Robin turned around to find a tall figure standing before her. The golden hook in his hand exuded a purple poisonous aura, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
Crocodile looked down at her, his eyes burning with killing intent.
"What are you doing here?" He exhaled smoke rings and questioned in a deep voice.
Robin suppressed her fear and smiled with forced composure, "Didn't the boss send me here on a mission?"
"Is that so?" Crocodile asked mockingly, "Does a Baroque Works mission require infiltrating the royal palace?"
He suddenly erupted into action, extending his right hand to grab Robin by the throat and lifting her into the air.
His eyes were bloodshot as he shouted, "Speak! What did you discover in the palace? Is it the Poneglyph?"
Robin turned purple from suffocation and managed to utter with difficulty, "Yes…"
Crocodile roared impatiently, "What does it say? Is it Pluton?"
Robin's consciousness faded, but she still firmly denied it, "No… it only contains… Arabasta's history…"
"Bullshit!" Crocodile threw her violently to the ground, causing blood to trickle from the corner of her mouth, "You dare toy with me?"
He swung his golden hook, redirecting his rage toward Noyer onto her.
As the golden hook fell, Robin quickly rolled aside, but the sharp poisonous hook still left a gruesome wound across her pale waist.
Blood flowed from the wound. Robin covered her waist with her hand, enduring the severe pain without making a sound.
Crocodile had clearly lost some of his rationality. In just one day, he had experienced a series of calamities.
First, an absurdly powerful rookie discovered his secret. While he was out trying to capture them, Noyer robbed his base. After Crocodile returned, that guy destroyed his source of income right in front of him!
Now, before he could even recover, he discovered that Robin had robbed his other hideout!
The thing he'd been pursuing all along had been seized by someone else first. Crocodile was so enraged he wanted to dig out her brain and see what was written on it!
"Damn it! Die!"
He could no longer restrain his killing intent. Countless grains of sand gathered in his hand to form a blade, which he brought down toward Robin's head.
Severely injured, she was powerless to dodge and could only watch helplessly as the sand blade fell.
As the despair of death loomed overhead, Robin unexpectedly felt a sense of release. After hiding for a lifetime, she ultimately hadn't been able to find the "companion" that Saul spoke of…
She gently closed her eyes, calmly awaiting death's arrival…
But just as she surrendered to fate, a loud crash pulled her back to reality. The sharp sand blade shattered into dust, and Crocodile was punched in the face, sent flying backward.
Standing before her was a handsome guy wearing cool, glowing colorful sunglasses and smoking a cigar. His coat billowed behind him, rustling loudly, his stern face full of solemnity.
Even the surrounding quiet sounds had somehow automatically switched to the exclusive entrance theme from The Godfather.
Robin opened her eyes and looked at him in shock, while Crocodile sat collapsed on the ground, staring at that face he hated enough to grit his teeth.
The only strange thing was — why was there music playing…
Robin looked speechlessly at Noyer's dramatic entrance and said: "What are you muttering about?"
Chomping on the system's prestigious cigar and humming the BGM aloud, Noyer scratched his head sheepishly, "For a heroic rescue, you've got to set the mood…"
The two others were speechless.
Noyer spotted her bleeding wound and immediately grew serious. He crouched down and asked, "Are you okay?"
Warmth flooded Robin's heart as she shook her head.
Noyer nodded and stood up, flashing a dangerous smile, "Nico-nico-ni, step back. I'm going to play with this guy."
Robin knew it — her earlier feelings were definitely an illusion!
Crocodile wiped the blood from his nose and sneered, "What? Going to avenge her? Do you know what kind of person this woman is? If she can betray me for her own purposes, she can betray you too!"
"Tch…" Noyer ignored the attempt to sow discord. He raised his fist, took a fighting stance, and watched him warily.
Seeing persuasion was useless, Crocodile decided to waste no more words.
Time to settle the score!
Being toyed with like a monkey by these two today — he'd had enough!
"Be buried underground!!"
Crocodile activated his desert power. Rolling seas of sand surged forth like a tide, scorching waves pressing forward to drain the moisture from his opponent's body.
