The moment Crocodile referred to Nico Robin by her codename Miss All Sunday Ayr's instincts flared. He'd seen countless plots in his time, and this visit reeked of ulterior motives.
These two weren't here just to exchange pleasantries.
Ayr had already guessed their target: the permanent Log Pose that pointed to the Island of God a sacred, mysterious land, protected by Ayr's influence. If they were after that, this wasn't a simple diplomatic visit.
And knowing Robin's past, it made sense. She was no ordinary woman. A survivor of Ohara. A scholar of the Void Century. One of the few people alive who could read the Poneglyphs.
Crocodile, in turn, had a different motive to curry her favor and use her talents to pursue his ambitions. Perhaps even domination. And now, they'd come to Ayr, likely thinking they could outwit him.
Ayr gave a light nod. "Ah yes… Alabasta. A major force in the first half of the Grand Line. The royal family there… one of the original Twenty Kingdoms that formed the World Government, right?"
He smiled faintly. "Your ambition is bigger than most, Crocodile."
Crocodile's smile tightened. He hadn't expected Ayr to mention the Twenty Kingdoms he was already a few steps ahead. Still, he forced a laugh and played it off. "Hahaha! You flatter me. Compared to you, Mr. Ayr, I'm nothing more than a newcomer chasing shadows."
But Ayr could see through the flattery.
Crocodile had come to steal the permanent Log Pose, and Robin, meanwhile, had another goal she wanted to uncover a hidden Poneglyph rumored to be in Ayr's domain.
They were putting on a good show: Crocodile the talkative decoy, Robin the quiet observer. A common strategy divide the attention, strike where the guard is down.
As they walked through the halls, Ayr moved at a relaxed pace, playing along.
Behind him, Robin lagged slightly, pretending to stumble.
"Oh! My foot hurts… I may not be able to go on," she said softly, her voice calm but calculated.
Crocodile immediately responded with feigned concern. "Robin! What's gotten into you? So careless."
His voice was laced with performative frustration, a little too perfect.
Ayr's eyes narrowed.
These two were acting. They assumed they could distract him with a bit of theater while Robin slipped away. But they had chosen the wrong man.
This was Ayr.
A pirate with strength rivaling the Yonko. A man who had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Rocks D. Xebec. He had seen Roger, Whitebeard, and Garp clash with his own eyes. He had walked through fire and chaos and come out untouched.
And now, these two were trying to deceive him?
He watched Robin silently. Her injury was clearly a ruse. She was likely looking for an opening to search the archives or the vault where the Poneglyph might be hidden.
"Please," Ayr said with a warm tone that masked the sharp edge in his mind, "you two, sit down. Would you like a drink?"
Crocodile hesitated. Even with all his bravado, Ayr's calmness was unsettling. There was a kind of suffocating weight to being near him, like the pressure of the deep sea.
Still, Crocodile kept up the act. "Actually, I've recently come into possession of a certain country Alabasta. Perhaps you've heard of it?"
Ayr chuckled. "So you're taking over a kingdom now? You must be managing things well. Or are you just after what's buried beneath its sands?"
That hit the mark.
Crocodile's smile froze for a split second.
Ayr sipped from his drink and added, "You know, the Isle of God holds many secrets too. Robin must be quite interested in that, given her… unique skills."
The air was thick with unspoken words.
Even though Crocodile tried to brush it off, he could tell Ayr was onto them.
Still, he pressed on. "I was just hoping to see how you governed your territory. It's rare to see such peace in a place so close to the New World."
Robin, meanwhile, remained quiet, eyes subtly scanning the tavern doors, stairs, exits. She was calculating something.
Ayr noted every glance.
He already knew.
He had let them come here precisely because he wanted to see what they were up to. Crocodile's posturing, Robin's subtle reconnaissance it was all laid bare under his gaze.
He thought to himself: These two… still green in some ways.
Even with Crocodile's fame as a former Warlord, and Robin's reputation as the Demon Child, they were still trying to deceive Ayr, a pirate whose mere name caused shudders across the sea.
And they hadn't even taken Alabasta yet.
Ayr stood slowly, his presence filling the room.
"Well then," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "shall we continue this little visit? I'd be happy to show you around."
Crocodile stood too, suddenly aware of the weight behind Ayr's words.
They had come to deceive the wrong pirate.
And they were beginning to realize… they might not leave unscathed.