A Bold Plan

Crocodile frowned and said in a low voice, "I expected the World Government to set its sights on you, but I never thought they'd come knocking so quickly. They really don't take me seriously! You're my subordinate now!"

Robin had long grown accustomed to living in danger, but this time, she was especially terrified.

After considering every possibility, the only person capable of finding her and mobilizing the World Government's CP Organization was Marine Headquarters Admiral Aokiji!

Even Crocodile would probably find it difficult to protect her from Aokiji.

Robin understood all too well that Aokiji had been watching her from the shadows all these years. Had he finally decided to make his move?

"Boss, what should we do now?" Robin suppressed the turmoil in her heart and asked as calmly as she could.

Crocodile's expression darkened. "Hmph! Who do they think I am? They think they can come and go as they please on my turf? Mobilize every Baroque Works member in Alabasta at once. Find his location. I'll kill him myself!"

"Yes, sir."

Robin gave him a long look.

Crocodile added, "Also, Marine Headquarters personnel have just arrived in this country. Put all recent operations targeting Alubarna on hold for now. We don't need unnecessary trouble."

Robin nodded lightly and left with a heavy heart.

Crocodile watched her retreating figure, his expression growing even darker. "World Government, even you won't stop me. I will find the Ancient Weapon Pluton and use it to crush everyone who defies me!"

Meanwhile.

Noki had changed his appearance again and stood guard at the entrance to the casino.

Nico Robin, wearing a purple cowboy hat, brushed past him. She was extremely sensitive to the gazes around her, and although Noki had been careful enough, she still sensed that something was off.

Robin carefully surveyed her surroundings before suddenly quickening her pace.

Noki followed her.

Robin led Noki back and forth through the streets for over half an hour, making a huge circle before arriving in the desert outside Rainbase.

"Stop hiding. I know you're there!" Robin said calmly as she turned around.

Noki clapped his hands and emerged from behind a sand dune, sincerely praising her. "As expected of the Devil Child. Among all the people I've met, your powers of observation are easily among the very best."

Robin fixed her eyes on the man before her. "You're the same person who infiltrated the casino earlier, aren't you?"

"That's right."

Noki nodded in admission.

Robin looked him over from head to toe. "This probably isn't your real appearance either. If I'm not mistaken, you should be one of the Marines who arrived in Alabasta today!"

Noki was somewhat surprised. "What makes you say that?"

Seeing his expression, Robin became even more certain of her judgment. "At first, I thought you were an agent of the World Government. I thought you went easy on me in the casino because you were wary of Crocodile.

"However, you had countless chances just now to kill or capture me, yet you never acted. That means you had no such intention. And the man you mentioned earlier... he was Admiral Aokiji, wasn't he?

"If you aren't an agent, then the only people who could be connected to Aokiji are Marines."

"What an excellent deduction."

Noki had never intended to hide it from her, so he simply had Little Black dispel the illusion and reveal his true appearance. "Then do you know who I am?"

Robin was momentarily stunned by his transformation. After thinking briefly, she answered, "You're Rear Admiral Noki, who once guarded the East Blue and personally slaughtered five thousand pirates!"

"That's right. To be honest, Kuzan is a good friend of mine. He specifically asked me to look after you during this trip to Alabasta." Noki took several steps forward.

Robin hurriedly retreated, keeping her distance as she cautiously asked, "What do you mean by 'look after'?"

Noki spread his hands in front of him. "Don't worry. If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."

Robin agreed completely, but she did not relax her guard in the slightest.

Seeing that she remained unmoved and vigilant, Noki stopped trying to force the issue and continued, "Over the years, you've moved between different organizations, yet you've never settled down. Instead, you've betrayed one after another.

"You already bear the title of Devil Child. Now, every organization you've joined has been destroyed without exception. That has practically confirmed the infamous claim that you bring disaster to those around you.

"Kuzan is kindhearted. You are the child his friend asked him to watch over, so no matter what, he wanted to help you. But because of his position, he couldn't get too close to you. He could only observe you silently and refrain from acting. That was the best help he could offer you.

"Otherwise, did you really think that, with your abilities, you could survive for so many years while being hunted by a Marine admiral?

"However, the way you've dealt with people over the years has made Kuzan sense danger. If you had settled down with some faction, even a notoriously evil one, and formed mutual trust with them, that would at least prove you still possessed some humanity. Yet you never found such a place.

"You possess the ability to awaken the world's most powerful weapon. If that ability fell into the hands of someone without humanity, how terrifying do you think the consequences would be? That is the real reason Kuzan has no choice but to kill you."

After hearing Noki's explanation, Robin felt as though she had been struck by sudden enlightenment. But with her identity, how could finding companions possibly be easy? It was not as though she had never considered it.

"What does that have to do with this 'looking after' you mentioned?" Robin asked again.

Noki smiled faintly. "Kuzan and I are friends. As an admiral, many things he does are controlled by the World Government. I'm merely a lowly rear admiral. I have less authority, but more freedom. Therefore, I can help him accomplish what he cannot. This so-called looking after is simply helping you find a place to settle down—a person you can serve with peace of mind, without having to worry about your safety anymore."

Robin sneered repeatedly. "You make it sound easy. Where am I supposed to find someone like that?"

Noki maintained his smile. "Far away at the edge of the world, yet right before your eyes."

"You mean yourself? But you're a Marine. If you shelter me, you'll definitely be expelled from the Marines."

Noki shook his head. "You've seen my ability to transform, haven't you? In this world, aside from you, only one person I trust most knows I possess this ability.

"With it, as long as you don't reveal anything, no one will know that I'm the one behind you.

