By the time the girls finished discussing their theories, night had fallen outside the casino.
Tashigi stumbled out of the casino; she was still feeling pain from her previous battle.
Vivi followed behind cautiously, her eyes scanning the streets around the casino.
"We should leave quickly," Tashigi said. "The longer we stay, the more danger we're in."
"I just need to show you one more thing," Vivi replied. "Then we can leave this place."
They began walking toward their next goal, but were forced to stop when the sound of boots hitting sand reached their ears.
Step. Step. Step.
"Leaving so soon, Miss Wednesday?" said a rough voice.
A man emerged from a nearby alley, his presence seemed to dry the surroundings. Nico Robin followed behind him like a shadow.
Tashigi's pupils shrank. "Crocodile…"
Vivi stepped forward. "You called me Miss Wednesday. I was right—you're Mr. 0!"
Crocodile let out exaggerated laughter. "Yes, and you're smarter than you look, Princess."
Tashigi quickly moved in front of Vivi. "Crocodile, tell us the truth. Are you behind the rebellion in Alabasta?"
Crocodile chuckled. "Yes. It's exactly as you suspect. Both the drought and the rebellion—I planned them."
"I used Dance Powder to steal the rain and blamed it on the king—your father."
"You bastard! You caused so many deaths!" Vivi shouted, trembling with rage.
Crocodile looked amused. "Yes, I did. And?"
He pointed up at the cloudless sky.
"Everything I've done is for my goal. Right now, the citizens of this country hate the king, but they love me—the hero of Alabasta."
"Soon, I will rule Alabasta and build an ideal nation. One far better than your family could ever hope to achieve."
His voice lowered.
"This dream of mine—I call it Project Utopia."
Vivi clenched her fists.
"An utopia? Don't make me laugh. You're a murderer who killed thousands! You destroyed our land!"
"It was a necessary sacrifice," Crocodile said coldly. "Under my rule, Alabasta will quickly regain its glory."
"Don't believe me? Look at Rainbase. I made it rich and prosperous. That's what happens when I take control."
"Shut up!" Vivi spat. "You're trying to paint yourself as a hero, but you're just a monster."
"No," he replied calmly. "I'm a pirate."
Tashigi stepped forward and pointed her sword at him.
"You won't get away with this. A Warlord can't attack a royalty from member nation."
"Once I inform the headquarters, you'll be stripped of your Warlord title, and thrown into Impel Down."
Crocodile smirked. "Is that so? Then I suppose you'll have to die before you can report me."
He turned his head slightly. "Robin."
Robin raised her hand. Multiple arms sprouted from the walls around Tashigi.
Tashigi hastily slashed at them.
"What are these things? There are so many!"
Several arms coiled around her wrist tightly, and twisted it backwards.
CRACK!
Tashigi's scream echoed across the alley. Her sword fell to the ground as her arm twisted unnaturally.
Robin continued. More arms burst from the ground, wrapping around Tashigi's chest, legs, and her throat.
They slammed her into the wall with a loud CRACK, pinning her like an insect.
Tashigi gasped, coughing blood as she tried to slash at the arm around her throat.
"You're still resisting?" Robin said coolly. "Your strength doesn't match your willpower."
Vivi rushed forward in panic. "Tashigi! Are you okay?"
Robin stepped into her path, one hand already rising again.
"You should stay where you are, Princess," she said. "Unless you want me to break your legs next."
Vivi stopped—but she didn't back down. "Why are you doing this? You people are massacring our country for some unrealistic utopia."
"This is wrong. Don't follow Crocodile. He'll do anything to achieve his goals. He's killing us today—he'll betray you tomorrow!"
Robin's eyes narrowed. "Betrayal? Doing the right thing?" She scoffed softly. "How childish, Princess."
"I work for Crocodile because he gives me what I need. That's all there is to it."
Robin's fingers twitched.
Two arms sprouted behind Vivi and slammed her down, forcing her to her knees.
One locked her head, another twisted her arm behind her back until she cried out.
