The Kingdom of Alabasta had a vast territory. As one of the superpowers of the Grand Line, if managed properly, it could undoubtedly become a vital pillar of support for the Navy. To achieve this, Rowan needed the absolute allegiance of the Alabasta Royal Line.
If Alabasta remained under Crocodile's shadow, Rowan's vision would face endless hurdles. This was one of the primary reasons he chose to eliminate Crocodile directly.
Relying solely on Vivi and King Cobra to develop Alabasta in the harsh desert would be an uphill battle. This was where the remnant officers of Baroque Works became useful. To Rowan, they were insignificant, but to Vivi, they were a ready-made administrative and intelligence network.
"Nico Robin!"
Crocodile had only been accompanied by Mr. 1 and Miss Doublefinger; the other high-ranking agents were scattered across Alabasta. Even with Rowan's power and the Navy's vast reach, hunting them down individually would be tedious and inefficient.
Rowan preferred not to waste energy on such a manhunt. He could have assigned Marines to help Vivi, but that was a last resort. At this sensitive juncture with the World Government, it was better to keep things "in-house." He didn't want to snap the Five Elders' already frayed nerves and force a premature break between the Navy and the Government.
The longer he delayed that confrontation, the better prepared he would be. Fortunately, there was a faster, more elegant solution. The "Devil Child," Nico Robin—wanted by the Navy since childhood—had long ago been recruited by Crocodile and sheltered under his Shichibukai status.
Using her superior wits and organizational skills, Robin had become the Vice President of Baroque Works. Most agents knew their "Boss" was a formidable mystery but had no idea he was Sir Crocodile; all orders usually flowed through Robin.
Now that Crocodile was dead and his closest confidants neutralized by Zoro, Robin was the only one left who could summon the remaining agents and bring the organization under control.
Rowan moved instantly. Under his Observation Haki, Nico Robin's location was as clear as a beacon.
"Devil Child, Nico Robin..."
Rowan vanished from the casino and reappeared several kilometers away, right beside Robin.
As a user of the Hana Hana no Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit), Robin had spent her life evading CP agents, Marines, and bounty hunters. She had developed a near-supernatural sixth sense for danger.
"How is this possible?!"
In truth, the moment Rowan had swaggered into Rain Dinners with Vivi, Robin had fled. She hadn't survived this long by being reckless. She had initially put several hundred meters between herself and the casino, then moved even further to her current spot when she felt the first surge of Rowan's aura.
She was even using her fruit powers to sprout eyes from a distance to monitor the casino entrance, ensuring she stayed out of harm's way. Yet, he had caught her.
"What's wrong, little one? Can't figure out how this old man found you?"
Rowan spoke with a half-smile. He could guess her thoughts. No matter how much she knew about human nature, a woman in her twenties couldn't compete with Rowan's century of experience. Her panic was well-hidden, but it couldn't escape his "Fiery Eyes."
"You may know the Ancient Scripts, but your scholars' understanding of true power is still too shallow. For the truly strong, Observation Haki can cover an entire city—even an entire island."
Rowan didn't move to arrest her. Instead, he took the moment to educate her on the nature of Haki. While he didn't have the Enel's lightning-enhanced range, his max-level Observation Haki was not to be underestimated.
"As long as you are in this city, you cannot escape my sight. Do you understand?"
Robin finally realized the gap in their levels. Seeing Rowan's temperate attitude—unlike the typical bloodthirsty bounty hunters or rigid Marines—she relaxed slightly. She resolved that if she regained her freedom, she would study this "Haki" he mentioned.
"Is Mr. Rowan here to arrest me?"
The name "Marine Godfather" had shook the world after he repelled Kaido. Robin knew exactly who he was. In front of him, she knew any trickery was futile. Seeing that he wasn't reaching for sea-prism stone handcuffs, she allowed a bit of her natural wit to surface—a subconscious defense mechanism.
Standing beside Rowan, even though he was just standing there with his pipe, Robin felt a pressure more terrifying than her lifelong nightmare, Aokiji (Kuzan). The image of Kuzan freezing Saul during the Ohara Buster Call was seared into her brain, but Rowan felt even more unfathomable.
Ironically, because Rowan seemed so "gentle," he replaced Kuzan as the most frightening person in her mind. If Rowan knew this, he'd likely be caught between a laugh and a cry.
"Arrest you? No. This old man is here to ask a favor of you, young lady!" Rowan chuckled, puffing on his pipe.
Knowing her history, he knew she lived in a state of perpetual fear of the Navy. He didn't have the heart to toy with her further. Without waiting for her to ask, he caught her by the shoulder and, in a blur of speed, returned to Vivi and the others.
"Mr. Rowan, and this is...?"
Zoro glanced at the newcomer. Seeing it was a woman who didn't look like she could provide a good sword fight, he immediately lost interest and returned to his meditation on the "Supreme Blade Path."