Noyer charged fearlessly toward the center of the sand sea, activating sand in his left hand and flames in his right.
He clenched both fists, struggled to fuse the two elements, and threw them out. A flaming sandstorm — more threatening than the sand sea — rose into the sky.
The dust storm mixed with flames overwhelmed the sand sea. Crocodile took advantage of the obscured vision to rush forward at high speed, his dangerous golden hook aimed at his opponent.
Noyer ducked under the golden hook, then drew his sword upward. Black sword energy flashed, and a bloody mark appeared on Crocodile's face.
Damn Armament Haki!
Wary of the sword's power, Crocodile quickly reached toward Noyer, attempting to drain him into a shriveled mummy.
But black flames suddenly ignited on his body. Crocodile hastily withdrew his hand, and Noyer seized the opportunity to slash his body apart with one strike.
Crocodile skillfully used his ability to evade the attack. Noyer looked at him with some frustration.
He hadn't noticed this when comparing himself to Ace before. But compared to Crocodile — who became famous at a young age and trained his Suna Suna no Mi early on — his fruit application was trash.
Despite having so many Devil Fruit abilities, he had a harem of three thousand beauties. This caused him to be like Neptune, unable to manage them all. Spreading his attention equally among all abilities meant none were powerful enough.
Noyer felt troubled, while Crocodile grew irritated.
This kid has way too many abilities — he's like a hedgehog! Plus with Haki, he couldn't even touch him!
Just as the two were locked in intense combat, Crocodile's peripheral vision caught sight of Robin hiding in the distance.
He immediately came up with a plan. Dodging Noyer's offensive, he pressed his hand to the ground and roared:
◆ Suna Suna no Mi: Desert Girasole ⥤ Desert Sunflower ◆
The sand dunes began to move. In an instant, hundreds of meters of earth and sand transformed into soft quicksand — like a sinister coffin dragging people into death's domain.
Noyer, who also had sand abilities, wasn't worried. But when he turned to look —
Robin, severely injured and unable to move, showed panic on her face as the quicksand swallowed her bit by bit!
She sank deeper and deeper. Anxious, Noyer had no choice but to abandon Crocodile and rush toward her.
Just as more than half her body disappeared beneath the sand, he reached out and grabbed her.
"Hold on tight, I'll pull you up!" Noyer grasped Robin and shouted urgently.
Crocodile stared at them with a cold laugh and struck out, "Don't even think about it!"
A massive sand dune slash came flying. Noyer freed one hand to release flames.
The high-temperature fire fist broke through the sand flow. He seized the opportunity and pulled Robin out in one motion. After moving her to safety, Noyer drew Seikou and charged forward again.
This time, he changed tactics. Using his fruit abilities as support and his swordsmanship and Haki as his main attack, he pressed forward with his blade.
Sure enough, by attacking Crocodile's weaknesses with his own strengths, Noyer quickly saw results.
With insufficient Haki, poor physical constitution, and his fruit ability countered by multiple powers, Crocodile gained more than a dozen sword wounds after just a few exchanges.
Thoroughly disheveled, Crocodile fought while retreating, gritting his teeth and swinging his arms.
Noyer transformed into a towering bear-man and wielded the Ryōwazamono sword enhanced with Amaterasu flames. His body was wreathed in fire and sandstorms.
Using multiple abilities simultaneously, Noyer was unstoppable — like a war god.
Robin watched from the side, stunned.
This doesn't make sense! Why can one person possess so many different Devil Fruit abilities at the same time?
Crocodile spat out blood, staring warily at Noyer.
This Copy Fruit ability is really troublesome!
He cursed inwardly. Although each individual ability wasn't as strong as his own techniques, when combined together…
Why does it become so terrifying?!
Crocodile's condition grew worse and worse, while Noyer became more spirited the more he fought.
Because each fruit ability was underdeveloped, they consumed less stamina. Even using multiple abilities at once barely drained his monster-like endurance.
