Now that Mu Chen had even brought someone who could translate Poneglyphs right before him, Crocodile felt he was in the wrong. No matter how proud he was, he could hardly justify himself now.
"Teacher, don't tell me you haven't gotten a single one?"
Crocodile's metal hook froze in midair. Cigar ash fluttered onto his scarlet cloak, and he loosened the silk cravat at his collar, trying to hide the unnatural bobbing of his Adam's apple.
"Of course I remember our deal. I've just been preparing a big plan lately, so the Devil Fruit matter has been delayed."
At this point, Crocodile could only grit his teeth and face it head-on.
Mu Chen folded his arms, a teasing smile curling his lips as he said casually, "Delayed?"
"Teacher, Baroque Works has certainly been busy. I hear plenty of your subordinates are Devil Fruit Users. Don't tell me you think my goodwill isn't worth a thing?"
That left Crocodile with no way to explain himself.
"Tell me, how do you want to settle this?"
Mu Chen knew he had Crocodile cornered again. Although their original deal had only been verbal, and he had never expected Crocodile to actually fulfill it, he was now going to ask for something else. "Simple. We'll wipe the Devil Fruit matter off the slate. But in exchange, promise to help me once in the future, without conditions. With anything!"
Hearing that, Crocodile immediately sneered.
"Anything?"
"Mu Chen, you've got some nerve asking that. I'm no small fry for you to push around, and I'm not your subordinate." A powerful man like him had to have his pride. Anything? What a joke. "Crocodile, just tell me whether you agree. If you don't, I'll take her away."
As Mu Chen spoke, he made to take Robin away again.