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The purpose of Nico Robin coming here was simple: she wanted to witness the excitement.
She was curious to see who would emerge victorious in the clash between the Revolutionary Army cadres and Crocodile.
Deep down, Robin had a feeling it was time for her to change her allegiance again. If she didn't switch sides soon, her death would likely coincide with the completion of Crocodile's plans.
Crocodile hadn't taken Robin under his wing out of kindness—far from it.
Who was Nico Robin? She was the only person capable of interpreting Poneglyphs, a skill that made her a target marked for elimination by the World Government. Crocodile had sought Robin precisely because of her unique ability. Only through her could he locate the legendary ancient weapon, Pluton.
But was Robin truly aiding Crocodile out of loyalty? Of course not. She had her own agenda—to uncover the real Poneglyphs and unlock the mysteries of the Void Century.
The two were using each other.
When they found Alabasta's Poneglyph, that would mark the end of their partnership.
If the Poneglyph indeed revealed Pluton's location, Robin would never share it with Crocodile. Inevitably, this would enrage him, and he would likely kill her on the spot. Yet, even with that grim prospect, Robin felt little regret. After all, she had no loved ones left in the world—no family, friends, or comrades who would mourn her death.
However, if Alabasta's Poneglyph held information about the Void Century, Robin would die with no regrets. To see the truth Ohara had sought for so many years, even in her final moments, would be enough for her.
This, of course, assumed things played out as expected. But there was now an unexpected variable: the Revolutionary Army.
If the Revolutionary Army could kill Crocodile, Robin might have a chance to switch sides. Joining the Revolutionary Army seemed like an appealing option.
In the distance, Sabo had noticed Nico Robin and was intent on taking her away.
As someone wanted by the World Government, Robin was of great interest to the Revolutionary Army. They opposed the World Government and valued Robin's knowledge—she was the sole survivor of Ohara and the only person capable of revealing the truth hidden in history.
The Revolutionary Army wanted to protect her, not just for her safety, but also to uncover the secrets the World Government so desperately wanted to keep buried.
However, with Crocodile present, taking Robin away immediately wasn't an option. Sabo would have to retreat for now and wait for a better opportunity.
Crocodile, watching from below in his sand form, noticed Sabo preparing to leave. Without hesitation, he summoned a sandstorm to block Sabo's path.
But by the time the storm had fully taken shape, Sabo had already disappeared.
After Sabo's departure, Crocodile emerged from the desert sands once again.
At that moment, a massive banana gator approached him, carrying Nico Robin on its back.
Robin gazed at Crocodile, her tone calm yet laced with subtle curiosity. "Why didn't Mr. Crocodile manage to keep that Revolutionary Army fighter here?"
Crocodile, already furious, grew even angrier upon hearing Nico Robin's words.
"Nico Robin," he snapped, his voice cold and commanding. "Send the photo of that Revolutionary Army brat, Sabo, to all the Baroque Works agents in Alabasta. Tell them this: anyone who manages to kill Sabo will be promoted to a senior agent immediately!"
His tone darkened further. "Even if they can't kill him, they'd better ensure he can't roam freely in Alabasta…"
Robin listened calmly. She understood that Crocodile's outburst was more than just anger—it was frustration. He had suffered a tactical loss in what should have been his domain, the desert. If this had happened elsewhere, where the terrain wasn't in his favor, the outcome would've been even worse.
As she mulled over his words, Robin came to a decision. Perhaps it was time to reach out to Sabo and the Revolutionary Army herself. She could reveal a few key pieces of information—just enough to establish a connection.
After all, betraying her boss was something Nico Robin had mastered long ago.
Meanwhile, aboard the Going Merry...
Zoro was training even more intensely than usual, motivated by the new gravity bracelet he had acquired.
Nearby, Usopp practiced controlling his quincy bow, his determination evident. As for the Burning Cauldron treadmill? Its current users were Nami and Vivi.
This setup had come about thanks to Ikki's recent luck. In a stroke of fortune, he had drawn two valuable items that perfectly suited them: the River of Stars, a weapon resembling a whip, and the Seven-Element Staff.
The River of Stars, originally a whip, had incredible power and could communicate with the wielder's mind. Its length was only limited by the user's stamina, making it a formidable weapon.
The Seven-Element Staff, a golden-tier item, allowed the user to control seven elements: fire, water, wind, thunder, earth, light, and darkness. However, using it required stamina to be converted into magical energy, and the magic's form depended entirely on the user's imagination. This meant the potential of the staff was virtually limitless.
Ikki had managed to obtain these items through four golden draws, and the crew quickly assigned them to Nami and Vivi.
To make room for the new training, Usopp had willingly given up his time on the treadmill, though he couldn't resist a joke. "I'm heartbroken… Watching two girls take over the treadmill is just so… tragic!"
Luffy, on the other hand, was taking it easy. He had recently made progress in developing his Nen abilities and decided to embrace the balance of work and rest. At the moment, he was teaching Chopper how to fish, laughing as they worked together.
Ikki, too, was embracing relaxation. He lounged with snacks, his beloved Coke and a handheld game console. The breeze off the sea only added to his contentment.
In addition to the River of Stars and Seven-Element Staff, Ikki's golden draws had yielded two elixirs: one to enhance strength and another to boost comprehension. He had consumed both immediately.
The strength-enhancing elixir had increased his physical power by a tenth—not much by itself, but significant given his upper limits. The comprehension elixir had an even greater effect, helping him unlock a Nen technique he had been struggling to grasp.
Though he had hoped to awaken Haki instead, his limited understanding of it made the process impossible for now. On the other hand, he had an authentic manual for cultivating Nen, which allowed him to achieve results quickly.
Just as Ikki was about to face a boss in his game, the Going Merry suddenly sailed into a dense fog. The air reeked of sulfur, stinging their noses and throats.
"Ugh, this fog stinks!" Ikki groaned, pausing his game as he headed to the ship's stern.
Acting quickly, he summoned a burst of air to push the Merry out of the fog as fast as possible.
The ship broke free of the choking mist, and the crew breathed a collective sigh of relief—until Luffy and Chopper noticed something unusual.
"Huh? Who's this?" they said in unison, staring at the figure dangling from their fishing hook.
The person was unlike anyone they had ever seen, dressed in a flamboyant swan costume with heavy makeup that left a lasting impression.