocodile—looked at him that way?

"Oh my, what a fallen Marine Colonel." Kuzan, who had been enjoying the show, looked at Xia Che with glee. "No wonder you've been hiding out in the East Blue all this time~"

"..." Ignoring Kuzan, who was enjoying the spectacle, Xia Che stared ahead and forced himself to speak into the Den Den Mushi. "I saw her, I saw her!" He gave an awkward laugh. "By the way, what did you call for? If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up!"

"That agent didn't tell you?" Upon hearing Xia Che's words, Crocodile's Den Den Mushi frowned, then let out a cold snort. "What a foolish agent. Never mind."

The Den Den Mushi, cigar in its mouth, seemed to exhale a puff of smoke, its face grave.

"I do indeed need your help with something this time!"

"Go ahead!"

"Baroque Works has received intelligence that the Devil Child—Nico Robin—is currently hiding in the East Blue. I need you to find her and bring her to the Alabasta Kingdom!"

As Crocodile's voice fell.

"..."

Everyone immediately narrowed their eyes, including Kuzan, as they looked at the Den Den Mushi.

He seemed not to have expected that Shichibukai Crocodile's target would be the World Government's Devil Child.

And for pirates, there was only one reason to seek Nico Robin, who could decipher historical texts.

Could that guy also be interested in those so-called historical texts?

Kuzan raised his head and looked expressionlessly at Xia Che. What would he choose?

What would he choose?

Xia Che narrowed his eyes as well, then said with a look of surprise, "The Devil Child is in the East Blue? Are you sure about that, Crocodile, my man~?"

"We don't know for certain yet, but Baroque Works did receive word that the Devil Child fled to the East Blue. That is why I hope you can help me find her. After all, as an East Blue Navy colonel, it is more convenient for you to operate there." Crocodile's Den Den Mushi wore a serious expression. "If you find her, I won't treat you poorly!"

"Hey, I'm—"

"One hundred million. I can offer a better price than the World Government!" Before Xia Che could finish, Crocodile seemed to have guessed what he wanted to say and named his price without hesitation. "As long as you hand her over to me!"

As soon as he finished.

"..."

Xia Che did not answer immediately. Instead, he narrowed his eyes again.

At that moment.

After hearing Crocodile's words, the entire hall fell silent once more. Everyone lowered their heads to look at Xia Che, who sat on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, looking nothing like a Marine who stood for justice.

What would he choose?

Even the previously lazy Kuzan sat upright now, his hands clasped before his chin and resting against his knees. His face showed no other expression as he glanced at Robin, who was looking at Xia Che with a faint smile.

Nico Robin, was your choice this time really the right one?

But it was not just Robin. Even Nami, upon hearing the offer of one hundred million, curled her lips. "It's only one hundred million..."

It was a lot, but who did he think he was looking down on?

All they had to do was send Moke out for another run, didn't they?

Besides, they still had a gold mine waiting to be dug up!

However.

Seeing that Xia Che had not immediately refused Crocodile, Nami looked at Robin, then at Xia Che. Although she knew Xia Che would not truly be tempted by one hundred million, she still opened her mouth anxiously. "Xia Che..."

Before she could finish.

Robin grabbed her.

Robin shook her head at Nami, then looked at Xia Che with a smile. "I believe in him!"

She had already entrusted herself to him.

Since she had made her choice, how could she doubt her BOSS again?

At that moment.

Xia Che, who had been narrowing his eyes, finally spoke. Leaning back leisurely on the sofa and swinging his crossed leg, he said with a smile, "Of course I'll help you out, my man! But..."

Before the Den Den Mushi could show a satisfied smile.

"I want five hundred million! The East Blue is huge, after all. Finding someone who's hiding isn't easy. My men need to eat too, and this is extremely dangerous for me as a Marine. If the World Government finds out, I'll be in trouble."

"..." Faced with Xia Che raising the price, Crocodile's Den Den Mushi fell silent. Then, seemingly suppressing the anger in his heart, it said, "Five hundred million? Do you know—"

However.

Before he could finish.

"Crocodile, you wouldn't want Marine Headquarters to hear that you're looking for the Devil Child, would you?!"

As Xia Che's words fell, Crocodile's Den Den Mushi fell silent again.

"Three hundred million! Not a cent more! You should know that Marine Headquarters won't tolerate a Marine Colonel who keeps pirates either!" Crocodile's Den Den Mushi said expressionlessly. "And I haven't even seen the Devil Child yet!"

"Fine! For your sake, Brother Crocodile~" Xia Che said with a laugh, calling him Brother again. "But could you transfer the money first?"

"Understood!" Seemingly unable to stand how mercenary this fallen Marine Colonel was, Crocodile's Den Den Mushi snorted coldly. "I hope you find her soon. Otherwise..."

Before he could finish.

He hung up the Den Den Mushi directly.

"Beep, beep, beep~"

"..."

Xia Che continued squinting at the Den Den Mushi in his hand. Then, ignoring Kuzan's meaningful smile, he raised his head and turned to Robin beside him, sighing. "Looks like there are a lot of people who want to take you away!"

As soon as he said that.

Robin also smiled, seemingly not caring at all about what Xia Che had just said. She smiled elegantly, then gave him a playful wink. "Then the BOSS had better keep a close eye on me~"

"..."

It had only been one night. Had the secretary become this good at flirting already?

Xia Che smiled and nodded, then turned to Vivi before him. "So, what can Alabasta offer me?"

Meanwhile.

"..."