"Don't touch her!" Tashigi shouted—but more arms erupted from the ground, snapping around her throat.
Crocodile watched calmly, as if admiring a perfectly set trap. The confident smile never left his face.
"Trying to turn Robin against me?" he said. "You're wasting your breath. Robin follows me because she's smart. She understands how the world really works."
He stepped forward, sand rumbling beneath his feet, spiraling around him like a sandstorm.
"I've already invested too much time in Alabasta," he continued. "I won't let a weak little girl or some small-time Marine stand in my way."
With a casual flick of his hook, sand lashed out like a whip—and coiled tightly around Vivi's throat.
She kicked and gasped, trying to breathe. Her skin was quickly turning grey—the water in her body was being sucked away.
Her lips cracked. Her eyes burned red. Each breath came in short, desperate gasps.
"I've eaten the Sand-Sand Fruit," Crocodile said coldly. "I am the desert itself. You can't fight against nature."
Vivi clawed at the sand, but it slipped through her fingers. Her strength drained as her body sagged.
Tashigi screamed, nearly tearing free of Robin's grip. "VIVI!"
Robin's frowned. A dozen more hands twisted Tashigi's broken arm and pulled.
Tashigi screamed, yet it didn't bother Robin. "Stop moving. Or I'll dislocate every joint in your body."
Vivi was barely able to speak anymore, she whispered hoarsely, "Tashigi.. run.."
But Tashigi didn't try to run. Even as tears fell from her face, she lifted her head with determination.
"Even if you kill us, Captain Smoker, will avenge us. You won't get away with this." she said with a shaky voice.
Crocodile simply sneered.
"A marine Captain will avenge you? Hahaha, I am Warlord of the sea, he will die just as you are about to."
Crocodile lifted his golden hook to deliver the finishing blow.
Then—
A white fist rapidly flew through the air.
CRACK!
Crocodile didn't see it coming. He felt shock as a smoke-covered fist slammed into his skull, smashing him into the ground.
The street shook.
Crocodile's head burst into sand, with sand flying in every direction.
Robin eyes went wide, before she could react—
BOOOOM!
Mikita came falling from above.
"I'M DROPPING FASTER THAN YOUR STOCKS, LADY!!"
WHAM!
Robin was crushed to the ground, as Mikita landed on her with her max ten-thousand-kilogram weight.
Seeing an opportunity, Gem dashed in, grabbing Vivi in one arm and Tashigi in the other.
"Hang in there ladies, I'll take you somewhere safe." he said while running away.
Tashigi's eyes fluttered open. "Captain Smoker, you're here.."
Vivi struggled to life her head, she saw a hazy figure of a white haired man, who had just punched Crocodile.
"That's Captain Smoker?" She whispered in awe.
Smoker landed before Crocodile's headless body. Violent smoke curled around his fists.
But Crocodile wasn't dead, far from it. Sand gathered together and Crocodile's head reformed. He got up without injury.
Veins throbbed on his forhead, Smoker's punch almost took him by surprise. This greatly angered him.
"A mere Marine Captain like you, dared to attack me, a Warlord of the sea?"
"Yeah I dared to," Smoker said, lighting two fresh cigars. "What of it?"
"What of it?!" Crocodile growled. "How dare you stick your nose in my territory, in my plan. I'll kill you in the most brutal way!"
Smoker chuckled, smoke twisted around his fists.
"I wasn't planning to investigate you Crocodile," he said.
"But you kept bothering me, again and again. Now you hurt my dear subordinate, and almost killed a princess."
"You are practically forcing me to take action. I can't overlook you, regardless of personal reasons or my marine duties."
Crocodile eye's were burning with anger. "I see, then are you ready to die for this duty? Or do you think you can defeat a Warlord like me?"
"Walord this, Warlord that, I don't care what they call you Crocodile," Smoker took a long drag from both cigars.
Then pointed his fist at Crocodile.
"Warlord or not… I'm going to take you down."