Alabasta's royal capital, Alubarna!
It was a quintessential desert city. Beyond its towering walls stretched an endless sea of sand, giving it the majestic atmosphere of a lone plume of smoke rising over the vast desert beneath a setting sun.
As the capital of one of the world's great powers, the city was naturally bustling with activity. Most of the men walking the streets wore headscarves, making them look remarkably like the oil tycoons from Kairo's previous world, while the young women dressed in refreshingly light clothing.
At this point in time, Alabasta had yet to fall under Crocodile's control.
The king was still truly the king, the royal family lived carefree lives, and the people enjoyed peace and prosperity. Although the occasional pirate slipped into the kingdom, they posed little threat.
"Wow! Robin, I love this place!"
After looking around excitedly, Perona grabbed Robin's arm.
"There's a perfume shop over there! Let's go take a look!"
Without waiting for an answer, she dragged Robin across the street toward the perfume shop.
"Ro... Robin?!"
The moment he heard that name, Crocodile's expression changed drastically.
He stared in shock at Robin as Perona pulled her away.
Thump!
Before Crocodile could continue staring, Kairo casually smacked him on the head.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nico... Nico Robin...!"
Despite taking the hit, Crocodile's gaze remained fixed on Robin's retreating figure.
When he had first met Kairo's group on the coast, he had thought Robin looked vaguely familiar, but the memory had been too distant for him to dwell on.
Only now, after hearing Perona call her "Robin," did everything click into place.
Watching Robin disappear into the perfume shop, Crocodile slowly withdrew his gaze and looked seriously at Kairo.
"You're not just some traveler."
"You definitely came to Alabasta for another reason."
"And that reason..."
"How about another wager?"
Before Crocodile could finish, Kairo smiled broadly.
"If you beat me, I'll tell you my real reason for coming here."
Of course Kairo knew what Crocodile was thinking.
The man had obviously assumed that bringing an archaeologist like Robin meant Kairo had come for Alabasta's secrets.
Someone as ambitious and calculating as Crocodile would never trust others so easily.
"So you really—"
"No more nonsense."
Interrupting him once again, Kairo narrowed his eyes.
"Are you betting or not?"
Seeing just how enthusiastic Kairo was about gambling games, Crocodile stopped arguing.
"What game this time?"
"Rock-paper-scissors."
"Best two out of three."
"If you can beat me, not only will I tell you why I'm here..."
"I'll also join your plan."
"How about it?"
"Rock... paper... scissors?"
Crocodile blinked blankly before giving a helpless laugh.
"You..."
"Fine."
"Best two out of three."
"If you lose..."
"...then recite the Three Character Classic one more time."
"...!!"
Crocodile truly felt defeated.
Just what kind of thing was this Three Character Classic?
Why was Kairo so obsessed with making him recite it?
Still, compared to Kairo's side of the wager, the punishment was insignificant.
"Deal."
"Hahaha! Better get ready to recite it!"
The moment Crocodile agreed, Kairo rolled up his sleeves and got straight to the point.
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
There was no suspense whatsoever.
Crocodile lost again.
Looking at his scissors being crushed by Kairo's rock, Crocodile's face instantly darkened.
The first time he had lost, perhaps it was because he wasn't familiar with Kairo's habits.
But losing a second time...
That wasn't a matter of familiarity anymore.
It simply meant he had encountered someone even more calculating than himself.
Still...
The defeat left him feeling incredibly stifled.
He had lost again in the blink of an eye.
Seeing Crocodile frozen with his fist still clenched, Kairo smiled.
"You've still got a long way to go before you can beat me at rock-paper-scissors, Crocodile."
"Alright."
"Stop standing there."
"Start reciting."
"And one more thing..."
Before Crocodile could react, Kairo stepped closer.
His voice remained calm.
"Don't even think about targeting Robin."
"Because if you do..."
"I won't hesitate to kill you."
"...!"
Feeling the invisible killing intent that suddenly erupted from Kairo, Crocodile's body stiffened slightly.
He quietly swallowed.
It wasn't that Crocodile feared Kairo's threat.
After all, he had once dared challenge Whitebeard himself.
Rather...
He could tell that Kairo cared very little about most things around him.
Only Robin and little Perona truly mattered to him.
Everyone had a line that couldn't be crossed.
For Kairo...
Robin and Perona were that line.
Cross it...
And you die.
Even so, Crocodile still genuinely wanted Kairo to join him.
Especially after discovering that the woman beside him was none other than Nico Robin—the "Devil Child" from West Blue.
His desire to recruit Kairo only grew stronger.
But Crocodile also understood that a few words alone would never persuade someone like Kairo.
He would have to work much harder.
If he could convince Kairo to join his cause, his plans would advance with half the effort and twice the results.
With that thought, Crocodile stopped wasting time and obediently began reciting the Three Character Classic once more.
It had to be said...
His memory was astonishing.
Despite hearing the thousand-plus-character text only twice, he had memorized it completely.
"Excellent."
"Very impressive."
Kairo fought back another laugh before continuing,
"Although you lost and already recited the Three Character Classic, I'll still tell you why I came here."
"The reason is simple."
"I was invited here by the King of Alabasta for a very generous fee."
"As for my mission..."
"Also very simple."
"I'm here to become the life mentor of the kingdom's princess."
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