Earlier, Cyrus had mentioned four people in front of him.
Rayleigh, Shanks, Gaban, and Bullet.
His tone suggested he had already made up his mind.
As for Crocus, he felt he probably wasn't part of the other's plans.
But thinking of Cyrus's age, Crocus couldn't help but sigh.
"If he really comes, what can I do? A little exercise wouldn't be so bad."
Rayleigh's voice came from the Den Den Mushi's mouth.
"That's one way to put it, but I think you'd better not be careless. That young man is no simple character."
"Who do you think I am?"
Rayleigh retorted before hanging up the Den Den Mushi.
Crocus pouted and put the Den Den Mushi away.
"If you're careless, you'll suffer a great loss." Crocus muttered to himself.
...
Cactus Island.
Cyrus and Robin disembarked from their ship.
Both of their Observation Haki could sense many malicious gazes falling upon them.
"This is the island of Pirate Hunters you mentioned?"
Feeling the hostile gazes around them, Robin pulled up her hood, covering half her face.
"It's the first island in the Grand Line. Many pirates coming from the Four Seas will stop here." Cyrus said to Robin.
"We'll head to Alabasta after the Log Pose finishes recording."
Cyrus glanced at the Pirate Hunters around them, disguised as dockworkers, then shook his head slightly.
"You have something to do in Alabasta?"
Robin had heard Cyrus mention this country several times; he clearly had a purpose.
"Didn't I tell you? I'm planning to find someone to work for me. There's a good candidate in Alabasta, but that guy isn't one to give up easily."
Cyrus didn't hide it upon hearing her question.
"Who?"
Robin was curious.
Cyrus had never been to the Grand Line before, yet he had already set his sights on someone in a country there.
"Originally, the target was a pirate from the East Blue, but that guy's location is uncertain, and I don't have time to waste searching for him in the East Blue."
Cyrus shook his head.
"I thought you'd just capture any pirate you see and exchange them for bounty money."
Hearing Cyrus say his target was once a pirate from the East Blue, she became curious.
"It depends on my mood and their usefulness to me. If the bounty is more useful to me, then of course the bounty is more important."
Cyrus shook his head.
"So who is the person in Alabasta this time?"
"Crocodile!"
Cyrus didn't hide it from Robin and revealed his target's name.
"Huh? A Shichibukai?"
Robin's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Cyrus.
"What? You think I can't take him down?"
Sensing Robin's astonishment, Cyrus turned his head with a smile.
"Well, I don't know, but this Crocodile seems to have fought Whitebeard before." Robin actually knew about this.
"Cyrus, a person like that will be very difficult to subdue."
Looking at Cyrus's back, Robin reminded him.
"I know, but there's no harm in trying. That guy's mind isn't right either, but he's the best of a bad bunch. It's worth a shot."
Cyrus put an arm around Robin's shoulder and walked toward the town on Cactus Island.
Cactus Island was also part of the Alabasta Kingdom.
Most of the people on the island were Pirate Hunters, with some being citizens of Alabasta.
Most of the shops were run by Alabastans.
Moreover, this island had the backing of the kingdom.
As they walked, it seemed there were no bounty posters for Cyrus, and the number of people paying attention to them dwindled.
The town was quite lively.
They could see many pirates shouting and yelling, completely drunk.
Robin curiously observed these pirates.
"These guys are already being watched." Robin said in a low voice.
"Indeed, but this is also part of the adventure. It's the first test upon entering the Grand Line. If they can't pass it, then this is where it ends for them."
"You don't seem to think much of these Pirate Hunters."
Robin also noticed Cyrus's attitude toward the Pirate Hunters on the island.
"You guessed right."
Cyrus led Robin toward a tavern.
Before they even entered, they could hear the music and clamor coming from inside.
Upon entering the tavern, Cyrus scanned the interior.
More than half of the patrons were pirates.
These pirates had no sense of vigilance whatsoever.
The liquor and music of Cactus Island were famous.
These pirates seemed to love the liquor here, drinking with great gusto.
"No wonder Pirate Hunters gather here. Those with a high sense of vigilance probably wouldn't even come near this island."
After Robin and Cyrus sat down at the counter, Robin spoke in a low voice.
"Juice!"
Cyrus called out to the person behind the counter, then turned to look at Robin.
"I'll have juice too!" Robin also said.
"Hey, kid! The sea is no place for a little brat like you who only drinks juice to be messing around."
Cyrus and Robin's voices were noticed.
A drunken pirate immediately spoke up, followed by a loud laugh.
The other pirates reacted similarly upon hearing him.
These pirates, or rather, not just pirates, seemed to think that drinking alcohol was what fit the tone of the sea.
Cyrus drank his juice with a calm expression.
Robin raised her hands and crossed them in front of her chest.
Crack!
The sound of several bones breaking rang out.
The laughter came to an abrupt halt and all other sounds in the tavern immediately vanished.
The noisy tavern became dead silent.
Everyone stared at the few people who had collapsed limply.
Many had seen what had just happened to them.
A Devil Fruit user.
Many people swallowed hard, their expressions wary.
"This is Cactus Island. Fighting is prohibited."
The tavern owner behind the counter, seemingly used to such scenes, offered a reminder.
Of course, it was really just a formality.
After all, fights broke out here several times a day, usually disputes between drunken pirates.
Of course, after these pirates were captured, the Pirate Hunters would send over a portion of the bounty money.
It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
After all, drunk pirates were easy to deal with.
Some who had drunk too much were already sent to the Naval Base while intoxicated.
"The Navy hasn't discovered this place?"
Robin retracted her hand and asked, leaning close to Cyrus's ear.
"How could they not have discovered it!" Cyrus shook his head upon hearing her words. "Tell me, from the Navy's perspective, is it better for pirates to be in the Four Seas, or in the Grand Line?"
Robin was taken aback.
"Naturally, it's better to drive them out of the Four Seas and into the Grand Line."
"Exactly. If the Navy blocked them here, these pirates aren't stupid. Over time, they would find out and might end up staying in the Four Seas for a long time. In that case, it's better to let them enter the Grand Line. The Navy's forces in Paradise are not to be underestimated."
Robin understood Cyrus's explanation.
"If that's the case, if you want to establish your association, it would be better to go to the New World."
After all, according to Cyrus's logic, if the association was established, it might pose a threat to the Navy, so going to the New World would be more convenient.
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