[17] Please, Be Careful

Chapter 17: Please, Be Careful

—

Miss "Mikita" Valentine stood to the side as she watched the conversation unfold between the two most dangerous people she had known in her life.

Shockingly, unlike half an hour ago, these two weren't arguing with each other. Rather, they were planning together; on something they had agreed on in the short time when Mikita was standing outside the door.

"Something" that Mikita was sure wouldn't end well for her, uncaring if these two succeeded or failed.

"Just taking down Crocodile wouldn't do,"

Miss All Sunday spoke and pressed a finger on the map that was unfolded on the round table in front of her. She and Hashirama were standing around it, while Mikita was observing them from the side.

"We need to prove that he is a criminal, so that he loses his Warlord title. Otherwise he will rise again with the help of the government and so all of us will be labelled as criminals."

On the spot of the map where All Sunday's was pressing on, the city of Rain Base stood.

"This is Crocodile's hideout, but currently he's not here." All Sunday said. "He was to receive Vivi from me, on the island I would have taken her from this place."

Hashirama nodded. He opened his mouth with a contemplative look on his face, but Mikita interrupted him.

"W-wait, hang on for a moment!"

Miss Valentine yelled in a frantic voice, turning to look at Miss All Sunday in particular with confusion in her eyes.

"Why in the world are you planning to take down a Warlord?!"

Slowly, Hashirama and All Sunday exchanged glances before both shook their heads.

"We."

Hashirama corrected, turning to Mikita.

"You're on this with us."

It took a second for Mikita to register what she had just heard. Then, her lips quivered as tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

"As for why we are planning to take down Sir Crocodile…"

Hashirama continued without caring for her wet eyes.

"Apologies, it's on us that we forgot to explain to you. In truth, the Mr Zero that you work under is none other than Sir Crocodile, aka the Pirate Hunter Hero of this country."

"...."

"We are going to destroy Baroque Works, you see."

* * *

When Mikita went silent, Hashirama ignored her and looked back at Robin.

"In any case, what do you suggest we do to expose Crocodile to the world?"

"Nothing in particular, really," said Robin. "I already know the files needed to prove him guilty. I just need half a week's time to gather up all the files. When done so, we just need to call the Marines and hand those files to them."

"Ah-huh."

"But I have to decide when to do this. What do you suggest? After you, hypothetically, defeat Sir Crocodile? Or before doing so?"

Hashirama frowned in deep thought as he tried to think of the best outcome.

"Call the Marines right before the fight begins," said Hashirama a while later. "They would need a while to reach Alabasta, but whatever the result of the battle ends up being, you can just hand them the papers then and there."

Robin nodded while looking at him with her indifferent expression. Then she spoke.

"By the way, I am glad you aren't arrogant. I was half expecting an answer like 'I would win regardless, does it matter when we call the marines?' I am thankful you aren't acting that way."

Hashirama shrugged his shoulders.

"So to speak, that is the truth as well. However, I have to also consider what my partner thinks, true? If it was my sister, my response may have been similar to your imitation. However, you in particular don't exactly know how strong I am, so I don't expect you to trust my strength."

After a second of silence, Robin gave him a short nod.

"You are surprisingly professional for a kid," she said soon after. "How did you find out that Crocodile is Mr Zero, by the way?"

"Confidential information." Hashirama shook his head. "Perhaps I will tell you someday if we get along for a few decades."

Despite herself, Nico Robin couldn't hold back a smirk at what seemed to her like a delusional statement.

Decades?

"Sure."

* * *

A short silence fell between the two people and Mikita took the chance to assert herself back to the conversation.

"Hey hey, wait a second, don't I get a chance to say no?? I don't wanna fight a guy who can turn into fucking sand! Fighting a Sand Logia in a desert is just so dumb! I am out–"

Before she could finish her exclamation, All Sunday grabbed a pistol from under the table and pointed it at her.

"...."

"You are what?"

"I- I am in. L-let's do this! Haha, I was joking."

"Is that so?"

"Haha, yes, yes, trying to lighten the mood. Haha, did you laugh?"

"No."

The room went extremely silent and a cold night wind breezed inside the room from the open window.

"...."

Robin tucked her pistol under her belt, and then looked at Mikita seriously.

"I wish for you to stop joking in front of me, starting from now on."

Mikita tried, but she failed to hold herself back from clutching her jaws tight.

"...Yes, madam."

* * *

After the small commotion ended, Hashirama moved on to the other important part of the plan.

"How do you plan to handle Crocodile right now, though? He is expecting you to hand him Vivi over, but I am not going to do that. What's your plan?"

Robin hummed for a moment, before speaking her mind.

"I am going to be direct to him and say you defeated Mr Five and Miss Valentine. Luckily, I have yet to report to him the 'success' of this mission because I wasn't… feeling good." she said. "I am going to tell him that you defeated the two people who had gone after you, and that their current whereabouts are unknown."

"But wait," Hashirama interrupted her. "Didn't people around here see me and Mikita walking up to here?"

"It's nighttime. Barely anyone did, and I am sure they don't know who you two are." Robin said in a relieving tone. "Anyway, the plan after that is, Crocodile may just get mad enough to go to directly kill you himself. Now that your sister is gone, he won't hold back. He is at the limit of his patience, anyway."

"I see."

"But it will take him a few days to reach Alabasta from the island he is on at the moment. By the time he reaches us, I am confident to gather all the proof I need on him."

As a short silence fell, Hashirama considered her words thoughtfully. Her plan didn't have any loopholes, the usually composed Croc was now mad and therefore made it easy for Robin to speculate his route of operations.

"Alright then," Hashirama said. "I want to fight him here, in this city. Nanohana is close to the sea, which is the weakness of any devil fruit user."

"Crocodile in particular is weaker against water than you and I, so your thinking is smart," Robin added. "However there is a slight problem. Crocodile wouldn't take the route of Nanohana. To the general people, he's still within the country. Otherwise, it'd have been suspicious why the Pirate Hunter Hero of the country was absent while the princess was kidnapped."

Robin elaborated as Hashirama hummed.

"...RainBase it is, then." He said after a while. "I would have much preferred if I didn't have to fight him in a populated city– Nanohana being the only exception– because the collateral damage may just be too great."

"I agree as well… but there is no other choice that I can think of," said Robin. "Our best bet would be to push him away from the city asap, right after the battle starts."

Hashirama nodded and silence fell in the room once again, this time Robin spoke with a slight sense of worry in her voice.

"As far as I know, strange you may be but you are an innocent little boy,"

Robin walked around the table to place a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't wish for you to die," she said. "You must be careful in your fight. I have no idea how you plan to defeat him, but I will lend you my trust on this."

Robin looked deep into his eyes.

"Three days," she said. "Sir Crocodile should be here by that time. You have that much time on your hand. Finish all your preparation and be ready in the Rain Base."

Hashirama slowly nodded at her as a small smile formed on his lips.

"I'll be careful, thanks."

…

Later, he left for Rain Base with an overweight Mikita on his shoulder.

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