Cobra was silent for a few seconds.
"Very well, I agree. Where are the bombs?"
Robin reported several key locations without hesitation; her straightforwardness surprised even Cobra.
"You trust me that easily? Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word?"
"As the king of the Nefertari family, the benevolent ruler recognized by Alabasta, and Vivi's father... I'm willing to extend that much credit."
Robin tilted her head slightly. Inappropriately, Luffy's face flashed through her mind. She suppressed the odd thought, thinking to herself, Perhaps I've changed a bit too.
In the past, she would never have trusted anyone.
Cobra looked deeply at Robin, then immediately ordered Pell, "Pell, take men and dismantle the bombs at once!"
"Aye, sir!" Pell responded, not daring to delay. He instantly transformed into a white falcon and shot through the window, flying away at high speed.
"Then, please follow me, Miss Robin."
Cobra sighed and turned to lead Robin towards the royal family's forbidden ground—the Royal Tomb.
Passing through a deep corridor, they entered the majestic and solemn underground mausoleum.
Cobra asked, "Do you understand that script?"
"That is why Crocodile chose to cooperate with me," Robin said. "He wanted to obtain the legendary Ancient Weapon... but I have no interest in that."
Only now did Cobra understand Crocodile's true objective.
He had already received the letter Vivi sent with Carue, learning that the mastermind behind his country's turmoil was Crocodile. But he hadn't known Crocodile's goal was this.
Cobra pointed towards a massive stone slab deep in the tomb, covered in mysterious script. "That is the Poneglyph our Nefertari family has guarded for generations. Does it contain what you seek?"
Cobra stared at Robin, waiting for her answer.
If Robin's target was the Poneglyph that recorded the location of the Ancient Weapon, he would not hesitate to choose to perish with her here.
Such a weapon should not fall into the hands of someone with ill intent.
Robin's gaze was instantly drawn to the giant stone. She stepped forward quickly, her fingers trembling as they traced over the cold, ancient letters. A light of twenty years of longing shone in her eyes.
She read word by word. But her expression gradually shifted from initial excitement to seriousness, finally settling into a deep disappointment.
"It's not..."
At that moment, Robin's face suddenly changed. She whirled around. Seeing the figure at the entrance, cold sweat instantly soaked her back.
Blocking the only exit stood a figure drenched in blood, radiating a ferocious aura, leaning on a golden hook.
Why was Sir Crocodile, who should have been defeated by Luffy, here?
Koff... Hahaha!
Crocodile let out a hoarse, triumphant laugh, cigar smoke mingling with the scent of blood.
"Where does the Poneglyph say Pluton is? Tell me! Nico Robin!"
"This Poneglyph only records the history of the Alabasta royal family. Regarding the Ancient Weapon Pluton, it says nothing," Robin forced herself to stay calm, keeping her voice as steady as possible. "We were mistaken."
"Impossible!"
Crocodile roared, his eyes bloodshot.
He refused to believe it contained no information about the Ancient Weapon. He didn't want to believe it.
Had he plotted here for so many years, only to learn some royal family's history? What a joke!
"All these years of searching, and you tell me this is just some boring family chronicle?
You want to keep Pluton for yourself, don't you? That's it, you betrayed me long ago."
The muscles on Crocodile's face twisted grotesquely.
He looked mockingly at Robin and Cobra, trapped in the tomb. "Since you won't tell me, then you can rest here for eternity with this boring stone.
Before I entered, I already damaged a key support pillar. This place will soon collapse completely.
Choose. Die with your secret, or tell me where it is."
Before Crocodile's words even faded, Robin suddenly activated her ability: "Fleur Fleur: Clutch!"
Several arms sprouted from Cobra's body, attempting to forcibly throw him towards the exit.
"Hmph, I was prepared for you, Nico Robin."
Crocodile was ready. His golden hook, leaving an afterimage, swung and precisely sliced the arm Robin was using for her ability!
Blood immediately welled from her pale arm.
Robin winced in pain, frowning.
"Don't try any petty tricks in front of me!" Crocodile strode towards Robin.
Right then...
CRASH!
The top of the tomb burst open. Light poured in, along with a figure wreathed in steam.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing to my nakama?!"
Amidst the flying dust, Luffy landed steadily, his gaze cold beneath his lowered straw hat, fixed on Crocodile.
He'd been hurrying as fast as he could to get here.
And not for any other reason.
That damned/twisted plan was fickle. No one was more capricious than those two. Just a few hours ago, it wanted him to learn from Vivi. Now it wanted him to find Robin.
The most crucial thing was, for a while, Luffy couldn't find Robin anywhere!
Luckily, his Observation Haki was sharp enough.
And Crocodile was carelessly radiating his presence. Luffy had found this place immediately.
The timing was perfect.
"Straw Hat brat... you're not dead?!"
Crocodile was both shocked and horrified, his eyes filled with utter disbelief.
This guy had been pierced by his poison hook! Why wasn't he dead?!
Were rubber people's lifeforces that tenacious?
"Looks like I've disappointed you. But let's continue our fight."
Luffy grinned.
Without any further chatter, steam billowed around Luffy. Gear Second, fully activated.
His figure was like red lightning. His fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, instantly shot towards Crocodile's face.
"You bastard!"
Crocodile hastily raised his golden hook to block.
BOOM!!
The tremendous force smashed him backwards. While still in mid-air, he quickly elementized, turning into a sandstorm to disperse the impact.
He knew the power of Luffy's Haki well and didn't dare to take another direct hit.
"You can die here too!"
Crocodile roared, slamming one hand against the ground. "Desert La Spada!"
From his palm, a terrifying power instantly spread. Stone pillars, the ground... all objects it touched had their moisture rapidly sucked dry, quickly turning to sand and crumbling.
He would forcibly create a desert environment, perfect for him, within the confines of the tomb.
Sables and Desert Spadas assaulted Luffy madly along with the changing terrain, even deliberately targeting Robin and Cobra nearby, trying to distract Luffy into rescuing them.
"Tch!"
Luffy clicked his tongue. Faced with such a dirty tactic, his eyes narrowed sharply. The strange white, flame-like wisps around his body suddenly flared!
Then, both his fists enlarged.
Opening his palms like two soft, rubbery shields, he carefully scooped up the injured Robin with one hand and shielded King Cobra with the other.
***
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