Crocodile, who had also hung up, stared at the Den Den Mushi in his hand with a livid expression. In the dim office, he muttered in a gloomy tone, "Dander Xieche..."

"Do you need me to deal with that Colonel personally?" Hearing the meaning behind his boss's words, the burly man beside him—white crew cut, dark skin, a Baroque Works agent codenamed Mr. 1, Daz Bones—asked solemnly. "I'll make him obediently complete the BOSS's task!"

"No need. He's just a fallen Marine Colonel." Crocodile shook his head, holding his cigar in his left hand while tapping the desk with his right. "It won't be too late to deal with him after he finds the person I want."

A genius Colonel exiled by Marine Headquarters?

Ridiculous. How could someone who had spent so many years in the weakest sea, consorting with pirates, making money in the East Blue, fooling around with female pirates, and achieving nothing possibly still be a genius?

Though he himself had fled from the New World to the Grand Line, he had not fallen. He had always been searching for a way to return to the New World and wipe away his humiliation!

And now...

He had already found a way.

If not for the fact that the man still had some use, and Crocodile wanted to turn him into his spy within the Marines, a great pirate like him would never have bothered with such disgusting filth.

Crocodile recalled the first time he had met that man. That unusual swordsmanship had indeed surprised him, but a dignified Marine Colonel had acted evasively about the woman at his side. Whenever Crocodile asked, he had deliberately changed the subject. He would not even let Crocodile look at her a few more times.

And that girl... Although the man had said nothing, the scent radiating from that woman was not something a Marine would possess.

He was far too familiar with the scent of a criminal.

Just a fallen Marine Colonel exiled to the East Blue, fooling around with pirate women, greedy for money and lustful.

But if he were not like that, how could Crocodile have bought him off?

That was also why he had not demanded repayment from the man all these years.

An idiot who still had value!

Crocodile smiled disdainfully, then looked up at Daz Bones beside him and flicked away some ash. "Leave Baroque Works to you for now. Don't let anyone discover my identity. Also, transfer the money as soon as possible. Otherwise, that money-grubbing Marine won't work for me. As for that female agent, I suppose... she isn't coming back!"

On the other side.

"I..."

Hearing Colonel Xia Che's words, Princess Vivi was immediately delighted, but then she frowned. Before she could speak—

"Based on what you just told us, the Alabasta Kingdom seems to be one of the major powers on the Grand Line." Though Nami was worried inside upon hearing Xia Che make his decision, she could only accept it.

Next...

The negotiations had to be left to her.

A familiar gleam shone in Nami's eyes, and a professional smile curled her lips. "Then how about one billion? For saving a country, that isn't expensive at all~"

However.

Faced with Nami's terms, Vivi's previously delighted expression collapsed.

Seeing Vivi's reaction, Nami, who had always dealt with money, immediately understood. She looked at Vivi suspiciously. "A major power on the Grand Line, and yet even one billion...?"

"Alabasta really can't afford it right now. The Alabasta Kingdom used to be peaceful, prosperous, and bustling, but because of the weather these past few years, not only has the country's income fallen, but riots have also broken out among the people. Chaos is now frequent throughout Alabasta. The disaster-stricken country has no money left, and for the sake of the citizens, we have no choice but to use most of our funds to subsidize everyone."

A bitter smile appeared on Vivi's face. "So although I truly hope you can help the Alabasta Kingdom, the Alabasta Kingdom simply cannot come up with one billion right now!"

"Is it really that bad?" Hearing Princess Vivi's words, Nami scratched her head in frustration.

Since Princess Vivi had not hidden anything from them, Nami inwardly acknowledged her as well. Especially after hearing that the princess of a great nation had infiltrated a criminal organization to save her own country, she could not help but think of her former self.

After sighing inwardly, she glanced at Xia Che beside her, then looked helplessly at Vivi. "You're not planning to freeload, are you? Doesn't Alabasta have anything valuable? Why don't you tell us?"

"I..." Vivi raised her head and looked at everyone before her. In the end, her gaze fell on the woman sitting beside Colonel Xia Che. As if she had thought of something, hesitation immediately appeared on her face. But when she thought of the Alabasta Kingdom's current situation, its deceived citizens, and the terrifying Shichibukai, she gritted her teeth and said as though she had made up her mind, "I can give you Alabasta Kingdom's most beautiful national treasure!"

"Alabasta Kingdom's national treasure?" Nami was instantly interested. "Of course a great nation would have treasures. What is it?"

The moment her words fell.

Vivi, wrapped in a blanket, stood up directly and threw off the blanket. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Me! As long as you can save the Alabasta Kingdom, I can..."

However.

Before she could finish.

"You can't! Just let me put it on credit! Pay us back once Alabasta has money!" Nami cut Vivi off without hesitation, her face dark. Then she turned and glared at Xia Che. "Look what you've done!"

"Oh my, he really is a fallen Marine Colonel!"

"Senior Brother Xia Che, nooo~"

"Boss, hehe~"

"..."

I didn't do anything!

And there wasn't even anything to look at!

Under that blanket... it was just some black-and-white ring-patterned clothing. What was so interesting about such weird clothes? It wasn't even as good as looking at his secretary's uniform!

"Then it's settled!" Xia Che gave two dry coughs and stood up expressionlessly, as though nothing had happened. He leisurely stretched, ignored Kuzan, who was looking at him lazily, lowered his head to look at Robin, who was smiling at him from beside him, and flicked the black fur coat draped over his body, exuding the bearing of a Marine Colonel. "Tell Mok, we've got work again!"

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