El was curious to see exactly what Crocodile was plotting.
"Of course, no problem at all."
El agreed readily and stood up. "Please, follow me."
Crocodile followed behind El with a smug grin.
Meanwhile, Nico Robin deliberately slowed her pace.
Suddenly, she stumbled and let out a cry. "Oh dear… I think I've hurt my foot!"
"I may not be able to walk any further."
Crocodile turned back to look at her and scolded with a feigned look of annoyance.
"What were you thinking?! How could you be so careless!"
He sighed dramatically. "Very well then… you stay here and rest. I will go and look around with Lord El."
El watched the two of them putting on this act.
He sneered inwardly.
Now the truth comes out.
They were working perfectly in tandem — obviously trying to separate him from Robin.
Crocodile, who appeared to be the main threat, was tasked with distracting El.
While Nico Robin — the one pretending to be injured — was meant to carry out their true objective.
Combined with Robin's identity… El knew exactly what they were after.
Nico Robin wanted to find the Poneglyph kept here.
And more than that… the Eternal Pose pointing to the Island of the Gods was also likely their target.
Crocodile was feeling a little nervous.
After all, the person he was trying to deceive was none other than El — a man of terrifying strength.
Even though Crocodile was a powerful warlord in his own right, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
At the same time, he recalled the plan that brought them here.
When Nico Robin joined Baroque Works, they made a deal.
Robin would help Crocodile achieve his goals.
In return, Crocodile promised to help her find the Poneglyphs.
They hadn't taken control of Alabasta yet, and Robin hadn't seen the Poneglyph hidden within that kingdom.
To fulfill his part of the bargain, Crocodile came up with this scheme.
At the same time, he wanted Robin to help him steal the Eternal Pose from El.
After all… Crocodile also dreamed of conquering the world.
Their plan seemed flawless.
But there was just one fatal flaw:
They had chosen the wrong person to mess with.
Coming here to cause trouble for El would be the most regrettable decision of their entire lives.
El walked ahead as if nothing was wrong.
Crocodile followed close behind.
And Nico Robin… prepared to make her move.
Suddenly, El spoke up. "Is your leg feeling better now, Miss Nico Robin?"
Robin froze. She was about to reply that she was just trying to move around a little…
But she instantly realized something was very wrong.
He called me by my real name!
Yet neither she nor Crocodile had ever mentioned her true identity!
At the same moment, Crocodile realized it too.
He understood instantly that their plan had failed.
His eyes widened in shock.
His body turned into sand instantly as he retreated rapidly.
"Lord El… how did you know who she is?!"
He asked cautiously, ready for anything.
El turned around and looked calmly at the two of them.
"I recognized both of you from the very start."
"The Devil Child… Nico Robin. Am I right?"
As he spoke those words, Robin's pupils shrank sharply.
Her face was filled with pure shock.
She couldn't understand.
Compared to a legendary pirate like El, she was nothing more than a nobody.
Why would someone like him know who she was?
Crocodile felt the situation was turning extremely bad.
He narrowed his eyes.
He scanned El from head to toe, analyzing him.
It seemed inevitable that a fight would break out.
He was cunning and experienced, searching desperately for an opening or a weakness to strike at.
But El was not that simple.
He didn't even take a defensive stance.
He just stood there casually.
It looked as though his entire body was full of openings…
Yet Crocodile could not find a single true flaw to exploit.
El didn't care what they were thinking.
He just said plainly: "You two came here hoping to see the Poneglyph, didn't you?"
"And also the Eternal Pose leading to God Valley."
"To be honest… if you had simply asked me directly when you arrived, I would have let you see them."
"Those things might be precious to others…"
"…but to me, they are nothing special at all."
Hearing this, it sounded as if El was being lenient and generous.
Crocodile and Robin relaxed slightly.
As they thought over his words, they were shocked.
El had guessed their exact purpose without missing a single detail.
He was terrifying.
"However…"
El's tone suddenly changed.
"The fact that you two tried to trick and deceive me… that I cannot tolerate."
"Don't you agree, Crocodile?"
Seeing that the situation had collapsed completely, Crocodile knew that fighting was now unavoidable.
He roared loudly: "Nico Robin! Go find the chart now!"
Robin didn't hesitate — she turned and ran.
Crocodile stepped forward, positioning himself to block El's path!
"Desert Great Sword!!"
In an instant, Crocodile's arm transformed into sand.
Countless grains of yellow sand swirled up like a storm and gathered together, forming an enormous, indestructible blade!
SWISH!
The giant sword moved with incredible speed, appearing right in front of El almost instantly!
Got him! Crocodile thought triumphantly.
El stood perfectly still. He swept his gaze over Crocodile like flashes of lightning.
In that split second… Crocodile saw clearly in El's eyes — nothing but utter disdain.
BOOM!
El didn't even need to move a single step.
He simply glared forward — and instantly, a terrifying burst of Conqueror's Haki exploded from his body!
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