As Mihawk's words fell, the very air seemed to freeze.
Robin, who had just stepped out of the cabin carrying two bottles of wine, felt the suffocating aura emanating from Mihawk. A trace of worry flashed through her eyes as she instinctively glanced toward Arashi.
There was no doubt that Arashi was strong.
But Mihawk was a world-renowned powerhouse—the greatest swordsman alive, wielding the world's strongest Black Blade.
Yet, to her surprise, Arashi didn't immediately refuse as he usually would. Instead, he calmly looked at Mihawk, who stood on the coffin boat with his blade already in hand.
"Come on!"
Seeing that Arashi hadn't rejected him outright, Mihawk grew even more excited. Taking a step forward, barely able to suppress the anticipation within him, he said in a low voice,
"I've always known you're strong. But because you dislike a life of constant fighting, you've been hiding your true power. That's no reason to refuse my challenge. If you truly consider me a friend, then fight me!"
"Looks like there's really no way to refuse, huh?"
Feeling the surging battle intent radiating from Mihawk, Arashi suddenly shook his head with a smile. Then he waved his hand casually.
"Alright, alright—I accept your challenge. But tone down that murderous aura. You're making it look like we're enemies. A sparring match is one thing, but if you damage my Traveler, that'd be a real loss."
"Oh, right—"
Before Mihawk could respond, Arashi suddenly turned to Robin, who was standing at the cabin door.
"This is the maid I picked up in Sieg Town—Nico Robin. Come on, get acquainted!"
"Nico Robin?"
Mihawk, who had been completely focused on Arashi, instantly stiffened upon hearing that highly sensitive name. His gaze sharpened as he quickly turned to look at Robin.
"Arashi!"
Recognizing the woman in the maid outfit as the very Nico Robin wanted by the World Government, Mihawk blinked in slight disbelief before calling out,
"What are you doing? Don't you know who she is? Keeping her by your side… if the World Government finds out, you'll be dragged into this as well!"
Before he could finish, Arashi had already taken the wine from Robin and casually tossed one bottle to Mihawk.
"This is 'Water of Life' from a thug boss named Bege in Sieg Town. Consider it a welcome drink."
Mihawk fell silent, catching the bottle. He cast a meaningful glance at Robin, who now stood alone by the cabin door, looking somewhat isolated.
As one of the Seven Warlords, how could he not know Nico Robin—the so-called "Devil of Ohara"?
He knew her.
He also knew quite a bit about the Ohara incident.
In many ways, he even sympathized with her.
His earlier words weren't meant to target Robin—they were spoken because he genuinely regarded Arashi as a friend and didn't want him dragged into unnecessary trouble.
After all, from the time they met in the East Blue until now, Arashi had always been a lone traveler. Mihawk himself, despite being a Warlord, also preferred solitude.
Compared to certain acquaintances in the New World, he much preferred drinking and chatting with Arashi.
But now that Arashi had taken Nico Robin in, staying uninvolved was no longer an option.
Her identity was simply too sensitive.
To the World Government, Nico Robin posed a greater threat than many lawless pirates.
Mihawk could tell Arashi understood all of this—
But simply didn't care.
The tossed bottle of wine was, in a way, Arashi's way of telling him to drop the subject.
So Mihawk said nothing more and stepped onto the deck, taking a seat at the table.
After Mihawk sat down, Arashi walked over to Robin.
"Mr. Arashi!"
Seeing him approach, Robin immediately straightened up, hands clasped in front of her, returning to her obedient maid demeanor.
Though Mihawk's words had stung, she was used to such reactions.
Even if she felt like crying inside, she still forced a bright smile as Arashi approached.
Seeing her act as if nothing had happened, Arashi sighed inwardly. Then he gently lifted her chin and said softly,
"On my Traveler, there are no criminals wanted by the World Government. No 'Devil of Ohara.' There is only Nico Robin."
"Mr. Arashi, I…"
Caught off guard by his sudden gentleness, Robin looked up in surprise. Meeting his warm, steady gaze, she quickly looked away like a startled rabbit.
"Actually, I—"
Before she could finish, Arashi suddenly turned around and called out,
"Mihawk! Didn't you say you wanted to spar? Come on—let's head to the beach over there!"
Robin froze.
The words she had been struggling to say were cut off just like that.
She had wanted to tell him that keeping her by his side would only be a burden…
But watching Arashi walk away so abruptly, the warmth she had just felt vanished, leaving her speechless.
It took her over ten seconds to recover.
Looking at Arashi's figure on the deck, she shook her head with a faint smile and quietly turned to walk back into the cabin.
But just as she stepped inside, she suddenly stopped.
Then she quickly turned back to look at him.
In that instant—
She understood.
Back in Sieg Town, Bege had already revealed her identity to Arashi. Yet he had still allowed her to stay, even making her his maid.
At the time, she hadn't thought much about it. She had only wanted a temporary refuge before leaving after fulfilling their agreement.
Then Mihawk had brought it up again just now—but Arashi had shut him down with a bottle of wine.
If she still didn't understand now, she really would be a fool.
It was clear—
Arashi already knew everything about her. Perhaps even more than Bege or Mihawk.
And despite knowing all of it, he still chose to keep her by his side.
There was only one explanation—
This young traveler was, knowingly or not… protecting her.
Looking at the figure on the deck—the one who had given her a sense of safety she had never known before—
Robin's vision gradually blurred with tears.
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