Reborn as crocodile before Luffy arrival, Run away with Robin

Rosen saw no point in continuing. The outcome seemed predictable, and Ace would have the upper hand with the geographical advantage. This skirmish wasn't a full-blown battle for either Rosen or Ace.

"Not going to fight anymore?" Ace was puzzled. He had been fighting hard and couldn't understand why Rosen was giving up.

"I can't beat you," Rosen admitted straightforwardly.

"I find that hard to believe. Your last attack was perfect. Are you still not using Haki?" Ace's comment embarrassed Rosen, who struggled to respond.

I'm at my wit's end. Ever since losing to your father, I've been in a slump, relying on external enhancements to boost my combat prowess. I never expected to come up short even against you. Of course, Ace, you mean no harm, but I wonder why I didn't use Haki in our previous battle. Do I even know how? It's a frustrating thought. Given my abilities and age, mastering Haki should be a given, but sadly, I haven't yet. It's just not my time, I suppose."

Thinking about age, Crocodile's body wasn't young anymore. Despite feeling stronger than in his youth as long as his vitality remained strong, he wondered if being middle-aged and without a goal made him weaker. Reflecting on it, many of the powerful pirates were single. Could strength correlate with solitude?

Ace sensed Rosen's sincerity and didn't take offense. Perhaps his adeptness with Haki allowed him to discern others' intentions, sensing no malice in Rosen.

"I'm hungry after that bout. Is there a town nearby?"

"Yes, not far. Let's go together. There's a good place to eat," Rosen replied, pointing out the direction.

"You payng?" Ace asked with a grin.

"No problem." Rosen had no objections. While Ace wasn't someone he particularly liked, he didn't dislike him either. He saw no reason to change anything. The path ahead was uncertain, but that made it more intriguing.

Today, two prominent figures graced the taverns. Typically teeming with bounty hunters eyeing wanted posters, most taverns were now cleared out. One was a Warlord of the Sea, no longer wanted, and the other, a notorious pirate with a bounty of 550 million Berries under Whitebeard's command. Their presence deterred all but the boldest bounty hunters.

After a satisfying meal, Ace bid farewell to Rosen, who didn't mention that Ace's brother Luffy was on his way to challenge him. It was merely a chance encounter, nothing more.

"I still need to work harder to improve. Huh? The reinforcement data has changed after sparring with Ace. Fruit proficiency has increased by 2 points, but physical skills haven't." Rosen examined his mental enhancement system, feeling pleased.

Continued use of his abilities in combat or practice evidently boosted proficiency—a motivating realization.

Human body strengthening attributes:

Name: Sir Crocodile (Rosen)

Ability: Sand-Sand Fruit, not awakened, intermediate (proficiency: 602/1000)

Physique: Intermediate (Proficiency: 300/1000)

Haki: None (Proficiency: 0/100)

Swordsmanship: Elementary (Proficiency: 100/300)

Reinforcement times: 1

Effect: X2 defense, X1 experience pack

Next enhancement condition: Defeat a strong opponent with a bounty of 100 million Berries or more.

Reward: Speed X2

While other attributes hadn't improved, this was still progress. With dedication, Rosen believed his physical skills would rise too.

The task of defeating an opponent with a bounty exceeding 100 million Berries to double his speed intrigued him. Regrettably, he wasn't yet strong enough to challenge Ace for this achievement.

Swordsmanship required talent. Currently, Rosen prioritized enhancing his physique and ability. He dreamed of future enhancements including "Devil Fruit capacity X1, X2." A vague voice echoed in Rosen's mind, urging him to continue striving toward becoming stronger.

"I-I can't believe this!" Rosen was astonished and suddenly felt more excited. The enhancement system was truly remarkable, though it remained silent to his queries.

Yet, the mere possibility filled Rosen's mind with dreams. If he were to receive another Devil Fruit, what would he choose to eat? The decision weighed heavily on him.

"Haha..." Despite these thoughts, Rosen couldn't dampen his happy mood.

"Ah, it seems our Boss is in good spirits today," Robin appeared beside Rosen, effortlessly locating him within the city.

"Are we all set to sail?" Rosen asked, not denying his cheerful demeanor.

"Everything's prepared, but we have just one ship. Are you sure you don't want to bring the rest of the Baroque Works staff? What about the senior agents?" Robin handed Rosen a small notebook listing the crew's details.

Robin's attention to detail was as expected. "Luffy, don't blame me for taking Robin from your crew," Rosen thought, acknowledging Robin's indispensable knowledge for surviving at sea.

In reality, it wasn't "robbing" Robin; she had been his secretary before this. No guilt should linger over disrupting the plot—it no longer adhered to the script, and he had to approach things differently.

Regarding potential future troubles, if Robin stayed with him instead of joining Luffy in Water 7, would she still face arrest and be taken to Enies Lobby? Likely not. Rosen had mentally prepared for such scenarios since deciding to bring Robin along. He had no regrets about that choice.

"No, we'll focus on quality over quantity moving forward. Weaklings won't stand a chance against others' Haki. What good would they be?" Rosen resolved not to have too many weak links. Leaving a few behind would suffice, and gathering others would only waste time.

He flipped through the notebook Robin handed him. There were about a dozen people listed, excluding Mr. 1 and Mr. 5. "How can I bring so many people? Didn't I say our voyage would be simple?"

"Isn't that simple enough? Boss, the entire Baroque Works boasts hundreds of members. These 18 crew members handle basic tasks. Besides the cook, carpenter, boatman, and doctor, the rest can rotate duties effectively. It's a practical number for a ship," Robin explained calmly.

Rosen conceded his naivety. He had mistakenly assumed all pirate crews operated like the Straw Hats. In reality, managing a ship at sea involved rotation, food supply, health maintenance, and repairs—essential considerations for smooth navigation.

"Don't worry, Boss. None of these crew members are Devil Fruit users. So, if we encounter a storm at sea, we won't be in jeopardy just because everyone's a user," Robin assured thoughtfully.

"Don't be so pessimistic. Think positively," Rosen replied. Robin's comment reminded him of himself, Mr. 1, Mr. 5, and Miss Valentine's Day—all Devil Fruit users. It felt risky. Recruiting non-users was definitely necessary.

"Hehe..." Robin chuckled lightly at Rosen's response but didn't dwell on it. She was curious about Crocodile's plans.

"One's thoughts can be hidden, but temperament and emotions reveal much. You're quite intriguing," Robin mused, her curiosity piqued.

Unaware that Rosen had long since divulged the truth to her, she remained skeptical.

"We depart tomorrow morning."

"Oh, and the ship is new. It hasn't been named yet. Any ideas?"

"What do you think?"

"The Dark Number."

"Forget it. I'll name it Dessert Dawn." Rosen decided against involving Robin in naming the ship, knowing her penchant for dark humor.