"Did you see the agent I sent over? Doublefinger picked her out herself. Said she was the prettiest one from this batch!"
"..."
'What's this guy getting at?' Dante thought. 'Seriously, when did this become my reputation? Nami thinks it, Kuzan thinks it, and now even Crocodile, my supposed partner?'
"Well now," Kuzan drawled, clearly enjoying himself as he watched Dante squirm. "Quite the degenerate Marine Captain we have here. No wonder you've been hiding out in East Blue all this time."
"..." Dante ignored Kuzan, keeping his eyes fixed forward. He gritted his teeth and spoke into the Den Den Mushi, forcing a laugh. "Saw her, yeah, I saw her! So, what'd you call for? If it's nothing important, I'm hanging up."
"Didn't the agent tell you?" The Crocodile Den Den Mushi's tone sharpened, followed by a cold snort. "Useless fool. Never mind."
The Den Den Mushi puffed on its cigar, smoke curling from its mouth, its expression turning serious. "This time, I actually need your help with something."
"Go on," Dante said.
"Baroque Works got intel that the Devil Child, Nico Robin, is hiding somewhere in East Blue right now. I need you to find her for me. Bring her to Alabasta."
As Crocodile's voice trailed off, everyone's eyes narrowed. Even Kuzan stared intently at the Den Den Mushi. He clearly hadn't expected that Shichibukai Crocodile's target would actually be the World Government's infamous Devil Child.
There was usually only one reason pirates went looking for Nico Robin, the woman who could read the Poneglyphs.
'Could that guy be after the Poneglyphs?' Kuzan lifted his head, his face expressionless as he looked at Dante. 'What's your move?'
Dante's eyes had also narrowed slightly. He feigned surprise. "The Devil Child? In East Blue? You sure about that information, my friend Crocodile?"
(E/N: He is using friend on purpose despite using bro in last chapter, Mc wants to create some distance between himself and Crocodile.)
"It's not confirmed yet, but Baroque Works did receive news that the Devil Child fled to the East Blue. So I'm hoping you can assist in finding her. After all, as a Marine Captain here, it'd be easier for you." The Crocodile Den Den Mushi maintained its serious expression. "Find her, and I'll make it worth your while."
"Eh, but I am-
"100 million," Crocodile cut in smoothly, anticipating Dante's hesitation. "Better than the World Government's price. Just hand her over to me."
A silence fell. Dante didn't answer right away, his eyes narrowing further.
At that moment, after hearing Crocodile's words, the entire hall fell silent once more. Everyone lowered their heads to look at Dante, who was lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking anything but a righteous Marine.
'How are you going to play this?' Even the normally lazy Kuzan sat up straighter, clasping his hands over his knees. His face gave nothing away as he glanced towards Robin, who watched Dante with a faint, knowing smile.
'Nico Robin,' Kuzan mused silently, 'did you bet on the right man this time?'
But it wasn't just Kuzan. Beside him, Nami pursed her lips at the mention of 100 million berries. 'Only 100 million...'
It was a lot of Berries, sure, but who did Crocodile think he was dealing with? They could just get Mock to make another run for more. Besides, they still had that gold mine in sky waiting.
However, seeing Dante not immediately refuse Crocodile, Nami glanced at Robin, then back at Dante. Although she knew Dante wouldn't actually be swayed by the money, she still felt a pang of anxiety and opened her mouth. "Dante..."
Before she could finish, Robin stopped her with a hand. Robin shook her head at Nami, then looked at Dante with a gentle smile. "I believe in him."
She had already placed her trust in him. Since she had made her choice, how could she doubt her boss now?
Just then, Dante, his eyes still slightly narrowed, finally spoke. Leaning back comfortably, swinging his crossed leg, he said with a smile, "Of course I'll help my friend! But..."
Before the Den Den Mushi could show any sign of satisfaction, Dante continued. "I want 500 million. East Blue is huge, you know. Finding someone trying to hide isn't easy. My men need to eat, too. And for me, a Marine? This is incredibly risky. If the World Government finds out, I'm finished."
"..." The Crocodile Den Den Mushi went silent again. Dante could almost feel the suppressed fury simmering through the connection. "500 million? Do you have any idea what you're-"
But Dante cut him off again."Crocodile... you wouldn't want word of you hunting the Devil Child reaching Marine Headquarters, now would you?"
Another silence fell on the other end of the line.
"300 million! That's my final offer. You should know, Marine Headquarters won't tolerate a Marine Captain harboring pirates, either!" The Crocodile Den Den Mushi stated expressionlessly. "And I haven't even seen the Devil Child yet!"
"Alright! For your sake, my friend Crocodile." Calling him 'friend' again, Dante chuckled heartily. "But can you wire the money over first?"
"Fine!" Seemingly unable to stomach how pragmatic this degenerate Marine Captain was, the Crocodile Den Den Mushi snorted coldly. "I hope you find her quickly. Otherwise..."
He didn't finish the threat, just hung up abruptly.
*Click... clack...*
Dante stared at the silent Den Den Mushi in his hand for a moment, eyes still narrowed. Then, ignoring Kuzan's knowing smirk, he looked directly at Robin beside him and sighed dramatically. "Seems like a lot of people want to get their hands on you."
