Chapter 91: Interested in Deep Cooperation?
Sag stared at the woman before him. She wore a hat and a coat of the same color, though her attire underneath was quite cool.
But most importantly, there was that face – beneath the black hair and blue eyes, a face similar to his own.
Nico Robin…
As Sag turned his head, the woman also showed a momentary hesitation, but quickly recovered her composure, revealing a smile.
Sag pulled the lever of the slot machine. Seeing the machine still hadn't hit, he said, "Are your machines rigged? I haven't won a single time."
"You jest…"
Robin chuckled softly. With just a wave of her hand, the row of machines Sag was at suddenly spun. Several machines displayed three crocodile symbols, revealing a large amount of golden chips.
"Customer, perhaps a change of scenery will bring you luck."
"Is that so?"
Sag stared at her for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, "Forget it. Lead the way."
The two acted as if they didn't know each other…
In fact, they didn't really know each other well. At least Sag could be sure that Robin didn't recognize him.
As for this woman, he had only heard rumors about her. This was the first time they had met face-to-face.
Lily followed beside Sag, glancing at this woman several times, following her all the way to a passage inside the casino.
At the end of the passage were two signs. Sag glanced at them strangely, "What's the Pirate Passage?"
Robin's smile remained unchanged. "It's a dead end. If you go in, you'll fall into a trap."
"What kind of idiot would fall for that? Truly bad taste."
Sag chuckled, followed Robin towards the so-called VIP room, pushed open the door, and the first thing that met his eyes was a huge staircase. Below the stairs was an equally huge hall, within which a large water tank could be seen, giant crocodiles swimming inside. (Bananawani)
"Kuhahahaha!"
In front of a large desk in the hall, accompanied by a strange laugh, a chair automatically swiveled around, revealing Crocodile's gloomy face. Biting a cigar, he said gravely, "Having fun? Norton Sag."
"What's fun about losing money?"
Sag walked down and sat on a nearby sofa. "Bring me a good wine. I don't drink cheap stuff."
"Miss All Sunday," Crocodile called out.
Near the wine cabinet, a hand sprouted from nowhere, took out a wine bottle, and poured a glass. Simultaneously, countless hands extended forward from the wine cabinet, bringing the wine glass to the table in front of the sofa, holding it up towards Sag.
"Please enjoy," Robin smiled from behind.
Lily's eyes narrowed. "Ability user…"
"I ate the Hana Hana no Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit). I can sprout any part of my body anywhere," Robin said nonchalantly, extending a hand. Three more hands sprouted from her elbow position. She smiled at Lily, "Just like flowers blooming."
Sag swirled the wine glass, drained it in one gulp, then leaned back against the sofa. "Didn't you say you'd let me have fun? There are no card games here?"
"Kuhahahaha…"
Crocodile laughed. "North of Nanohana is the royal capital, Alubarna. Even if you came from the Sandora River, you should have headed east. Coming here specifically, just for gambling?"
"Can't I?" Sag grinned.
Whoosh!
His figure dissolved into sand from the chair, disappearing and reappearing behind Sag, one hand hovering before him.
Clang!
Lily had just drawn Shirai, but at that moment, a hand sprouted from her wrist, unexpectedly pressing the hilt back down.
"Don't resort to violence so casually; it's very dangerous," Robin smiled gently.
Lily's gaze turned icy, but she glanced towards Sag and said nothing.
Crocodile's hand was holding a cigar, offering it to Sag.
After Sag took it, Crocodile walked back to the opposite sofa and sat down. "Rumor says you like robbing kings. But now it seems, it's not just kings. You even want to rob me, a Shichibukai."
Sag picked up the lighter on the table, lit the cigar, took a puff, and slowly exhaled smoke. His grinning mouth gradually turned ferocious. "Want to fight?"
Whether discovered or not was fundamentally unimportant.
He wasn't the type to rob stealthily; it was just better if it was more convenient and didn't require paying a price.
But now that his purpose had been discovered, he wouldn't be timid. Wasn't it just a fight?
Whether Crocodile found out or not, he was determined to rob Rainbase.
"I have no interest in fighting you," Crocodile exhaled smoke. "Status, wealth – these hold no meaning for me. To me, piracy is just business. Let's make a deal, Sag."
He looked at Sag. "The treasure of Rainbase can be yours. In exchange, I want you to go rob Alubarna."