"With my secret support and my connections in the Marines, you'll be safer than anyone."

Robin was extremely intelligent and immediately understood what he meant. "You want to create a faction using a false identity, then have me help you manage it?"

"You're half right. There's already a ready-made organization right in front of us. Why would I need to start my own?"

Robin was stunned, her lips forming an O. "You want to become Crocodile!?"

"No, no. As far as I know, Baroque Works has excellent secrecy. Up until now, you've always been the one issuing missions to the agents. Aside from you, nobody knows who the real boss is. In other words, you are the public face of Baroque Works.

"So, as long as you say the word and point to anyone as the boss, the agents will believe it—as long as that person has sufficient strength and status."

Noki took a deep breath and lowered his voice. "I have a plan that will utterly ruin Crocodile and strip him of his position as a Shichibukai. When that time comes, my false identity will step in and kill him, then use his head to petition the World Government to replace him as a new Shichibukai. By then, aside from you and me, no one will know that Baroque Works has changed masters."

"What a bold idea. Are you so certain I'll help you? Aren't you afraid I'll leak this information?"

"Since I dared tell you, I've already made ample preparations to deal with that. Besides, hasn't finding an absolutely safe organization been what you've always wanted?

"As long as I remain in the Marines, I'll need you to manage this organization for me. Naturally, I'll have no reason to kill you. And I have no intention of leaving the Marines, which means you'll always be safe.

"Our interests align perfectly. Is there really a better deal in the world? Do you have any reason to refuse?"

Robin lowered her head and pondered for a long time. "Fine. I'll help you!"

"Then here's to a pleasant partnership."

Noki extended his fair, slender right hand.

Robin hesitated for a moment before choosing to shake it.

Noki brought Robin somewhere else and explained his plan in detail.

Robin could not help breaking into a smile behind her hand. "Rear Admiral, you really are quite devious."

Several days later.

Inside the royal palace of Alubarna, the capital of Alabasta.

"Rear Admiral, it's been a long time."

Outside the magnificent palace, Princess Vivi, dressed in a gorgeous long gown, welcomed Noki's arrival.

The moment she heard that Noki had returned to his warship, she immediately asked Ain, who was staying in the palace, to invite him over via Den Den Mushi.

It was a small scheme.

Princess Vivi was afraid Noki would refuse the invitation, so she had first invited Ain to stay at the palace and treated her to fine food and drink every day.

Ain was Noki's only lover. Noki would surely listen to her.

That way, Noki would definitely come to the palace.

"Your Highness, the departure for taking you and His Majesty to Mary Geoise has been arranged for the day after tomorrow. Why did you summon me to the palace early? Is something the matter?"

Princess Vivi's lips curled into a smile. She elegantly extended an arm behind her in a welcoming gesture. "Rear Admiral, let's go inside and discuss it slowly."

"Alright!"

Noki agreed and stepped into the palace.

A man with medium-length black hair sat on the throne, wearing a kind and benevolent smile. "You must be Rear Admiral Noki. You truly are an outstanding young man. To take on the heavy responsibility of rear admiral at such a young age, your future is limitless.

"I heard that while guarding the East Blue, you brought unprecedented peace and tranquility to all its civilians. A hero truly emerges in youth."

Noki bowed respectfully to him. "Your Majesty, you flatter me. I merely carried out my duties."

Ain was also in the palace. She walked lightly to Noki's side and smiled. "Noki, His Majesty truly is a wise ruler who cares for his country and people. Over the past few days, I've seen much of the capital's customs and culture. Everyone trusts His Majesty deeply."

As she spoke, Ain deliberately blinked at Noki.

Noki immediately understood. She was trying to tell him that they had invited him here because they wished to ask something of him.

It was probably about Baroque Works.

Worried about her country, Princess Vivi suddenly let out a long sigh. "Rear Admiral, as you know, the Alabasta royal family has recently been framed by unknown individuals.

"Although Alabasta's people still stand with the royal family and firmly trust us, if we allow the situation to continue developing, I fear that one day, the royal family will lose that trust. When that happens, the entire country will fall into crisis.

"Some time ago, you revealed some information about Baroque Works to me. We sent people to investigate according to your instructions for a long time, but found nothing. Could you reveal a little more information to us?

"If you can help Alabasta overcome this crisis, the royal family will regard you as a benefactor for generations to come."

Vivi was certain that Noki knew the truth. Even if he did not know everything, he surely possessed most of the information.

Noki smiled faintly. "I made it very clear back then. That was all the information I knew."

He paused before asking in return, "Your Highness, what do you think I've been doing these past few days?"

"Could it be..."

How could Vivi fail to understand what Noki was implying? Her heart immediately filled with deep gratitude and shame.

She was naturally grateful that Noki had willingly taken the initiative to help them, and ashamed that she had once suspected Rear Admiral Noki of concealing information.

He must have put a great deal of thought into Alabasta!

"In any case, Your Majesty, you needn't care too much about Baroque Works. I can assure you that it has absolutely nothing to do with using Dancing Powder to frame the royal family. As for the truth, you'll learn it soon enough. Please trust me," Noki continued.

Cobra and the many Alabasta officials were overjoyed. "Since the rear admiral says so, then on behalf of Alabasta's tens of millions of citizens, I offer you our gratitude in advance.

"Vivi, the rear admiral has traveled a long way. Quickly take him to a room so he can rest properly. Tonight, I will personally host a banquet in his honor."

"There's no need for a banquet. Alabasta is a member nation of the World Government, and as a Marine, I have a duty to protect it. Please simply permit me to stay in the palace for two days."

"Of course. Rear Admiral, please make yourself at home. Whatever you need, I will do everything in my power to provide it!"