Robin smiled, apparently unfazed by the entire exchange. "Then boss will just have to keep a closer eye on me," she replied, adding a playful wink.
'It's only been one night, and my secretary's already gotten pretty good at this.' Dante nodded with a smile, then turned to look at Vivi. "So now, let's talk about what the Alabasta Kingdom can offer me."
--**--**
Meanwhile, Crocodile, having also hung up the Den Den Mushi, looked at the device in his hand with a grim expression. In the dim office, he muttered to himself in a gloomy tone, "Dante..."
"Do you require me to deal with the Captain personally?" asked the burly man standing beside him, white flat-top hair, dark skin, Baroque Works agent Mr. 1, Daz Bonez. His voice was low and serious. "I will ensure he completes the mission obediently, boss."
"No need," Crocodile waved him off, taking a drag from his cigar. He tapped his fingers on the desk. "He's just a degenerate Marine Captain. We can deal with him after he finds the woman I need."
A genius Captain demoted by Marine Headquarters? Ridiculous. A man who'd languished in the weakest sea for years, consorting with pirates, lining his pockets in East Blue, fooling around with pirate women, accomplishing nothing of note, how could anyone call him a genius?
He himself might have fled the New World for the Grand Line, but he hadn't degenerated. He'd been searching constantly for a way back, preparing to settle old scores. And now... he'd found his key.
If it weren't for the fact that Dante still possessed some strength and he wanted to turn him into his spy within the Marines, as a major pirate, he wouldn't even bother with such disgusting filth.
Crocodile remembered meeting the man. That peculiar swordsmanship had been momentarily surprising, yes. But the way the 'dignified' Marine Captain got shifty about the woman with him, changing the subject when asked, barely letting Crocodile look her way... And that woman, whoever she was, definitely didn't carry the air of a Marine. She reeked of being a criminal.
Just a washed-up Marine demoted to East Blue, greedy for women and money.
But if Dante didn't have these vices, how could Crocodile have bribed him? That was also why he hadn't demanded repayment from the man over the years. A fool who still had some use.
'A useful fool,' Crocodile thought with a sneer. He looked up at Daz Bonez, flicking ash from his cigar. "Baroque Works is in your hands for now. Don't let anyone discover my identity. And wire that money. That greedy Marine won't lift a finger otherwise. As for the female agent I sent... I suspect she won't be returning."
--**--**
Back on the ship.
"I..."
Hearing Dante agree to help, Princess Vivi's heart had initially soared, but now her brow furrowed in worry. Before she could respond-
"Based on what you told us, Alabasta sounds like a great kingdom in the Grand Line," Nami cut in. Hearing Dante's decision, Nami, though still a bit worried inside, accepted it. Next... the negotiation was her job.
Nami's eyes gleamed with a familiar light, a professional smile on her lips. "So, how about one billion? To save a kingdom, that price seems fair."
Faced with Nami's condition, the initially happy Vivi's face fell. Seeing her expression, Nami, who dealt with money constantly, easily read the situation. She looked suspiciously at Vivi. "A great kingdom in the Grand Line... surely a mere billion isn't..."
"Alabasta... truly cannot afford that right now," Vivi admitted, a bitter smile twisting her lips. "We were once prosperous and peaceful, but the weather changes in recent years... our national income has plummeted, and riots have broken out among the people. The kingdom is in chaos. Most of our funds had to be used to help the citizens survive." She looked down, ashamed. "So, while I desperately hope you can help Alabasta... one billion... we just don't have it."
"Is it that bad?" Nami scratched her head, looking troubled. Privately, she respected Vivi for telling the truth, especially after hearing how the princess of a great nation had risked everything infiltrating a criminal organization to save her people. It reminded Nami painfully of her own past struggles.
She sighed inwardly, glancing at Dante, then back at Vivi with a helpless expression. "Well, you're not expecting us to do this for free, are you? Doesn't Alabasta have anything valuable? Maybe tell us about that?"
"I..." Vivi lifted her head, her gaze sweeping over everyone present before landing on Robin, seated beside Dante. Hesitation flickered across her face. But then, thinking of Alabasta's desperate situation, her deceived people, the terrifying Shichibukai... she suddenly clenched her jaw, steeling herself. "I can give you Alabasta's greatest treasure!"
"Alabasta's treasure?" Nami's interest immediately flared. "See? How could a great kingdom not have treasure? What is it?"
As soon as the words left Nami's mouth, Vivi, still wrapped in a blanket, stood up resolutely. She cast the blanket aside, gritted her teeth, and declared, "Me! As long as you save Alabasta, I can-"
"No, you can't!" Nami cut her off instantly, her face darkening. She spun around to glare daggers at Dante. "Look what you made her think!"
"Oh my, truly a degenerate Marine Captain." Kuzan chimed in smirking.
"Boss..." Robin simply chuckled softly.
'I didn't even do anything!' Dante protested internally. 'And there wasn't anything to see anyway!' His secretary's uniform was much better.
"Alright, that settles it!" Dante cleared his throat twice, standing up with forced nonchalance, pretending the last few seconds hadn't happened. He stretched lazily, pointedly ignoring Kuzan's amused stare. Looking down at Robin, who was beaming up at him, he adjusted the black fur coat slung over his shoulders, projecting an air of command or at least, his version of it. "Tell old Mock we've got another job!"
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