Five years ago, when Robin was around twenty-three, the organization she had been relying on was once again wiped out by the Marines. Forced into flight yet again, she learned that the one responsible this time was a terrifying monster who had risen to the rank of vice admiral in just three years.
Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters, [Flame Pillar] Rengoku.
Under Rengoku's relentless pursuit, the operation spared neither day nor night. Anyone connected to that criminal organization was utterly annihilated.
Determined not to cross paths with such a monster, Robin disguised herself as best she could and kept moving. As long as Marines remained on the island, running was her only choice.
Seven days passed. By then, she no longer had the strength to go on. She hadn't even caught sight of a harbor. All her energy, all her focus for that week had gone into hiding. In that entire time, she had only consumed a single cup of water and half a sandwich.
Night fell, and the eighth day loomed ahead. Starving and exhausted, she felt she could not last much longer. Then her eyes fell on a small sandwich shop.
She had no money—zero berries. Nothing left to sell. Everything of value was already gone… even her underwear. The lecherous grin of the man who had bought them still clung to her mind like a stain.
Now, she wore nothing under her tattered shorts and thin T-shirt. Not even a cloak to hide herself.
I'll try begging… and if that doesn't work…
With nothing left to lose, even the worst possibilities no longer frightened her. She forced herself upright and staggered toward the sandwich shop.
From inside, she heard voices. She had assumed such a small, quiet shop in this sleepy part of town would be empty. She was wrong. But the hunger gnawing at her outweighed her fear of being recognized.
Creeeak—
She pushed the door open and stepped inside. A Marine was there.
Robin's stomach sank. Of all the shops she could have chosen… it had to be one with a Marine inside. In her state, she doubted she could even handle a single soldier—let alone someone wearing a Marine officer's coat.
"Welcome," the shopkeeper said, his tone unenthusiastic, as if the place had always been this quiet.
Keeping her distance from the officer seated at the center table, Robin moved to a corner and accepted a menu from the shopkeeper. The list was small but varied: sandwiches, coffee, and other drinks. The cheapest item was a plain sandwich for 200 berries. Coffee started at 250, drinks at 300.
Robin had nothing. Still, it seemed this was a place where you paid afterward, so she ordered the cheapest sandwich. But instead of getting to work, the shopkeeper studied her closely.
Under his wary gaze, Robin forced herself to act calm.
"What is it?"
"Er… pardon me, miss, but do you actually have the money to pay?"
Her ragged appearance left no doubt in his mind. No decent merchant would serve someone dressed in nothing but a worn T-shirt and faded shorts without checking first.
"Couldn't you… make an exception?" she admitted at once, confirming she had no money.
"So, you're begging… or were you planning to dine and dash from the start?"
"I—I won't run. But… maybe this would work instead?"
Cornered, Robin cupped her breasts, subtly pressing them together. Without underwear, her nipples pushed visibly against the fabric, drawing the man's gaze like a lure.
"Oh! Well now… I didn't realize we had such a special customer. Just a moment."
Of course, she had no real intention of selling herself. She only needed to eat, regain her strength, and then—if the man tried anything—kill him with whatever energy she could muster.
Soon, the sandwich arrived. It was pitiful. No bigger than her hand, with wilted vegetables between the bread, and a dressing that reeked faintly of chestnut blossoms, unpleasant and unclean.
But hunger didn't allow for such luxuries as disgust.
"Mmm! Shopkeeper! The bill, please!"
It was the Marine officer who spoke, rising from his seat, ready to pay and leave.
"Yes, right away!"
The shopkeeper, clearly relieved that the Marine officer was finished and about to leave, became almost giddy.
"How much?"
"Total comes to 1,200 berries, sir!"
The officer opened his wallet. Robin, before even touching her sandwich, stole a glance at it. The thick fold of bills was tightly packed in a single color—cash. At least 100,000 berries, just sitting there.
If I could take just one note from there…
"But, shopkeeper, I've been thinking," the officer said suddenly.
"Yes?"
"As generous as you may be with your charity…"
He turned sharply and strode toward Robin, taking her untouched sandwich—plate and all—into his hands.
"…this is a bit much, don't you think? The one I was served earlier looked nothing like this."
"T-that's the basic sandwich, sir…"
"Basic? The one I ate was just a 300-berry cream sandwich, but it was twice this size, and the ingredients were far fresher!"
He opened the bread to reveal its contents to the shopkeeper.
"And this dressing—besides the sauce, there's… something very unsanitary mixed in. This isn't just harassment—it's a violation of the consumer's rights!"
