One Piece Gunslinger

After hearing this, Robin's eyes darted around, and he deliberately asked, "Then why did you go to so much trouble to persuade me to join the Revolutionary Army?"

"Of course, it's because we're short-handed. As our power grows, I can't always be in charge of everything. Compared to the behemoth that is the World Government, we're still far behind. Oh, by the way, have you ever heard the saying?"

"what?"

"Let kind people walk hand in hand. Let them raise the banner of truth, goodness, and beauty, and work together to seek happiness for this world. The ideas that have a profound impact are often extremely simple..."

Before Li Ang could finish speaking, Robin interjected, "If immoral people can form a force when they gather together, then upright people should do the same."

"Huh? Eh? So you knew." Li Ang was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said, "That makes sense. Even if that's the case, we need to gather all our forces."

Li Ang had said this four years ago, before the Revolutionary Army was exposed and it even made the newspapers. It's normal for someone to remember it, and it's even more normal for someone like Robin, who reads books and newspapers all the time and has an extraordinary memory, to know this.

"But the World Government is so vast and its influence so deeply entrenched. What if we spend our entire lives and still fail to overthrow it?" Robin chuckled, deliberately asking this question again.

However, Leon remained oblivious, as many others shared this concern, including numerous Revolutionary Army soldiers. Leon also never promised guaranteed success or that the World Government could be overthrown within a certain number of years.

Therefore, Li Ang, with his rich experience, naturally said: "The most precious thing a person has is life, and life is given to each person only once. A person's life should be spent in such a way that when he looks back on the past, he will not regret wasting his years, nor be ashamed of having accomplished nothing. In this way, when he is about to die, he can say..."

"I have dedicated my entire life and all my energy to the most magnificent cause in the world—the struggle for the liberation of mankind."

However, before Li Ang could finish speaking, Robin finished the sentence.

"Huh? How come you know that phrase too?" Li Ang asked in surprise.

"Hehe, I overheard this by chance when I was wandering around before. It seems that such sayings have gradually spread." Robin explained it casually.

Well, after all, this saying was known to everyone in the revolutionary army, so there's nothing wrong with it being passed down. It makes sense.

But that wasn't all. Robin used the same tactic again, feigning concern as she asked, "Even so, our Revolutionary Army might not succeed. They might spend their entire lives, even several generations, and still fail to overthrow the World Government, ending in defeat and annihilation. Facing such an opponent, I see no way out, no hope."

These are common questions, frequently raised by revolutionary soldiers from all walks of life. Almost every soldier under Chen Meijun had these doubts. Since Li Ang couldn't explain them all by himself, he compiled and printed "Carry the Revolution Through to the End," and also specially trained several teachers to instruct others, thus resolving these ideological burdens.

Li Ang also wrote the answer to this question in the book, and now is the perfect time to bring it up: "I think hope is neither something that exists nor something that doesn't exist. Just like the path on the ground..."

Robin quickly replied, "Actually, there was no road on the ground to begin with, but as more people walked on it, it became a road."

"Oh my god, oh my god!" Li Ang finally realized what was going on. "You tricked me!"

Oh wow, even Li Ang can get tricked. Who was it that said Li Ang wouldn't get tricked?

One sentence could be a coincidence, two sentences could be explained, but now the third sentence has been answered by someone else, which shows that Robin actually knows quite a lot.

"Hehehe." Robin couldn't help but cover his mouth and laugh when he saw Li Ang's embarrassed look: "I've only read the book 'Carry the Revolution Through to the End,' and you wrote all of what you said into it."

In fact, Robin had not only read it, but she had read the book countless times. With her amazing memory, she could actually recite it from memory.

It has to be said that Robin was incredibly lucky to get a copy of "Carry the Revolution Through to the End." As mentioned before, although the book was sold within the Revolutionary Army's sphere of influence, it was a luxury item that few people appreciated and was extremely expensive. Very few copies ever circulated, let alone reached Robin's hands.

Robin obtained this hard-won treasure book by chance. It was a precious book to Robin.

