"Say what you truly feel, Robin."
Jin, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke.
"You have the right to choose. And you have the right to live."
"I… I can live too…?"
Nico Robin's body began to tremble.
Scenes from the past surged uncontrollably through her mind—faces she had once encountered.
Every one of them had stared at her with murderous intent, believing she was a woman who didn't deserve to live.
But… but… but what had she done wrong?!
Was it simply because she was a survivor of the Buster Call?
Was that alone enough to condemn her to death?!
No… no!!
At that moment, Jin's earlier words echoed in her mind—the moment he said he would challenge the Buster Call itself, all to free her from this nightmare.
And now, Luffy and the others had shattered the World Government's flag—
They had declared war on the entire world!!!
(Dereshishishi… dereshishishi…)
That man's laughter resurfaced in her heart, along with the words he had once spoken.
(Robin, this sea is boundless. One day, you'll meet companions willing to protect you.)
And now… she truly had.
Their words became a beam of light, illuminating her entire world—dragging her out of the darkness by force.
Robin's heart trembled violently. Tears welled up in her eyes.
'If… if I could make one wish… I want to say…'
"I want to live!!"
Robin shouted with all her strength.
"Take me with you—to the sea!!!"
In that instant, Nico Robin shattered the shackles around her heart, choosing to face everything together with her companions.
Every member of the Straw Hat Pirates smiled—and prepared for battle.
Now that Robin had made her choice, there was nothing left to hesitate over.
All they had to do was crush these damn enemies—
And leave this place alive, together with their companion!!
"You bastards… you're seriously making me cry!!" Franky said, wiping his tears.
He really, really loved these idiots.
"Since that's the case—then I'll place my bet too!!"
Franky's words interrupted Spandam just as he was about to order CP9 to seize the three of them.
But the moment Franky pulled out a set of blueprints, Spandam froze, unable to speak.
"T-this is… this is—"
"The blueprints of the Ancient Weapon, Pluton?!"
"Pluton…"
Jin glanced at the papers, clearly not expecting something like this to appear here.
Back then, Crocodile had nearly overturned Alabasta just to obtain Pluton.
And now the blueprints were right here.
If Crocodile knew… he'd probably cough up blood from rage.
"That's right—Pluton's blueprints," Franky said.
"The real thing."
"You might not believe it, but…"
"Lucci. Kaku. You can tell, can't you?"
As he spoke, Franky deliberately flipped a few pages for them to see.
Both men instantly broke out in cold sweat.
"You actually kept them on your body…" Kaku said gravely.
"No wonder we couldn't find them anywhere."
"It's real?!" Spandam screamed in excitement.
"Give it to me! Hand it over!"
He rushed forward—but froze the instant he saw Jin standing beside Franky.
He knew it clearly.
If he went any closer, he would die.
"Nico Robin," Franky said,
"I already know you're not the demon the rumors claim you to be."
"So I'm going to bet on you all!"
"The reason these blueprints exist… is to counter the possible appearance of an Ancient Weapon."
"Just like now."
"Even if you're unwilling to cooperate, as long as you're alive, the World Government will always have a chance to obtain that weapon…"
"But now things are different."
"You have reliable companions."
"Companions who dare challenge the entire world for your sake!!"
"So—"
"These blueprints no longer have any meaning!"
The moment his words fell—
Franky opened his mouth and unleashed blazing flames, burning the blueprints in his hands to ash!!
The sight made Kalifa's blood pressure spike.
"Our five years of work—!"
They had infiltrated Water 7 for five full years for those blueprints!!
And now… everything was gone.
"Stop… stop it!!"
Spandam completely lost control, throwing himself to the ground to grab the ashes—even the golden Den Den Mushi slipping from his hand went unnoticed.
"My blueprints… my achievements… my future…"
"Why… why did you burn them?!"
Gone.
All of it—gone.
Without those blueprints, how was he supposed to earn the Five Elders' favor?!
"You're that confident the Straw Hat Pirates can take Nico Robin back?" Kaku asked.
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Jin, his body tensing, ready to strike at any moment.
"I'm willing to believe in them," Franky said firmly.
"If we win, you get nothing."
"Neither the Ancient Weapon—nor Nico Robin!"
"You bastard—are you trying to die right here?!"
Spandam roared in fury, grabbing the golden Den Den Mushi and glaring at Franky.
"Without those blueprints, you have no value!"
But just before he finished speaking—
His mind blanked for a brief instant.
"Hah—go ahead and—"
Franky suddenly froze mid-sentence.
His pupils shrank as he stared at Spandam's hand.
"Hey—did you just press it?!"
That bastard actually activated it?!
Was he insane?!
Did he plan to destroy Enies Lobby itself?!
"Huh?"
Spandam lowered his head in confusion—then his eyes bulged out in sheer terror, snot flying everywhere.
"I-I-I-I pressed it?!"
"Why?!"
"I didn't mean to press it at all!!"
Kalifa's face turned pale.
"That idiot… what is he thinking?!"
Then suddenly, she realized something.
Her eyes snapped toward Jin—
And she saw the faint, amused smile on his face.
Could it be… him?!
...
"Bzzzz—!!"
The instant the golden Den Den Mushi was activated, alarms rang through Marine Headquarters' communications division.
"Golden Den Den Mushi signal received!"
"Who activated it?!"
"Signal source is… Admiral Aokiji!"
"Understood," a middle-aged officer said.
"If it's Admiral Aokiji, there's no need for further confirmation."
"Immediately contact five nearby Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals and initiate the Buster Call!"
"But—sir! The target is Enies Lobby!"
"It doesn't matter where it is!" the officer snapped.
"If an Admiral issued the order, that's all we need to know!"
There was no way anyone could steal an Admiral's golden Den Den Mushi.
Absolutely impossible.
If the order targeted Enies Lobby, then Aokiji must have had his reasons.
"All units acknowledged!"
"Dispatch five Vice Admirals immediately!"
"Sir, sending warships directly from Headquarters will be faster."
"Then do it!"
"Yes, sir!"
After issuing all commands, the officer returned to his office and contacted Aokiji via Den Den Mushi.
"Admiral Aokiji, may I ask the reason for initiating a Buster Call on Enies Lobby? I need it for official records."
Out on the sea, Aokiji sat quietly on his bicycle.
After a brief silence, he replied:
"I'll explain everything to Fleet Admiral Sengoku when I return."
"Yes, understood!"
"Mm."
After hanging up, Aokiji turned his gaze toward Enies Lobby in the distance.
His golden Den Den Mushi was in Spandam's possession.
Which meant—
The Buster Call had been activated there.
"…So it's because of Nico Robin, huh."
He sighed lightly.
"Guess I'll go take a look."
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