Crocodile was not deaf.
He listened attentively and understood every word of Nico Robin's conversation.
Did she reveal their whereabouts to anyone?
Crocodile's expression turned cold.
"Straw Hat Luffy?"
"Yes."
Robin did not hide anything and had a faint smile on her face.
Having long been indifferent to life and lacking much will to survive, she also wanted to see what kind of expression Crocodile would have.
As she expected.
Crocodile's face darkened.
For the past 20 years, as a woman who survived by betraying others, she was now betraying him again, and he did not even feel any emotion.
As a pirate who dared to seek national power, he had never trusted anyone, including Nico Robin.
Betrayal?
No, not really.
They were merely in a cooperative relationship.
He needed her knowledge, and she needed the protection of his Shichibukai title.
Crocodile didn't immediately show hostility but instead sneered.
"From Drum Island to Alabasta, even the fastest ship would take four or five days. What can this kid do even if he knows? He's still adrift at sea."
"That's true."
Robin nodded, thinking the same. "Back at Whiskey Peak, the Straw Hat captain asked me to tell you something, but I forgot to mention it earlier."
After a pause, she laughed lightly. "Pluton isn't in Alabasta. It's in Wano Country."
Wano Country, a large nation in the New World, was a closed country.
Robin didn't know much, but Crocodile did.
That country was currently occupied by one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, Kaido!
Crocodile's expression became even more unpleasant.
He didn't believe this nonsense, but the fact that the other party even knew about Pluton — and his purpose — was alarming.
In an instant, his killing intent exploded.
Crocodile stared at Robin.
"Did you tell him?"
"No. I'm also curious how he found out. Princess Vivi never knew about Pluton in the first place." Robin crossed her arms and remained calm.
What's going on? Crocodile frowned deeply.
Judging from Robin's tone and expression, she wasn't lying. Of course, it could also be an act.
If it wasn't this woman who leaked the information, then where did the Straw Hat Pirates learn it?
Pluton is in Wano Country?
"Do you believe it?" Robin's lips curled slightly, finding the situation very amusing.
The captain of the Straw Hat Pirates truly was an interesting person. Crocodile snorted disdainfully.
"A mere low-level pirate... The answer will be revealed soon."
Just a few words had disrupted his plans — ridiculous.
He turned his gaze to Cobra.
"Where is the poneglyph?"
"I told you before, it's in this underground tomb."
Cobra's hands were nailed to the wall, blood dripping from his palms. His face was pale, and his voice was weak. "As for Pluton, this country has no such thing. No matter how many times you ask, I will answer the same."
Crocodile grabbed his neck, draining the moisture from Cobra's body rapidly. His skin became dry and wrinkled.
"I'll ask again: where is the poneglyph?"
He needed a specific location.
This underground tomb was vast. As the burial site for the royal family through generations, its structure was complex. Finding the stone tablet would not be easy and could waste precious time.
Losing a significant amount of moisture, Cobra's voice became hoarse:
"Pluton... what do you plan to do once you have it? You've already taken over this country. What more do you want?"
"At this point, what's the point of asking?"
Crocodile, confident in his victory, laughed. "What I want is not money or status — it's power! The Ancient Weapon Pluton is said to be an invincible warship capable of destroying an entire island with a single shot."
"With it, even the World Government won't be able to touch me."
"I will turn Alabasta into a military nation."
Most had only heard of Ancient Weapons in legends, and even those who had could not be sure they truly existed.
But Crocodile could.
He knew the power of Ancient Weapons well.
After laughing, his tone turned cold.
"Do you understand?"
"Your... goal is the World Government?"
Cobra was shocked.
He had thought pirates only wanted power, women, money, or perhaps One Piece.
But Crocodile's ambition clearly surpassed that.
"I placed a bomb in the capital capable of destroying the entire city. With a deadly range of five kilometers, it can wipe out millions of lives instantly."
Crocodile's tone was icy. "Don't test my patience, Nefertari Cobra."
Hearing this, Cobra's expression changed drastically.
"I understand... I'll take you there..."
Nico Robin crossed her arms in front of her chest.
The next moment, two hands emerged from the wall, removing the nails from Cobra's palms.
