Nico Robin

The changes to the Navy Investigation Bureau would not happen overnight.

At present, even with the personnel Sengoku had assigned and the Search Bureau's existing foundation,

they could barely support the framework Lofan had built. As for additional personnel,

that truly required further consideration and waiting for the training funds to arrive.

Lofan had simplified the World Military Draft originally proposed by Akainu into the Investigative Officer Recruitment Plan.

It would recruit talent from around the world to bolster the bureau's manpower.

Sengoku had initially opposed the proposal.

Such a high-profile undertaking, even setting aside financial support, would likely dishearten many within the Navy.

Most importantly, it would lead people around the world to believe that serious corruption existed within the Navy.

Lofan understood the concerns that came with Sengoku's position, so he stated that the Search Bureau alone would select personnel.

The Navy would not be involved, because the Search Bureau had to exist independently of it. Otherwise, there could be no talk of fully carrying out its duties.

Only then did Sengoku give the proposal his provisional approval.

But he still reminded Lofan to exercise restraint and screen recruits carefully.

Ain had now been assigned to take part in the restructuring for the time being.

Lofan planned to leave headquarters for a while. Once he had brought back the people he had selected,

he estimated that recruitment over there would be nearly complete as well.

The first half of the Grand Line was known as Paradise, and also as the graveyard of pirates.

After entering the Grand Line through Reverse Mountain, everything in this devilish sea began to defy common sense.

Ocean currents, magnetic fields, and the weather all became unpredictable.

Without a Log Pose to record the magnetic fields of the islands, one could only wait to die in the vast sea.

Yet compared with the latter half of the sea, where Marine Headquarters held sway and the Four Emperors reigned, this place truly was a paradise.

The Baku Islands were a renowned tourist destination.

Five long, narrow islands formed a diamond-like shape on the sea, and each island had its own distinctive products.

Baku Island No. 3, where Nico Robin was staying, lay in the center of the archipelago and boasted an exceptionally bustling shopping mall.

Why had she entered the Grand Line from the West Blue?

It was not merely to survive. Like her mother, she could never escape her fate as a historian.

To seek the lost history and decipher the unknown Poneglyphs-curiosity was an instinct she could not suppress.

"A cup of coffee, please. Thank you."

With the help of the last pirate ship she had traveled on, Robin had found a lead on a Poneglyph somewhere in the Alabasta Kingdom.

But this kingdom was an enormous country.

It had a standing army of nearly 600,000, and its territory was said to be the largest in the first half of the Grand Line.

Searching alone, she could spend several lifetimes without finding a trace.

Moreover, one of the Shichibukai was stationed in the country.

He was a man with a bounty of 81 million Beli.

Someone who had fought Whitebeard at twenty and still emerged unscathed.

Crocodile, the hero of the Alabasta Kingdom.

Robin had thought there was no way forward until she came into contact with an organization: Baroque Works.

The organization's Mr. 1, Daz Bones, had approached Robin himself.

He said their president, Mr. 0, needed Miss Lace's help and told Robin to wait in the Baku Islands.

Faced with the overbearing Mr. 1, Robin had little choice but to obediently await the mysterious president's arrival.

During those days of waiting, Robin had also used the network of contacts she had built over her years on the fringes.

She had uncovered quite a bit of information about the organization.

It was a secret criminal company based in Alabasta.

The company had only one guiding principle: overthrow Alabasta and establish an ideal kingdom.

Yet most of its actual activities were inseparable from dirty dealings.

Assassination, theft, human trafficking, and the like.

Even putting aside the fact that Alabasta already had a ruler with an excellent reputation,

with the company's methods and practices, who could believe it could establish a peaceful nation?

Yet a company with such a sordid record still survived in Alabasta's capital.

It surely had some unspeakable connection to the country's upper ranks.

Why had they taken an interest in her?

Robin already had a rough idea. Her life consisted of using others or being used. That was the nature of the world.

A man with slicked-back hair and a long horizontal scar across his face sat down beside Robin.

The smell of cigar smoke made Robin frown slightly.

The man had a golden hook for a left hand. With a cigar between his lips, he extended his right hand to Robin.

"Nico Robin, those scum aren't worthy of working with you.

Weaklings who can't even make it through Paradise on the Grand Line are destined to end up buried in the desert.

Your talents should be put to the best possible use!"

Crocodile. This man's appearance had caught Robin by surprise.

It also connected the many pieces of information about Alabasta in her mind.

"The hero of Alabasta, the president of Baroque Works, and a member of the Shichibukai as well. I wonder what I should call you."

"President. That is my true purpose."

Even in the heat, Crocodile still wore a black fur coat draped over his shoulders.

Yet Robin could clearly feel the chill around her, a coldness that came from within her heart.

"Does the president need my ability to read lost scripts?"

Robin cupped the steaming coffee cup in both hands. She knew she had only two choices today.

"Guhahahaha, that's right! I like discussing partnerships with clever people!"

Robin lowered her head slightly, her glossy long hair sliding silkily over her tan skin.

Her right hand gripped the side of the cup tightly, and then she smiled radiantly.

"Of course. It would be my honor."

"Your ability is one of my rare treasures! From now on, I'll leave the actual management of the organization to you.

Starting today, you are the vice president of Baroque Works: Miss All Sunday."

Then Crocodile turned and spoke toward the side again:

"You heard that, Daz. Make sure every employee of Baroque Works knows."

"Of course, President."

Daz stepped out of the shadows nearby and bowed his head slightly in respect to Crocodile.

"Then let's leave now. Once we reach Alubarna, Alabasta's capital, I'll explain your duties in detail."

Robin took a small sip of her still-steaming coffee. It was merely a step from one hell into another.

Ever since she was eight, she had always walked among monsters and demons.

"Paula, let's go. Your work is done."

Daz suddenly spoke.

The café's proprietress gave a soft smile, brushed her long, dark-blue waves of hair, and walked out from behind the coffee counter, swaying her slender waist.

She smiled alluringly and placed a hand on Robin's shoulder.

"I look forward to working with you, Vice President."