Pirates: Going out to sea? Cultivate to the Mahayana stage first

However, facing Crocodile's questioning, Nico Robin behaved extremely tough and refused to admit any connection between herself and Cocoasi Village and the man named Anno.

Despite this, Crocodile still attaches great importance to Nico Robin's important identity as a historian, so he has not taken further extreme measures for the time being.

Nico Robin, this extremely intelligent woman, has now become one of the few people in the world who can see through the mysteries of history. Because of this, the notorious Crocodile has coveted her ability for a long time, trying to use her power to realize his own ulterior ambitions.

At this time, Crocodile had already lost his last bit of patience. His eyes, as fierce as a desert storm, were filled with endless danger and destructive aura.

Under this terrifying pressure, even Ah Jian, who was always strong and brave, couldn't help but sweat on his forehead. His throat was pressed so hard by the extremely sharp sand blade that his breathing became more rapid and difficult.

"I...I really don't know!"

Ajian used all his strength to squeeze out these words from between his teeth. His originally loud voice now sounded unusually hoarse and trembling.

His eyes quickly swept over the innocent villagers who were tied up tightly with ropes, and his heart was instantly overwhelmed by a deep sense of powerlessness. Because he knew very well that if he could not tell An Nuo's whereabouts, then this peaceful and peaceful village in front of him would surely suffer a devastating disaster.

However, in the face of Ken's desperate pleas, Crocodile just sneered contemptuously. The golden hook in his hand, shining with a cold light, looked even more eerie and terrifying under the afterglow of the setting sun.

Then, he slowly stood up and looked down at the shivering Ah Jian from a superior position. The words he uttered seemed to come from the Netherworld, chilling to the bone, and contained an undoubted strong threat: "Humph, do you naively think that you can protect that person with your little power? Or do you think that as long as you remain silent, you can save this small village that is about to be destroyed? That's simply stupid!"

After saying that, Crocodile waved his hand casually, and the sand blade that was pressed against Ajian's throat tightened slightly.

In an instant, a shocking bloodstain appeared on Ajian's neck. Blood flowed out from the wound, staining his chest red.

The villagers turned pale, and their terrified cries echoed throughout the village. However, despite their hearts filled with fear and anger, no one dared to stand up against the terrible Crocodile.

Chapter 225 Meeting

Because they knew very well that the power of the evil man in front of them was too strong, and their own tiny strength was like an egg hitting a rock compared to that.

At this suffocating moment, Robin, who had been silently observing the development of the situation, suddenly flashed her beautiful and deep eyes.

Her slender fingers trembled slightly, as if she was trying to restrain some impulse, or as if she wanted to take some action. However, the extremely heavy seastone chain bound her body tightly, making it impossible for her to display her skills.

At this moment, a very complex emotion quickly flashed across Robin's eyes, including helplessness and unwillingness, but more of it was as if he was struggling to weigh the pros and cons.

Finally, after a fierce ideological struggle, Robin slowly raised his head and said to Crocodile in a calm but tentative tone: "President... maybe we can try another way. Simply forcing these villagers will not help us get the information we need."

Hearing this, Crocodile suddenly turned his head and glared at Robin with his extremely cold eyes that were devoid of any emotion.

However, after only a brief moment, he turned his attention back to the trembling villagers and snorted coldly, "Oh? Really? Then in your opinion, what should we do?"

Facing Crocodile's questioning, Robin's mouth corners slightly raised, outlining a faint smile.

At the same time, her already deep eyes looked even more mysterious. She answered slowly, "Fear often only makes people more stupid and blind, and then lose their reason. On the contrary, if we can give them even a little hope, they may be more willing to cooperate with us. After all, for people in desperate situations, any glimmer of hope may become a source of motivation to support them to move forward."

After hearing what Robin said, Crocodile was silent and fell into deep thought. Obviously, he was seriously considering whether the suggestion made by the other party was feasible. As time passed, the atmosphere around him became more and more solemn and depressing, making people almost breathless.

Finally, after a long wait, a sinister smile suddenly appeared on Crocodile's stern face, and he uttered: "Hmm... sounds quite interesting. Well, let's give it a try as you said!"

