Crocodile returned to his hideout where a beautiful and mature black haired woman was busy managing many documents involving many types of different secrets of his business and organisation. "Miss All-Sunday, what information do you have on the person within the casino that had accompanied the diva Ann?"
Miss All Sunday or otherwise known as Nico Robin lifted up her head and spoke calmly. "There are few that match her appearance and rumoured strength or abilities within the White Storm. If I had to say then it should be the mixed martial arts champion of the Karate Island championship."
She then looked at the wound on Crocodiles cheek and continued. "However the strength shown during the competition was rumoured or described to be much lower than what should be possible to allow her to wound you."
She had used her abilities to silently monitor the meeting since she had curiosity about who was brave enough to go against a Warlord of the Sea but was shocked at how Alyssia defeated Crocodile in power, tactics and exploitation of the rules within the contract.
Alyssia had made Crocodile put away his arrogance and be on the defensive which was a feat that not many could do so easily and she had succeeded in getting her own way without suffering a single loss.
This made Nico Robin very interested in Alyssia but since Alyssia was not someone who showed herself in the world often, there was little information about her in the world besides some articles, affiliations or the place that she has set up a base within. "So how do you plan to deal with this? Do you really wish to make some small business matters a personal matter over a small problem? I know your attitude and goals but sometimes it is just best to give in to avoid making more enemies. Or at least now we can give in until we have the power to fight back once we have achieved our objective."
Crocodile went silent as he was deep in thought. "You are right but.. you made one mistake. This is my territory, even if I cannot beat her there are always other ways to do so."
A cold smile appeared on his face and Nico Robin looked at him silently before continuing her work. "The White Storm is a newly emerging force but they are not truly part of any power as they remain neutral and focussed towards business. They avoid conflicts usually but when their own are harmed, they can be very unforgiving. It may be wise to not provoke them further and keep our current business relationship with them without any personal matters being involved."
Crocodile shrugged and left the room leaving behind Nico Robin who was buried in paperwork.
As Ann put on her performance, Alyssia protected her smoothly and afterward she had accepted the payment as stated in the contract along with an apology gift full of chips from the casino. 'Is this truly a gift…or is it a temptation?"
Crocodile would not be so easily beaten, if he lost then he would move onto the next method so what had been given to her was most likely a trap.
She patted Ann's shoulder as she dragged her towards the roulette table and started placing some safer bets with the chips given to her.
As she had some more time to memorise and learn from the system during the performance and time spent waiting for to meet the manager, she had gained a better understanding of many things within the casino.
Her many senses and instincts were much greater than ordinary humans and she possessed Observation Haki so she was able to notice the slightest differences as she slowly calculated what was most beneficial to bet on and how to earn the most profits without being suspicious.
A problem had arisen as she started making larger amounts of chips and placing more on her bets, she noticed a strangeness with the person in charge of the roulette wheel and ball.
She was winning a suspicious amount of times and many people around her were cheering her on as they kept inflating her ego a little at a time.
She became more daring with her bets and won big each time as if everything was on her side but everything was just a manipulation.
A man who had been losing a lot but had a large amount of chips left which far exceeded her own which showed that he was far richer than what Alyssia possessed, sat nearby her and revealed frustration and resentment towards Alyssia.
As the chips were beginning to deplete from him after many losses and as Alyssia was experiencing a large amount of wins, the flow of the game started to change as the manipulation was mixed within ordinary games as Alyssia lost a couple more small amounts as she had detected the change. 'It is time.'
She noticed that everything was coming to a climax as there was a change in intentions from the crowd around her which were encouraging her to keep going and praising her when she won.
She calmly stood up and started collecting her large pile of chips to head towards another table as the man scolded. "Aren't you sticking around? Are you chicken? I have been here suffering losses and here you are being so lucky each time. A couple of losses and you do not even have the guts to stick around. How about this? If you do not have the guts to continue then how about a private bet? Red or black? Odd or even? Pick one and I will chose the other. We can both bet everything on one final game. I will even be generous and allow you to get more chips to match the difference between us. How about it? Hey, sir! Can you allow this personal game between the two of us? I really want to beat this kid today."
