Location: Rainbase, Rain Dinners Casino
Storm moved through the casino like a ghost.
Having assimilated the building with his Clay-Clay Fruit, he could have just crushed everyone inside. But where was the fun in that?
He strolled down the luxurious, gold-trimmed corridors. His eyes glowed with a faint red light as his Observation Haki swept the building.
He was locking onto the strongest "voice" in the pyramid.
As Storm approached the VIP area, the target moved.
'Interesting. She sensed me?'
Storm scanned the hallway. He had trained in Impel Down, so finding surveillance snails was second nature. But here? Nothing. Just... flower petals scattered on the floor.
'Petals?'
Storm narrowed his eyes. He turned the corner.
Standing there was a tall, elegant woman with raven-black hair. Her arms were crossed over her chest in a signature pose.
"Clutch (Twist)."
Without a word, she activated her power.
Two slender arms sprouted from Storm's shoulders instantly. They wrapped around his neck and twisted violently.
CRACK!
Like plucking a ripe apple, Storm's head was ripped clean off his shoulders. It rolled onto the carpet with a dull thud.
"Phew..."
Nico Robin (Miss All Sunday) exhaled, stepping forward to inspect the intruder. "Success?"
"Close, but not quite."
A voice whispered right behind her ear.
Robin froze.
Before she could react, white clay surged from the floor, wrapping around her limbs like octopus tentacles.
[Clay Bind]!
In the blink of an eye, she was immobilized.
Storm walked out from the shadows behind her. The "body" on the floor—and the severed head—dissolved into piles of white clay.
"That was the Hana Hana no Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit), wasn't it?"
Storm circled his prisoner, admiring her shock.
"Bounty: 79 Million Berries. The Demon Child. The Survivor of Ohara."
"Nico Robin."
Robin's pupils contracted to pinpoints. She struggled, but the clay hardened instantly.
THWACK!
Storm delivered a precise chop to her carotid artery. Robin's eyes rolled back, and she slumped into the clay bonds, unconscious.
[System Alert: Target Acquired]
[Silver Trophy: Nico Robin]
[Star Rating: ★★★ (3-Stars)]
"Ara ara..."
Storm looked down at the sleeping archaeologist, unconsciously mimicking his boss.
"So she's working for Crocodile now?"
He pulled out a Den Den Mushi. He hesitated.
He knew exactly why Aokiji was the way he was. The "Lazy Justice" was born from the ashes of Ohara. Aokiji had saved Robin back then, freezing his friend Saul to let her escape.
'This is a complicated relationship...'
Storm dialed.
Pru-Pru-Pru... Clatch.
"Moshi moshi..."
"Admiral! Guess who I found?"
"Ah! Storm!" Aokiji groaned. "Why is it always you? Are you incapable of a quiet mission?"
"Admiral," Storm ignored the complaint. "Are you just being grumpy in bed?"
"Ara ara... I wasn't sleeping. I was contemplating the meaning of life."
"Sure. Anyway, I found Nico Robin."
Silence.
The lazy atmosphere on the other end vanished instantly.
"...Who?" Aokiji's voice dropped an octave. "Who did you say?"
" The Demon Child. Nico Robin. I have her in custody."
Storm raised his fist, pretending to be zealous. "This naturally evil criminal... should I execute her immediately?"
"Wait! WAIT!"
Aokiji shouted. "Storm! You can't just kill people like that! What happened to due process?!"
"Due process? Admiral, since when do Marines care about due process for pirates?"
"Teacher Zephyr does!" Aokiji stammered, clearly panicking. "Where are you? Did she go to the South Blue?"
"No. I'm in Alabasta. In the Grand Line."
"Alabasta?!" Aokiji was confused. "How did you get there so fast? Wait... Kuma's fruit?"
"Yes. But the point is: What do I do with her?"
Aokiji fell silent.
For twenty years, he had watched her from afar. He let her live because Saul died for her. Because he wanted to see if she could find a place in this world.
"Storm."
"Yes?"
"I'm entrusting her to you."
"Huh?" Storm blinked. "What do you mean 'entrusting'?"
"Don't let her die. And don't let the World Government get her. That's an order."
Clatch.
The line went dead.
"HELLO?!"
Storm stared at the snail in disbelief.
"Did he just... dump his emotional baggage on me? 'Entrusting her to you'?! I'm an undercover agent, not a babysitter!"
Storm pocketed the snail, annoyed. He looked at the unconscious Robin.
"Great. Now I have a hostage I can't kill and can't release."
Just then, the ground shook.
Storm looked out the window.
A sandstorm was approaching Rainbase. And riding the wind was a tall man with a golden hook and a fur coat, carrying a massive bag of loot.
Sir Crocodile had returned.
The Warlord landed in the plaza, looking like a farmer returning from a successful harvest. But his smug expression vanished when he looked up at his base.
The golden banana crocodile statue on the roof was gone.
In its place was a roaring White Dragon Head made of clay.
Crocodile's cigar fell from his mouth.
"What the hell happened to my casino?!"
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