Atop a dune under the clear, cold moonlight, Robin, dressed in cowboy attire, tightly clutched a piece of paper, gazing at Alubarna, which towered over the desert landscape.
From the distant cliff top, the royal city highlands glowed with countless flickering lights.
Faintly, one could hear brass music playing and the fervent sounds of people.
Alubarna was destined to be a sleepless city tonight.
To thank the Marines for their help in Alabasta, King Cobra held a grand celebration banquet in the royal city.
The distant revelry, contrasted sharply with Robin's solitary figure, seemingly making this lone woman appear even more isolated.
Her only companion was the long shadow at her feet.
Remembering the words of the Marine boy named Rorschach, Robin once again picked up the piece of paper in her hand.
Under the moonlight, a string of numbers was written on the small piece of paper.
Clearly, it was a Den Den Mushi number.
A Den Den Mushi number given by a Marine.
Robin didn't know if the person who answered the call would be a Marine or an intelligence agent from the World Government.
She didn't know if dialing it would lead her to an even more cruel and dark future.
But for some reason, looking at the candlelight shining brightly on the distant highlands, Robin inexplicably pulled out a small Den Den Mushi from her embrace and, digit by digit, dialed the number on the paper.
"Purupurupuru..."
The ringing of the Den Den Mushi echoed on the dim dune, sounding particularly abrupt.
"Purupurupuru."
The Den Den Mushi continued to ring. Robin's heart pounded with each ring, and her entire being tensed.
At this moment, she felt like she was awaiting a judgment.
A judgment of unknown fate, of an unknown future.
"Purupurupuru, click."
After the Den Den Mushi rang more than twenty times, finally, a crisp connection sound rang out.
However, although the Den Den Mushi was answered, Robin heard no one speak on the other end.
The other party seemed to be waiting for her to speak first.
And Robin didn't know what to say, so she also fell silent.
Moreover, the Den Den Mushi didn't mimic the face of the person answering, which meant the other party had moved away from the Den Den Mushi's location after answering.
The desert temperature was very low at night, but the sand dunes on the ground were warmer. Robin held the connected Den Den Mushi, curled up, and sat on the soft sand, quietly watching the distant lights.
After a very long time, just as Robin thought there might be no one on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, the Den Den Mushi, with its snail shell on its back, suddenly spoke softly, asking tentatively.
"May I ask... are you Nico Robin?"
Robin's body involuntarily trembled when she heard the other person call out her name.
She lowered her head, watching as the Den Den Mushi gradually transformed into the face of a young man with a scar over his left eye and blond hair.
Robin could see a hint of anticipation, yet also nervousness, on his face.
But there was no greed, no malice.
In fact, the other person even used an honorific when addressing her.
Robin pursed her lips, held up the Den Den Mushi in her palm, and gently nodded: "I am Nico Robin. And you are, sir?"
Upon receiving Robin's acknowledgment, the blond young man mimicked by the Den Den Mushi immediately widened his eyes, and the expression on his face visibly and quickly transformed into ecstasy.
Then, Robin heard him shouting loudly, seemingly relaying the news to his comrades beside him.
"Oh my God! It really is Nico Robin! The lamp of revolution, the last survivor of the scholar's sanctuary Ohara that our Revolutionary Army has been searching for! Koala! Quick! Come and talk to Robin... Mr. Robin! I need to contact the Chief immediately!"
The person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi was yelling excitedly, and then there were rapid footsteps approaching. Soon, the Den Den Mushi's appearance quickly changed into that of a naive and cute young girl.
"Are you Sister Robin? H-hello, I'm Koala. Please don't be nervous. I... we have no ill intentions. That idiot just now was Sabo. Sister Robin, where are you right now? Pl-please don't misunderstand, if it's inconvenient, you don't have to say. We won't approach you without your permission. We just want to protect your safety within a certain range."
The girl named Koala spoke to Robin with extreme caution, seemingly afraid of causing Robin's displeasure or misunderstanding.
"You are... the Revolutionary Army?"
Robin was a little surprised.
She had considered that the person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi might be a Marine, an intelligence agent from the World Government, or even a great pirate.
