Chapter 48: So You Wanted Me Dead All Along?

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: So You Wanted Me Dead All Along? Chapter 48: So You Wanted Me Dead All Along? Inside the damp underground tomb, massive stone pillars supported the high ceiling, carved with ancient, mysterious patterns and text. The cold, dimly lit chamber was filled with an ancient and mystical atmosphere. Before a huge, square, blue-gray stone block stood three figures, all looking up with varied expressions. "Well, Nico Robin?" A deep voice broke the quiet, tense atmosphere. Crocodile’s inquiry carried an undeniable air of authority. The woman beside him, however, looked desolate as she replied coolly, "Nothing. There’s absolutely no mention of the Ancient Weapon on it." The woman had a graceful figure. She wore a white cowboy hat and a white overcoat, but underneath, she wore only a navel-baring camisole. Below her slender waist, a short miniskirt offered scant covering, as if any shorter, the skirt would lose all meaning. The white overcoat completely failed to conceal her impressive, sexy figure, instead adding an alluring sense of hazy mystery. However, the man beside her was in no mood for appreciation. His gloomy, twisted face held ice-cold eyes, his deep voice laced with unconcealable fury. "You said... nothing?" No one responded. The atmosphere grew quiet again, the air seemingly frozen solid. After a while... Quite a while later, Crocodile’s expression returned to calm. He turned to look mockingly at Nico Robin beside him. "As long as we obtain its power, and with us joining forces, we’ll possess the strength to contend with the World Government. Don’t you want revenge against the World Government, Nico Robin?" Crocodile didn’t believe the Poneglyph lacked information about the Ancient Weapon; he refused to believe it. After scheming here for so many years, how could it, how could it possibly yield nothing? He believed Nico Robin was lying to him, wanting to claim the Ancient Weapon for herself! Hearing this, Cobra, bound nearby, looked at Nico Robin with a strange expression. RUMBLE!!! Just then, a tremendous sound came from overhead. A ray of light pierced through the tomb’s thick ceiling, illuminating the dim chamber. The three figures before the Poneglyph looked up in shock, spotting rocks of various sizes tumbling down from above, along with several figures falling amongst them. "Straw Hat kid!?" Crocodile recognized one of them instantly, a ruthless glint flashing across his face. It’s this damned noob! Bafflingly getting tangled up in my plans, thought he was just some naive brat who didn’t know his place, but he ended up disrupting my rhythm time and time again! Thump! Thump! Large rocks crashed onto the floor, causing tremors and stirring up billowing clouds of thick dust. "Cough cough cough!" Cobra turned his head away, avoiding the incoming dust. Then, heart burning with anxiety, he turned back towards the smoke, having spotted two familiar figures. He strained his voice, yelling towards the cloud: "Vivi! Pell!" "Father!!" Vivi’s long, drawn-out cry, filled with worry, answered him. However, Cobra felt no joy of reunion, only panic, shouting back: "Don’t come over!! Run away, Vivi!!" "Pell! Get Vivi out of here!" "Not so easy!" A deep voice reached Cobra’s ears. The next moment, a dark shadow flitted past him. Crocodile’s lower body dissolved into swirling sand, his golden hook gleaming as he plunged headfirst into the thick smoke. No pleasantries, no warning signs. His belly full of fire urgently needed an outlet, and that target was naturally— "Die! Mugiwara Luffy!" BANG! BANG! The sounds of huge impacts echoed. Crocodile, who had charged in at explosive speed, was instantly sent flying back out of the smoke cloud, crashing hard against the Poneglyph stone tablet and spitting out a mouthful of blood. "What the hell!?" Crocodile was completely baffled, his hair slightly disheveled, looking battered. The smoke obscured his vision, and the opponent’s speed was too fast; he hadn’t reacted at all. He only remembered something holding a shield suddenly blocking his path as he charged in. Unconcerned, he had activated his elemental form, planning to bypass it and go straight for the Straw Hat kid’s head. But unexpectedly— He got sent flying by one hit!? Something’s wrong! Very wrong! "Armament Haki!?" Crocodile stared in shock as the dust gradually settled, revealing several figures standing within. His attention naturally focused on Luffy