Alabasta, Rainbase.
Beneath Rain Dinners Casino, in Crocodile's office.
Crocodile sat in his boss's chair, his legs propped up on the desk and a cigar clenched between his teeth, speaking into the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
"You've met him already?" Crocodile asked.
Nico Robin's voice came through the Den Den Mushi as she replied softly, "I have. He's currently on Little Garden."
"And how did the matter I assigned to you go?" Crocodile asked again.
"Not particularly smoothly. He is indeed somewhat interested in you, but he didn't accept my recruitment offer. He said he would personally travel to Alabasta later to speak with you face-to-face," Robin replied.
After a brief pause, Robin glanced at Bane, who was sitting quietly beside her, then added to the Den Den Mushi, "But I think you shouldn't be too optimistic. That man is extremely ambitious. His interest in you may not mean he wants to cooperate with you. I think it is more likely that he wants to get rid of you."
"Hehehe." Crocodile's sinister laughter came through the Den Den Mushi. Once he was done laughing, he said dismissively, "I've told you before, don't treat me like some second-rate pirate. I like ambitious people. People like that are easier to use."
But a moment later, Crocodile still asked, "Did you manage to probe any details about him?"
"His presence is strong, and he is quite confident. Although he looks somewhat rough, he is not reckless. His thoughts may be rather complicated. As for anything else, I didn't probe further. I don't think that man has a very good temper. Given my strength, provoking him might be dangerous," Robin naturally provided some intelligence.
Crocodile did not think too deeply about it. Although he did not trust Nico Robin, he did not believe that after such a simple encounter with someone named Bane, she would betray him. That simply did not make sense.
At most, Nico Robin might harbor some improper little schemes, such as using that man to keep him in check.
But Crocodile did not care about that. He was extremely confident in himself.
Remembering that he would still need Nico Robin to decipher Poneglyphs in the future, Crocodile said, "Then don't probe him any further. Make sure to keep yourself safe."
"I understand," Robin replied softly.
"So, should I return first? Or should I keep watching him here? From the looks of it, he doesn't intend to leave Little Garden anytime soon," Robin asked again.
Crocodile was somewhat puzzled and asked curiously, "Why? Is there anything on Little Garden worth staying for?"
"Uh..." Robin hesitated before saying, "He seems to be quite fond of the grilled dinosaur meat here. He said he wants to eat the dinosaurs into extinction. Does that count as a reason?"
Crocodile was dumbfounded by that. He did not speak for quite some time, and only after coming back to his senses did he sneer, "Then let him eat his fill. I have no use for him at the moment. As for you, if there is nothing else, return as soon as possible."
"Understood." Robin agreed obediently.
Only after ending the call did Bane smile and say, "You handled that well. He shouldn't become suspicious, right?"
"Crocodile is suspicious by nature, so I gave him more negative intelligence. That will instead ease some of his doubts," Robin said calmly.
She had worked under Crocodile for many years, so she understood his temperament quite well.
Seeing this, Bane did not say anything more. "In that case, return to Alabasta first."
"What about the eyes I placed by your side? Do you need me to take them with me?" Robin did not object. Instead, she brought up another matter.
Bane waved his hand. "No need. Leave them. They'll be my subordinates sooner or later anyway."
Just as Bane finished speaking, the volcano on Little Garden suddenly erupted. Like a signal, it alerted the island's two overlords.
They were the two captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates from a hundred years ago: Blue Ogre Dorry and Red Ogre Brogy.
The central region of Little Garden seemed to turn into an arena. Two giant figures gradually emerged from the dense forest, and the moment they met, they swung their enormous weapons and began battling each other.
Robin clearly had not known there were two giants here. She watched the scene in surprise and asked, "What is this?"
"Nothing. Just two warriors who have fought for honor for a hundred years," Bane said with a wave of his hand.
But just as he watched the giants' battle with great interest, the Den Den Mushi Nami had stuffed into "Nami Valley" began to ring.
Nami calmly pulled the Den Den Mushi from her clothes, took one look at it, and handed it to Bane. "It's from Mr. Smoker."
"Smoker?" Bane took the Den Den Mushi, still carrying Nami's warmth and scent, with some confusion. After answering it, he asked curiously, "Smoker? What do you need?"
"Sorry to disturb you, Bane." Smoker greeted him first, then said, "Just as you previously guessed, our Marines have confirmed an operation against the Whitebeard Pirates. The location will be our Marine Headquarters, Marineford."
"Oh?" Bane was even more puzzled. "Although I did suspect as much before, why are you suddenly telling me this?"
"Vice Admiral Garp's meaning is that, as one of the core figures in this incident, would you like to come to Marineford later to observe the operation? It would also give you a deeper understanding of our Marines," Smoker asked.
Bane thought for a moment, then mocked, "Observing the operation is just the excuse. The real purpose is to use me as bait to lure the Whitebeard Pirates here, isn't it?"
Although the Marines already had Teach and Ace, bait was always better in greater numbers. As the man publicly recognized by the Whitebeard Pirates as Thatch's killer, Bane also had a bounty of five hundred million Belly. If he appeared at Marine Headquarters as well, then the Whitebeard Pirates would have one more reason they absolutely had to come.
"Cough, cough." Having been exposed, Smoker was clearly a little embarrassed. He hurriedly said, "At the very least, our invitation is to observe. As for any other reasons, it isn't convenient for me to say more. Of course, this is an invitation, so it naturally depends on your willingness. If you don't want to come, we won't force you."
To Smoker's surprise, Bane did not refuse. Instead, he agreed with a smile, "No problem. I'm very interested in witnessing a world-class war like this firsthand. Besides, I deeply admire former Marine Admiral Zephyr. To be honest, the reason I went to sea as a pirate hunter was because I admired him. If I go to Marine Headquarters this time, please make sure to introduce me to him."
In truth, inviting Bane to Marine Headquarters had not been Garp's idea. It had been Fleet Admiral Sengoku's idea. Smoker simply could not conveniently tell Bane that, so he had placed it on Garp.
And Sengoku's intention was undoubtedly the same as Bane had guessed. Any additional advantage for the war was a good thing.
On further thought, introducing Bane to Instructor Zephyr was not particularly difficult, nor would it put him in an awkward position. So Smoker directly agreed, "No problem. Before long, I should be setting out for Headquarters. You—"
"I'm already on the Grand Line. If I arrive first, I'll wait for you on the Sabaody Archipelago," Bane thought for a moment before replying.
"Alright, then it's settled," Smoker agreed.
The two did not say much more after that and quickly ended the call.
Bane looked at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, then asked Nami beside him, "What date is it today?"
"April 26. Why?" Nami replied casually as she took the Den Den Mushi from Bane and stuffed it back into the valley.
"Nothing." A faint smile appeared on Bane's lips.
Garp's other precious grandson was about to set sail. He wondered whether Luffy would still be able to make it out of East Blue this time.
After all, Garp was still in Loguetown. From what Smoker had just said, there was a high chance he would leave together with Garp. If things were delayed a little longer on this end, Luffy might just reunite with Ace in prison.
After all, Smoker could not defeat Dragon when he came to rescue someone, but could Garp, as Dragon's father, really let Dragon walk all over him?
Before you continue