"Heh! That's true. All just useless pleasantries."
Robin chuckled lightly, glanced at Daz Bones, then turned and walked towards the topmost chair at the long table, the one that had always faced away from everyone.
As she walked, she said, "Before we get down to business, I must introduce you all to our company's boss, whom you've never met."
"Boss?"
Everyone's gaze followed Robin towards the head of the long table.
They had been with Baroque Works for quite some time now, and Robin had always been the one directing their work. They knew she had a partner, and that partner was the true boss of their company.
They were all curious about who this person was.
Robin stood beside the chair at the head of the table, turned to face the assembled group, and scanned their faces with a serious expression. "Although the plan hasn't truly begun, our Baroque Works is currently facing a monumental problem. This issue could lead to the complete downfall of our company, which is why you've all been urgently summoned."
"Downfall?"
Everyone froze.
At the beginning of the Grand Line, what force could possibly rival Baroque Works?
"The Marines?"
"Impossible."
They shook their heads. The Marines were too busy; they wouldn't bother with a small company like theirs. They hadn't committed any heinous crimes, and everyone in the company used codenames, so no one knew each other's real names. Who knew if that person had a bounty on their head!
Besides, their company advertised itself as a bounty hunter organization, not pirates.
The Marines had no jurisdiction over them.
Seeing the surprise in their eyes, Robin continued, "Originally, I always acted on behalf of the boss to direct your work. But now that this situation has arisen, and facing an enemy's approach, there's no longer a need for secrecy."
"Right!"
Saying this, Robin turned her head towards the back of the chair. "Boss!"
"Mmm. There's no need."
*Creeeak—!*
The old wooden swivel chair let out a piercing screech as it rotated from right to left, revealing the figure seated at the head of the table, who had been facing away from them.
"Whoa!"
Everyone stared at the tall figure on the chair, their faces filled with astonishment.
They were all very familiar with this figure. While they might have had suspicions when they first arrived here, as the casino "Rain Dinners" was known to be the territory of this influential individual throughout Alabasta, confirming their suspicions still brought immense shock.
After all, this was a truly world-class figure!
"Crocodile."
Daz Bones, staring at Crocodile, even he, usually calm, couldn't help but widen his eyes and break into a slight sweat as he faced this world-class pirate.
Robin turned to look at everyone's reactions, her hands clasped at her sides. "I suppose I don't need to introduce him further. You all know his public identity."
"Know what, don't know what!"
Bora raised his hand, extinguished the cigarette he was holding in the ashtray on the long table, then sat up straight, turning to stare at Crocodile. "Why is a Shichibukai pirate our boss?"
"Hahahahaha!! A truly great figure has appeared!"
Michita burst out laughing.
Jem picked his nose, looked at Crocodile, and said, "So we've been working for pirates all along. This is quite interesting!"
Daz Bones also spoke, "So you're our boss!"
Even though they had been somewhat prepared upon arriving, their Baroque Works organization was, after all, publicly known as a bounty hunter group.
Even though they committed murder, arson, and sold information…
Even though they would do anything for money.
Most of them didn't even have bounties!
Seeing that their company's boss was actually a pirate, it wasn't hard to understand why they were so surprised.
A pirate was one thing.
A powerful figure like a Shichibukai was another matter entirely.
Crocodile took a cigar from his pocket, placed it in his mouth, then pulled out a lighter and lit it. Through the wisps of smoke curling from his lips, he calmly observed everyone's reactions.
He had anticipated their reactions, so he was not surprised.
After all, he was a pirate sanctioned by the World Government, with the legitimate right to plunder.
To him, someone like himself establishing a criminal organization seemed completely pointless.
But what they didn't know was that he established this company not for money or status, but for military power.
The Kingdom of Alabasta was one of the twenty founding nations of the World Government. Although there were no supreme powers here, seizing the kingdom, its royal family, and the Poneglyph guarded by the Nefertari clan was not a simple task.
Despite his power, he couldn't openly attack the Nefertari family without consequences, as that would invite the Marines, and subsequently, the full might of the World Government.
He didn't want to lose his Shichibukai status.
Therefore, he could only operate in the shadows, slowly plotting. Once the kingdom was truly destroyed and the Nefertari family was no longer royalty, he could then attack them without reservation.
This was precisely why he created Baroque Works, supported the rebellion, and used the Dance Powder in Alubarna to plunge the country into despair.
Because only by making the common people of Alabasta lose all hope in their king, and completely despair, could they be manipulated to depose the Nefertari clan from their royal status according to his will, allowing him to search for the Poneglyph without restraint.
Another reason was that the King of this country, "Nefertari Cobra," although a good king who cared for his people, was not a king who feared death.
Using conventional methods, he certainly couldn't force Cobra to reveal the location of the Poneglyph his family guarded.
Thus, unconventional means were necessary.
It was all because Cobra was a good, people-loving king.
If Cobra had been a greedy and cowardly king, it would have been much simpler for him. He wouldn't have had to scheme in secret for so long or establish a separate organization.
Because once he truly obtained what he desired, he wouldn't care about the Shichibukai, the Marines, or the World Government.
His ambition was not to remain here as a Shichibukai!
His ambition had never changed.
It was to take the head of the strongest man in the world, "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate, and then become the Pirate King.