<div>
<div>
After a massive sandstorm, the people of Rainbase opened their eyes in disbelief.
<div>
<div>
What they saw was a rain of berries falling like raindrops from the sky.
<div>
<div>
With Noir''s scream as he scattered the money, the people of Rainbase went completely insane.
<div>
<div>
"Crocodile is handing out money!"
<div>
<div>
"Don''t fight! Don''t push me!"
<div>
<div>
"Money! Give me the money!"
<div>
<div>
"Asshole! Put down the berries in your hand!"
<div>
<div>
Crocodile felt like his heart was bleeding.
<div>
<div>
The Rain Dinner Casino was a powerful money-making machine in his hands.
<div>
<div>
The money earned by this one casino was comparable to the entire revenue of the Baroque Works.
<div>
<div>
Noir stood at the back of the chaotic crowd with two bags of berries on his back and grinned, "Well, I''ll be going now, Sea Warlord~"
<div>
<div>
With a smug look, Noir collected the money, turned into sand and sank into the ground.
<div>
<div>
Now even Crocodile couldn''t tell where Noir had hidden himself.
<div>
<div>
Crocodile roared like an enraged lion, his immense fury erupting as he shouted, "Noir!"
<div>
<div>
Even though Crocodile had become the "hero" of the country, this so-called honor wasn''t enough for the people to return the money they had taken.
<div>
<div>
In addition, Noir used Crocodile''s name to throw money around!
<div>
<div>
As the farce began to die down, Crocodile, exhausted in body and mind, returned to his office.
<div>
<div>
Looking at the devastated casino and the empty vault, all that remained in Crocodile''s heart was rage and hatred!
<div>
<div>
He forced himself to calm down and think carefully about Noir''s motives.
<div>
<div>
Noir was the one he had targeted, no doubt.
<div>
<div>
But Noir''s understanding of him was far beyond Crocodile''s imagination.
<div>
<div>
Coup d''état and the Pluto, Noir seemed to know his plans from the beginning.
<div>
<div>
But why come to the Rainbase and waste time if he knew this crucial information?
<div>
<div>
Was it to distract him?
<div>
<div>
This suggested that he had more advanced information than Crocodile.
<div>
<div>
For example, the burial place of the text of Pluto''s True History!
<div>
<div>
But what use would that be?
<div>
<div>
Unless... he had an accomplice who could distract him while he checked the True History Text.
<div>
<div>
A flash of brilliance crossed Crocodile''s mind, and he saw the woman''s face in his mind.
<div>
<div>
Nico Robin? The one he had sent away?
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
<div>
<div>
If Noir could hear Crocodile''s inner speculations, he would be munching on seeds and shouting "brilliant".
<div>
<div>
Noir''s reason for creating a scene in Rain Dinners was simple: to get some money.
<div>
<div>
But Crocodile, through speculation, unexpectedly found out the real reason.
<div>
<div>
This was something Noir hadn''t expected.
<div>
<div>
Crocodile paced the room, more and more convinced of the possibility.
<div>
<div>
He picked up his private phone and called Robin.
<div>
<div>
Brrr Brrr Brrr...
<div>
<div>
No one answered and Crocodile felt that he might be right.
<div>
<div>
Nico, Robin and this Noir had definitely conspired beforehand!
<div>
<div>
Crocodile regained his composure and rushed towards the capital, determined not to be wrong this time!
<div>
<div>
As Crocodile flew away on the wind and sand, Noir slowly revealed his face in a Rainbase alley, muttering in confusion:
<div>
<div>
"Damn... why is he going to the capital?"
<div>
<div>
"I wonder if Robin took care of that."
<div>
<div>
With the berries on his back, Noir turned and walked out of the alley.
<div>
<div>
After a few steps, Noir hesitated for a moment.
<div>
<div>
"Forget it, let''s follow and see..."
<div>
<div>
---
<div>
<div>
Alabasta''s capital, Alabasta.
<div>
<div>
The normally heavily guarded palace grounds saw an unexpected visitor today.
<div>
<div>
In the western royal cemetery of the palace, several skilled soldiers lay on the ground at the gate.
<div>
<div>
Several arms suddenly grew from the shoulders and backs of the guards, quickly closing around the throats of several soldiers.
<div>
<div>
Snap!
<div>
<div>
A few crunching sounds of breaking bones, and the guards fell unconscious without a sound.
<div>
<div>
Withdrawing her powers, Robin quietly pushed open the door and slipped into the graveyard.
<div>
<div>
Underground Hall of Sacrifice...
<div>
<div>
Robin pondered in her mind as she searched for a long time, finally finding the underground switch.
<div>
<div>
She gently activated the mechanism, and with a dull sound, the heavy, seamless door slowly lifted.
<div>
<div>
There was indeed an underground palace.
<div>
<div>
Finding the entrance, Robin was overjoyed, feeling more confident about finding the True History text.
<div>
<div>
She was not disappointed. After navigating through long, narrow tunnels, her vision opened up again.
<div>
<div>
Inside the underground hall, the blue stone Robin had been searching for was right there!
<div>
<div>
The True History text!
<div>
<div>
Robin gently caressed the cold stone with her hand.
<div>
<div>
The words engraved on it were transmitted to her brain by the touch, giving her an indescribable feeling of reassurance and excitement.
<div>
<div>
Her beautiful eyes scanned the stele, the obscure ancient text appearing as plain text to her.
<div>
<div>
When she finished reading all the records, Robin sighed deeply.
<div>
<div>
As she and Crocodile had speculated, this stele did indeed have little historical record.
<div>
<div>
It recorded the location of one of the three ancient weapons, the legendary warship Pluto.
<div>
<div>
But that didn''t make Robin greedy. Instead, after reading it, she truly felt a sense of loss.
<div>
<div>
Robin''s dream was actually very simple; she didn''t want anything from the True History text.
<div>
<div>
The Pluto, the ancient weapons, Robin didn''t want any of them.
<div>
<div>
She just wanted to know the whole story, nothing more.
<div>
<div>
But Robin''s dream had too many enemies in this world.
<div>
<div>
Robin had a photographic memory. After recording Pluto''s history on the stele, she left the tomb.
<div>
<div>
Although she didn''t get the crucial 100-year clue she wanted, seeing another part of the story satisfied Robin.
<div>
<div>
Using the Flower-Flower Fruit''s stealth ability, Robin easily slipped out of the heavily guarded palace.
<div>
<div>
The sky had darkened, and as Robin stepped onto the soft, fine sand, she felt both relaxed and apprehensive.
<div>
<div>
Relaxed because she finally knew the hidden True History text of Alabasta.
<div>
<div>
Worried because she knew the last piece of True History Text she had confirmed, what next?
<div>
<div>
This thing wasn''t like cabbage, something you could just get whenever you wanted.
<div>
<div>
As Robin pondered, Noir''s face reappeared in her mind.
<div>
<div>
Should she accept his invitation and follow him to look for it?
<div>
<div>
Actually, it wasn''t such a bad thing...
<div>
<div>
At worst, she would betray him like before, if it was to her disadvantage...
<div>
<div>
In any case, she was still the devil''s child.
<div>
<div>
Robin thought of this and laughed self-deprecatingly, but behind the smile was endless bitterness.
<div>
<div>
"Nico Robin, where are you going?"
<div>
<div>
A deep voice sounded, Robin''s beautiful eyes trembled, and the fear in her heart was immediately awakened.
<div>
<div>
"Crocodile..."