After Nami put the problem child Luffy down with a single punch, everyone could finally sit and talk properly.
Hmm… the Straw Hats' ship tyrant—how terrifying!
Vivi stepped up first and went over Alabasta's current situation, including the intel she'd uncovered that Crocodile was the mastermind behind it all—things Charles already knew.
Charles suppressed the impolite urge to yawn and said, "So what exactly do you want by telling me all this?"
Vivi looked Charles straight in the eye. "We've learned that after a brief fight with you, Crocodile fled Rainbase. I want to know what happened!
Please, this means a lot to me!"
Charles coughed. "It's nothing major. Crocodile tried to steal something of mine, so I came to settle the score. That's all there is to it."
Vivi thought a moment. "So this was outside Crocodile's plan. We still have time."
Then she raised her head to Charles. "Mr. Charles, I have a request!"
Charles didn't need to guess to know what she was going to say. "You want to ask me to help you take down Crocodile, right? Sure. That was my plan anyway.
But since you're the one asking, that means this is a commission, right?"
'A commission?'
Question marks popped up over everyone's heads. They didn't get what Charles meant.
Charles smiled. "I haven't formally introduced myself. I'm a member of the mage guild Fairy Tail. My job is accepting all kinds of commissions from clients.
So this is you issuing a commission to Fairy Tail, yes?"
'A mage?'
'A guild?'
'Fairy Tail?'
There was plenty to be curious about in what Charles had said, but they more or less got the gist.
Ace suddenly spoke up. "So a guild is a place that takes commissions and earns a fee, right?"
A nostalgic smile touched Charles's lips. "That's not wrong, but Fairy Tail is my home."
Ace's expression shifted at that—wasn't that the same as the Whitebeard Pirates? Thinking so eased much of his wariness toward Charles.
But at the word "fee," someone couldn't sit still.
Smiling, Nami scooted right up. "You're going to make trouble for Crocodile anyway, so just do it while you're at it, okay? Don't charge us, please?"
He'd known Nami was money-mad, but he hadn't expected her to go this far. Those two soft mounds wrapped right around Charles's arm.
Charles had no intention of enjoying it and instinctively pulled away. "Talk is fine, but don't get so close! What if Stella misunderstands?
No deal. If you want me to help you against Crocodile, you have to issue a formal commission!"
Vivi didn't hesitate. "Then it's decided. If it can save this country, any price is worth paying."
Charles suddenly felt like some sleazy villain forcing a maiden and gave a wry smile. "Relax, I won't make it too hard on you.
As for payment… let me make a copy of your books and documents. That's all I want."
Vivi was a little surprised he asked for that. Risking enmity with a Warlord for some books—come to think of it… that did sound pretty normal.
Crocodile was a tough enemy for the Straw Hats, but they'd heard how Charles had routed him with overwhelming force.
Taking Crocodile down might not be hard for Charles at all.
Whatever the case, Vivi had already engraved this kindness in her heart.
Just as both sides reached an understanding, someone objected!
Luffy even forgot his curiosity about Fal and shouted, "Hold it! I'm the one who should be knocking that Crocodile guy down!"
Not even Nami's iron fist changed the determination on Luffy's face this time.
Charles sighed and turned to Ace, who'd been silent. "You're just going to watch?"
Ace smiled. "I won't stop Luffy from doing what he's set his mind to."
Charles had to admire Ace's big heart. Having come back from the New World, he should know what a Logia and Crocodile meant.
Charles had a god's-eye view and knew Luffy would win, but Luffy didn't even know what Haki was yet. No matter how much faith you have in your brother, that was pushing it!
Then again, that baseless trust was perhaps an expression of so-called "man's romance."
To outsiders, Luffy challenging Crocodile was just a calf unafraid of a tiger—courage born of ignorance of the gap between them.
But Charles understood: because Crocodile had caused pain to the comrades Luffy acknowledged, he had to defeat Crocodile.
Charles smiled. "Then let's see who knocks Crocodile flying first."
Luffy grinned from ear to ear. "The winner will definitely be me!"
Charles wore a look that said "whatever makes you happy." Even simpleminded Luffy felt looked down on and got even more fired up.
Vivi frowned. "Then the only problem left is where to find Crocodile. He lost to Mr. Charles before. He likely won't show himself easily."
Charles waved it off. "Don't worry. He'll be back."
As he spoke, the door opened and Stella came in with shopping bags.
"So it's you. You came to Alabasta too."
Stella and the Straw Hats were on familiar terms, and she greeted them.
But the rest of the Straw Hats tensed up when they saw Robin following behind her.
At Whiskey Peak, Robin had shown up as a Baroque Works officer and even gave Luffy an Eternal Pose.
From Vivi they also knew Robin was Crocodile's most important subordinate, so they readied themselves the moment they saw her.
Robin ignored the hostility aimed at her and smiled. "Long time no see."
"Robin's someone you've met," Charles said. "She's the reason Crocodile is bound to return."
Everyone looked at Charles curiously, so he told them Crocodile's true goal.
The Straw Hats' weak trio all wore the same shocked faces that said "He was scheming something like that?"
Ace, Luffy, and Zoro, however, looked indifferent. Luffy even stuck a finger up his nose.
Charles could imagine what they were thinking. Behavior like Crocodile's, relying on external things, was utterly dull.
By Luffy's lights, Crocodile wasn't even a proper pirate.
Of course, Luffy likely hadn't thought that far. Whatever Crocodile planned, all Luffy had to do was beat him.
After Charles's explanation, they all understood why Crocodile had to come back.
While Charles and the Straw Hats waited for Crocodile to show, the situation in Alabasta grew more dire.
After leaving Rainbase, Crocodile immediately summoned Baroque Works members, including all senior agents and those without numbers.
Unfortunately, the Millions at the harbor—who'd tried to move against Luffy—were wiped out in large part by a single Fire Fist from Ace.
But the senior agents and their direct subordinates, the Billions, were enough to turn Alabasta upside down.
If Crocodile's goal had truly been what he told all of Baroque Works—to build a "utopia"—he would already have sent everyone into action.
But Crocodile had other designs, and the most critical piece for his plan, Robin, had been held back by Charles.
Thus in the royal capital, King Cobra, after receiving Vivi's letter explaining everything, was surprised to find that Baroque Works, led by Crocodile, wasn't marching on the capital but moving toward Rainbase.
Likewise in Rainbase, Smoker received the news. Sensing something off, he gathered the Marines he'd brought.
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