Chapter 59: First Glimpse of the Sovereign's Shadow
"Ai~ Two hundred million. I thought I was going to get rich."
Reiner crouched down, opened the suitcase, and did a simple count, then turned to the man clutching his shoulder and asked:
"Are there any secret rooms or the like around here?"
"Yes! Yes!" the man cried out in panic. "There's a basement! But I don't have the key! Usually, only the Boss goes in there alone!"
"Take me there," Reiner said coolly, picking up the suitcase and standing up.
After a while, under the man's slow guidance, Reiner arrived at the entrance to a basement. A tall, heavy stone door was tightly shut.
"Sir, this is it. But it's locked, and I have no way to open it."
The man turned, his face filled with terror, seemingly afraid of being silenced now that his task was done. He looked ready to kneel directly.
"I understand. You can go now," Reiner simply waved his hand dismissively, sending the brown-haired man away.
He then summoned the Blue Ogre. Using Observation Haki to scan, he confirmed there was indeed a presence inside.
"That should be her. Let's just blast the door open and see."
Reiner didn't act himself. The Blue Ogre stepped forward, clenched its right fist, aimed at the stone door, and prepared to strike—
Meanwhile, inside the door...
Behind a massive transparent glass wall, filled with freshwater that commoners craved but couldn't obtain, a dozen or so Bananagators, raised by Crocodile, swam leisurely.
Nico Robin sat before the giant tank, staring blankly at the Bananagators inside, lost in thought.
She didn't know what she should do next.
For so many years, she had chased after the Poneglyphs, wanting to unearth the truth of history hidden within the Void Century.
But she was tired now. Since childhood, she had constantly navigated between various dark forces.
Betrayal, being betrayed, endless schemes and deceptions... adrift all this time. Alabasta had truly been her last hope.
She had spent three years hiding within Baroque Works, helping Crocodile plot everything.
"In the end, it all came to nothing." Nico Robin leaned her head back against the chair, closing her eyes with a desolate expression.
What now...?
Continue wandering among the major powers like before?
Or simply give up here and now... end it all...?
As she thought this, the image of the boy in the straw hat from the underground tomb earlier couldn't help but surface in her mind.
With just one look, he could smile foolishly and say he trusted her, even over something trivial.
In all her life, she had never met anyone like that.
No... there was one other...
Another massive figure emerged in Nico Robin's mind.
The same silly smile, yet so real, so sincere, without a trace of falsehood...
Thinking of this, the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl upwards slightly.
Suddenly...
RUMBLE!!!
An enormous sound came from the doorway. Robin sat bolt upright, startled, and turned to look.
The heavy stone door had been effortlessly smashed open, creating a gaping hole and kicking up a cloud of dust. Two figures slowly emerged from the thick smoke.
Robin recognized the newcomers and couldn't help but look stunned, murmuring to herself, "Are they here for revenge?"
Although she and his group had both fought against Crocodile in the tomb, it didn't automatically make them allies.
She was formerly part of Baroque Works; that fact wouldn't change. Robin naturally assumed they had come seeking retribution.
She looked up at the tall figure called Blue Ogre, her brow furrowing slightly. That thing's strength...
Impossible to win. Robin's gaze unconsciously shifted to the other person.
Neatly styled golden hair, wearing glasses, a smile on his face – an appearance that seemed completely harmless.
But she remembered clearly how this person had sneakily shot Crocodile, and the White Bone Chain Sword hanging at his waist...
With her meticulous mind, Robin instantly began recalling the battle from earlier, constantly thinking about how to counter them.
That Blue Ogre creature seems to have some kind of spatial movement ability... If I guard against that, and take down the blond man first...
Robin had already formed a plan, but she didn't act immediately. After all, they had saved her earlier that day.
And they weren't showing any hostility now. It was just that her past experiences forced her to think ahead and prepare countermeasures.
"What are you doing here? Crocodile has already been captured, and the treasure here was confiscated by the Navy."
Robin spoke coolly, her tone perhaps a touch icy.
Reiner leisurely lit a cigarette, controlled his facial expression to show as much goodwill as possible, wanting to try and invite Robin to join. Although success depended on Robin's own willingness, and ultimately Big Boss Luffy would have the final say, that didn't stop him from playing HR for a moment.
"I came for you."
However, this seemingly harmless demeanor appeared entirely different in Robin's eyes.
What treacherous scheme is this insidious guy plotting now? Plus, the words he just said!
"So he is after me!"
Robin's eyes turned cold. She immediately crossed her arms, assuming the stance to activate her ability. Strike first!
"Seis Fleur!" (Six Flower Bloom!)
Huh???
Reiner was completely baffled. What are you doing?!
I haven't done anything!
Six arms crossed the distance instantly, sprouting out of thin air from his body. They hooked or grabbed Reiner's limbs and neck, tightly locking his joints.
"Clutch!" (Anchor Flower!)
With Robin's low cry, the arms on Reiner immediately tried to twist forcefully!
But Reiner's entire body...
Didn't move a single inch!!!
This scene left Robin utterly shocked.
Feeling the unshakable, mountain-like strength resisting the hands grown by her ability, despair filled Robin's eyes.
Reiner, of course, knew Robin's ability. The moment Robin assumed her activation stance, he had instantly tensed his entire body.
With his current physique surpassing Luffy's and comparable to the Blue and Red Ogres, how could Robin possibly move him even slightly?
Reiner even casually lifted his arm, easily breaking free from the joint lock Robin had applied.
Sorry~ I suck, but I'm a stats monster!
Pushing his glasses up, Reiner mimicked Luffy's grin and said playfully, "Nico Robin, I like you. Come be our nakama!"
"No, I refuse," Robin replied coolly, her tone flat.
Damn it! Knew it wouldn't work! And such a straightforward rejection too! Reiner's face darkened slightly.
Why!? My charisma stat is higher than Naruto's, why doesn't talk-no-jutsu work!?
"Ahem... Anyway, you don't really have anywhere else to go, right?"
Reiner dropped the playful expression, returning to his usual calm, gentle demeanor. "If you want to continue searching for the Poneglyphs, wouldn't it be better to have a reliable organization to depend on?"
No matter what, trick her onto the ship first. Once she joins the Straw Hats, there's no fear of not keeping her.
"How did you know I'm searching for the Poneglyphs?" Robin asked, surprised, her expression growing even warier.
Anyone who knew she could read the Poneglyphs either wanted to capture her or use her.
"Is that how we can actually talk?" Reiner slapped his palm, then looked up at Robin, walking towards her as he spoke:
"Your bounty poster isn't exactly rare, and the Ohara incident shocked the world."
"The World Government didn't skimp on propaganda to make an example of you, even if they distorted some facts."
"In conclusion," Reiner reached the bluestone long table and sat down in the head seat at one end.
"You've met our captain. He's a pretty good guy, right? At least we're much more reliable than Sand Crocodile. And besides..."
"We are strong!"
Reiner smiled faintly, raised his hand, and summoned the Red Ogre, along with all his other powerful undead.
Robin's pupils instantly dilated. She stared in shock at Reiner, now seated at the head of the long table.
Blue Ogre, Red Ogre, the Knife-Saw Duo...
Standing around him were all the powerful fighters from the Straw Hat crew she recognized from intelligence reports.
Yet now, they stood like loyal knights, guarding and surrounding him protectively.
Beneath Reiner's golden hair, his face held a calm smile. Through his glasses lenses, one could glimpse calm, profound eyes. His hands rested lightly on the armrests on either side, fingers interlaced before him, like a sovereign seated upon a Void Throne.
(Undead: "Praise the Necrolord!")
(End of this chapter)
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