Crocodile gently waved his hand, and the sand blade that was flashing with cold light slowly moved away from Ajian's neck as if it was under command.

Ah Jian felt his legs go limp, and he fell to the cold, hard ground as if he had lost his support. He opened his mouth and greedily breathed in the air, as if he wanted to suck all the oxygen that had just been deprived into his lungs. At this moment, his originally clear eyes were already filled with doubt and vigilance.

"listen!"

Crocodile's deep and majestic voice exploded like thunder over the village. "As long as you stupid guys tell me the whereabouts of Anno honestly, I can be merciful and let this poor little village live. But if you dare to tell a lie or conceal the truth... Humph!"

At this point, he suddenly stopped talking, and with his sharp eyes like a hawk, he coldly scanned every villager present, and then continued: "Then don't blame me for being ruthless. When the time comes, you will watch helplessly as this vast desert swallows up your homes bit by bit!"

Hearing this, the villagers turned pale and looked at each other, no one dared to speak easily. Fear spread quickly among the people like a plague, but at the same time, a faint light of hope quietly ignited deep in their hearts.

Ah Jian gritted his teeth and clenched his fists unconsciously. He was experiencing a fierce struggle in his heart. He knew very well that An Nuo was the hope of the whole village! But if he really told An Nuo's hiding place, then there was no doubt that the whole village would suffer a devastating disaster because of his decision.

At this moment, a breeze blew by, and before they knew it, a tall figure had quietly appeared not far from the crowd. The man was wearing a black robe dancing in the wind, and his figure was as tall as a mountain. Although his face was mostly covered by shadows, it was still difficult to hide his innate determination.

"Crocodile." The figure slowly raised his head, and his deep and powerful voice broke the deathly silence at the scene, "The person you are looking for is me."

Crocodile narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this, forming two long and narrow slits with a dangerous light flashing in between. Then, his thin lips slightly lifted up, drawing a very proud smile: "Hahahahaha, great! I finally got what I was waiting for, Anno."

Robin's eyes, as deep as a pool of water, were now firmly fixed on An Nuo. At that moment, a very complex wave of emotion quickly passed through her eyes, like the ripples caused by a stone thrown into a calm lake.

That's right, it's him!

Even though that face had only appeared in Robin's dreams countless nights, it was so unforgettable to him that no matter how time passed or how the years changed, he could not erase it from the depths of his memory.

Because, to her, An Nuo was not just an ordinary person, but the person who came like a savior and saved her when she was young and helpless.

At that time, An Nuo was like a dazzling light, illuminating her originally dark and confused world.

However, fate is always full of uncertainty and uncertainty. Just as they were on their way to the Grand Line to pursue their dreams, a sudden incident caused Robin to lose contact with Anno.

Since then, Robin always thought that An Nuo was no longer alive... But now, the person who once gave her warmth and hope actually appeared in front of her alive!

Robin could not help but clench her fists, as if this could give her some courage and strength to face everything in front of her. At the same time, she was also experiencing a fierce struggle in her heart - did An Nuo still remember her? After careful consideration, Robin finally made up her mind secretly.

At the same time, Annuo quickly scanned the villagers and found that the backup plans he had left in case of an emergency were not used at all.

So, he slowly retracted his gaze and refocused on the man in front of him. He was wearing a gray fur coat and holding a cigar in his mouth. His eyes looked particularly sharp and ruthless in the smoke. What was particularly eye-catching was that there was a long scar under his eyes that ran across his cheek like a ferocious centipede, which was intimidating.

There is no doubt that this person is one of the famous Seven Warlords of the Sea - Crocodile!

When Anno's eyes met Crocodile's icy gaze, the air around them seemed to freeze instantly, and a tense atmosphere quickly spread. The whistling sea breeze violently rolled up the dust in the sky, building a solid barrier between the two that was invisible to the naked eye but really existed.

Crocodile's golden hook, shining with cold light, exudes a chilling cold light under the moonlight pouring down like water. He smokes a cigar leisurely, and clouds of white smoke linger around his gloomy and cold face like a veil, making him look even more gloomy and terrifying.

