Cutting Through Steel Was Too Easy

Crocodile glanced back at the person behind him, a little surprised. He nodded slightly and said, "Good!"

The next moment, a burst of yellow sand erupted beneath his feet and condensed into a blade, which instantly pierced the black-clad man in front of him.

The black-clad man died at his leader's hands, disbelief etched across his face.

Crocodile killed one of his subordinates without a second thought, then said coldly, "You'll be the one giving the orders. Remember, once the plan is complete, you can have what you want!"

"Hehehehe..."

A bell-like laugh gradually faded into the distance. Crocodile relaxed slightly and continued devising his plan to overthrow the Alabasta Kingdom.

"Nami."

"Mm."

Looking at Nami nestled in his arms, Lu Zhuo smiled and said softly, "This time, our goal is to recruit our third crewmate, Nico Robin. She's an archaeologist with an extensive knowledge of the Ancient Script. Her expertise will be essential to many of our plans in the future."

Nami lifted her head and narrowed her eyes at Lu Zhuo.

"Nico Robin? A woman?"

Nami had gotten a pretty good read on Lu Zhuo's personality by now. She knew he was a bit of a womanizer.

"Ahem... What are you thinking? Yes, she's beautiful, but she's still no match for my Nami."

"Hmph!" Nami pouted and gave a snort, then murmured, sounding a little lost, "I know. I can see right through you and know what you're thinking. Whatever you do, I won't blame you, as long as I'm always the most important person in your heart. That's all that matters."

Huh?!

Lu Zhuo was startled, then his expression brightened. Had his biggest problem really just been solved like that?

Seeing his expression change, Nami sighed inwardly, feeling inexplicably disappointed.

But Lu Zhuo tightened his arms around her and held her close.

"Don't worry. You'll always be the most important person in my heart..."

"Mm." At those words, Nami's disappointment vanished, leaving only sweetness in her heart.

Late that night, Lu Zhuo took Nami and climbed over the city wall.

He had a rough idea where Nico Robin was. As long as he found Crocodile, he'd find Robin, too. He had no idea whether Robin had already made a deal with Crocodile.

After walking hand in hand with Nami for a few steps, his expression suddenly turned cold.

"Come out. There's no point hiding!"

Nami was startled by his words and warily scanned their surroundings.

"Not bad, you're pretty alert. Sneaking in over the wall in the middle of the night—what are you after?"

A tall figure slowly approached through the darkness.

When Lu Zhuo made out the figure, he narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled.

"Looks like Baroque Works has an impressive intelligence network. I just got here, and you're already on the scene. You ate the Dice-Dice Fruit, and your whole body can turn into steel weapons... Mr. 1."

"What?!" Daz Bones was shocked. His voice wavered as he asked, "How do you know all that? Could it be..."

He was astonished. Baroque Works' secrets were guarded with the utmost care. How could any information have leaked? There must be a mole in the organization!

"Hehehehe, what an unusual man. Mr. 0 really did underestimate you." A clear voice came from the rooftop of the building to their left.

Lu Zhuo turned his head. Even in the darkness, he could see perfectly clearly.

A smile tugged at his lips. He hadn't expected to meet her so easily... Nico Robin.

"Baroque Works' vice president, Nico Robin, known as the Devil's Child, with a bounty of seventy-nine million Beli. You ate the Flower-Flower Fruit, which lets you sprout any part of your body out of thin air. Am I right?"

Robin's pupils contracted as she watched Lu Zhuo warily, no longer wearing her former relaxed, knowing expression.

Her identity was one of Baroque Works' most closely guarded secrets, surpassed only by Crocodile's. The only subordinate who knew who she was was Mr. 1, Daz Bones, standing right in front of her.

So how did this man know so much? Her wary gaze held a hint of curiosity, too.

Lu Zhuo ignored Daz Bones and kept his eyes fixed on Robin.

"Robin, I know why you're working with Crocodile. That's easy for me. I know where it is. How about joining my pirate crew? You don't need to keep working with Crocodile."

His words sent shockwaves through both Nico Robin and Daz Bones.

Daz Bones stared at him in shock. Even he knew only a little about his boss, yet this man knew the boss's identity in full. Did he know everything about Baroque Works? This was terrifying—truly terrifying.

Robin's pupils contracted. Lu Zhuo had already shocked her plenty, but now he even knew a secret only two people knew. This man...

Her shock gradually gave way to curiosity. Forcing herself to suppress it, she asked, "Did you eat a Devil Fruit that lets you see the future? Otherwise, there's no way you could know so much!"

Lu Zhuo laughed and teased her, "Mm, I don't know that much. I probably know everything except the color of your underwear."

"You!" Robin's face flushed with anger. She crossed her arms, barely resisting the urge to kill Lu Zhuo on the spot.

By then, Daz Bones had calmed down.

"I see. A precognition-type Devil Fruit? It seems only you two know the secret. If I eliminate you both, the secret will be safe."

"Ah, I forgot about you, you extra. Never mind. I'll take you out first, then go poach her."

Lu Zhuo patted his head and looked at Daz Bones, who had become furious. He didn't seem concerned at all. His gaze, however, kept returning to Robin on the roof to the left.

If Robin attacked him, things could get difficult. Those conjured arms were equivalent to Robin's real arms, so cutting one with his sword would be very bad.

Fortunately, Robin was wary of Lu Zhuo knowing about her ability, so she didn't sprout any arms in front of him. Besides, her curiosity was gradually taking hold.

If this man really could see the future, then there'd be no need to keep working with Crocodile.

As Robin thought this, the two men below had already started fighting.

Nami quietly stepped aside and watched Robin warily. She also called softly to Lu Zhuo, "Be careful."

Lu Zhuo chuckled. "It's fine. This guy's just one sword stroke for me."

Daz Bones charged over in a rage and roared, "No swordsman has ever dared to act this arrogant toward me! And no swordsman has ever managed to hurt a hair on my head!"

"Oh, come on. That's because you've never fought me..." Lu Zhuo chuckled, speaking the words Zoro had said in the original story.

Army Breaker Rising Dragon Strike!

A flash of swordlight streaked by. Lu Zhuo appeared behind Bones and slowly slid his sword into its sheath. He murmured, "Cutting through steel is ridiculously easy! I'll let you live, so Zoro can cut you down again someday..."

Pfft!

A jet of blood sprayed from Bones' chest. He turned back toward Lu Zhuo in disbelief, then fell.