Jason's destination was the island's only port.
Now that a wanted order had been issued, the wanted Robin would be betrayed by everyone she encountered and could only continue to flee. To escape this island, she had to navigate through this solitary port!
Upon arriving at the port, Jason grabbed a quick bite to eat and sought out a vantage point from which to keep watch.
During the day, some riots erupted in the small island town. Jason suspected Robin was involved, but he refrained from searching blindly; if he missed her, it would be a waste. After all, this was the only exit, so he decided it was best to keep a close eye on the area.
He waited here all the way until evening!
Jason's focus never waned. Finally, after dark, the already remote island plunged into utter silence.
Suddenly, Jason spotted a thin figure emerging from the shadows, glancing left and right, and cautiously moving toward a ship docked at the port under the dim moonlight. She stopped intermittently to utilize the cover of nearby structures to observe her surroundings carefully.
It was Robin, the girl he had been separated from for days. Her cautious demeanor made Jason's lips curl into a smile.
"Hey~ I see you're being quite cautious!"
As Robin approached the docked ship, Jason rushed toward her!
Upon confirming Robin was indeed on the island, Jason knew the port was heavily guarded to prevent her escape. At least a dozen Marines and World Government agents were lying in wait by the ship.
Although he wasn't sure how Robin escaped in the original storyline, he knew it must have been perilous!
Sure enough, just as Robin was about to step onto the ship, the surrounding lights suddenly blazed to life, illuminating half of the port as bright as day.
"Hahahaha, she is indeed here! Catch her quickly!"
"The 79 million Baileys are mine!"
Suddenly, a group of people surged onto the boat, some dressed in Marine uniforms while others wore suits!
Robin's pupils dilated in shock, and she immediately turned to flee!
Several pursuers began chasing after her!
As Robin ran, she caught sight of a vague figure materializing in front of her! Apprehensive, she realized there were enemies ahead!
Just as she prepared to turn and dart to the left, she heard a "swish" sound, and the figure zipped past her at a speed invisible to the naked eye!
"So fast!"
Surprise filled her heart, quickly replaced by a clattering sound of metal clashing and muffled thuds coming from the pursuers behind her. Within moments, all thirty or forty of them had collapsed!
Robin instinctively halted and turned to witness the only figure still standing!
"Is he helping me? But why?"
Doubt clouded her mind. No one should be coming to her aid at this critical point. Yet looking at that relatively short figure made her feel oddly familiar.
Jason had changed into a windbreaker, obscuring his original look. Additionally, the lighting made it challenging for Robin to recognize him now.
After neutralizing all those chasing Robin, Jason turned around, lowered his head, and began to slowly walk toward her.
"Who are you? Why are you helping me?" Robin asked warily. As Jason drew closer, the sense of familiarity grew stronger.
When he was just a few meters away, Jason suddenly raised his head!
"Hee! It's me!"
Robin froze momentarily, then tears filled her big eyes as she rushed toward Jason.
"Ja... Jason? You're not…?"
Robin suspected she was dreaming. Aokiji had clearly stated that Jason had been killed by him.
"Huh? What do you mean 'not'? Don't you recognize me anymore? Is that why you're reacting like this?"
Jason approached Robin and pinched her cheek. The familiar touch confirmed his identity, prompting Robin to throw herself into his embrace.
"Wow… Jason! Aokiji said you… he said you… wuwuwu..."
Jason hugged Robin tightly, gently stroking her head. She must have lost several pounds in the past two days; her body felt frail against him.
"He said I was dead, right? No! I was just injured by him and then managed to escape!"
He fibbed slightly, continuing to comfort Robin.
"Don't cry; I'm doing well! You won't be alone anymore; we can always be together!"
"I'll protect you from now on!"
"Um!"
Robin looked up at Jason and, after confirming everything in front of her was real, suddenly bit his shoulder!
Jason: ???
Why was she still biting? Well, it wasn't like he had never been bitten before; he remembered the time she got angry at him.
Fortunately, Robin let go immediately after the bite! It wasn't hard at all!
"We should leave; it's not safe here! There may be pursuers at any moment!"
"Um!"
Jason took Robin's hand and led her back toward the previous ship.
Robin let Jason hold her small hand, feeling a warmth inside her heart.
This was the happiest she had felt in days.
As they boarded the boat, Jason felt a slight nervousness; he had only ever seen others sailing but had never done it himself!
