Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me

"I can guarantee that you will not cause any damage to the item. Isn't cutting the payment in half a bit excessive...?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just the president's secretary. I'm only here to inform you of his decision. I have no right to interfere with my president's decision."

The dark-haired beauty remained unmoved by Joak's questioning.

She gave a helpless look: "Besides, not delivering on time has already caused considerable losses to our company."

"I was just acting according to the previously agreed contract, so this loss can only be deducted from your payment..."

"..."

Yoak wanted to say something else.

However, he couldn't say it because of the "contract" the other party mentioned, and his face was full of melancholy and helplessness.

Two seconds later, he sighed dejectedly: "I understand, we broke our promise this time."

"Since it has caused you losses, then let's do it your way..."

He did business by attracting women and fearing the enemy.

The trip was delayed by three days and the delivery was not made within the agreed time; this was indeed their fault.

He smiled bitterly to himself.

The trip was delayed by three days, but it's not really their fault. Anyone would have their plans disrupted if they encountered two storms in a row...

It's all the fault of the slow-moving demon.

"Although you didn't deliver on time this time, as long as the goods are not damaged, we will have the opportunity to cooperate again next time."

The black-haired beauty smiled and said, "I still trust your Yoak caravan, and I hope we can cooperate happily next time."

Joak could only blame his bad luck: "Then thank you..."

"We've finally found you, Mr. Joak."

Just then, Joak heard someone call his name and couldn't help but look over.

He was also stunned when he saw the trio.

Although Rocks was wearing sunglasses, Joak still recognized him, since Nami and Kuina beside him were not disguised.

Joak's voice became stammering: "Your...Your Excellency, what...what are you doing here?"

"I came here to take care of some things."

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

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

He recognized her at a glance—"Child of the Devil" Nicole Robin!

I couldn't help but feel surprised.

I never expected to run into them here.

What a coincidence...

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

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

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

Rocks didn't care that Robin was there.

He explained why he sought out the other party: "There was fruit in the reward, but in the fruit, we found a devil's fruit."

"The Devil Fruit is a bit too expensive, so I'm going to return it to you."

"Is there 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 speak, but glanced at Lox out of the corner of his eye.

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

Faced with the temptation of a Devil Fruit, the other party was able to maintain their rationality and even intended to return the Devil Fruit.

Such people are rare on the high seas.

Stupid?

Perhaps.

But more importantly, it illustrates that the other party has their own bottom line and is unmoved by external factors...

"Your Excellency need not do this."

Yoak smiled and shook his head: "Although the Devil Fruit is very valuable, it is nothing compared to the grace of being saved."

"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 others for nothing..."

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

Despite some attempts to decline, Joak insisted on doing so, leaving Lockes 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?"

"Yes, a potential problem."

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

Upon seeing Robin there, Rocks began to wonder why the other man was there.

They only found out after their Observation Haki swept over the Yoak ships.

On the ship Yoyak, a boat was found to be carrying a large amount of water. The culprit behind the three-year drought in the region was dancing powder!

Let's calculate the time.

This is indeed the starting point of Crocodile's "Operation Utopia," which is three years before Rubber Sun God set sail...

Chapter 89: The Exposed Dancing Fan and Robin's Attempt!

"what?"

Yoak was stunned.

Will this affect the future of their caravan?

"..."

Robin's eyes flashed.

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

If the Yoak caravan were to be destroyed, it would 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 absolutely pursue the matter to the end…

"Please...what kind of hidden danger is it?"

If someone else had said this, Joak might not have believed it, but the other person was a powerful individual, and the words of a powerful individual are generally quite credible.

"You thieves are stealing our property!"

Lox 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 had a wide range of knowledge and was familiar with the "prohibited items" of the goods.

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

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

"..."

Joak knew, of course.

This is a powder that goes against 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 Joak's eyes.

He looked at Robin and questioned, "Please give me an explanation. You entrusted my caravan with the task of transporting contraband, so why is it a forbidden substance like dancing powder?"

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

Robin had a headache.

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

It's not easy to legally and compliantly sell dancing powder.

Only caravans trusted by the Alabasta royal family could smuggle large quantities of dancing powder 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 secretly...

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 let's not do it!"

Lox looked at Robin and grinned, "Since your boss is making things difficult for you, how about you change your boss, 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 her to the present through the wanted poster he posted as a child...

And this person recognized her at a glance.

How could she not be on her guard?

"At least I was wearing sunglasses," Lockes said. "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 now...

Staring at Rocks, who was wearing sunglasses, Robin's mind raced, and finally his pupils widened 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 understand where that vague sense of familiarity came from.

Isn't that the "Black-Haired Swordsman" who caused a huge commotion in the East Blue not long ago, with a bounty of 130 million Berries on his first try?

“It’s good that you recognize me. What do you think of my suggestion? Crocodile isn’t a good boss, but I’m definitely a good captain.”

Lockes smiled and said, "I'm talking about the 'half-U group' of Nicole Robin."

Nami: "?"