Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me!

He was also stunned when he saw the trio.

Although Rocks was wearing sunglasses, Yoak still recognized him, since Nami and Kuina beside him weren't disguised.

Joak's voice stammered, "Your...Your Excellency, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to take care of some things."

Lox smiled and replied, "There are also some things I need to tell you."

As he spoke, Rocks also looked at the dark-haired beauty.

He recognized her at a glance—"Devil's Child" Nico Robin!

I couldn't help but feel surprised.

I never expected to run into them here.

What a coincidence...

Yoak asked, puzzled, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

She wondered what the other person wanted from her, and whether she had offended them.

"Did Mr. Joak give me some compensation as a token of his gratitude?"

Rocks didn't notice Robin was there.

He explained why he had sought out the other party: "The reward included fruit, and among the fruit, we found a Devil Fruit."

"The price of this Devil Fruit is a bit too high, so I plan to return it to you."

"Is there really such a thing?"

Yoak hadn't expected this to happen.

What surprised him even more was that the other party actually chose to send it back...

"..."

Robin didn't say anything, but glanced at Rocks out of the corner of her eye.

It felt strangely familiar, but I didn't think about it in detail for a moment...

Despite the temptation of a Devil Fruit, the other party was able to remain rational and even planned to return the Devil Fruit.

Such people are rare on the high seas.

Silly?

maybe.

But more importantly, it illustrates that the other party has their own bottom line and is not swayed by external factors...

"Your Excellency need not do this."

Yoak smiled and shook his head: "Although Devil Fruits are very valuable, they are nothing compared to the life-saving grace."

"Besides, what reason is there to ask for something back once it's been given away?"

"I'm not the kind of person who would take advantage of someone for nothing..."

Rocks also had his own way of doing things and didn't want to take advantage of others.

After some refusals, Joak insisted on doing so, leaving Lox speechless.

What kind of nonsense is this...?

After thinking for a moment, Rocks said, "How about this, I'll solve a problem for you, and this Devil Fruit will be your reward."

Yoak was even more puzzled: "A hidden danger?"

"Hmm, a potential problem."

Lockes nodded: "If not handled properly, it could very well affect the future of your caravan."

Upon seeing Robin there, Rocks began to wonder why she was there.

They only realized it after their Observation Haki swept over the Yoak ship.

The cargo carried on Yoyak's ship was none other than the very culprit that had caused three years of drought in most of Alabasta—dancing powder!

Calculate the time.

Now is indeed the time when Crocodile's "Operation Utopia" begins, which is three years before Rubber Sun God sets sail...

Chapter 89: The Exposed Dancing Fan and the Recruitment of Robin!

"what?"

Yoak was stunned.

Will this affect the future of their caravan?

"..."

Robin's eyes flashed.

He wondered to himself: Had the other party discovered something?

If the Yoak caravan's transport of dance powder is exposed, it will indeed affect their future.

After all, dancing powder is considered a "banned item" in many places.

In Alabasta, a country with scarce rainfall, this item is extremely prohibited; if discovered, the Alabasta royal family will definitely pursue the matter to the end…

"Please...please tell me what the potential hazard is?"

If anyone else had said such a thing, Yoak might not have believed it, but the other party was a powerful person, and the words of a powerful person are usually quite credible.

"There's something wrong with the 'flour' you're delivering."

Lockes bluntly stated, "I don't know if you've ever seen green 'flour,' but I certainly haven't."

"Green flour..."

Joak muttered something.

Having traveled extensively, he has a wide range of knowledge and is familiar with the "prohibited items" in the freight industry.

As if struck by a thought, his pupils contracted slightly: "Could it be... a dance fan!?"

Locke chuckled: "Since you also know about this 'rain-summoning powder,' you must know how dangerous it is here."

"..."

Joak knew this, of course.

This is a powder that violates the laws of nature.

It will bring rain once it is used, but there are also corresponding consequences.

In Alabasta, where rainfall is scarce, the consequences would be magnified significantly…

Thinking of the possible consequences, anger flashed in Yoak's eyes.

He looked at Robin and questioned, "I demand an explanation. You entrusted my caravan to transport only flour, so why is it now a prohibited item like 'dancing powder'?"

"Oh dear, I didn't expect to be exposed."

Robin had a bit of a headache.

He gave a helpless look: "If the boss finds out, he'll blame me for not doing a good job..."

Transporting dance powder to Alabasta legally and compliantly is not easy.

Only caravans trusted by the Alabasta royal family could transport large quantities of dance powder into the heart of Alabasta without being searched.

The Yoyak caravan, which had trade dealings with the Alabasta royal family, was one of the best candidates.

As a result, the other party was exposed on the very first shipment.

Robin was truly helpless...

"Could you all please keep this a secret for me?"

Suppressing his helplessness, Robin smiled and looked at the people present: "Otherwise, it would be very difficult for me, as his subordinate..."

"Difficult to handle? If it's difficult, then don't do it!"

Rocks looked at Robin and grinned, "Since your boss is making things difficult for you, how about changing bosses, Miss Nicole Robin?"

"!?"

Upon hearing this, Robin's pupils contracted sharply.

He reflexively stepped back, his voice becoming wary: "Who are you? How do you know who I am?"

The reason she dared to openly reveal her true self was because her wanted poster showed her as a child.

Few people can connect the wanted poster from his childhood to her in the present...

This person recognized her immediately.

How could I not make her wary?

Rocks said, "At least I was wearing sunglasses, but you've exposed your true face to me. It would be strange if I didn't recognize you."

Robin: "..."

She didn't quite believe that.

Because Joak didn't recognize her.

If you weren't someone who was paying close attention to her, you wouldn't recognize her in person...

Staring at Rocks wearing sunglasses, Robin's mind raced, and finally her pupils dilated in shock: "The 'Black-Haired Swordsman' with a bounty of 130 million Berries for the Loguetown incident, I never expected it to be you..."

Now I finally know where that vague sense of familiarity came from.

Isn't the other party the "Black-haired Swordsman" who caused a big commotion in the East China Sea not long ago, with a bounty of 130 million Berries on his first offer?

“Recognizing me makes things easier. What do you think of my suggestion? Crocodile isn’t a good boss, but I’m definitely a good captain.”

Rocks smiled and said, "I sincerely invite you to join my adventure party, Miss Nico Robin."

Nami: "?"