She had spent over a decade wandering, and over a decade navigating the cutthroat world of intrigue. Just when she was about to give up, when she was utterly disheartened, this book appeared. The essence of human wisdom, originating from ancient and modern times, from all corners of the world, gave her a glimmer of hope; she practically depended on it for survival. Supported by this book, she didn't succumb to complete despair.

And Li Ang, the author of this book, had naturally already left a tall and imposing image in Robin's mind.

Chapter 220 Testing

So Li Ang was annoyed. It turned out that he didn't want to make things so complicated in the first place, with all the hugging and comforting and counseling.

It turns out I'm her idol. All I need to do is reveal my identity, and everything will be solved. Robin will immediately switch sides and surrender politely. Besides, psychological trauma can be addressed later; there's no need for Li Ang to resort to such drastic measures.

And Robin's expression, a mixture of excitement and disappointment, upon hearing that Li Ang was actually the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, was understandable to Li Ang. She just felt he was quite different from the incredibly tall and imposing figure she had imagined. It's really a shame I'm not handsome enough, and not earth-shattering enough.

Li Ang then put these absurd thoughts aside and focused on the important matter at hand. There was still Crocodile waiting for him to persuade (the physicist).

"Alright, since that's the case, and you've almost recovered, let's get down to business." Li Ang and Robin have spent quite a bit of time here, so they need to get moving quickly.

Then Leon explained his plan to Robin, bit by bit, from the initial preparation of the seawater desalination device to later persuading Crocodile to join the Revolutionary Army.

Robin grew increasingly alarmed as she listened. Putting everything else aside, this single move alone was worth a billion bounties; the World Government's warrant for his arrest was indeed justified. If Li Ang's plan succeeded, it would be tantamount to poaching one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, who, along with the Navy, were meant to counterbalance the Four Emperors, right under the World Government's nose. Moreover, it would subtly draw a major power within the World Government to the Revolutionary Army's side.

In the end, Li Ang slipped away without the World Government even realizing what had happened, completely unaware that they were about to lose two fingers. By the time a crucial moment arrived and this move truly began to take effect, it was too late for the World Government to react.

"However, we only established our cooperation with Alabasta because of the desalination plant. So what do we have to offer Crocodile?" Robin is already using "we" now, and Crocodile is being abandoned at lightning speed.

“Well, we can only try the conventional methods first, appealing to his emotions and reasoning with him. We’ll present the facts and explain the benefits of our cooperation, and perhaps even resort to a little force. If all else fails, I have another trump card,” Li Ang said, stroking his chin.

Robin asked curiously, "What's your trump card?"

"I don't know, I don't know what kind of trump card it is either," Li Ang replied seriously. "Because I don't know what the trump card is, it's not stable and might have the opposite effect, so it's best to avoid using it."

Li Ang's words left Robin completely bewildered if she weren't so quick to understand. She didn't even know what kind of trump card was also a trump card.

However, Robin didn't dwell on the issue too much. Li Ang said that if he didn't know either, then so be it.

"Okay, then I'll take you to see him now." After saying that, he returned to his calm and collected demeanor, putting on that disguise once again.

Then he led Li Ang outside.

"Is this the guy who defeated four top agents?" However, things were not that simple. Just as Robin and Li Ang stepped out the door, they bumped into a tall man with a clean-shaven head.

"What, you want to fight me?" As soon as Li Ang saw the character "壱" on his chest, he knew that this person was Mr. 1, the second strongest fighter in Baroque Works after Crocodile.

Although he was competitive, he wasn't a warmonger. Faced with Li Ang's provocation, Mr. 1 didn't react much. He simply sized Li Ang up and down.

He had just returned from a mission and heard that four senior agents had been defeated by Li Ang, so he was curious and wanted to come and see for himself. However, that was all he did. Li Ang was someone the president had ordered him not to take any lives, which showed how much the president valued him, so Mr. 1 did not intend to cause any unnecessary trouble.

However, Li Ang didn't want it to end so simply. Mr. 1's indifference didn't mean Li Ang didn't have other ideas: "Alright, alright, get out of my way. I'm going to see your president. With my abilities, maybe I'll be Mr. 1 someday."

