Roy's figure vanished silently from mid-air.
Rainbase, the most prosperous oasis in Alabasta, is also the stronghold of the Baroque Works.
The large dome of the casino reflected a blinding white light under the Rainbase sun. The surrounding streets were nearly deserted, with only a few gamblers occasionally going in and out.
No one knew that beneath this casino lurked a secret organization powerful enough to overthrow the entire kingdom.
Roy's figure pierced through the casino's dome, passing through layers of ceilings and walls, and landed precisely in the center of the luxurious office at the deepest part of the casino.
It landed silently.
Behind his desk, Crocodile sat with his legs crossed, smoking a cigar and casually flipping through a document in his left hand.
He wore his signature black fur coat, the Golden Hook on his right hand gleaming coldly in the candlelight, and leaned back in his leather executive chair, exuding the aura of a mafia boss.
Beside the desk, Robin, dressed in a smart purple bodycon dress, with her long hair tied in a low ponytail, was organizing a stack of documents.
His expression was calm and focused, a stark contrast to how he had buried himself in books in the Hachinosu Library ten years ago.
"Cough cough."
Roy cleared his throat.
Crocodile nearly dropped his cigar onto the documents.
He looked up abruptly and saw Roy suddenly appear.
" Roy? When did you...?"
Crocodile put the cigar back in his mouth, trying to make his voice sound less surprised.
"Could we use the main entrance next time?"
"Going through the front door is so boring."
Roy glanced around the office, his gaze lingering for a few seconds on the Alabasta map on the wall, before pulling up a chair and sitting down.
"Your Baroque Works is doing quite well. I took a look when I came down from upstairs just now, and the casino business is booming."
"Nonsense."
Crocodile exhaled a smoke ring.
"I've been playing the subservient role here for two years, even personally monitoring the casino odds."
"If it weren't for your lousy plan, would I be here as some Shichibukai?"
Robin chuckled softly, placed the documents on the table, and nodded slightly to Roy.
Captain Roy.
"Um."
Roy glanced at Robin a few times.
"Your secretary looks much better than Crocodile's."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Roy turned his gaze back to Crocodile, or more precisely, to the Golden Hook on his right hand.
The thing was glittering gold and had an extremely flamboyant design, but it looked strangely harmonious on Crocodile's hand.
"Why are you wearing that Golden Hook again?"
Roy pointed with his finger.
"Didn't you complain that this thing was in the way back on Hachinosu?"
Well...
Crocodile raised his right hand expressionlessly, turning the Golden Hook at an angle in the candlelight.
"Isn't this just making the Navy think my hand was cut off because I defected from Hachinosu?!"
"They're actually quite pleasing to the eye!"
Roy nodded, stopped teasing him, and turned to ask about the important matter.
"Seriously, what's the current situation with Baroque Works?"
Crocodile pulled a list from the drawer and threw it on the table.
"Apart from our own people, the rest of the cadres are listed on it."
Mr. 1 Daz Bones, Devil Fruit User, is from the West Blue.
Mr. 2 Bon Clay, Devil Fruit User. Galdino, Devil Fruit User.
And then there's Mr. 4 and Mr. 5, that pair of partners—"
Crocodile paused, a hint of inexplicable emotion in his voice.
"Although these guys aren't particularly strong, they're all pretty good fighters in the first half of the Grand Line."
Roy picked up the list and glanced at it.
really.
Apart from the people planted on Hachinosu, the Baroque Works' publicly known executives are completely consistent with the original work.
Mr. 1 through Mr. 5, including their partners, are all excellent.
That's interesting.
Crocodile's fate has been altered because of Roy, and his methods of recruiting subordinates are completely different from the original story.
At least half of them were his old crew that he brought from Hachinosu.
Even so, the characters from the original work were still drawn to it as if by a magnet.
They appeared in the organization one after another, and held the exact same positions as in the original story.
"Plot correction ability."
Roy uttered the word softly.
"What do you mean?" Crocodile frowned.
It doesn't mean anything.
Roy put the list back on the table and looked at Crocodile.
" The Straw Hat Pirates have now landed in Alabasta."
"So the plan has begun. When you face Luffy tomorrow, be careful what you do."
That kid's pretty strong now, but you're not someone they can handle. If you fight seriously, don't just knock him out with one punch."
Crocodile rolled his eyes.
"I know. They're letting him off the hook, but I don't understand why you're so focused on that kid."
"Good to know."
Roy ignored Crocodile's taunts, stood up, walked to the Alabasta map on the wall, and pointed to the " Rainbase " location marked on the map.
" The Straw Hat Pirates have arrived in Alabasta. If the intelligence is correct, they will enter the capital tomorrow."
"So fast?" Robin seemed slightly surprised.
"Um!"
" Crocodile, you should go and make the arrangements."
Crocodile stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, stood up, and straightened his coat.
"Then let's do it. I've been waiting for two years, just for this show tomorrow."
Roy glanced back at him, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Remember, you are Shichibukai, not a cadre from Hachinosu."
Make it convincing, don't let anyone see through your act.
"Knew."
Crocodile snorted and turned to walk towards the office door.
He paused at the door, didn't turn around, but asked in a low voice,
Is Luffy really as amazing as you say?
Roy thought for a moment and gave Crocodile an answer that surprised him.
"It's not supernatural."
That kid has a way of making people want to believe in him.
You'll find out after you finish the test tomorrow.
Crocodile paused for a moment, then pushed open the door and left.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the empty office.
Robin gathered up the scattered documents and walked over to Roy.
"Captain, do you really think Luffy can beat Crocodile?"
He has to win.
Roy said,
"That's the point of all this—to put enough pressure on him to push himself to his limits."
He needs to grow faster; that would be worthy of the Devil Fruit he ate.
Robin nodded thoughtfully.
She looked at Roy's profile, hesitated for a moment, and then asked,
"Captain, I still don't quite understand why you told me to find a chance to join the Straw Hat Pirates."
Why this ship?
The Straw Hat Pirates is not weak, but compared to the strength of Hachinosu, they are still far inferior.
Roy turned to look at Robin, her eyes filled with a seriousness she rarely saw.
"Because Luffy can find Laugh Tale."
Robin's pupils contracted slightly.
"You've spent your whole life studying the Poneglyph, so you should know better than anyone that just knowing the words isn't enough; someone has to be able to connect all the clues and find the location of the Laugh Tale."
And Luffy, he is the one chosen by fate.
Robin remained silent for a long time, then spoke softly.
"I understand. I will join them."
"It's not just a task."
Roy suddenly added, his tone softening slightly.
Everyone on that ship truly considered each other as partners.
I'm sure you'll gain a great group of friends.
Robin lowered his head and remained silent.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
"I will make my own judgment."
"That's enough."
Roy patted her on the shoulder.
"Come on, come with me for a walk around the streets."
This is my first time in Rainbase. I heard the grilled lizard at the casino is pretty good.
"That's a whole roasted lamb," Robin corrected.
"Almost."