After several exchanges, Crocodile gained no advantage. Noyer kicked him to the ground. His once-glamorous clothing was torn and tattered, his stylish slicked-back hair now hanging in loose strands.
He looked less like a successful corporate executive and more like a middle-aged man whose company had just gone bankrupt.
Noyer, thrilled by the fight, raised his sword and taunted: "Keep acting tough! Why'd you stop fighting?!"
Crocodile's face turned livid. His mind raced through escape strategies.
Since when did these rookies become so terrifying?
Not only are their Devil Fruits abnormal — even their Haki training is advanced. Don't we Warlords have any dignity left?!
Just as Crocodile prepared to swallow his pride and flee, waves of shouting came from behind.
"Someone has infiltrated the palace!"
"Come quickly! There are people over here!"
"Is the Warlord here too?!"
"Who's that? How did they beat Lord Crocodile into such a sorry state!"
Crocodile couldn't hold back and coughed up another mouthful of blood.
If you can't speak properly, then shut up!
Noyer frowned at the group running toward them. He quickly judged they were coming from the palace.
His shoulder suddenly grew heavy. Turning his head, he saw Robin — face pale — leaning against his side.
"That's the palace army… they must have discovered my infiltration… Don't get entangled with them…" She spoke in fragments before falling headfirst into his arms, unconscious.
Noyer froze. He looked down at her wound — blood had already stained a large area red.
He glared at Crocodile, then at the palace pursuers drawing closer. Quickly, he scooped up Robin and fled into the distance.
By the time Noyer vanished from sight, Arabasta's royal army finally arrived.
At this point, Crocodile hadn't yet exposed his true purpose, so the people of Arabasta remained friendly toward the Warlord. Even those who disliked this pirate stayed silent and showed no hostility.
The palace squad was led by the vice-captain of the guard — Chaka the Jackal, user of the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Jackal, one of Arabasta's two strongest warriors.
Instinctively, Chaka didn't like this pirate Crocodile. But the man was currently the kingdom's hero, so there wasn't much he could say.
He walked up to Crocodile and asked, confused, "Mr. Crocodile, who was the enemy?"
Crocodile knelt on one knee, his breathing irregular, and said with a sharp gaze, "Just thieves invading the kingdom. I've already driven them away. Unfortunately, they ran too fast — couldn't catch up…"
The old croc didn't hesitate to boast. Chaka looked at his disheveled appearance, unsure what to say.
"Your injuries…" He hesitated, glancing at Crocodile's body.
Crocodile slicked back his hair with one hand, "It's nothing. Don't worry."
He looked up in the direction Noyer had fled, a sinister smile spreading across his face. Under the bright moonlight, the tip of the golden hook in his hand glowed purple, radiating danger…
Noyer, you'd better run fast with her — don't die on the way!
After checking on Crocodile, Chaka led soldiers in pursuit of Noyer but found nothing. With no other choice, he led the troops back to the palace.
Just as he finished settling the squad and was about to leave, a petite figure came running out.
"Chaka! What happened?!"
The little girl had a smooth blue ponytail and a pair of bright, lively eyes staring curiously at him.
Chaka quickly knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "Princess Vivi, a group of thieves infiltrated the palace but have already escaped."
"I see." Vivi frowned, then asked again, "That thing I asked you to investigate privately — did you find anything?"
Chaka nodded, "Baroque Works is indeed a criminal organization, but there's no evidence linking it to the strange incidents in our country."
Vivi said thoughtfully, "If that's the case, I have an idea…"
Chaka asked curiously, "What plan does the princess have?"
Princess Vivi smiled cunningly, "I'm going undercover! I've been watching them for a long time. Once I infiltrate that organization, I'm sure I'll find something!"
Chaka was shocked and hurriedly tried to dissuade her, "That won't do! That organization is too mysterious, and Your Highness's status is too noble…"
Princess Vivi shook her head — she wasn't going to listen. Bouncing and skipping, she ran off to seek her father the king's permission.
Chaka's face showed distress as he hurried after her.
Under the moonlit night, many important events had occurred quietly in the desolate desert during one short evening.
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want more chapters of this novel or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)