It took half an hour to gradually get the boat out to sea!
Jason held the rudder with one hand and looked at Robin, who had not let go of his clothes since they left the dock.
"Would you like to get some sleep first? I've been worried about you these past two days; you probably haven't slept at all, right?"
Robin shook her head firmly.
"No, I'm afraid you'll be gone as soon as I wake up! Don't leave me alone again!"
Jason understood that the events of the past two days had profoundly impacted Robin, especially considering she was only eight years old! It pained him to see how haggard she looked.
"What if I don't sleep? I'll stay by your side! Can I watch you sleep?"
After a moment's hesitation, Robin nodded.
Robin was indeed very tired; she almost fell asleep on the bed.
However, while dozing, Robin frowned and clutched Jason's windbreaker with her small hands. Jason tried to pull away, but she wouldn't let him!
Sighing, he gently stroked Robin's hair, his voice soft.
"Don't be afraid. Everything is over. You won't be alone anymore. I'm right here!"
It seemed Robin, in her sleep, heard him, for her frown relaxed, and her grip on his clothes loosened ever so slightly.
Jason just managed to extract his clothes when Robin woke up.
Big eyes locked onto Jason.
"..."
Her alertness was incredibly high!
And why shouldn't it be? She had learned how to evade capture by the Marines—she wouldn't have lasted if she hadn't stayed vigilant.
"Uh, I just wanted to sit in a different position. I won't suddenly disappear. Just sleep peacefully!"
He tucked Robin back in.
After a while, Robin closed her eyes again, her breathing gradually calming.
Not daring to close the door, Jason quietly retreated, fearful of waking her again.
Standing on the deck, Jason checked his own status and the system panel.
"Host: Portgas D. Jason
Age: 10 years old
Swordsmanship: Advanced
Haki: Intermediate Armed Color, Elementary Observation Color, Elementary Conqueror's
Physical Skills: Marine Six Styles: Shaving
(Barely considered a strong person.)"
The differences in his status from before weren't significant, aside from the addition of the elementary Conqueror's Haki, which only activated with emotions and could not be controlled at will. The intermediate Conqueror's was different; it could be controlled freely.
To Jason's surprise, there was also a new task on the system panel released after the battle with Aokiji two days ago. This was the first time in four years that the system had proactively issued a task!
Previously, Jason had repeatedly tried various methods to force the system to grant him tasks, which were always simple! Yet he never knew how to execute them.
"Training Task: The host must successfully guide his Conqueror's Haki out of his body every day! Duration: 10 days. Reward: Intermediate Conqueror's Haki!"
Jason: ¬_¬`
"If I knew how to do this, would I still need your useless system? I could just practice on my own!"
Jason had complained like this more than once.
The system responded:
"Oh my, what a sophisticated distinction! With Intermediate Conqueror's Haki, you can control sending and receiving at will! I can directly grant the Host control as long as you provide guidance, saving an immeasurable amount of training time!"
"Oh, what a useless system!"
System: ( ̄~ ̄)
Jason came to recognize the system's pattern.
If you swing a sword, you'll be taught swordsmanship.
If you run 100,000 meters a day, you'll unlock Shave.
If you live blindfolded for a few days, you'll encounter Observation Haki.
Standing under a waterfall while it pours down on you grants you Armament Haki.
Yet that still didn't change the fact that Jason considered it a trash system.
…
Early the next morning, the sun rose in the east, and the wind was fresh and beautiful!
Jason sat cross-legged on the deck, with dewdrops still clinging to him. He had stayed sitting all night, trying to figure out how to channel his Conqueror's Haki.
"Oh, stupid system!"
System: ???
"Why are you scolding me again? You are the one being foolish and blaming me?"
"Jason!!!"
Robin's voice rang out from the cabin. As soon as Jason turned his head, he saw Robin bursting out in a panic and leaping onto him.
"What's wrong?"
Jason stumbled slightly, sighing at how weak she was. When she clung to him, she felt relieved.
"I didn't see you when I woke up! I thought I was dreaming last night and that you had gone away as soon as I opened my eyes!"
"How could that be? Touch me; I'm right here! I'm alive!"
He took Robin's hand and pressed it to his face. She squeezed it.
It felt hot and warm! Tears slowly filled her eyes again as she hugged Jason tightly.
"Can we never be separated again?"
Unexpectedly, Jason's answer was beyond her expectations.
"Well, that may not work!"
"Why? Are you leaving?"
