At the royal tomb of Alabasta—
Leo vanished into the shadows, quietly trailing behind Robin.
Whether it was out of curiosity or a deeper desire to uncover the truth buried in this world, he couldn't let this chance pass. He had to see for himself what was recorded in the historical text—the mysterious Poneglyph.
Up ahead, Robin supported Cobra, visibly excited. The historical text she had been searching for all these years was finally within reach, hidden beneath the royal cemetery in the underground palace. Fortunately, she hadn't rushed in blindly.
Cobra walked in silence. After a moment, he turned back to glance at Robin, confusion in his tired eyes.
"Nico Robin... Crocodile's after Pluton. I don't know where he got the information," Cobra said, voice low and uncertain. "But are you really planning to help him? You do realize—Pluton's a force capable of destroying the entire world!"
He stared at her, his gaze tinged with fear.
"Tsk. I'm not interested in destroying the world," Robin replied, calm and steady. "I only want to know the truth. What happened during the lost century? What is the World Government so afraid of that they erased an entire hundred years of history?"
Cobra's expression tightened.
"You're still chasing that truth…" His voice trembled slightly. "You've been on the run from the World Government for years. Aren't you afraid of death?"
His question struck a nerve, and his hands trembled as he recalled the terrible event that had marked Robin's past—the destruction of Ohara. That peaceful island of scholars had been wiped out by a Buster Call because they dared to decipher the Poneglyphs.
Nico Robin… the so-called "Devil's Child"… was the last survivor of that tragedy.
He had thought she would spend the rest of her life hiding, just trying to survive. But even now, after all these years, she was still chasing the forbidden truth.
That meant one thing: she remained an enemy of the World Government.
And those who opposed the World Government—aside from a few monsters in the New World—usually ended up at the bottom of the sea, feeding the fish.
"Afraid of death?" Robin let out a cold, mocking laugh. "I died in Ohara years ago. The only reason I'm still standing here is because I refuse to die before I uncover the truth hidden by the world."
She narrowed her eyes. "Cobra. Take me to the historical text. You know you can't stop me."
She shoved him lightly, and he fell silent.
He didn't actually know the truth of the lost century. The royal family of Alabasta had passed down only fragmented tales about Pluton through generations. Even Cobra, the king, was mostly in the dark.
Still, his curiosity had grown over the years. Now, seeing Robin's determination, he said no more and led her down to the hidden chamber.
There, standing silently in the middle of the underground hall, was a massive stone tablet—a Poneglyph. Covered in dense, ancient characters, the slab had remained untouched for over a thousand years.
The moment Robin saw it, her breath caught in her throat. She rushed forward, eyes wide, fingers trembling as they traced the inscriptions. Joy and excitement shone in her expression.
After years of suffering and struggle, she had finally found it—the historical text she had spent her life searching for.
And as she read the stone, she confirmed her suspicions.
The World Government truly was afraid of something.
The Ancient Weapons… they were real.
One of the three legendary weapons, Pluton, was indeed mentioned here—and it was hidden somewhere in Alabasta.
Suddenly, a strange ripple spread through the air.
Robin's lips curved slightly, and she glanced toward the entrance.
"You found it, didn't you?"
A voice echoed through the hall—cold and irritated.
Crocodile stepped into view, a scowl on his face.
That Straw Hat boy had exposed his weakness, and to make matters worse, Nico Robin had been keeping an eye on him. He felt humiliated.
"I found it," Robin replied calmly. "But there's no information about Pluton here."
Crocodile's face twisted with suspicion.
"Really? Read it to me," he sneered.
"In the 239th year of the Tian Calendar, Kasira conquered Alabasta," Robin recited slowly, her eyes never leaving the tablet. "In the 260th year, Tieyima established the Peterin Dynasty..."
She continued to read, revealing pieces of history and ancient events—yet none of it mentioned Pluton directly.
Then—
"Puff!"
Robin's voice suddenly choked.
Without warning, Crocodile drove his golden hook straight through her abdomen, his face dark and cold.
"Nico Robin," he hissed, eyes glinting with malice, "Did you really think I'd believe you?"
Robin gasped, struggling to breathe. Blood dripped to the floor as she slowly turned her head toward him.
"W-Why?"
She collapsed to the ground.
She had expected something like this. A man like Crocodile, who always hid in the shadows and used others to do his bidding—of course he would sacrifice her the moment she became inconvenient.
Even so, she asked the question. She wanted to hear his reason.
Crocodile scoffed.
"Someone like you? Trustworthy? Don't make me laugh."
He stared down at her with disdain. "You really think I don't know? The information about Pluton is here. I've confirmed it. That's the whole reason I went to all this trouble—to steal a kingdom."
He turned away in disgust.
Robin's eyes fluttered.
"…I see…"
A strange peace filled her voice as she closed her eyes.
Bang!
BOOM!
Suddenly, a foot shot out of nowhere and slammed Crocodile in the ribs, launching him across the room like a broken doll.
He crashed through the wall and disappeared, flying in the same direction Luffy had come from earlier.
"Alright, stop faking it."
A casual voice echoed in the hall.
Leo stepped out of the shadows, his tone annoyed as he glanced at the collapsed Robin.
"You can get up now."
The moment his words fell, another ripple spread through the hall.
Robin, who had appeared to be fatally wounded, sat up without a scratch, brushing off the dust on her clothes.
"Why… why did you save me?" she asked, confused.
The energy wave from earlier had hidden the real Robin, creating a nearly perfect illusion in her place. The Robin Crocodile stabbed had been both real and fake—an elaborate decoy.
That explained the smile she had given just before the attack.
Leo chuckled and shrugged. "I find you interesting. Is that a good enough reason?"
Robin didn't answer. Her eyes were focused on him—on the strange energy he carried, the mystery surrounding his presence.
Leo approached the stone tablet. A complex magic circle appeared in his palm, glowing faintly. At its center was a floating book-like symbol.
He placed his hand close to the Poneglyph, his lips moving silently.
> "Word Magic: Language Deciphering."
The ancient, undecipherable glyphs on the stone began to shimmer. Slowly, they lifted off the surface like wisps of light, forming translucent shapes in the air.
The unknown symbols twisted and transformed into words Leo could understand. They floated around him, spinning gently as they poured meaning into his mind.
A flood of ancient knowledge surged into him—histories long buried, truths erased by the World Government.
The lost century. The Great Kingdom. The war that ended it all.
The meaning behind "D."
And Pluton…
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