Pluton's Whereabouts

After what had happened at the tavern during the day, Ryan no longer wanted to go to taverns for information. There were far too many people like that young man Killer had killed; nearly every tavern had them.

People like that could never be killed or cut down completely. All Ryan could do was stay away from taverns. Otherwise, he would not be able to stop himself from killing them. Ryan was not like Luffy or Shanks, able to endure being bullied and insulted without caring.

It was not that there was anything wrong with being like Luffy and Shanks. Ryan simply could not accept it. After all, he was not them, nor could he live the way they did.

Since he could not find any information about Robin here, Ryan decided to go directly to Rainbase and find Crocodile.

Ryan had discovered something very interesting in Alabasta.

Crocodile was actually Alabasta's hero now, and its people sincerely thanked him for everything he had done for the country, even though he was a pirate.

Ever since Crocodile had come to Alabasta years ago and discovered the secret of the Ancient Weapon Pluton, he had been thinking about finding that legendary weapon and claiming it for himself.

When Crocodile discovered that the secret of Pluton seemed to be in the hands of Alabasta's royal Nefertari Family, he began his plan to seize the country.

Ryan was also curious about what Crocodile had spent so much time doing in Alabasta. If it was merely for the elusive Pluton, then it truly made no sense—unless he had discovered some other secret unknown to the world.

After all, Crocodile's strength had barely improved during his more than ten years in Alabasta. Back when he had first made a name for himself, he had been a man capable of fighting Bullet to a draw.

That showed just how exceptionally talented Crocodile was. Unfortunately, he had wasted that talent. Yet even so, Crocodile's performance during the Summit War had been remarkable.

Once Ryan made up his mind, he acted. His group explored ancient civilization ruins as they traveled, arriving in Rainbase the next day. Anyone unaware of the truth would have thought they were tourists.

The greatest difference between Rainbase and Alabasta's other cities was its living conditions. Rainbase was Alabasta's only oasis, blessed with abundant rainfall unlike the other cities. The people of Alabasta called it the Land Favored by Heaven.

"Captain, who are we looking for here?" Kid asked with a hint of complaint. In his opinion, they should have charged straight for the capital, Alubarna.

"A woman."

"What? You already have me, and you still want to find other women?" Lory said, sounding slightly aggrieved.

Ryan was instantly speechless. "What does that even have to do with anything?"

Their exchange sparked a wave of curiosity among the others.

Ryan did not answer and simply kept walking forward.

"Beli, what do you think the captain wants with that woman?" Kid asked curiously.

"Kids shouldn't ask what they shouldn't."

"You're only two years older than me. What gives you the right to call me a kid?"

"I'm stronger than you."

Beli ended him with one move, leaving Kid to rage impotently.

"Sir, do you know where Crocodile is?" Ryan asked a middle-aged man he found.

The middle-aged man looked wary. "What do you want with Lord Crocodile?"

"I have some information I want to sell to Crocodile."

"Oh, I see."

Only then did the middle-aged man point them in the right direction. At the very center of Rainbase stood a Castle, Crocodile's personal residence.

After learning the exact location, Ryan led the group there. Sure enough, an ancient Castle stood in the very center of Rainbase, with two guards stationed at its entrance.

"I'm here to see Crocodile," Ryan said calmly as he stepped forward.

Seeing Ryan's indifferent expression, the guard immediately became enraged. "How dare you disrespect Lord Crocodile!"

The guard tightened his grip on his weapon, clearly about to attack.

"Lord Crocodile invites you all inside." A burly young man emerged from the Castle and spoke to Ryan's group.

Ryan had already recognized him. He was Baroque Works' Mr. 1. The current Mr. 1 still looked somewhat immature, though his dead-fish eyes remained unchanged.

"Lead the way," Ryan said calmly.

Mr. 1 did not get angry. Like an emotionless machine, he led Ryan's group into a hall, where the future Shichibukai, Sir Crocodile, sat in the main seat above and watched them.

"I heard the Bloody Swordsman wants to sell me some information," Crocodile's voice rang out.

"It seems you've completely taken control of Rainbase."

"Of course. I am Alabasta's hero." Crocodile laughed loudly.