"Crocodale!"

An Nuo's voice was as calm as ever, but the power contained in it was like a surging wave that could not be ignored. "Your ambition should not implicate those innocent people. Release them immediately! Let the two of us settle the grudges between you and me."

Facing Anno's righteous accusation, Crocodile sneered. He slowly stood up, and the throne made of sand beneath him instantly disintegrated with his movements, turning into countless tiny dust particles, which floated away in the night wind. Then, he took a step forward and walked forward step by step.

His steps seemed slow and steady, but in fact each step seemed to carry a tremendous force, bringing people an extremely heavy feeling of oppression.

"Anno? It was you who sent all my men into the dark Impel Downs!" Crocodile gnashed his teeth and said with resentment and unwillingness. "And from what I know, you seem to have an unclear relationship with that damn navy. And those body-hardening pills that can improve strength must have come from you!"

Annuo did not respond to Crocodile's barrage of questions.

He just turned slightly and quickly scanned the villagers who were tied up with ropes with his deep eyes. Finally, his sight was fixed on Robin. At this moment, a trace of indescribable complex emotions flashed in the depths of his eyes, but in an instant he returned to his previous calm state.

Feeling Annuo's gaze, Robin's heart suddenly began beating as fast as a drumbeat.

She stared at An Nuo with her eyes wide open, without blinking, trying desperately to find even the slightest trace of familiarity in his facial expression.

An Nuo's gaze passed lightly over Nicole Robin's graceful figure like a dragonfly skimming the water. After only a moment of contact, he quickly moved elsewhere.

However, during this brief exchange of glances, an irrepressible sense of loss surged into An Nuo's heart like a tide. But at the same time, another stronger and indescribable firm belief quietly took root in her heart.

"President."

At this moment, Robin's clear and steady voice suddenly sounded, breaking the slightly tense atmosphere. Her face was as calm as water, her eyes were clear and bright, and she said slowly: "Perhaps we can try another way to deal with this problem. An Nuo's appearance is enough to prove that the goal of our operation has been achieved. There is really no need to involve those innocent people."

Hearing this, Crocodile, who had been standing silently, slowly turned his head. His cold eyes were like a venomous snake. He glared at Robin fiercely, with a hint of disdain and ridicule on his lips: "Robin, is your position beginning to waver?"

Faced with Crocodile's aggressive questioning, Robin smiled nonchalantly. Her smile was like a flower blooming under the warm spring sun, beautiful and mysterious; her eyes seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts, so deep that it was hard to fathom.

She responded softly, "President, I am just trying to find the most effective solution for us. After all, our original target was never these ordinary villagers who were defenseless, right?"

Crocodile narrowed his eyes slightly after hearing this, and fell into a brief contemplation. After a while, his originally tense face suddenly relaxed, and then he showed an amusing smile: "Haha, interesting... In this case, let me take a good look at how many unknown secrets and trump cards this guy named Anno has hidden!" As he said this, he casually waved his arms, and the chains made of sand that were wrapped around the villagers loosened instantly.

The moment the villagers were freed, they all collapsed to the ground like deflated balls, breathing heavily, beads of sweat dripping down their foreheads, and everyone's face was filled with both relief and fear for having survived the catastrophe.

Ajian struggled to crawl on the ground, trying to support his heavy body with his hands.

Every time he exerted force, he felt a piercing pain spread throughout his body, but he still gritted his teeth and struggled tenaciously to stand up.

When he finally stood up straight, his eyes, which had been clear and bright, became extremely complicated, filled with hesitation, doubt and indescribable emotions.

He just stared at An Nuo, his lips slightly parted, as if he wanted to say something important. But when the words came to his lips, they seemed to be pressed back by an invisible force. In the end, he could only sigh silently and slowly retreated until he reached a relatively safe corner and stopped.

On the other hand, An Nuo always maintained a calm expression.

He first nodded slightly to Ajian, indicating that he had noticed the other party's actions, and then refocused all his attention on the powerful and dangerous enemy in front of him - Crocodile.

