Alabasta, Erumalu.
This city, which had been filled with sorrow due to drought just over half a month ago, had now been completely transformed.
The land that had once cracked from dryness had healed its wounds.
Along the streets, merchants had set up their stalls once again.
Although this "City of Oasis" was still far from returning to its former prosperity, it was clearly beginning to brim with hope.
And the reason needed no explanation—every citizen of Erumalu knew it well.
It was all thanks to the rain brought by that "Rain Summoner" that Erumalu had managed to survive.
On the western outskirts of Erumalu stood a café.
A plain wooden sign read "Spider Café," located in a desolate area on the city's western edge.
At a glance, it looked entirely unremarkable.
But at this moment—
A figure was walking toward the café.
He wore a sand-colored traveling cloak and had just lowered his hood.
Beneath it was a man with slicked-back hair, a long scar across his face, and a cigar clenched between his teeth.
What was most striking, however, was his left hand.
It was not flesh and blood, but a massive hook of cold, gleaming metal.
At this moment, his gaze lingered on the hopeful atmosphere within the city, his expression indifferent.
He disliked the feeling of this city.
Not because he bore any malice toward its people, but because this atmosphere of hope symbolized an obstacle to his plans.
And the Shichibukai—Sir Crocodile of the Desert—
Despised anything that stood in his way.
But it didn't matter.
"Puff—"
He removed the cigar from his mouth and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
According to the information he had received, that "obstacle" had already been eliminated.
He murmured quietly to himself.
"I only hope that the clue Nico Robin found is truly valuable enough."
And that, precisely, was why he was here.
Not long ago, he had issued an order to the executives of Baroque Works—
To kill the so-called "Rain Summoner" hiding in the royal palace.
And just two days earlier, he had received Nico Robin's report.
"The target has been successfully eliminated."
This news did not surprise Crocodile.
The executives of Baroque Works were all battle-hardened Devil Fruit users; killing a single person in a coordinated attack was nothing unusual.
Moreover, the target's ability appeared to be rain manipulation, which was not a combat-oriented power.
What truly surprised Crocodile was another piece of information Nico Robin had included in her report.
"While in the palace, I accidentally discovered an important clue related to Pluton."
That message was what prompted Crocodile to return to Alabasta on short notice.
Now, Crocodile stepped into the café.
Ding—!
The wind chime hanging from the doorframe rang with a clear sound.
Then Crocodile's steps came to a halt.
Because right in front of him—
At the bar counter inside the café—sat two figures.
One of them was very familiar to him: a slender, beautiful woman with delicate features—Nico Robin.
But the other—
"...The 'Rain Summoner.'"
Looking at the dragon-headed mask recorded in his intelligence files, Crocodile exhaled another stream of smoke.
A schemer like him understood the situation almost instantly.
The "Rain Summoner," who was supposed to be dead according to Nico Robin's report, was standing right here—and Nico Robin was clearly on his side.
All the other executives were nowhere to be seen.
The implication… needed no explanation.
"So you betrayed Baroque Works and lured me here?"
He exhaled a stream of smoke, his tone flat as he looked at Nico Robin.
"As expected of a woman who survived by constantly betraying others—Nico Robin."
Faced with his words, Nico Robin looked tense.
But before she could speak, Crocodile heard the voice of the man beside her.
"Speaking to a lady like that is rather impolite, Mr. Crocodile."
Dragon (Shenlong) chuckled softly and continued, "And besides… betraying Baroque Works? Whatever gave you that idea?"
He stood up, looked at the infamous pirate before him, and then pointed at himself.
Then, word by word, he calmly stated the "facts."
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dragon, this young lady's partner—the president and decision-maker of Baroque Works. Or, if you prefer, you may call me—MR.0."
Even Crocodile froze for a moment when he heard that.
All he felt was absurdity.
You're MR.0? Then who am I?
"I see…"
But in the next instant, he understood.
As the man who had founded Baroque Works with his own hands, he knew its structure better than anyone.
Within Baroque Works, every member used a codename.
From MR.1 to MR.12, down to the lower ranks—the "Million Bounty Hunters" and the "Billion Bounty Hunters"—all followed this rule.
And the most mysterious of all was MR.0 himself.
No one in Baroque Works had ever seen his true face.
Almost all of his orders were conveyed by his partner—Miss All Sunday, Nico Robin.
The reason was simple.
He was one of the Seven Warlords chosen by the World Government, so he could not openly lead a criminal organization.
In other words—
To every member of Baroque Works, as long as Nico Robin acknowledged someone as MR.0,
Then that person was, without a doubt, MR.0.
Just like now.
"Dragon…"
Crocodile said thoughtfully.
"And you—Nico Robin. Not only did you betray me, but you're even trying to join forces with someone else to seize what is rightfully mine?"
After figuring out the intentions of Dragon and Nico Robin, Crocodile suddenly laughed.
"Not a bad plan."
He did not stint on praise.
But there was no warmth in that smile—only
"But it seems you've made one mistake."
Cold, and nothing more.
Buzz—
As his anger surged, the floor beneath his feet silently shattered, turning into fine, flowing sand.
Countless grains of sand swirled around him like the most loyal of guards.
He raised his left hand, the massive golden hook gleaming with a cold light.
"Do you really think Baroque Works was built on nothing?"
"Do you think it could establish itself on these seas—and grow to this point—without a reason?"
He raised his right hand, removed the cigar that had been smoked down to the end from his mouth, and casually tossed it onto the ground.
"It is because of me that it is called Baroque Works!"
"It is because of… my power!"
The cigar was instantly swallowed by the flowing sand, vanishing without a trace, as if falling into an abyss.
Then—
Boom!
The abyss-like sand erupted, surging forth in an overwhelming torrent.
Everything began to be devoured by the yellow sand.
And Crocodile's figure merged into the sand itself.
Only his voice remained, echoing layer upon layer within the grains.
"On these seas, the only thing that truly decides everything is power!"
Author's Notes
Here's a brief clarification regarding the location of Spider Café:
According to information I checked via SBS, it is located in Rainbase, while my own memory and Baidu Encyclopedia place it in Erumalu (Alubarna's region).
It's also possible that I remembered incorrectly, but this doesn't affect the plot—it's just to avoid readers getting hung up on it, so I'm explaining it here.
Lastly, regarding Skypiea—since many readers have brought it up, I'll give a small early spoiler:
Skypiea will definitely be visited, and it will happen roughly within the next two major arcs.
Naturally, since the author has already set up such a powerful "cheat," there is definitely a plan in place for handling that massive amount of gold in Skypiea.
I can't reveal the specifics, but I can say this:
the Skypiea arc will likely be quite different from what you expect, and it will directly relate to the novel's final ending.
(Yes, the rough outline of this story already goes all the way to the ending, so I don't think it'll collapse.)
As an author, I probably shouldn't say all this in advance—but since everyone keeps asking, I figured I'd drop a tiny spoiler.
Finally, please support with continued reading and monthly votes—and go easy on the author, alright? I've been seriously stuck lately.