Looking at Nico Robin's stubborn demeanor, Meiser felt utterly helpless. He now understood exactly how the Straw Hat Pirates must have felt.
Their comrades were risking their lives to save this woman, yet she herself showed no will to survive. Even with him standing right before her, she still sought death.
"After coming this far, you're still saying such things?" Meiser said. "I can take you all away right now. As for these Sea Stone cuffs, we'll find a way to deal with them later."
While his lockpicking skills might not work on Sea Stone restraints, there were so many Devil Fruit users out there—surely they could find someone capable of unlocking them.
"Please don't let my efforts go to waste..." Nico Robin lowered her head. "Just leave."
"Even if not for yourself, think about Luffy and the others."
If the Straw Hat Pirates were to engage in full-scale combat with Cipher Pol 9 here, even she couldn't predict the consequences.
"Don't listen to this stubborn woman," Franky interjected. "Let's get out of here first and worry about safety later."
They could gradually work through Robin's mindset issues after securing their survival.
Meiser ignored Franky—the man was tough as nails, staying tied up a while longer wouldn't hurt him. Nico Robin's problem was more pressing. Unless resolved, even if he took her away now, someone else might capture her again later. Where the heart isn't willing, the body won't stay.
Some issues had to be settled decisively, or they'd breed endless trouble.
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?!"
"It's about the Buster Call, isn't it?" Meiser said.
Robin looked up sharply at his words, pain flashing in her eyes.
"The Buster Call..."
"You have no idea how terrible the Buster Call truly—"
"Enough. No need to continue." Meiser turned toward the sealed metal door on the side. "I understand now."
"Good that you understand." Robin sighed in relief.
As long as he didn't cause trouble, the Straw Hat Pirates would remain safe. That would make her sacrifice meaningful.
"What do you mean you understand?!" Franky struggled against his bonds. "Untie me already! Why bother with what she says?"
"Franky!"
"What?"
"Unless we resolve the Buster Call issue, Robin will never escape the nightmare in her heart." Meiser spoke without turning back. "This nightmare will keep waking her repeatedly, haunting her like a demon."
"So what?"
"So... our job isn't just to rescue her." Meiser's voice hardened. "We need to slay that damned demon, so Robin can finally sleep peacefully!"
With that, he fell silent and strode purposefully toward the door.
Robin's head snapped up as she stared at his retreating figure. "What are you doing? Stop!"
Something in Meiser's words alarmed her. Did this man intend to fight Cipher Pol 9 right here?
"Stop this immediately!"
"Have you even asked Luffy about this?!"
"You..."
Meiser didn't speak. Instead, he took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed in front of Nico Robin.
Soon, the other end picked up, and the Den Den Mushi transformed into Luffy's appearance.
Clearly, this Den Den Mushi had been given to Luffy by Meiser earlier—though Luffy hadn't realized it at the time.
"Hey, Luffy."
"Is that Meiser?!"
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
"Boom!"
Standing on the rooftop, Luffy punched an incoming Marine away while dodging a spear thrust.
Only then did he reply, "Where are you? Did you find Robin?"
"I did."
"As expected of Meiser! That's great!" Luffy exclaimed joyfully. "Where are you guys? I'll come find you right away."
Meiser had found Robin much faster than Luffy had anticipated, making him marvel at the skills of a Ninja.
"We're inside the tallest building. You can see it from the rooftop of the Courthouse."
"Got it." Luffy nodded. "Is Robin okay?"
"You guys..." Nico Robin opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words.
"I told you already—they weren't afraid of Aqua Laguna, so why would they fear Enies Lobby?" Franky laughed heartily. "These guys fear nothing in the world!"
Franky seemed to have grasped Meiser's intentions. As a man of action, he naturally supported the idea!
"Haha, Robin, we'll be there with you soon!" Luffy laughed. "Wait for us!"
"Why are you even coming..."
"Isn't it obvious? Because we're nakama," Meiser said.
After speaking, he ignored Nico Robin and turned his attention back to the Den Den Mushi. "Luffy, there's something I need to tell you."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Damn, you guys are persistent!"
Luffy glared irritably at the Marines chasing him. Clamping the Den Den Mushi between his teeth, he shot himself forward with a rubbery launch.
Only after landing on another rooftop did he finally have a moment of undisturbed conversation.
"I could force Robin to leave with me right now, but if we don't resolve one issue, we might face this situation again someday," Meiser said.
Luffy fell silent for a moment before replying, "Yeah, you're right."
Today, someone could use them to threaten Nico Robin. Tomorrow, someone might use them to force her to take her own life.
"So..." Meiser grinned. "Luffy, let's declare war on them."
"I'm standing right at the doorstep of their headquarters. I'll figure out a way to deal with the Buster Call."
The moment Meiser laid eyes on Nico Robin, he understood—unless this problem was solved, she would never escape her nightmare.
In that case, he might as well shatter it himself!
"Hey, would you two listen to me for once?!" Nico Robin's eyes widened in disbelief.
What had she just heard? This newly joined crewmate was actually planning to challenge the Buster Call head-on?
Where did he get that confidence?
"Do you even need to ask?" Luffy clenched his fist. "Go for it, Meiser!"
"Whether it's Cipher Pol 9 or the Buster Call, I'll knock them all flying!"
"Hey, you guys—"
"Robin!!" Luffy shouted, cutting off Nico Robin's words. "Wait for us!"
Crack—
As soon as he finished speaking, the Den Den Mushi's receiver was crushed outright by Luffy.
"You heard it, Nico Robin," Meiser said, crushing the receiver in his hand as well. "Your will can't change our minds."
"Seriously, what's wrong with all of you?"
Franky was completely dumbfounded. He had wanted to ask about his subordinates, but this guy had gone and crushed the Den Den Mushi's receiver.
With a helpless sigh, Franky turned to Nico Robin, who stood there in shock, and said, "See? That's their resolve."
"They fought their way all the way from Water 7, bulldozed through the Aqua Laguna that could destroy everything, and made it to Enies Lobby—a fortress that's stood unshaken for 800 years."
"And all of it—just to save you!"
Franky's words echoed in Nico Robin's mind as her eyes remained fixed on the man striding resolutely toward the gate.
That man... showed not the slightest fear of the World Government!
BOOM!!
Meiser slammed his fist into the gate, sending it flying straight into Spandam's head, knocking him flat on his backside in terror.
The members of Cipher Pol 9 all turned their gazes toward the entrance, their eyes sharpening with intensity.
Meiser strolled inside, hands in his pockets, and swept a glance over the CP9 agents staring him down. With a grin, he said:
"Hello there, you bastards!!"