"Lead the way," Robin said with a smile.
"In the deepest part…"
Shortly after, Cobra led them to a secret room.
The spacious room had only one entrance.
At its center stood a square stone tablet, covered in ancient characters that ordinary people could not read, facing the entrance.
"Nico Robin," Crocodile spoke.
"Don't call me by that name."
Robin's eyes twitched slightly as she slowly approached the poneglyph, reaching out to touch the story carved into it.
"What is written there?"
"It tells an interesting story."
Without turning her head, Robin concentrated on deciphering the text.
Crocodile clearly wasn't satisfied with the answer and snorted coldly. "That's not what I asked. Where is Pluton?"
After a moment of silence, Robin nodded slowly.
"Yes, it contains information about Pluton. But I'm afraid it will disappoint you. Captain Straw Hat was right — Pluton sleeps in Wano Country."
Since she had been warned beforehand, Robin did not attempt to deceive Crocodile with irrelevant information.
"What did you say?!" Crocodile's face grew uglier.
"I'll give you another chance, Nico Robin. Where is Pluton?" By this point, Robin had finished reading the tablet.
She slowly turned, her expression calm.
"No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same. Pluton is in Wano Country, as recorded here, Crocodile."
Crocodile took a deep breath, veins bulging on his forehead.
He no longer concealed his killing intent.
"When?"
"When?" Robin raised an eyebrow.
"When did you join forces with the Straw Hat Crew?" Crocodile raised his right palm, quicksand flowing from it.
"I see. So that's how it is. Indeed, you would react like that." Robin laughed.
"You think I'm fooling you? I joined forces with the Straw Hat Crew long ago, intending to take Pluton for myself. It's quite amusing."
Robin didn't regret witnessing such an interesting development before her death. After all, everything would soon come to an end.
Crocodile, having failed to obtain Pluton, had already become a target.
He would lose his Shichibukai title.
Prison? Escape?
Defeat at the hands of Straw Hat Luffy?
No matter which, this country would be saved.
"Die, Nico Robin!"
Crocodile, furious, attacked mercilessly.
The sand blade formed from his arm had the power to cut steel.
Robin could not resist. She closed her eyes, remembering her childhood.
Twenty years of running — dying here would be a release.
However, the blade was suddenly grabbed and pulled away.
The sand blade, losing its target, harmlessly scraped the poneglyph, leaving no mark.
"What?!" Crocodile's pupils shrank. He turned toward the entrance.
A young man wearing a straw hat had just retracted his outstretched arm — he had saved Nico Robin.
"Impossible!" Crocodile shouted. "It should have taken you at least two more days, Straw Hat Luffy!"
Not only was he shocked — Robin herself stood there, stunned.
"Captain Luffy?"
Luffy took off his straw hat and casually tossed it to Robin, then walked toward Crocodile, smiling.
"Actually, I've been here for a while. I just wanted to see your reaction when you found out the truth. But it was really boring, Crocodile."
As he spoke, another figure ran from behind him — Vivi!
She rushed to her father's side.
"Father!"
"Vivi⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯"
"Father!!" Vivi cried, tears streaming down her face.
"He won't die — just give him some water," Luffy said gently.
Turning his gaze back to Crocodile: "So your name is Crocodile?"
As he spoke, Luffy stepped forward and entered Gear Second.
Steam burst from his body, and in the next second, he attacked Crocodile fiercely.
"Even if you did arrive earlier, what can you do…?!"
Crocodile didn't even dodge, a mocking smile on his face…
But when Luffy's fist hit him —
Bang!!
His nose broke.
Crocodile was flung back like a sandbag, crashing against the historical monument.
Blood dripped down the stone.
"I can beat you."
Luffy's tone was calm as he walked toward Crocodile.
"Stop pretending to be dead, Shichibukai. Crushing an ant is no fun."
Boom!!!
The Conqueror's Haki erupted from Luffy.
The secret room trembled, dust falling from the ceiling, and the floor quaking.
Robin was stunned.
Cobra, too, stared at Luffy's back in disbelief.
Who is he...?
[End of chapter]
Give me some power stones there you go~😉