Come on, let's cooperate and take down Crocodile!

Bane had Nico Robin by the throat, while the bounty hunters nearby stirred with restless intent.

Without waiting for Bane to speak, the clever Nico Robin took the initiative and commanded, "Scatter, all of you. Can't you see that Mr. Bane and I have matters to discuss?"

As the second-in-command of Baroque Works, Nico Robin actually held more authority among these low-to-mid-level members than Crocodile did.

Because the low-to-mid-level members had no idea they were working for Crocodile; they only knew there was a mysterious and powerful "Big Boss" behind them. Over the years, this Big Boss had resolved many problems they deemed impossible, demonstrating his strength and capability, but who this Big Boss was remained unknown to them.

Nico Robin, however, as the Vice President, possessed significant influence among these cadres.

At her command, the dozen or so bounty hunters silently retreated a distance. Bane then released Nico Robin, set her on the ground, and addressed the surrounding crowd: "Alright, you lot scatter as well. Go to the edge of the camp and keep an eye on those two giants who might start fighting again at any moment, and don't let those dinosaurs disturb me!"

With a swish, the remaining bounty hunters dispersed. Though they appeared to be following Bane's orders, there was no telling how many moles were hidden among them.

Bane didn't care about these people, nor did he feel any anger at the prospect of "betrayal." In his view, once he dealt with Crocodile and annexed his legacy, these people would all be working for him anyway.

What was there to be concerned about?

They would all be "family" soon enough; only then would any betrayal be worth feeling angry about or worth punishing.

The large camp emptied quickly. Hundreds of underlings kept watch on the perimeter, wary of one another, leaving only Bane, Zoro, and Nami in the camp to host Nico Robin.

"Zoro, get a clean set of cutlery. Invite our guest to taste the local specialty," Bane commanded casually.

Zoro rose nimbly, retrieved a fresh set of cutlery from nearby, and placed it at an empty seat.

Nico Robin looked at them, then sat down gracefully in the empty spot, even taking the initiative to say to Zoro, "Young man, trouble yourself to get me a drink as well."

Zoro raised an eyebrow, seemingly appreciative of her nerve, and poured a cup of wine for Nico Robin from his own flask.

Nami had sat down as well, but she couldn't quite grasp the situation, so she wisely kept her mouth shut and sat quietly to the side.

Bane had resumed his seat and, as if nothing had happened, began devouring roasted meat again. While eating, he used a ladle to scoop a large bowl of "fish soup" containing Mosasaur meat and placed it in front of Nico Robin. "Try it, the taste is quite good."

Nico Robin picked up the meat with her chopsticks and ate it naturally, even sipping her wine with great composure.

After about ten minutes, Bane wiped his hands with a napkin, lit a cigar, and looked at Nico Robin. "So, state your purpose, Nico Robin. You didn't come all this way just to deliver these 79 million Belly to me, did you?"

"I presume you have already noticed that there are some of our people among your subordinates," Nico Robin said, picking up a napkin to elegantly wipe the grease from the corner of her mouth.

"Of course, and quite a few, at that," Bane said, biting his cigar with indifference.

"Perhaps I should introduce myself first. As you said, I am indeed a criminal with a 79 million Belly bounty from the World Government, but at the same time, I am part of the most mysterious organization in the Grand Line—" Nico Robin wanted to use her identity to pressure Bane and regain some leverage.

But before she could finish, Bane raised a hand to stop her, exhaling a puff of smoke. "The Grand Line is a stretch; you have some standing in the first half, perhaps. I know who you are: Baroque Works, a massive criminal organization hidden in the shadows. You are the second-in-command, the Vice President."

Nico Robin clearly hadn't expected Bane to know so much, but she soon seemed to guess something and feigned a troubled expression. "It seems some of my subordinates have chosen to betray me. How distressing."

In her view, someone who had boarded Bane's ship must have betrayed and sold out the organization for Bane to obtain this intelligence.

Bane shook his head calmly. "It isn't because someone sold you out; it's because I knew these things to begin with. Not just you, but the boss behind Baroque Works as well—the man currently serving as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sand Crocodile. Tsk, that guy is truly interesting. A pirate, yet he's addicted to playing the national hero in Alabasta?"

When Bane accurately named Crocodile, Nico Robin was genuinely surprised, as information regarding Crocodile was rarely known within the organization, limited only to a few high-ranking cadres.

Ignoring her look of surprise, Bane lifted his chin slightly and asked again with an arrogant air, "So, there is no need for introductions. State your purpose, Nico Robin."

Before arriving, Nico Robin had felt that since she was the one with the plan and the scheme, she was the one holding the advantage.

But after meeting Bane in person, she suddenly realized that all her assumptions and plans were empty talk. The assessment she had made of Bane based on limited intelligence and her own deductions was completely wrong!

Since when did I start harboring the same arrogance as Crocodile? Robin felt a pang of regret.

Is this a case of "he who stays near vermilion gets stained red"?

This left Robin unsure of how to proceed.

She had originally intended to represent the great Crocodile to recruit Bane. But clearly, Bane knew a great deal about Crocodile and held him in no respect; wouldn't it be awkward to say that now?

However, unable to find a better excuse, Nico Robin braced herself after a moment of thought. "I am here representing Mr. Crocodile. He has heard of your exploits—perhaps you are aware that he also has a history of unpleasant dealings with the Whitebeard Pirates—so he admires you greatly and hopes to invite you to move forward with him."

"Very well, I understand the intentions of the esteemed Mr. Crocodile," Bane nodded noncommittally, then looked at Nico Robin with a meaningful gaze. "And what about your intentions?"

"Mine?" Nico Robin feigned confusion. "I just said, I am here representing Mr. Crocodile—"

"But that doesn't mean you are only here to see me on his behalf." Bane tapped the ash from his cigar and said with disdain, "Besides, does a man like Crocodile even have the right to recruit me? If he had come in person to talk, perhaps we could have had a conversation."

Nico Robin didn't take the bait, merely acting helpless. "It seems we are unlikely to reach a consensus here. If Mr. Bane requires Mr. Crocodile to speak with you personally, I will convey your wishes to him."

Her implication was a tentative probe: could she leave now?

Surely it wouldn't be rational to offend one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea just for me, right?

Seeing her attitude, Bane shook his head helplessly. It was only because he quite liked Robin and needed her to take over Crocodile's assets later that he didn't twist the head off anyone else who tried to run circles around him here.

A moment later, Bane spoke. "Then let me be clear: Nico Robin, I need you to assist me in taking down Crocodile. Do you have any interest in cooperating?"