The shopkeeper froze, stammering, then suddenly cursed and pulled a hidden pistol from under the counter, firing at the Marine officer.
Bang!
Nothing happened.
Or rather—it hit. The bullet struck squarely against the officer's forehead… and simply fell to the floor. Not even a mark remained.
"To fire at a Marine officer when cornered—that's obstruction of justice and attempted murder!"
Calmly taking each shot without flinching, the officer closed the distance. Then he clenched his fist and drove it into the shopkeeper's face.
Wham!
The man collapsed instantly, unconscious.
The officer pulled out a transponder snail and spoke into it.
"Detained one corrupt merchant. Send a team to 'Gallo's Sandwiches' on 7th Street for arrest."
After ending the call, he turned to Robin, who stood there weakly.
"Bounty: seventy-nine million berries. Devil's Child Nico Robin. I didn't expect to find you in such a state."
So he knew. He must have known from the start.
"Are you… going to take me in?"
"That was my intention. But, seeing you like this, I've changed my mind. There's something I'd like to discuss with you. What do you say?"
"Sorry… but right now, I don't have the strength to go anywhere."
"Hmph. You certainly look the part. Don't worry—I'm not here to interrogate you. We can talk here. And one more thing: your dignity is important. Never use your body as currency."
He shrugged off his Marine coat and draped it over her, shielding her bare form.
Robin studied him at close range, still wary despite the gesture.
"Stay here. You won't be spotted by my men, so you can relax."
With that, the officer disappeared into the kitchen.
The hiss of a lit flame, the sizzle of eggs hitting a pan, the rich aroma of meat searing on the grill… The smell of cooking meat clawed at her hunger even more.
Soon, he emerged with four plates and a steaming cup of coffee.
"Here—basic, cheese, egg, and bacon sandwiches, all made with what this shop had on hand. The coffee's café au lait—no sugar. Add it if you like."
"W-why are you…?"
"As I said earlier, there's something I want to ask you. If you answer honestly, I'll let you go this time."
A favor… for information. Robin didn't like the thought of it, but in the end, the smell of the sandwich and coffee in front of her broke her resistance.
She cautiously picked up the cheese sandwich and took a bite. The rich, nutty flavor of cheese spread through her mouth, the soft bread and crisp vegetables making it impossible to stop.
"Justice!"
A chorus of voices made her tense again—Marine soldiers had arrived.
"You're here. That unconscious man is the corrupt merchant I reported. Take him away!"
"Yes, sir!"
Once the soldiers left, the officer handed her the coffee.
"Drink slowly, or you'll choke. If you want more, I'll make it."
"Th… thank you."
She took a small sip of the warm café au lait. It wasn't sweet—no sugar—but it was just the way she liked it. The pairing of the cheese's aroma with the coffee's warmth slowly chipped away at her wariness.
By the time she'd finished the sandwich and drained the cup, she knew it was time for the real exchange.
"What's your question?"
He pulled out a wanted poster and set it on the table—her own face staring back, bounty 79 million berries.
"According to Marine records, you sank six warships at the age of eight. But if we think logically, that can't be true."
"False?"
"You're not a giant, and your Devil Fruit ability isn't powerful enough to sink warships. And now, after days of running and hunger, you can barely stand. You weren't born a powerhouse. So tell me—how could you have sunk six warships at eight years old?"
"…"
"My judgment is this: you were framed. I don't know by whom, but if you tell me the truth, I can help clear your name."
It was true that the story of the Poneglyphs hadn't spread—her so-called crime was simply the sinking of six warships at age eight.
Saul…
Jaguar D. Saul, her friend and former Vice Admiral, came to mind. Could this man be a Marine like him?
But kindness alone wasn't enough to make her trust in his sense of justice.
"…It's no false charge. I did it. I sank those six warships at eight years old."
She lied. And he saw through it instantly.
"You're lying. Well… that's that, then."
He stood, and Robin closed her eyes. She had only wanted to learn the true history… yet it seemed she would be captured like this. So many regrets in one short life.
Tap.
When she opened her eyes, he was placing a thick wad of cash on the table.
"About a hundred thousand berries. Not a fortune, but enough to buy clothes, get clean. Don't go selling your undergarments just to survive."
Then—he let her go.
"W-wait! Why aren't you arresting me?"
"Because you were framed. I'll tell the higher-ups I lost you."
She stared after him as he walked away, then called out one last time:
"What's your name?"
He paused, glanced back with a faint smile, and replied:
"Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters—[Flame Pillar] Rengoku. That's my name."
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