But she had never thought of the Revolutionary Army.
And judging by their tone, it seemed... it seemed that she was very important to the Revolutionary Army? That man named Sabo called her the lamp of revolution?
Why? Hearing Robin's question, Koala nodded vigorously like a pecking chick: "Mm-hmm! We are the Revolutionary Army, Sister Robin, have you heard of the Revolutionary Army?"
"I've heard of them, but never had contact," Robin mused, subtly beginning to understand some things.
Her extensive historical knowledge from childhood, coupled with her later complex experiences, made Robin's mind sharp.
She figured that the reason these unfamiliar Revolutionary Army members valued her so much was likely due to her origins from Ohara and her knowledge of ancient script.
Thinking this, Robin brushed back her black hair from her ear, a gentle smile appearing on her face, and asked with a laugh, "Koala, I'd like to know why your Revolutionary Army has been searching for me."
"No problem! I'll tell you the reason right away, Sister Robin. There's nothing to hide, it's like this..."
Koala revealed everything, answering whatever Robin asked.
The two women chatted there.
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, near the turbulent sea, on the deck of a small single-masted sailboat, Sabo pulled out another Den Den Mushi from his embrace and quickly dialed a number.
The Den Den Mushi rang a few times and was then answered.
Before the other party could speak, Sabo eagerly said, "Chief! This is Sabo, where are you now?"
"I'm in the South Blue, preparing to head to Reverse Mountain to enter the Grand Line."
A deep male voice came from the Den Den Mushi.
"Listen to me! We've found her! The Ohara survivor we've been searching for, Nico Robin, has contacted me!" Sabo's face showed unsuppressable joy. "We've finally found her, the lamp of revolution! If we can decipher the Blank Century of history and find out what the World Government truly fears, we'll have a chance to truly change this world!"
"Hmm, I understand. That's good news. But how did she contact you?" Dragon seemed somewhat pleased, but still asked.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I have a theory." Sabo frowned in thought. "Chief, do you remember a while ago, when Koala and I went to Saint Poplar Kingdom to support the Bounty Hunter Guild? I told you I met that Marine rookie, Rorschach, there. Before I left, I gave him my Den Den Mushi number. I suspect that the reason Nico Robin contacted me is likely because she got the number from that man."
Dragon was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Interesting. I'm increasingly eager to meet that boy who ate the Kirin Fruit. Sabo, ask Nico Robin where she is right now. If possible, I'll personally go and pick her up to bring her back to headquarters. And while I'm there, I'll meet that Marine boy. Remember, if Nico Robin doesn't want to say, don't force her."
"Yes!"
Sabo affirmed, then walked over to Koala, who was chatting excitedly with Robin. He forced a stiff smile, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Koala say, "Sister Robin says she's currently in Alubarna, the capital of Alabasta Kingdom, and she'd really like to meet our Revolutionary Army."
"Excellent!"
Sabo was overjoyed and quickly relayed the good news to Dragon on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Alabasta Kingdom, you say? Good, I'll get there as soon as possible..."
"Not as soon as possible, but at the fastest possible speed! Chief, please take this meeting very seriously. She is the lamp of revolution we've been searching for for many years. Please go quickly; if you miss this opportunity, you'll regret it too late!" Sabo urged.
"Alright, alright, then I'll depart now."
The Den Den Mushi hung up. Koala was still chatting with Robin, and Sabo's face was beaming with joy. He didn't interrupt Koala and Robin's bonding and walked alone to the ship's railing, looking at the dark and deep sea outside, wondering why the contact number he gave to Rorschach ended up in Robin's hands.
"Rorschach, Robin, hiss... Could it be that they're siblings?" Sabo scratched his head, a preposterous thought popping into his mind. Then he quickly shook his head. "Ugh, no, that's not right. Nico Robin's parents sacrificed themselves long ago under the World Government's cannon fire. Where would she get such a young brother? What am I thinking? Marine Rorschach, he's truly a man one can't figure out."
Suddenly, Sabo saw a flickering light far out at sea, moving rapidly across the water towards the open ocean.
"Huh? Is that... a small boat that spits fire? What a strange vessel."
(End of Chapter)
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