"Two Devil Fruit users?"
"Crocodile's Suna Suna no Mi is one thing…"
"But your Devil Fruit ability is truly strange."
Saint Roselith Seraphina shrugged, suppressing the brief surprise she had experienced earlier, and casually glanced at Nico Robin.
Robin was speechless.
What kind of comment was that?
Was she supposed to apologize because her Devil Fruit ability was unusual?
"Now tell me."
"What exactly is this Pluton?"
"And how do the two of you know about it?"
Seraphina's silver eyes remained fixed on them.
She had heard fragments of information regarding the Ancient Weapons before.
Back on Skypiea, she had learned of Poseidon.
Now, here in Alabasta, she was hearing about Pluton.
According to ancient legends, Pluton was a weapon capable of annihilating an island with a single shot.
Even by the standards of the Grand Line, such destructive power sounded absurd.
Yet both Crocodile and Robin had risked everything searching for it.
That alone proved its significance.
Silence filled the room.
Neither Crocodile nor Robin dared to move.
The reason was simple.
The silver blade in Seraphina's hand had never lowered.
Although she appeared relaxed, both of them could clearly sense that the sword's killing intent remained locked onto them.
Whoever attempted to flee first would undoubtedly be struck down.
Robin knew she could not survive a slash of that level.
Crocodile might endure several attacks due to his durability and Logia powers, but Robin certainly could not.
More importantly, neither wanted to reveal too much.
If they exposed all their secrets, there was no guarantee Seraphina would spare them afterward.
After all, she had already demonstrated that she was more than capable of silencing them permanently.
Seeing their hesitation, Seraphina sighed.
"Still refusing to answer?"
A freezing chill spread throughout the room.
The temperature plummeted.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
At the same time, an overwhelming pressure descended upon them.
The terrifying force crushed down like a mountain.
Haoshoku Haki.
The aura of a king.
Robin's face instantly paled.
Even Crocodile gritted his teeth.
"If we tell you everything…"
Robin spoke cautiously.
"Will you let us go?"
"I'll consider it."
Seraphina's answer was immediate.
Neither reassuring nor threatening.
Just honest.
Robin's heart sank.
"But if you refuse to tell me…"
Seraphina slowly raised her sword.
"Then I can guarantee one thing."
"I will kill both of you."
"I always keep my word."
Her tone remained calm.
As if discussing the weather.
Yet neither Robin nor Crocodile doubted her sincerity.
To someone of her strength, killing them was no more difficult than stepping on insects.
Robin lowered her head.
After years of surviving betrayal after betrayal, she understood when resistance was pointless.
Finally, she began speaking.
"In Alabasta's ancient records and legends, there are references to a super weapon called Pluton."
"Because of those records, Crocodile believes Pluton may be hidden somewhere within Alabasta."
"That is why he has been investigating this kingdom."
Robin spoke slowly and honestly.
Survival came first.
Everything else could wait.
After all, she had spent her entire life surviving.
There was no reason to throw her life away now.
Seraphina listened quietly.
When Robin finally finished, she turned toward Crocodile.
"Is she telling the truth?"
Crocodile remained silent for several moments.
Finally, he nodded.
"Mostly."
His voice was bitter.
Everything had fallen apart far faster than he expected.
He had originally intended to locate Pluton and use its power to rebuild his strength.
Who could have predicted that someone as terrifying as Saint Roselith Seraphina would appear in Alabasta?
In Crocodile's mind, she was already comparable to a Marine Admiral.
Her pressure reminded him of another monster.
A man he would never forget.
The man who crushed his ambitions years ago.
The strongest man in the world.
Edward Newgate.
Whitebeard.
The pressure Seraphina emitted was different in nature, yet equally overwhelming.
What frustrated him even more was her ability to track him.
He had taken countless detours.
Changed directions repeatedly.
Used every trick he knew.
Yet she still found him.
It was enough to make anyone despair.
Seraphina slowly sheathed her sword.
The cold gleam disappeared.
"From this day onward, Alabasta is under my protection."
Her voice became colder.
"If anything happens to this kingdom because of you…"
"I will personally come for you."
Neither Crocodile nor Robin spoke.
Both understood she was serious.
To their surprise, however, she did not immediately arrest them.
Instead, she seemed to be weighing their actions.
Crocodile's plans had not yet reached the execution stage.
Although his intentions were criminal, the crime itself had not yet been carried out.
Meanwhile, his activities as a Shichibukai had genuinely protected Alabasta from numerous pirate attacks.
His motives might not have been noble.
But the results still existed.
At least for now.
Then Seraphina suddenly narrowed her eyes.
"Mostly true?"
"Interesting."
Her gaze sharpened.
"You said 'mostly.'"
"That means there is more."
"I want the complete truth."
"Everything."
Crocodile immediately felt cold sweat run down his back.
The woman's instincts were terrifying.
She had instantly noticed the loophole in his answer.
He remained silent.
The memories he wanted buried resurfaced.
The drought.
The suffering.
The hidden schemes.
And finally
"Dance Powder."
The words left his mouth reluctantly.
Seraphina blinked.
"Dance Powder?"
Crocodile sighed.
"There's no point hiding it."
"I used Dance Powder."
Robin frowned.
Crocodile continued.
"But not on a massive scale."
"Only occasionally."
"Mostly around Rainbase."
He spoke honestly.
After witnessing her ability to distinguish truth from lies, deception seemed pointless.
Keeping his head attached to his body was more important.
Seraphina looked confused.
"Dance Powder?"
"What exactly is that?"
Robin answered.
"It's a substance that causes rain clouds to gather."
"When released into the atmosphere, it attracts moisture and forces rainfall in a specific area."
"However…"
Robin hesitated.
"It steals rain from surrounding regions."
"The areas around it become increasingly dry."
Understanding dawned on Seraphina.
So that was the cause.
The droughts.
The water shortages.
The increasingly abnormal climate conditions.
Everything suddenly connected.
She recalled the reports she had read before arriving in Alabasta.
Every year, the situation worsened.
Initially, she had believed it was simply a natural disaster.
Now she finally understood.
The source was sitting directly in front of her.
One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Sir Crocodile.
The irony was almost amusing.
Had Crocodile not created these worsening conditions, Cobra might never have become desperate enough to cooperate with her plans regarding the Naval Academy.
In a strange way, Crocodile had indirectly helped her.
The thought made her feel slightly awkward.
"Ahem."
She coughed lightly and turned her head.
Robin stared.
Crocodile stared.
Neither understood why she suddenly looked embarrassed.
The truth was simple.
The Navy would ultimately benefit from the situation.
That realization felt somewhat shameless.
Still, facts were facts.
Alabasta's worsening droughts had forced Cobra into seeking additional support.
Without that pressure, her plans might have faced significantly more resistance.
Eventually, Seraphina looked back toward Crocodile.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Well then."
"Since you've caused all this trouble…"
"What solution do you propose?"