"Give me money and still let me rob? Is there such a good deal? What do you want?" Sag asked.
Crocodile extended his right hand and clenched it firmly. "This country!"
Sag paused, then laughed out loud. "You want to be Doflamingo?"
Crocodile's expression turned cold. "Seems you know what that guy did… But I'm different from that kind of guy. Anyway, this deal has no downsides for you. Our objectives don't conflict."
A bounty of two hundred and seventy million, the things he had done, and defeating Whitebeard's Second Division Commander – even if Crocodile didn't care, he wouldn't view Sag like a small-time pirate.
There was no need to clash with such a person.
Their goals were not aligned.
Hidden beneath his desire for this country was that weapon (Ancient Weapon Pluton). Once he obtained that thing, he didn't care what happened to the country.
And what Sag wanted was just money.
"Judging by your style, you were probably going to Alubarna anyway. I can't think of a reason for you to refuse. Or are you also one of those strange, hot-blooded pirates? Coming here to settle scores with me over some inexplicable bond?"
Crocodile tilted his head up, the corners of his mouth gradually curling. "Are you aiming for the head of me, a Shichibukai?"
"I have no interest in your head, which is only worth eighty million. Getting it wouldn't do anything for me." (Referencing Crocodile's frozen bounty as a Shichibukai)
Sag beckoned Lily over. "Go instruct the people below. When they've had enough fun, start the robbery."
Saying this, he looked at Crocodile and smiled, "Deal."
Hearing this, Crocodile's brow relaxed. "A superfluous action."
"I'm a pirate. Of course, I'll take what I want myself. Your wealth is wealth, these gamblers' wealth is also wealth. I want it all."
Sag clenched his fist and grinned. "Even being a king requires money, if you truly want to be a king…"
"What do you mean?" Crocodile's gaze darkened.
Even Robin, beside him, her pupils narrowed slightly.
"No, I just feel that a guy like you wouldn't be so simple. But it's none of my business. What I want is treasure. As long as you don't hinder me, it's fine," Sag said.
Crocodile stared intently at him for a moment, then extinguished the cigar in the ashtray. "The same words back to you. The contract is established. If you renege, I will let you know just how powerful I, an eighty-million Beli pirate, am in the desert."
"Hahahaha, save that big talk for someone else," Sag laughed. "Don't worry. Even pirates need to talk morality (道义 - dào yì)."
Sag just wanted to rob and was too lazy to conflict with this kind of person. He roughly knew what Crocodile was up to – wasn't it just passing the blame? It wasn't even really passing the blame, because he was actually going to rob Alubarna.
Now he could effortlessly rob Rainbase. Whether he actively robbed it or passively robbed it, as long as the result was achieved, it was fine.
His plan was proceeding methodically.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Robin seemed to perceive something, assuming a listening posture, and smiled, "An interesting group has arrived, Mr. 0. The Straw Hat crew has broken into Rainbase."
"Truly annoying, small-time pirates…" Crocodile tutted. "Alright, invite them into the VIP room. I'll handle them personally."
"Understood," Robin nodded. She glanced at Sag, turned, and walked out.
"Speaking of which…"
Crocodile watched the departing Robin, then glanced at Sag, who was pouring himself another glass of wine, his gaze shifting back and forth. "The sea is truly magical. You and she look very similar…"
"You already said the sea is magical. Isn't resemblance normal?" Sag said nonchalantly.
"True…"
He actually didn't have any suspicions, because he also knew quite a bit. Among Ohara's current survivors, only that one should be left.
As for Sag…
The rich aura of lawlessness was almost choking. It wasn't something a scholar should have.
One departed from the East Blue, the other came from the West Blue. It was impossible for them to be connected.
And this guy…
Crocodile exhaled smoke and glanced at Sag again.
He was convinced. To some extent, they were probably the same type.
"You want so much money, is it to complete some plan?" Crocodile suddenly asked.
"Just going to the New World to be a big landlord. The robbed money is all for enjoying life as a landlord later," Sag didn't hide anything and answered directly.
"The New World…"
Crocodile showed a strange expression, paused for a moment, then laughed, "Ha, ha, ha, ha! The path every pirate must take. The New World isn't that easy to venture into. However…"
"Sag, interested in deep cooperation?"
●●●
● 24 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
● https://www.patreon.com/c/Devmaya
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)