22- "Survival Instinct"
— I thought I told you not to get into trouble — Kara said as she placed a card on the table, playing against Nico Robin.
— And I didn't. For years, I worked in a library… but I had to follow my dream — Robin replied with a smile.
— Mmm… Is your dream to get involved with a pirate who wants to rule Arabasta? — Kara asked, making a face as she looked at the cards she had drawn.
— It's a stepping stone to my dream. After all, he doesn't want to rule Arabasta; he just needs the Poneglyph that tells him where to find the hidden weapon he seeks — Robin responded calmly, placing a card on the table.
Kara clicked her tongue at the move.
— Tsk. I lost again… — she muttered in frustration as she tossed her cards onto the table. Then she stood up and stared intently at Robin.
— Don't let the Government find out you can read that — Kara warned, looking at her seriously. After a few seconds, she turned around and started walking away.
— Vice Admiral… Kara — Robin suddenly called, stopping her.
Kara didn't turn around, but she waited in silence for her to speak.
— Thank you — Robin whispered softly.
Kara simply raised her hand in a farewell gesture without looking back, hiding the smile forming on her face. She felt happy that Robin hadn't spent all those years being cruelly hunted… though, in the end, she had ended up in the same place. At least she didn't carry a past filled with betrayals.
Meanwhile, the others, who had been waiting outside the room, quickly approached when they saw Kara come out.
— Well, we have some evidence… but it's not enough — Kara said as she handed over a folder that Robin had discreetly passed to her. — We need to catch him red-handed. For now, let's keep having fun… and then we'll look for Smoker — she added with a smile.
— But there's a lot of noise outside. Why don't you guys go check it out? — Kara said, listening to the commotion coming from the casino.
Using her Observation Haki, she already knew who it was, but she sent the three outside just so she could walk alone for a while. After all, they were like babysitters always trailing behind her.
— Alright — Tashigi replied, quickly heading out with Zoro and Chopper.
Kara sighed and stretched.
— Aaah… that cheater Robin took all my money. I'll have to borrow some from Smoker… — she murmured as she walked leisurely.
Meanwhile, in the casino owner's office…
— A very clever trap… — Luffy said as he looked at the bars that imprisoned him.
— Yeah, it was inevitable… — Usopp said, standing by his side.
— It was completely obvious! You did exactly what the enemy wanted! — Nami yelled furiously. — Are you all idiots!?
— By the way… why do I feel so weak? — Luffy asked as he held onto the bars.
— Maybe you're hungry? — Usopp suggested.
Smoker, who was in the same cell, stood up and grabbed his jitte. Without warning, he struck Luffy with the tip of the weapon, making him collapse to the ground.
— Captain Luffy! — Gin shouted, getting into a defensive stance. The others also prepared to act.
Smoker stabbed Luffy again with his jitte, making him writhe on the floor.
— I-I'll fight you if that's what you want, smoke man… — Usopp stammered, trembling. He struck a martial artist's pose, though it was clear he had no technique. — I once helped defeat a bomb man… — he said while slowly backing away.
— Why don't I have any strength? — Luffy complained, still on the ground. — It's like when I fall into the water…
— What did you do to Luffy? — Nami asked with a frown, looking seriously at Smoker.
— It's Seastone — Smoker explained. — The tip of my jitte is made of that material… and these jail bars are probably made of it too. Not much is known about this mineral, but it carries the same energy as the sea.
— I-I see… so that's why Luffy is weakened… — Usopp said quickly.
Gin took his tonfas and got ready to attack Smoker.
—Wait! What do we gain by fighting in this situation? —shouted Usopp to stop them.
—Yeah… besides, he's made of smoke, so we can't hurt him —added Nami quickly.
—Exactly. Surrender… You're all going to die together. Wouldn't it be better if you got along?
An unfamiliar voice interrupted the conversation.
Everyone turned their heads and saw someone sitting in the office, not far from the cage. It seemed like he had been there from the beginning, but no one had noticed him because the seat was turned toward a large aquarium.
—Crocodile… —muttered Smoker with a serious expression.
As Luffy quickly got up after being freed from Smoker's jitte, he exclaimed in confusion:
—What…?
Then, Crocodile revealed his face. Nami and Usopp shuddered in fear, while Smoker glared at him with anger.
