Outside the Mausoleum of Alabasta Kingdom's capital.
Su Xiaoqi gently placed the unconscious Robin on the ground and said, "Nico Robin, the only survivor of Ohara, bounty of 79 million Beli since age 8, Flower-Flower Fruit user — am I right?"
Silence. No response.
Su Xiaoqi then turned to Vivi and asked, "Vivi, back when you were undercover in Baroque Works, did they ever mistreat you?"
Vivi thought a moment, "No, I don't think so. Why?"
Su Xiaoqi nodded, "Nothing. I was just thinking that we've just thoroughly 'played' Crocodile, so why not do the same to his partner? After we're done, we'll toss her into the desert to fend for herself."
Just then, Robin, who had been unconscious, opened her eyes coldly and said, "You really are a man with a terrible personality."
Su Xiaoqi chuckled, "Mutual feelings. When I knocked you out earlier, I didn't even use much strength. You were actually awake, just eavesdropping on Vivi and me."
"But it doesn't matter now — you'll be joining us soon anyway, so it's good to let you know a few things in advance."
"Join you?" Robin was slightly stunned, looking at Su Xiaoqi. "Aren't you afraid I'll betray you if I join your Yorozuya Pirates someday?"
Su Xiaoqi smiled, "Who said I want you to join Yorozuya Pirates? You're joining the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Those fools don't understand your personality. But I do. I captured you to help you unlock your inner knots. Of course, this isn't charity — you must…"
At that moment, Crocodile, having shaken off Luffy and caught up, looked at Robin coldly, "Miss All Sunday, are you planning to betray me now? You should know what happens to traitors."
Su Xiaoqi looked at the somewhat embarrassed Crocodile and said, "Nico Robin is with me now. Go cool off somewhere else."
"Also, you really shouldn't have come after us, or else you'd be 'played' again."
"You two?" Crocodile looked Su Xiaoqi and Vivi up and down, then realized, "You two are working together."
Su Xiaoqi smiled, "Congratulations, you got it right. By the way, this whole thing has been orchestrated by me. Fun, isn't it?"
Crocodile's face turned very dark. He looked at Vivi, "I didn't expect the princess of Alabasta to rely on pirates. I wonder what your foolish citizens would think if they knew."
Vivi snapped back, "Why would I care who you, the stinky crocodile, find support from?"
Su Xiaoqi looked at Crocodile with disbelief, "Little crocodile, why's your comprehension so bad? I already said this is all orchestrated by me. Why can't you understand?"
"Besides, do you think you have a chance to spread this story? If I didn't want to keep you for Luffy's training, you wouldn't even have a chance to speak."
"Looking for death."
"Desert sword!"
Facing the sand blades rushing at him, Su Xiaoqi merely raised his hand and blocked the attack effortlessly.
"How is this possible?"
Crocodile was stunned. This man just blocked his attack barehanded without using Armament Haki.
Before he could be more surprised, Luffy shouted from behind, "Crocodile, your opponent is me!"
Su Xiaoqi smiled at the angry Luffy, "Luffy, if you didn't come soon, I was going to finish this little crocodile."
"Hehe, sorry." Luffy smiled at Su Xiaoqi, then looked at Crocodile, "This time, I won't let you run again."
Crocodile had no time to pay attention to Luffy and looked at Su Xiaoqi, "What's your purpose in capturing Nico Robin? Also searching for that thing's whereabouts?"
Su Xiaoqi said, "I already know where it is. If you want to know, I could tell you — but first answer me a question."
---
"Old Croc, were you once a woman? Or did Ivankov's fruit power change you into a man?"
---
Vivi gasped and glanced at Crocodile from head to toe, imagining his female form in her mind.
Robin's eyes widened. Her boss might have been a woman before? That was explosive news.
Luffy looked at Crocodile oddly, "Eh? So you used to be a woman?"
At this moment, Crocodile clenched his fists, eyes blazing with uncontrollable rage, shouting hysterically, "All of you, go to hell!"
Su Xiaoqi sighed softly, "I told you not to come after us, and now you're being 'played' again. Why bother?"
"Luffy, I'll take Vivi and your future crew to handle something. This crocodile is yours."
The battle between Luffy and Crocodile began again. Unlike the original story, Crocodile was now fully enraged and slightly stronger. Luffy would have to work harder to defeat him.
---
Inside the Mausoleum, before the historical records.
Robin was carefully reading the inscriptions, but the deeper she read, the more disappointed she looked.
"Stop frowning. Doesn't this record tell the location of 'Pluton' (冥王)? If you want to know about the 'Void Century,' just sail with Luffy and the others."
Robin was shocked, looking at Su Xiaoqi, "You can understand this writing?"
Su Xiaoqi said, "Whether I can or not doesn't matter. What matters is, what do you want now? Suicide? Or join the Straw Hats to seek the truth of history?"
Robin was shocked again, "How do you know I wanted to die?"
Su Xiaoqi snapped, "Please stop always replying with questions. Now I'll give you two choices. Make it easy for yourself."
"First, I give you a knife. You can stab wherever you want. I'll bury you."
"Second, join the Straw Hats to seek the truth of history and find your master and that giant who almost got frozen by Aokiji protecting you."
Robin excitedly grabbed Su Xiaoqi's arm, "You mean they're both still alive? Where are they?"
Su Xiaoqi gently pulled her hand away and took Vivi's hand, "Let's go. This woman's brain is fried by reading too much. Talking with her is exhausting."
As Su Xiaoqi walked away, Robin hurried after him, "If you tell me where they are, I'll join the Straw Hats and never betray you."
Su Xiaoqi looked back, "I can only tell you they're alive. Where exactly? Depends on how you perform."
Su Xiaoqi himself did not know where they were, but to make Robin believe him, he revealed some unknown secrets about her.
Robin finally believed Su Xiaoqi and agreed to join the Straw Hats. He had even reported almost all her family tree — how could she not trust him?
Su Xiaoqi looked at the tears of joy on Robin's face, "Robin, you asked me a lot of questions earlier, now it's my turn."
Robin nodded, "Sure, ask."
---
"Is your current skin color because you tanned after coming to Alabasta? Or do you have a special skincare method that changed your skin from dark to fair in one or two years?"