The furious Rengoku unleashed a full-force strike, layering all of his techniques together.
But it was stopped—by someone else.
"Arara… that one really hurt."
"Kuzan…"
The one who blocked Rengoku's flaming blade was none other than the very man indirectly responsible for the Buster Call being triggered—Admiral Aokiji, Kuzan himself.
"Man, Rengoku, you really are strong. I went all out with full Armament Haki to block that, and it still did this much damage."
"…What do you think you're doing?"
"What else? Just stopping your rage."
"…Your arm… it's been cut off."
As Rengoku pointed out, Kuzan's right arm had been completely severed. Because Rengoku's strike carried heat, the wound was cauterized—no blood flowed, but it also meant reattachment was impossible.
"You're making a fuss over one arm? I'm a Logia. I'll just make an ice arm. And if not, maybe I'll be like Zephyr and strap on a mechanical one, eh?"
"I don't understand. Why would you shield her? You gave that golden Den Den Mushi to Spandam, you allowed this Buster Call to be triggered on Enies Lobby—and yet you protect her?!"
Rengoku's voice thundered with disbelief.
"…Because Nico Robin truly wished to live. And besides, the Buster Call's already been canceled. Not even ten minutes after it was launched. That makes it a canceled operation, not a failed one."
"How is that a reason?!"
"Well… I also owed a debt."
At that, Rengoku could no longer contain himself. He grabbed Kuzan by the collar and snarled.
"What kind of debt makes you defend her so desperately? Is Nico Robin your daughter?!"
Rengoku's furious demand was met only with Kuzan's silent memory—of his fallen friend, Jaguar D. Saul.
"…Not my daughter. More like… a foster niece, maybe?"
Kuzan's flippant reply made no sense to Rengoku. The Vice Admiral readied his sword once again to cut down Robin.
"Rengoku, stop."
"No. I have to correct my mistake."
"Stop it."
"If I don't, I can't face the people of Alabasta who died because I let Nico Robin slip away five years ago."
"…I understand that much. But this isn't the answer."
"She knows where Pluton is hidden! She's already dangerous enough!"
"Don't worry. I'll stake my life on it—she won't use Pluton to destroy the world."
"Flame Breathing…"
"Vice Admiral Rengoku, I said stop, now!"
"Ninth Form…"
"That's an Admiral's order! Cease immediately!"
!!!
"You'd invoke an Admiral's authority… just to protect one criminal?"
"If that's what it takes to save her, gladly."
"…Haa…"
Rengoku finally released his enhancements and sheathed his sword. Then he produced the key to Robin's seastone cuffs and tossed it to Kuzan.
Kuzan took it and freed Nico Robin.
"…Why?"
Robin herself could not understand.
"…Because this way, when I die, I can meet Saul without shame."
Saul. Jaguar D. Saul. A former Vice Admiral, Kuzan's close friend—and to Robin, like a father.
"You carry Saul's life with you too. What I saved today isn't just Nico Robin—it's also Jaguar D. Saul's legacy."
Click.
"So don't throw your life away. Even if your own thread is fragile… Saul's thread is long."
Rengoku looked out over Enies Lobby. Despite some damage from stray shells, there were no corpses, no signs of mass destruction.
"Don't worry, Vice Admiral Rengoku. Thanks to your quick command, all ten thousand stationed Marines, government agents, and even the civilians from Water 7 survived unharmed."
"…."
"And you, Nico Robin—gather your crewmates and leave. A ship's already waiting for you."
"A… ship?"
"Down there. That little caravel with the sheep's head. Isn't that yours?"
Robin looked down. There, floating alone on the water, was the Going Merry.
"…Thank you."
She said her farewell to Kuzan, then turned to Rengoku.
"Rengoku."
"What is it, Nico Robin?"
"The Alabasta incident was entirely my doing. I'll carry that guilt for the rest of my life. So… I hope you won't keep that burden in your heart anymore."
"…."
Rengoku gave no reply.
Robin used her powers to carry her battered crewmates down to the Going Merry.
After seeing them off, Rengoku stood in silence before finally turning back to Kuzan with a question.
"When did you arrive at Enies Lobby?"
"As soon as the Buster Call was triggered."
"…"
"…"
After a brief silence, Kuzan asked Rengoku:
"So, where do you plan to go now?"
"…To face judgment. For the crime of stopping the Buster Call. For letting pirates escape. For failing to support CP9's mission. For striking fellow Vice Admirals. For cutting off an Admiral's arm… I must meet the Gorosei and the Fleet Admiral, and pay for all my sins."
"You don't need to worry about that."
"…What?"
"CP9's mission was only to be assisted. The actual responsibility lies with them, not you. As for the Buster Call—it's been canceled. The Vice Admirals you clashed with will understand. And my arm… I'll just say a Sea King bit it off on the way here."
"…Who would believe an Admiral lost his arm to a Sea King?"
"What's the problem? Red-Haired Shanks lost his arm back in the East Blue. At least mine was in the Grand Line."
"…Even so, letting the Straw Hat crew escape—that crime falls on me."
"About that…" Kuzan began to explain.
"So the pursuit of the Straw Hat crew has now been handed to Vice Admiral Garp?"
"More accurately, the authority has been transferred. Once the Buster Call was invoked, Garp himself took full charge of pursuing the Straw Hats—including Nico Robin. Which means you don't bear any responsibility at all."
"…Who's going to believe that? The Gorosei, at the very least—"
"I know," Kuzan cut him off. "But those old men actually prefer it this way. With a full-scale war against Whitebeard looming, do you really think they'd waste a future Admiral over a few 'minor incidents'? They'd be the ones to suffer most if the Navy's strength faltered. So at worst? You'll be writing a self-reflection report."
"…A report."
"Yeah. About… ten thousand pages, maybe?" Kuzan joked again, his tone light as ever.
"…And your arm?"
"Hmm… I don't want to end up clanking around like Zephyr, so I'll probably just make one from ice. Unless Vegapunk feels like building me a smaller replacement."
"…That would be better. Ask Dr. Vegapunk to craft you a compact one."
"Good idea. See? This is why it's nice having young folks around—their heads still spin quick."
Rengoku sighed at Kuzan's unchanging, playful tone.
"So… are you heading back now?"
"Yeah. I'll hitch a ride on Garp's ship. And you should too. That way, no one in the public will twist the story against you."
"…That doesn't concern me."
Even if the whole world scorned him, so long as he carried out his duty and upheld justice as he saw it, he would remain unshaken.
"Then do it for your foster grandfather—Vice Admiral Garp."
At that name, Rengoku exhaled deeply, then gave a reluctant nod.
The two walked back toward Enies Lobby together.
....
"By the way," Kuzan asked casually, "when did you eat a Devil Fruit? Looked like a Zoan to me."
"The Gorosei gave it to me. They said it was a Mythical Zoan—Model: Nemean Lion."
"Ehh?! A Mythical Zoan? That's insane… I'm jealous~"
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