I am Really not Crocodile in One Piece

Rosen was obsessed with One Piece and often imagined himself in this era of great pirates, where every moment in the sky and every breath of air held significance. His favorite Devil Fruit was the Logia-type ability of the Sand-Sand Fruit, wielded by the infamous Crocodile. On Chambord Islands, the fruit's power had proven to be a resounding success.

But above all else, there was one word that described him: handsome.

He admired many characters from the series, especially Nico Robin. Her intellectual beauty easily captivated hearts, and her mischievous smile added a hint of naughtiness.

Among the men, figures like Hawkeye Mihawk, Aokiji, and Bartholomew Kuma held his respect. However, his soft spot was for Crocodile, the former Warlord who Luffy had defeated early in his journey—a character often hailed as a plot-twisting genius.

Crocodile's strength was undeniable. In his battles against Luffy, he had triumphed numerous times before eventually being defeated, a result possibly influenced by Luffy's unwavering resolve.

In his youth, Crocodile had been as exceptional as Luffy, engaging in fierce clashes with figures like Whitebeard's subordinate, Marco. Notably, he had fought evenly with Silvers Rayleigh, further cementing his formidable reputation.

After failing to challenge Whitebeard, Crocodile lost his drive and sought power externally rather than refining his own abilities. This led to the Alabasta incident, where he pursued the ancient weapon, Pluton.

The most plausible reason for his defeat by Luffy was seeing the unyielding spirit within him, which had shaken Crocodile's beliefs. To be precise, it was Luffy who rekindled his ambition during their earlier encounter.

This belief held true as Crocodile returned to the New World to resume his fight after being cleansed of his previous failures. Of course, this was Rosen's interpretation.

However, Rosen never imagined waking up one day to find himself in Crocodile's body. As he gazed at the golden hook on his left hand—a hook that concealed a deadly blade coated with potent venom—he realized the danger he now faced. What if he accidentally cut himself and forgot the antidote? That would be disastrous.

Touching the long horizontal scar on his face and running his fingers through his now-well-kept hair, Rosen stared at his reflection in the mirror. It took him a while to accept this new reality—a reality where he resembled a gangster.

"Why am I Crocodile?" Rosen sighed, glancing at himself in the mirror. "Why not Hawkeye, or even Aokiji? Or Akainu, for that matter. Crocodile's encounter with Luffy... It's quite tragic. Though, I wonder if that fate will now be mine."

According to the storyline's progression, Rosen might end up defeated by Luffy and sent to Impel Down.

He wasn't sure of the current year or if Luffy had already set sail, but one thing was certain—it was raining outside. From where he stood, he could see a massive crocodile kept in an indoor aquarium.

"Blue, blue..." Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi on the table rang, startling Rosen. After hesitating for a moment, he picked up the receiver.

As he spoke, Rosen felt oddly natural—as if he suddenly understood the language and nuances of this world, as if he had always spoken this way. It was a strange change indeed.

"Boss," a soft voice greeted him from the other end of the Den Den Mushi. Rosen had inherited Crocodile's body and abilities but not his memories. Despite reading about the Alabasta saga several times, those memories remained distant and fragmented.

"Is that you, Nico Robin?" Rosen asked cautiously. He vaguely recalled that most of the Baroque Works operations were under her management.

"Yes, it's me," Robin confirmed.

"What's the matter?" Rosen inquired reflexively.

"The arrangements for Alabasta are nearly complete, but there's a matter regarding the secret agents..." Robin began, only to be interrupted by Rosen.

"Put that aside for now. Come over here. There are things I need your insight on," Rosen said after a brief pause.

Two years later, Nico Robin would become a key figure in the Pirate World's landscape. Though her appearance was not as striking as her intellect, her intellectual and sisterly demeanor still garnered her many admirers. Over the next year, this Treasure Royal Sister would truly reveal her charm.

Rosen wanted Robin to visit for several reasons: to meet her in person, to assess the current situation, and, if he were to set sail, to have Robin—a walking encyclopedia—as a valuable ally. Without his memories, navigating the seas alone would prove challenging.

He knew Robin was now his subordinate, but she was also someone who could easily turn against him—a somewhat unfriendly subordinate. After all, it was Robin who had exposed many crucial intelligence points, aiding Luffy in defeating Crocodile.

Pluton, Crocodile's dream of creating a utopia, did not interest Rosen. Robin would never divulge those secrets, even under threat of death. In the later stages of the story, with so many domineering figures and natural powerhouses, could Pluton, a weapon not inherently his own, truly make a significant impact?

True strength came from within. While the Sand-Sand Fruit was formidable, it wasn't the ultimate combat power. But with Haki, there were endless possibilities to explore and master.

As a Warlord of the Sea, Rosen knew he couldn't remain passive when storms loomed ahead. If nothing else, the upcoming Summit War made it imperative that he retain his status as a Warlord, lest he face dire consequences.

"Things are more complicated than I anticipated," Rosen muttered, sitting back in his chair. Since arriving in this world, anonymity wasn't an option for him—whether in status or strength. Why not embrace it and witness the wonders this world had to offer?

Does Raftel truly hold the One Piece, or is it merely a testament to indomitable will?

Boom! There came a knock on the door, followed by two rhythmic knocks. Rosen composed himself and said, "Come in."

The door creaked open, revealing a tall, slender woman with a dark complexion and elegant attire. She wore a patterned hat, a lace skirt, and a thin shirt that caught Rosen's eye. Was Robin really this tall?

Standing at about 1.89 meters, she made Rosen, who was at least 2.45 meters, seem not so outlandishly tall. In this world, where people around 1.67 meters were considered normal, such differences were stark.

Despite their height disparity, they didn't seem out of place together. In fact, they complemented each other well.

"Boss, is there something important?" Despite Rosen's different demeanor, Robin didn't seem fazed and greeted him with a smile.

Though her tone was gentle, Rosen sensed a certain distance—a reminder that Crocodile, in Alabasta, was indeed the boss and known for his ruthless nature. Failures among his subordinates often met brutal ends, like Mr. 3 Candleman, who was fed to crocodiles for his blunder.

"Give me a brief overview of recent significant developments," Rosen said reluctantly, tearing his gaze away from Robin. Seeing her in person was different—more real and closer to home. He could even catch a faint scent of perfume.

After all this time, he finally spoke these words. Understanding the current situation and Robin herself was crucial.

"Other plans are progressing smoothly, but the mission involving Mr. 5 failed to eliminate the princess. We've also encountered three unidentified individuals. Here are their sketches from a few days ago," Robin explained, placing three hand-drawn portraits on the table.

Rosen glanced at them and felt a pang of confusion. Zoro, Luffy, Nami... Did Luffy already set sail and cause trouble after the Whisky Peak incident?

The tension was building, and although Rosen possessed all the power, his lack of combat experience made him fear a defeat worse than Crocodile's in the original story.

"What should we do, Boss?" Robin asked softly, noticing the change in his expression.

"Prepare for a cold reception," Rosen replied sternly, his boss-like aura returning.

This story leans towards a realistic style, focusing on authentic characters and logical plot development.