Robin was somewhat surprised that Leon repeatedly provoked Mr. 1, as this was not part of the plan. However, perhaps Leon had his own reasons, and Robin did not stop him.

Mr. 1's expression changed slightly in response to Li Ang's renewed provocation, but he quickly regained his composure. He calmly made way for Li Ang and Robin, uttering only one sentence at the beginning and saying nothing more afterward.

Li Ang didn't say anything more provocative, and left the secluded tavern with Robin. Once they were a distance away, Robin asked, "Why did you provoke him just now?"

"I didn't say, it was just out of interest."

Li Ang's answer was clearly unconvincing. Robin, for one, didn't believe it: "Fine, if you don't want to know, I don't want to know either."

"What? Nobody believes the truth anymore? What happened to the trust we agreed on?" Li Ang said in a strange tone.

“Trust is trust, but it’s not unconditional trust. I’m not stupid enough to believe such a lame excuse.” Robin was just asking casually.

However, Leon was genuinely just interested and didn't make up any lame excuses. In his memory, Mr. 1 was a taciturn person who was also extremely loyal to Crocodile, even after learning that the president was Crocodile and that he knew Crocodile's purpose. He remained loyal and still referred to himself as Crocodile's subordinate in Impel Down.

So Leon wanted to test whether Mr. 1 was truly loyal enough to Crocodile. His first deliberate provocation was intended to provoke Mr. 1 into attacking him. However, Crocodile's orders were far more authoritative than Leon's provocation. Mr. 1 merely glanced at Leon and made no further move.

Of course, this may also be related to Li Ang's clumsy provocation, which is on par with "Hey, grandson" and "What are you looking at?".

However, Li Ang's second provocation was much more sophisticated. First, he said he was going to see the president, and then he said that he might become the new Mr. 1 and oust him.

If it were a normal person, they probably wouldn't be able to stand it. I was here first, so why should you get to see the president?

Mr. 1 is fiercely loyal to Crocodile, but he has yet to actually meet him. The only person he has been able to contact is Vice President Robin. So, if someone else were to meet the president before him, it would be a huge shock to him.

Not to mention, if anyone actually gets to see the president, it proves that Crocodile trusts Leon far more than Mr. 1. And Leon is just an outsider. This is undoubtedly another shock.

So Li Ang met the president, who trusted him implicitly. Coupled with his impressive skills in defeating four high-ranking agents simultaneously, replacing Mr. 1 seemed highly likely. This was the third layer of impact.

After Li Ang finished his skill combo, he also had Robin's assist. But Robin was clearly observing from the sidelines, watching from a distance. Did she give him an assist with her eyes, without actually doing anything?

It's precisely because Robin did nothing and said nothing that she was able to provide an assist, giving Mr. 1 the illusion of tacit approval. Robin is the vice president, the only person who could previously see the president. If Robin doesn't speak at this moment, isn't that tantamount to tacit approval?

Therefore, Li Ang's triple verbal attack, coupled with Robin's tacit assistance, actually stirred up a huge wave in Mr. 1's heart. If he had a short temper, he would have jumped up and dealt Li Ang a heavy blow, challenging Li Ang to a duel to prove his strength.

Even so, he didn't show any emotional outburst, remaining as composed as ever. Perhaps in his heart, while being Mr.1 was important, he also longed to meet the president.

But if these are all the president's decisions, then he can still bear it. Compared to loyalty, nothing else matters. So what if Li Ang wants Mr. 1? It only shows that he hasn't yet won the president's complete trust. Time will tell. As long as he performs better, more loyal, and works harder than Li Ang in the future, he will surpass Li Ang in the president's eyes.

If you find yourself inferior to Li Ang, then there's nothing more to say. He's better than you, and he deserves it. In any case, the biggest beneficiary in the end is the club president.

So after his second provocation failed to achieve any results, Li Ang quietly walked away. The second provocation was already the pinnacle and difficult to replicate, and Li Ang could not come up with another suitable provocation.

Li Ang provoked Mr. 1 simply to see how composed and loyal he truly was. The result, however, left Li Ang completely impressed.

