Nico Robin once again fell into intense inner turmoil.
And this time, it was even harder than before.
At that moment—
Leno's tone suddenly softened.
Unusually gentle.
Yet deep within his eyes remained an eternal, unmelted frost.
Perhaps only Domino could occasionally draw out a trace of genuine warmth from him.
"Robin." His voice carried a subtle allure. "Join me."
"You won't have to endure betrayal and running ever again. Anyone under me—no one dares bully."
"Not even the World Government."
Domino added coldly from the side, "You don't have another choice."
"Lord Leno personally inviting you is your honor."
Franky chose not to speak.
It wasn't his decision to make.
As a prisoner, what could he possibly do?
Spandam, meanwhile, didn't dare utter a single word.
Between "interrupt Leno and die immediately" and "maybe die later if this blows up"—
He knew which option to choose.
After a long internal struggle—
Seeing Leno's patience nearly exhausted, impatience flickering across his brows—
Robin finally made her decision.
She lifted her head.
"I can join you…"
"But you can't stop me from researching the Poneglyphs. You must help me find them."
"And… you can't kill any member of the Straw Hat Pirates."
"...Tch."
Leno's gaze instantly turned glacial.
Without warning—
He reached out and seized Robin by her slender throat.
Slamming her against the cold iron bars!
Her panicked breath brushed against his face.
"You…" His voice dropped low and dangerous. "Have you misunderstood your position?"
"I need you. I do not require you."
Robin's breathing grew strained.
Her face flushed red from lack of air.
Her eyes filled with pain—and grievance.
She meant only this time!
Why was he so rough? He didn't even let her finish properly!
"The first two conditions—I can agree."
Leno stared at her coldly.
"But the last one… I will only spare them this once."
The killing intent in his eyes was unmistakable.
With the last of her strength, Robin desperately signaled that she understood—she agreed.
Only then did Leno snort and release her.
The very next second—
He seemed like a different person.
His fingers gently brushed over the red marks he had just left on her neck.
His voice softened slightly.
"What delicate skin…"
"Next time, don't try to test my limits."
"I dislike it. And at your current standing—you're not qualified."
Robin nodded rapidly, like a chick pecking rice.
Fear lingered in her eyes.
This man was insane.
Moments ago he was choking her with murderous intent.
Now he spoke almost tenderly.
Franky and Spandam both shuddered.
They were certain—
There was something wrong with Leno mentally.
Anyone coming out of that prison would be unstable.
Especially someone betrayed by the teacher he once revered.
Only Domino—
Watching the entire scene—
Showed no fear whatsoever.
Instead, an unnatural flush colored her cheeks.
Her eyes sparkled with admiration.
As expected of Lord Leno!
That dominant presence was irresistible!
Perhaps that was what they called love-blindness.
Leno, however, did not think himself mad.
He was simply using the most direct, most effective method to completely subdue Robin.
To ensure absolute obedience.
As for feelings?
That was something to consider later.
And whether he even wanted to cultivate such things remained a question.
"Good."
He stood up, satisfied, and turned his gaze toward Spandam.
Spandam jolted instantly.
The survival instincts of a seasoned sycophant activated at full speed.
He scurried to Robin's cell door.
With trembling efficiency, he pulled out the keys and unlocked her Seastone shackles and the cell door.
Blame from above?
Hah.
Weren't the Straw Hat brats coming anyway?
When they arrived, he'd just dump all responsibility on them.
Spandam would never carry the blame.
"Alright, Spandam. Go handle your own matters. I'll find somewhere to rest."
After speaking, Leno wrapped one arm around the still-dazed Domino, and with the other grabbed Robin, who had just regained her freedom but wore a complicated expression.
His figure flickered—
And instantly vanished from Spandam and Franky's sight.
Franky watched the scene unfold.
A tiny bit envious.
But not by much.
Following a boss like that—moody, ruthless, unpredictable—
Who knew whether the next moment would bring fortune or disaster?
Even a weirdo like him had to admit—
That guy was a different level of crazy.
Spandam, meanwhile, could only stare helplessly as Robin—his most important "achievement"—was taken away.
He felt like a powerless, cuckolded husband, forced to watch his superior ply him with drinks and grope his wife.
Fury boiling with nowhere to vent, he kicked Franky's cell hard.
Cursing under his breath, he stormed off.
He had originally planned to distribute Devil Fruits as rewards to CP9.
Then he ran into Leno, that walking calamity.
What rotten luck.
Still, to avoid suspicion from CP9, he had to give the promised rewards.
But his good mood for the day was completely ruined.
The only injured party—
Was Spandam.
—
Meanwhile,
Leno had already brought the two women to a residence that appeared clean and comfortable.
He glanced at the clearly feminine décor inside.
Without hesitation, he claimed it.
Sorry.
From now on, this place was requisitioned.
He walked straight to the bed and dropped backward onto it.
Feeling the soft mattress beneath him, he let out a comfortable sigh.
That hellhole in Eternal Hell was no place for humans.
Domino glanced at Robin beside her.
Then began tidying her slightly messy clothes and hair.
After sniffing herself, she wrinkled her delicate nose.
She cared about her appearance—
Especially in front of the man she loved.
So she turned and went into the washroom.
While Domino was away—
Robin stepped toward the bed.
Looking at Leno, who had his eyes closed in rest, she couldn't help asking:
"Why… me?"
"What do you mean, why you?" Leno replied lazily without opening his eyes.
Robin pressed her lips together and rephrased.
"Why choose me?"
Only then did he open one eye and glance at her.
His tone was as casual as if commenting on the weather.
"In a certain sense, in my previous life, you were a goddess to quite a few people."
"I suppose I counted as one of them."
"And now? A bit of a collector's mentality. Pretty normal, right?"
Robin didn't understand half of what he just said.
But she caught the part about being his "goddess."
A faint blush rose to her cheeks.
Inside the washroom,
Domino faintly overheard the conversation.
Especially the word "goddess."
Her movements paused.
Tears welled up instantly in her eyes.
However—
Leno's tone shifted.
"But that was a past life."
"Goddess? Heh."
"The current you is nothing more than a prisoner."
"What I need is your ability to read the ancient script. Nothing more."