—He looks as despicable as I imagined… —muttered the marine with disdain.
—So you're the wild dog everyone talks about, Smoker —Crocodile said mockingly, casting a look of contempt at everyone trapped in the cage—. It seems you've known for a while that I'm not on the Marines' side. If that's the case, I think I'll make sure you have an "accidental" death. I'll tell the Government that you fought splendidly against that disgusting Straw Hat pirate.
He slowly approached them with a confident smile.
—I don't know why you came to this country, but I assume you're alone. The Government would never have sent you here. After all, everyone trusts me… a Warlord of the Sea.
Smoker stared at him, unfazed.
—I'd like to say I came alone… but, unfortunately for you, that's not the case.
—Hmm? And who could possibly have come with you that could face me? —Crocodile scoffed.
However, suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the room. The wall next to the office's entrance shattered, and amid the dust and debris, a woman casually walked in.
—Smoker, I ran out of money. Lend me a million, and I'll pay you back later —said the newcomer nonchalantly, walking straight toward the cage where the others were trapped.
—What are you guys playing at? —Kara asked, curious.
—Idiot, we're not playing! Get us out of here! —grumbled Smoker in frustration.
Ignoring him completely, Kara turned to Luffy.
—Hey, Luffy, lend me ten million. I'll pay you back twenty later.
—I don't have any money —Luffy replied without hesitation. Then he looked away, but suddenly shouted angrily—: Are you Crocodile?! Fight me…!
But when he turned around, he realized he was shouting at thin air.
—Huh? Where is he…?
Crocodile had disappeared. Or rather, the moment he saw Kara, his survival instincts kicked in at full force, and without thinking, he turned into sand and fled at top speed.
—Eeeeh?! He ran away? —Usopp exclaimed in shock.
—Tsk… you're all broke. If I hadn't left all my money somewhere else, I wouldn't have to borrow… —Kara complained, turning around, ready to leave.
—Wait, please, wait! —Nami and Usopp shouted in unison.
—Please, big sis, free us! —Nami pleaded quickly.
—That's right, big sis, please! —Usopp insisted, dramatically kneeling.
Kara looked at them with an evil smile as she approached again.
—Hmm… should I?
As she toyed with them, a massive shadow appeared behind her. Everyone's jaws dropped as they saw a giant crocodile looming menacingly.
—Hey, watch out! —Smoker warned.
However, before anyone could react, a metal grate pierced the crocodile, and suddenly, it crumbled into dozens of tiny crocodiles that scurried across the floor in terror.
—Now, where were we? Oh, right, Smoker was going to lend me money —Kara said nonchalantly, changing the topic as if nothing had happened.
—Tsk… just get us out of here, and I'll give you the money —Smoker grumbled, giving in.
Meanwhile, the others were still in shock, except for Luffy, who was already familiar with Kara's ability.
Kara stopped teasing them and easily destroyed the cage bars.
—Didn't Smoker say Devil Fruit users can't touch seastone? —Usopp asked quickly.
—The bars are made of steel with small fragments of seastone. I just broke the steel that held them together —Kara replied, making up a convincing justification.
The reality was that seastone had no effect on her. Only the sea itself could affect her, making her feel strange and weakening her magical control. It was unusual, but Kara had never bothered to analyze it too much. After all, she wouldn't sink like a hammer.
She had accepted this phenomenon as a sort of "law of the world" trying to contain her, but since it was a different kind of power, it had no real effect on her. The same was true when her ability evolved through Haki.
—Where did Crocodile go?! —Luffy shouted eagerly as soon as he was out of the cage.
Without saying a word, Kara destroyed another wall with a single punch, revealing the way outside.
—That way —she said calmly.
—Here I go! —Luffy exclaimed, nodding before dashing off.
—Wait, Luffy! —the others shouted, immediately following him.
Kara observed Smoker, who wore a displeased expression as he watched the Straw Hats leave.
—Not going after him? —she asked, noticing his bad mood.
—No. There's something more important. Let's find evidence so you can arrest Crocodile —Smoker said, turning around to leave the casino.
—Tsk… and he didn't even give me any money —Kara complained.
Then, she noticed a safe in the corner of the room, clearly belonging to Crocodile.
With a malicious smile, she murmured to herself:
—As a good marine, it's my duty to confiscate all pirate treasures…
—----------------------------
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