Robin looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears, as if she would cry if she heard anything disregarding her plea.
"Because when I grow up, I want to marry a wife and have children. We will only not be separated when you marry me when you grow up!"
Jason spoke half-jokingly. As he saw Robin's tears abruptly recede and her face flush with embarrassment, even reaching the roots of her ears, he found it adorable.
Then Robin punched Jason in the chest, pushed him away, and ran back into the room, locking the door behind her.
Jason: ???
Why was this different from how it was written in the novel? Wasn't she supposed to be shy?
Hmm! Being shy is one thing, but being punched was unexpected!
He scratched his head and attributed it to Robin's young age—she simply didn't understand love yet, so he just needed to keep guiding her!
However, Robin's reaction did show that his training was bearing fruit.
"Alas, the revolution has not yet succeeded; comrades still need to work hard!"
Inside her room, Robin's face burned crimson. She climbed into bed and kicked her legs awkwardly.
"Stupid Jason! How could you say something like that suddenly? You want me to marry you when I grow up?"
"But if I marry Jason, of course, that will be fine, hehe!"
"Oh! I'm still young! I can't think about this!"
"But now that I've started, what should I do? It's all your fault!!!!!!!"
After a while, there was a knock on the door, and Jason's voice came through.
"Robin, it's time to eat! You haven't had a decent meal in days! I made something delicious! Come on out!"
Robin worked hard to control her expressions and, after some time, finally opened the door, her face still tinged with red.
Jason was already sitting at the table, waiting for her. Upon seeing her emerge, he waved excitedly!
"Come on, I have your favorite strawberry cake!"
He pointed to the table filled with various dishes.
"Um!"
Neither spoke as they ate. Jason talked non-stop, while Robin, usually inquisitive at the dinner table, was stifled by her lingering embarrassment.
"Um!"
Suddenly, Robin let out a noise.
"What? What's wrong? Is it not to your liking? Or are you choking?"
"No, I really like these dishes! I'm not choking!"
"Oh! Make sure to drink water if you do!"
Jason replied, continuing to eat enthusiastically.
I promised to marry you when I grew up! Robin secretly vowed to herself regarding Jason.
After dinner, Jason intended to ask Robin about her plans moving forward and where she wanted to go next.
After all, Jason had no desire to become a Marine, nor was he interested in anything related to ONE PIECE. All he wanted was to raise Robin, this lovely cabbage, and bring her home.
Aside from wanting to grow stronger, he had no concrete aspirations; after all, with the system at work, he could grow stronger anywhere!
Before he could pose his question, however…
"Boom!"
A cannonball exploded on the water, causing the ship to tilt. Robin clung to the mast to keep steady.
"That's the ship in front! It was the same one that was blown out of the port yesterday!"
"The devil's child must be on that ship! Catch her quickly!"
"Be careful! Dozens of our comrades were knocked unconscious yesterday, and they still haven't woken up!"
Jason's face darkened with anger! Had they caught up so quickly?
"Damn it! I hate people who rush in without thinking!"
"Robin, stay on the boat! I'll handle this!"
"Okay, be careful! Don't kill them, or you'll end up wanted too!"
Robin steadied herself against the mast. With Jason by her side, she felt fearless!
"Don't worry! I understand the situation!"
Whether he killed or not would only affect the level of his bounty anyway. It was impossible to remain with Robin while not being a target!
Jason suddenly leaped onto the roof of the cabin! The surprised Marines on the opposing ship halted in their tracks.
"Who is he? Isn't he the devil's son? Did we follow the wrong target?"
"No! No! The Devil's Son is also on board; they're accomplices!"
shouted a Marine with a telescope in hand.
"Is that so? Let's catch them both!"
Jason's expression turned resolute as he initiated Shave, lunging toward the warship that lay several dozen meters away!
With a few slashes, he disabled their cannons, then proceeded to knock out the remaining Marines one by one until only one remained!
After handling the situation, Jason plundered the supplies on the ship. He had developed an appetite like Luffy's; he could eat a lot!
If he didn't stock up, the food on their current ship wouldn't last for several days.
...
In the following days, Jason and Robin encountered the Marines numerous times. The most formidable of these was when a Marine Colonel was dispatched, yet he still proved to be no match for Jason.
Eventually, Jason was marked as wanted and bestowed with a title:
Demon Guard: Portgas D. Jason!
His bounty amounted to 50 million Baileys!