New World, Dressrosa. The sixty-six-story Red Rose Hotel boasted a sprawling rooftop pool terrace. Beneath the shade of a white sun umbrella, Nico Robin reclined lazily on a beach chair, her black bikini contrasting sharply with the pristine white furniture. She flipped through a stack of documents with unhurried precision, her posture radiating calm despite the weight of her responsibilities.
Since taking control of the Umbrella Corporation's intelligence network, her days had been consumed by endless streams of information. To streamline operations and optimize the network, she'd traveled from Paradise to the New World, settling in Dressrosa, the Company's primary base.
In her earlier days as a wanderer, she'd heard rumors of Sephiroth joining the Umbrella Corporation. Back then, she'd casually gathered tidbits about the organization, concluding it was a formidable force rivaling any of the Four Emperors' crews. But...
Only after assuming control of the Company's intelligence network did the truth hit her. She'd drastically underestimated the Umbrella Corporation's reach. Its hidden strength and influence were staggering. It wasn't an exaggeration to say the Company could hold its own against two Four Emperors' crews simultaneously.
In this world, only the World Government surpassed the Umbrella Corporation in power and influence. The realization sent a chill down her spine.
The terrace door clicked open. Sephiroth stepped through, dressed in white beach shorts and a red floral shirt. He approached her chair with casual grace. "I brought you two things. I wonder if you'll like them."
From his pocket, he produced a photograph and a silver ring. Robin's eyes widened. She dropped the documents and sprang to her feet, snatching the photo from his hand. The ring lay forgotten in her urgency. Her breath caught as she studied the image—a red poneglyph, unfamiliar and tantalizing. A radiant smile spread across her face.
"You always manage to surprise me," she murmured, her voice warm with appreciation.
"This is the bigger surprise," Sephiroth said, offering her the ring.
"Why are you giving me a ring?" she teased, her tone playful. "Are you proposing? If so, I might just say yes." She reached for it, her fingers brushing his.
"This ring is fused with the Mane-Mane Fruit's power," he explained. "With it, you can transform into anyone at will."
The memory of Mr. 2 Bon Clay's public impersonation of King Cobra flashed through her mind. His actions had nearly plunged Alabasta into civil war. After Bon Clay's execution, Sephiroth had wasted no time extracting the Devil Fruit's power from the still-warm body.
Robin slid the ring onto her right middle finger. A moment's inspection revealed its mechanics. With this, she could evade the World Government's relentless pursuit by the CP Organization. Relief washed over her. She traced the ring gently, her gratitude sincere.
"Boss, thank you. This means more than you know."
His lips curved into a sly smile. "Oh? How will you repay me?"
Robin rose to her feet, her movements deliberate. She traced small circles on his chest, her voice low and sultry. "Saying that really puts me in a bind. How about I do something Boss likes most?"
Sephiroth chuckled, his tone teasing. "Saying that really makes me curious. What do you have in mind?"
Taking control of the Umbrella Corporation's intelligence network revealed two shocking truths to Nico Robin. First, the sheer scale of the Company's operations took her breath away. Second—and far more personally unsettling—was the detailed dossier on Sephiroth's romantic exploits. The files painted him as a walking catastrophe of broken hearts, with a trail of admirers spanning continents.
She exhaled through her teeth. What right did she have to judge? Their history amounted to survivor and savior, nothing more. Then a darker thought surfaced—his reputation might work in her favor. Without that notorious charm, would someone like her ever catch his eye?
Sephiroth's eyelids lowered to slits as he considered Robin's proposition. A slow, knowing smile curved his lips.
"Sounds pretty good... Let's do that!" His arm slid around her waist before the last word left his mouth, pulling her close with practiced ease.