"Where is Nico Robin?" Ryan asked expressionlessly.

Crocodile's pupils narrowed slightly before he smiled. "So you've come for Pluton."

"No. I've come for Nico Robin."

"Are you playing me?" Crocodile stood up furiously.

"So Nico Robin really is with you." Ryan smiled.

"So what if she is?"

"Hand her over to me."

"Robin, do you want to leave with him?" Crocodile asked into the darkness.

At that moment, a young girl stepped out of the shadows and said to Crocodile, "Of course not, Boss."

"Robin!" Seeing the still-young Robin, Ryan called out excitedly.

The members of the Ryan Pirates beside him were all curious as they watched their captain become so excited. Who exactly was this Nico Robin, to matter so much to him?

How could they know that Ryan had known Robin in his previous life? As a fan of the Pirate King anime, Robin had been Ryan's favorite female character.

If you knew Robin well enough, you would realize that she usually wore a faint smile. It was hard to imagine that someone who had suffered so much as a child could still show others her best side.

How could someone like Robin not make people feel for her?

"I don't think I know you, Bloody Swordsman Ryan," Robin said calmly as she looked at the excitement on Ryan's face.

In her eyes, Ryan was merely excited because he valued what she could offer.

"But I know you. I know everything about you, Robin." Ryan smiled.

For some reason, when Robin saw Ryan's smile, something in her heart stirred. It was as if he truly did not want to use her simply because he knew her value.

But Robin quickly came to her senses. No one in this world would ever treat her sincerely again.

Ryan did not take Robin's cold response to heart, because he knew it would take time to change her opinion of him. What mattered most now was taking Robin away and getting her away from Crocodile.

"Hand Robin over to me, and I'll tell you Pluton's true location."

"You know where Pluton is?" Crocodile transformed into a mass of sand and rapidly appeared before Ryan. It was clear how agitated he was.

"Hand Robin over to me, and I'll tell you," Ryan continued, staring at Crocodile before him.

"You tell me first. If it's true, I'll hand her over."

"Fine."

Robin stood nearby without expression, as though she had long since grown accustomed to such situations.

"Pluton isn't in Alabasta. It's in Laugh Tale," Ryan told Crocodile.

"How is that possible?!" Crocodile cried out in disbelief.

He had spent years building his power in Alabasta because he had discovered traces of Pluton here, but Ryan's words made him unable to dismiss the possibility.

If Ryan had said Pluton was somewhere else, Crocodile naturally would not have believed him. But Laugh Tale was the Final Island, and that made the claim somewhat believable. After all, no one would be surprised by whatever might exist on the Final Island.

"How do you know?"

"I have two teachers. One is Scopper Gaban, and the other is Silvers Rayleigh."

"The Pirate King's right and left hands! I never expected you to be their disciple." Everyone was shocked to learn that Ryan was the disciple of the Pirate King's right and left hands, including Beli.

Beli said, "How did I not know Teacher Gaban was the Pirate King's left hand?!"

Kid, Killer, and Lory all looked at Ryan with admiration.

"No. If it really were at Laugh Tale, why didn't the Pirate King bring it out instead of turning himself in?" Crocodile demanded loudly.

"Because the Pirate King was about to die. So he chose to usher in the Great Age of Piracy and leave everything to those who came after him," Ryan explained.

Although Ryan had made all of it up, there was one thing he had not lied to Crocodile about: Pluton was absolutely not in Alabasta.

If Pluton had been in Alabasta, the World Government would have taken it long ago. Why would they wait for Crocodile to search for it here?

Ryan guessed that Pluton could be in one of three places. One was the Holy Land Mary Geoise, another was Laugh Tale, the Final Island, and the last possibility was Elbaf, the land of giants.

Ryan had said Laugh Tale because it made the story sound more convincing. If Ryan himself had not known he was making it up, he might have believed it upon hearing it. As if Rayleigh and Gaban would ever tell him such things.

"I've already told you. Now you can hand Robin over to me!"

"Bloody Swordsman, you're far too naive! This world still ultimately depends on strength." Crocodile laughed as his body turned to sand.

Ryan drew Mubanniu from his waist and smiled. "You're right. But you've overestimated yourself."

A great battle was about to erupt.