"Of course if that is what both of you wish then we can play that way."
"Wow how exciting!"
"Hey do not let us down girly."
"He is so arrogant with all of his berries as he is throwing it around."
"Beat him for us!"
Many of the crowd were friendly towards Alyssia as they continued to cheer her on and scold the man who had initiated the challenge as if they wished for her to step up and defeat him.
Alyssia had finished collecting her chips and she responded. "No thanks, I am done here."
She then continued towards the poker area leaving behind many dumbfounded people and an angered man who had been expecting to win by manipulation and be praised by the boss.
The whole event was staged to increase Alyssia's arrogance and to be manipulated into a high stakes bet which far exceeded the amount she had on her which would mean that she would have to use a large amount of the berries that she carried with her and had won previously.
Crocodile had used his people within the casino to stage the whole thing to get one final win over Alyssia but as she was lead towards the edge of the cliff, she was aware of it the whole time then backed off at the last moment.
She continued to play poker as she was learning to count cards and properly bluff or read others however there were also some other people who used other tricks like using their own cards to cheat.
Those methods were easier to point out so she created a large enough commotion when those methods could be identified and be proven to the crowd before being punished.
When she had made enough chips, she continued onto the blackjack table and other places until she finally cashed in her chips. 'Hahahahaha ahahahahaha you jerk Crocodile! You are lucky that I am being merciful and only taking this much otherwise.. heh heh."
The image of her draining all of the berries within the casino was tempting but there were always limits to peoples patience and how much they could lose out before taking action against her so she stopped before it got out of hand and used the event to teach him a lesson not to mess with her.
Most casinos can ban people who are suspected of cheating or win far too much to be seen as suspicious so she did not wish to be escorted out like that just because of her greed and to spite Crocodile.
Ann looked at the berries as they were deposited into Alyssia's clothes and laughed. "There is never a dull moment when you are around."
Alyssia shrugged as she escorted her out of the casino. "Now is not the time to be so happy about our achievements. The game is not over after all…"
The plot of Crocodile had ended in defeat for him but it did not end there, human greed and ignorance was something that could be used and a large amount of berries was the perfect lure for such people.
Even if Alyssia had won the silent war, she still had to deal with what came afterwards and Crocodile did not even have to make a move himself.
Alyssia quickly put herself lower so that Ann could get onto her back. "Hurry up and get on. Hold tight and we will get out of this place quickly."
She allowed Ann to get on her back as she gave her a piggy back and continued on into a deserted alleyway.
Hurried footsteps started coming towards her location and then people appeared in the alleyway. "Huh?"
"Where?"
"Did she disappear already?"
"We just had eyes on her."
"Impossible."
Alyssia had casually used her parkour abilities to scale the wall and make her escape as she started jumping roof to roof at a fast speed as she gained a large distance from her pursuers.
She and Ann continued like that as she left the area and continued towards the ship that was docked and waiting for them.
Before anyone could detect her ship and find her, Alyssia had already set sail and escaped with Ann.
Not too long after they both escaped a troublesome situation and were returning to each of their places of work, an event took place as a certain person had become noticed by the world.
Luffy and his crew had defeated the Arlong Pirates which earned him his first bounty.
On the ship where she was on her way back, Alyssia was informed of the news once the news coo had dropped the newspaper along with the new bounty posters. "Monkey D Luffy, thirty million berry bounty after defeating the Arlong Pirates and other known crews within the East Blue. For now it is good to know his current location from his bounty and the events of the story. Now I just have to wait for the next bounty so that I can make my move."
The most important starting point of her plans for exploiting various things in the timeline was when Luffy achieved a one hundred million berry bounty so although she was not sure about how long it would take for Luffy to enter the Grand Line and achieve his next bounty, when it was released to the world was when she was able to know when to leave Baldimore once again.