Chapter 226 A life-threatening battle

Annuo raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, and said calmly: "It seems that after so many twists and turns, we can finally calm down and have a good talk." Although, he and Crocodile had nothing much to say.

Hearing this, Crocodile snorted disdainfully, and responded in a cold and ruthless tone: "Talk? Humph! Don't be naive, Anno. I'm not here to chat with you and reminisce about the past. I'm here today to put an end to all this once and for all!" After he finished speaking, before everyone could react, his tall and mighty body suddenly began to undergo amazing changes.

In the blink of an eye, his entire body suddenly decomposed into countless tiny grains of sand like a weathered sand sculpture.

These sand particles swirled rapidly in the air, forming a yellow sandstorm. Then, accompanied by a whistling sound, the sandstorm disappeared without a trace in an instant.

Just when everyone was stunned, the next second, Crocodile suddenly appeared behind Anno like a ghost. At the same time, the golden hook in his hand flashed with cold light and pierced Anno's back as fast as lightning. Seeing that this fatal blow was about to succeed, the people around couldn't help but exclaimed in unison.

However, faced with such a sudden sneak attack, Annuo remained unusually calm and composed.

Just when the golden hook was about to touch his back, his body turned slightly to the side as nimbly as a swallow, avoiding the dangerous blow just in time.

Not only that, while Crocodile's moves were becoming old, Annuo did not hesitate to swing an extremely sharp hand knife with his backhand, accompanied by a whistling sound, and chopped fiercely at Crocodile's neck.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Crocodile reacted very quickly. The sand around him began to flow rapidly again, and in the blink of an eye, he was completely transformed into a desert.

As a result, Anno's powerful knife passed through the middle of his ethereal body without causing any substantial damage. However, despite successfully escaping the disaster, Crocodile's eyes still couldn't help but flash a subtle surprise.

"Haha, I didn't expect that you are not just a smart guy, you actually have some real skills." Although Crocodile's words still carried a strong hint of sarcasm, he also vaguely revealed a hint of recognition and excitement for his opponent's strength.

Anno did not respond to Crocodile's words. He just slightly adjusted his standing posture, and his sharp eyes like a hawk shot straight at him, as if he wanted to see through Crocodile. To be honest, Anno did not feel too much fear about the threat posed by Crocodile.

Because this level of threat is almost the same as what he faced when he fought Eneel on Sky Island before.

At this time, Robin stood quietly aside, her originally fair and slender hands were now tightly clenched together, showing her extreme inner conflict.

Intellectually, she knew that she should stand firmly on Crocodile's side. After all, whether it was the mysterious historical text or the legendary ancient weapons, these were all things she had long dreamed of pursuing.

However, in the deepest part of her heart, there was always a faint but persistent voice calling her, making it difficult for her to completely ignore An Nuo's existence.

"Anno..." Robin murmured softly unconsciously, and a hint of determination flashed in her eyes for a moment.

After a brief and intense fight, Crocodile stared at Anno with an extremely cold look, with a cigar in his mouth.

A thin wisp of smoke, as thin as a hair, rose from the cigar butt and slowly floated upwards. The smoke gradually gathered into a faint line in the air, and finally slowly dispersed and disappeared above Crocodile's head.

"Hmph! You seem to have some connection with the vice-president under me." Crocodile suddenly spoke, his tone cold and with a bit of disdain.

Facing Crocodile's questioning, Anno remained silent, but his expression seemed unusually calm. After a moment, he replied calmly: "Want to know the details? Then you can go and ask her in person."

Hearing this, Crocodile couldn't help but burst into laughter. His laughter echoed throughout the space, filled with endless sarcasm.

"Hahahaha! You actually think you are qualified to negotiate with me? That's ridiculous! But since you've come to me so recklessly today, I don't mind taking some time out to play this cat and mouse game with you!"

"You are simply attracted by Nico Robin's special ability to interpret historical texts, and you want to use her to find the hiding place of ancient weapons!"

Anno's words were like a thunderbolt, striking Crocodile's head fiercely, causing his arrogant smile to freeze instantly. How could such a confidential matter be known by this person? Could it be that...