wearing the straw hat, and the two tall figures holding spears and round shields, girded with greatswords – one of them had just repelled him. As for the others, besides Princess Vivi and Pell, there were three unfamiliar faces: a long-nosed man, an orange-haired girl, and a timid-looking blond man with a pet sitting on his shoulder. Just a few small fry, it seems. Crocodile assessed them briefly, thinking secretly. Nearby, Cobra and Robin were both astonished, staring at the Sand Crocodile who was bleeding slightly from the corner of his mouth. He had actually suffered a disadvantage in the very first exchange? Could this group really have the strength to defeat Crocodile? No, wait! Robin watched the Sand Crocodile stand up; he looked battered but wasn’t seriously injured. Her expression grew complicated. Should I take this chance to betray him? Robin had long prepared to backstab Crocodile. She had hidden a test tube of water in her coat pocket, just waiting for the right moment. Now wasn’t the time; she needed to wait until his guard was down before striking. "And who are you people?" Crocodile frowned, staring intently at the Blue Ogre and Red Ogre. His intelligence reports on the Straw Hat crew didn’t include these two. But the threat he felt from them was the strongest; every movement revealed a sense of explosive power combining strength and speed. "They’re called Blue Ogre and Red Ogre! They’re the strongest combat members on our ship! You’re finished, Sand Crocodile!" Reiner yelled loudly from behind a fallen rock where he was hiding, having popped his head out. Nami and the others were also hiding. The only ones standing with Luffy were Pell the Falcon. And so, Luffy, Blue Ogre, Red Ogre, and Pell stood facing off against Crocodile, their gazes meeting mid-air, sparks seeming to fly. "Nico Robin! Go take care of that trash hiding over there." Crocodile glanced coldly at Robin beside him, his deep voice icy, like a command that wouldn’t be defied. Sand swirled rapidly around his hand. "Understood," Robin replied coolly and turned away. Now is not the time to act. Play along first and keep looking for an opportunity, Robin thought secretly. Although that last exchange gave her some hope for the Straw Hat crew, Crocodile’s true strength was far greater than what he had shown. However, just as Robin turned her back— "Regrettably, I cannot trust you, Ms. All Sunday." Crocodile’s eyes hardened viciously. The sand swirling in his hand flew out, instantly forming into a blade edge aimed at Nico Robin. "Desert Spada!" He didn’t intend to kill Nico Robin, but facing opponents who could threaten him, Sand Crocodile couldn’t possibly allow someone he didn’t trust to remain by his side. He believed this woman had just been planning to hoard the information about the Ancient Weapon for herself. "You should just lie down for a while, Nico Robin." The sand blade formed instantly, vibrating intensely with a low hum, and shot towards the seemingly defenseless Robin. Yet, at that very moment, as if sensing something, Robin quickly turned sideways. Could she, who distrusted Crocodile, truly let her guard down? Having been with Crocodile, she was constantly wary of him. Her experiences from childhood taught her to trust no one, and she had honed the skill of always being alert to her surroundings. Simultaneously as he attacked, Robin pulled a vial of water and a dagger from within her coat. The sand blade grazed her shoulder, tearing her coat and drawing a splash of blood. However, enduring the pain, Robin threw the water towards Crocodile and flung the dagger like a throwing knife with all her might. This sudden turn of events stunned everyone present. Even Crocodile was baffled. So you wanted me dead all along! Reiner was also stunned. What the... —Everyone’s a backstabber!? Damn, this is exciting! Without time to think, the Blue and Red Ogres lunged forward like arrows, taking advantage of Crocodile’s momentary distraction to attack. Reiner knew Crocodile wouldn’t go down easily. Even if they couldn’t kill the Crocodile now, they had to at least protect Robin. ♧♧♧ -> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE -> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS Chapter ♧♧♧ -> 15 Advanced Chapters Now Available on Patreon!! -> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais (Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally) If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that’s help the story a lot Thank you