"Alright, alright, I was just testing Mr. 1's reaction." Li Ang, seeing that Robin was ignoring him, decisively admitted defeat and surrendered.

Robin asked with a hint of curiosity, "Mr. 1, I don't know much about him; he's always been taciturn. So, what was the result of your probing?"

Li Ang said in a low, hoarse voice, "In the face of loyalty, even pride that one takes pride in can be abandoned. This man's obsession in certain aspects is truly terrifying. Even if he is not very strong now, once he encounters any opportunity or change, this terrifying obsession can make him rise rapidly and become a strongman."

Robin gave him a "you're kidding me" look, frowning as he asked, "You only exchanged two sentences with him, maybe twenty or thirty words. And you've already drawn so many conclusions? You're not lying to me again, are you?"

"Hey, that's called a psychological game. But what do you mean by lying to you again? Tell me, when have I ever lied to you?"

Chapter 221 Mastering the Rhythm

Rain Banquet is a newly built casino located in the most bustling area of ​​Alabasta's most prosperous city. Within days of its completion, it had already attracted numerous wealthy individuals.

In terms of luxurious decor and attentive service, Rain Banquet isn't significantly better than other casinos. The main reason is that its owner is the infamous Shichibukai, so there's no need to worry about any unforeseen events; he simply feels secure.

Within this bustling casino, however, lies a quiet, private space, an area of ​​unparalleled luxury, Crocodile's private domain.

“I don’t recall asking you to bring him,” Crocodile said, a cigar dangling from his mouth, as he sank deeper into the sofa, looking displeased.

"Hey, what can I do? I'm just too difficult to handle." Li Ang couldn't imitate Crocodile's sitting posture. The sofa was too big, and Li Ang wasn't tall enough, so he could only lean forward and rest his elbows on the coffee table.

A person's posture can reveal their psychology to some extent. Crocodile's posture clearly shows extreme confidence and asserts his dominance over the area, while Leon's actions are a direct countermeasure and appear more aggressive.

"Oh? With your intelligence, there are times when you can't handle things?" Old Sand said this to Robin. "Or is it a matter of strength? This friend's strength is beyond your ability to control."

“Hehe, speaking of strength, he is indeed not bad.” Robin laughed. “However, that’s not the reason. I just thought it might be better to have a proper talk, so I brought him here.”

"Is that so? Since that's what she thinks, then I'll talk to you and see what you have to offer that might sway me," Crocodile said noncommittally to Leon.

Li Ang shook his head; "You're wrong. Now it's you who needs my help, so you should have something that can move me."

Upon hearing Li Ang's words, Crocodile's face also showed some anger: "Kid, don't get me wrong, I'm not some nobody you've met before, you don't not recognize me, do you?"

Li Ang scoffed, "Who doesn't know the name of the Shichibukai Crocodile? But what does that have to do with the business we're discussing now? In my eyes, there's only profit, nothing else. Who I talk to or what I talk about is not important. What's important is whether this can bring me profit, and more profit."

Judging from Li Ang's acting skills, if Robin didn't know Li Ang's true identity, she might have been fooled into thinking that Li Ang was a businessman who prioritized profit above all else.

"Hahaha, the Grandet Group truly lives up to its reputation. It seems the outsiders weren't wrong. Their pursuit of profit and their meticulousness are on full display." Old Sha laughed, but everyone could hear the hint of anger in his laughter.

"You flatter me, you flatter me," Li Ang said shamelessly. The outcome was destined when the company was named the Grandet Consortium. "Actually, it's just that our consortium is more direct and unpretentious. Everyone in the world is the same."

Old Sha snorted coldly: "Alright, stop beating around the bush. I'll just say it directly: terminate your cooperation with Alabasta immediately."

"Hehe, finally couldn't hold back, huh? Little brat, whoever speaks first in this kind of thing has already lost half the battle."

However, Li Ang still shook his head in a pretentious manner: "In this matter, unless terminating cooperation with Alabasta brings greater benefits, it is impossible for our cooperation to end."

"Oh? Then I'd like to ask, would it be acceptable if it were in exchange for your life?" Crocodile finally revealed his true thoughts.