At the top floor of Judicial Island, Spandam greeted Rob Lucci and the others returning from the Water Seven mission, his face lighting up with satisfaction.
"Good work, everyone," Spandam said with a smile.
"Nothing special. We were just doing our duty," Rob Lucci replied calmly.
Even though they had been undercover in Water Seven for five years, for intelligence operatives like them, this was their reason for existing.
And it wasn't uncommon for spies to remain in deep cover for ten or even twenty years.
"Don't worry. I won't forget your efforts," Spandam added.
This time, to strengthen CP9's combat abilities, he had even brought along two Devil Fruits. As for what powers they granted, he didn't know.
CP9, however, simply observed him quietly, saying nothing.
Spandam didn't pay it much mind and asked, "Where are those two now?"
"They're at the door. Nico Robin has restrained them with Seastone cuffs," came the reply.
"Good work," Spandam nodded with satisfaction. Professional operatives like these could always be trusted to get the job done. With that settled, he wasn't in a rush to see them immediately.
He wouldn't dive straight to the mission's target; at least some courtesy was necessary for his subordinates who had worked tirelessly for five years.
As he began discussing other matters, outside the door, Franky scanned the room, looking for any chance to escape.
Beside him, Nico Robin kept her head lowered, as if she had accepted her fate, showing no desire to fight for survival.
After struggling for a while and realizing he couldn't break the chains, Franky temporarily gave up.
He glanced at the silent Robin and noticed that she seemed completely lifeless, almost like a corpse.
"Hey, seriously, you're just giving up like that?" Franky asked. "They chased all the way from Water Seven for you. Not even the Sea Gods could stop them."
"Aren't you going to respond to them?"
Unfortunately, Nico Robin didn't lift her head or reply.
"You're really stubborn," Franky muttered, frustrated.
"What could you possibly understand?!" Robin finally looked at him. "You have no idea what kind of power they hold."
"The Buster Call…"
Franky's expression darkened. A force strong enough to destroy an entire island was indeed terrifying, but that wasn't a reason to surrender.
"Under the Buster Call, no one can resist…"
After saying this, Robin lowered her head again. The aura of lifelessness around her seemed to deepen.
"I don't know if the Buster Call can be stopped, but choosing to sacrifice yourself to save them isn't something they would approve of."
Leaning against the wall, Franky gazed at the window. "No matter what you say, that reckless crew will come here to save you."
"That's an unchangeable fact!"
Even though she hadn't known them long, Franky could see that these were people who would risk everything for their friends.
They had dared to challenge the terrifying Sea Gods. What wouldn't they dare to do?
Robin shivered, pain flickering across her eyes.
She wanted to continue the adventure with her friends, but if she disobeyed CP9, her friends could be killed.
Unable to accept such a possibility, she had no choice but to comply.
"Hmph, really a stubborn one, just like that long-nosed guy," Franky muttered.
Suddenly, he noticed a strange Marine.
The Marine had come in through a distant window but wasn't that direction a cliff?
Or perhaps there was a passage on that balcony leading somewhere else?
Curious, Franky fixed his gaze on the approaching figure.
It was Zian.
"Phew…"
"Looks like I found the right place."
Zian scanned the two tied to the wall and smiled.
The one in black was Nico Robin, restrained with Seastone handcuffs. The other had to be Franky.
He glanced at the locked door nearby and calmly approached them.
"Hey, Marine. What are you doing?" Franky asked coldly, ready to bite if Zian came too close.
"Shh."
"It's me."
Zian looked around to make sure no one else was nearby, then crouched down. "You're Franky and Nico Robin, right? I'm here to get you out."
Robin: !!!
Franky: ???
Robin's eyes widened in shock. She didn't know Zian, yet his words felt oddly familiar.
Recently, Usopp had come to rescue her in a similar way. Now, someone had made it here again.
Franky looked at Zian, completely confused. What trick was this Marine playing?
Suddenly, realization hit him. "You're the ninja?!"
"Yes, it's me," Zian nodded. "My name is Zian."
Franky's eyes lit up with recognition. That explained why he had never seen him before he was the ninja who had just joined the Straw Hat crew.
Excitement surged through Franky. A real ninja!
"Ninja?"
Robin looked at Zian in confusion, unsure what Franky meant. She had seen the word in some illustrations, but wasn't it fictional?
"I just joined the Straw Hat crew," Zian explained. "On our way to Judicial Island."
Robin's first reaction was disbelief. How could such a coincidence exist? Could Luffy really pick up a ninja as a crewmate mid-journey?
No one would believe that. She certainly didn't.
From Robin's perspective, this Marine might be testing her sincerity. If she showed any desire to leave with him, CP9 could act against Luffy and the crew.
Seeing Robin's distrust, Zian sighed. He couldn't blame her; they had never met before.
"It must be him. When that guy with the curled eyebrows was communicating with the Straw Hat kid, I heard his voice. He was with them then," Franky confirmed, validating Zian's identity.
Robin looked at Zian, still skeptical. Could Luffy really have picked up a ninja along the way?
It seemed impossible.
"Do you believe me now?" Zian asked.
Robin paused, then nodded. Since Franky had confirmed he had been with Luffy's crew, it was likely true.
She had also witnessed Franky's character on their journey, and she could trust his judgment.
"Then let's go quickly," Zian said. "If those guys find us here, it'll be a mess trying to protect you and fight them."
"We'll deal with them after we reunite with Luffy's crew."
With that, Zian drew his Kusanagi sword, ready to cut through the chains binding them.
As for Robin's Seastone cuffs, he would have to figure out a way later. For now, the priority was getting them out.
"No. I can't go with you," Robin shook her head. "Please leave."
"You're telling me to leave when I'm already here?"
"Yes. Leave," Robin said. "I've never met you, but since you're part of the Straw Hat crew, I don't want you to get hurt."
Robin didn't want this new Straw Hat member to be harmed. That would sadden her friends.
"You really are… stubborn."