Robin slumped helplessly onto the ground.
Her will to resist had completely crumbled.
The gap in their strength was simply too vast.
No matter what El decided to do to her, she was utterly powerless to stop him.
Crocodile lay on the ground, blood gushing heavily from the wound along his side, his arm, and his thigh.
"Ugh…"
He spoke weakly. "Truly worthy of you, Lord El… you are terrifyingly strong."
"I couldn't even put up the slightest resistance."
Despite being grievously injured, he remained calm and composed.
He wasn't trembling in fear or begging for his life.
In that regard, he was more of a man than many other pirates out there.
Crocodile's face was deathly pale, and his features twitched constantly in pain.
Clearly, the wound hurt immensely.
For a Logia user like him, who was rarely injured or harmed, suffering such damage was far more unbearable than it would be for an ordinary person.
El looked down at Crocodile with an air of total ease and indifference.
"Crocodile… you have lost."
He spoke as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened at all.
"Now… pay the price."
"I wonder… what price will you pay? I am curious to know."
El waited for Crocodile's answer.
Crocodile's mind raced frantically.
What should I do?
El told him to pay a price… and even let him choose what it would be.
But what could he offer that would satisfy El?
Honestly… Crocodile had no good answers.
Cut off one of my fingers as an apology?
Compared to the crime of trying to deceive and steal from El… that would be far too light a punishment.
Crocodile kept thinking desperately.
Should I hand over Baroque Works to him as compensation?
He was afraid El would consider it worthless.
After thinking and thinking… the only thing he truly had of great value was the control over the Kingdom of Alabasta.
The problem was… he hadn't fully seized control of it yet!
For a moment, Crocodile fell into silence.
Then, suddenly, Robin spoke up from the side.
"Lord El."
She walked respectfully before him and said: "To express my deepest apology and remorse… I have decided to join you and serve under your command."
"I believe… the Devil Child hunted by the Marines might still be of some value to you?"
Robin looked at El with a bright, charming smile.
Yes — this was her survival strategy.
Since El wouldn't let Crocodile go free, he certainly wouldn't let her go either.
To save her own life, Robin was doing what she had always been best at.
Betrayal.
Speak the language that suits whoever you are with.
Adapt instantly to changes. Shift loyalties as the wind blows.
If she didn't have these skills… she, Nico Robin, would never have survived until now while being hunted by the entire Marine force.
Now, facing absolute power like El…
Her only choice was to betray Crocodile and join El's side.
Of course, Robin was still incredibly nervous deep down.
This trick might not work!
Just like right now…
El looked her up and down with a scrutinizing gaze.
Under his sharp, piercing eyes, Robin felt her heart pounding wildly in anxiety.
Fortunately…
El thought for a moment and said: "Very well then. Stay here. You shall work as my secretary."
Robin's heart leaped with joy!
But then, El continued speaking: "Betrayal is your specialty, isn't it, Nico Robin?"
Robin froze completely.
How… how could he know that?
El went on calmly: "I don't care if you betray others. But if you ever try to betray me… that will be impossible."
"Regret it all you want, Robin… but your freedom is gone forever."
Robin lowered her head and walked to El's side.
Her heart was filled with mixed emotions!
At this moment, she didn't even know exactly what she was feeling.
There was fear of El's immense power, confusion about losing her freedom…
But strangely enough… she also felt a sense of relief.
Like she had finally found a powerful protector and safe haven — something she had never felt in her entire life until now.
On the ground, Crocodile watched Robin switch sides and join El in an instant.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
He certainly didn't care that Robin betrayed him.
From the very beginning, the relationship between him and his subordinates was purely one of mutual exploitation.
Even if Robin hadn't betrayed him today…
One day, when she was no longer useful, he would have abandoned her without hesitation.
Crocodile had done exactly that countless times to further his own goals.
But right now… a brilliant idea flashed through his mind.
That's right!
If Robin can betray me and join El's side…
So can I!
Realizing this, Crocodile smiled.
He spoke to El: "Lord El… I have thought of how I shall compensate you."
El looked down at him from above.
"Speak."
A strange, confident smirk appeared on Crocodile's face.
"I wish to lead my entire organization, Baroque Works, and formally join your pirate crew."
"What do you think of that, Lord El?"
El looked at Crocodile and suddenly laughed.
This guy… he was certainly cunning enough.
"If you do that… you will give up everything you have worked for until now?"
El looked at Crocodile and asked.
Crocodile was a pirate with immense ambition.
He didn't just want to be a powerful pirate…
He wanted to become the legitimate King of Alabasta…
And even use the hidden Ancient Weapon to conquer the entire world.
Would an ambitious man like him really give up his goals so easily?
Crocodile replied quickly: "Of course! I will abandon all those plans completely and bring Baroque Works entirely into your territory and service!"
"If you wish to rule over the Kingdom of Alabasta… I will do everything in my power to help you achieve that goal!"
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