Seeing Nico Robin so stubborn, Zian felt a wave of helplessness. Now he finally understood the mindset of the Straw Hat crew.
Her friends were risking their lives to save her, yet she showed no will to survive. Even with him right in front of her, she seemed determined to throw herself away.
"We've come this far, and you're still saying that?" Zian said. "I can take you both out of here right now. As for these Seastone cuffs, we'll find a way to deal with them later."
Though his lockpicking skills might not work on Seastone, there were so many Devil Fruit users surely one of them could open the locks.
"Please don't let my efforts be in vain," Nico Robin murmured, lowering her head. "Please, just leave."
"Even if not for yourself, you have to consider Luffy and the others."
If the Straw Hats engaged CP9 in an all-out battle here, the consequences could be disastrous. She couldn't bring herself to face that reality.
"Don't listen to this stubborn girl," Franky said. "Let's get out of here first. We can deal with the rest once we're safe."
Robin's mindset could be carefully unwound later, once their lives were no longer in danger.
Zian ignored Franky. He was tough enough; a little extra time in chains wouldn't hurt him.
Robin's problem, however, was serious. If he didn't deal with it now, even if he took her away this time, next time someone else might control her. Mind unsteady, body at risk.
Some problems had to be solved in one go, or they'd fester into bigger trouble.
"Hey, are you even listening?!"
"It's because of the Buster Call, right?" Zian said.
Robin lifted her head slightly, pain flickering in her eyes.
"The Buster Call…"
"You don't even know how terrible it really is…"
"Enough. No need to say more," Zian turned and glanced at the tightly shut door. "I understand now."
"That's good enough," Robin breathed out. As long as the Straw Hats didn't act recklessly, her sacrifice would have meaning.
"What do you mean you understand?" Franky struggled. "Let me go! Who cares what she says?"
"Franky!"
"What is it?"
"If we don't solve the Buster Call problem, Robin will never escape the nightmares in her mind," Zian said without turning back. "The nightmare will keep waking her, tormenting her like a demon."
"So?"
"So… what we need to do isn't just rescue her. We need to crush this damn demon so Robin can finally sleep peacefully!"
Without another word, Zian strode toward the main door.
Robin's head snapped up. "What are you doing? Stop!"
She sensed something wrong in his words. Was he planning to fight CP9 right here?
"Stop!"
"Have you even asked Luffy?!"
"You…"
Zian said nothing. Instead, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed a number in front of Robin.
Soon, the call connected, and the Den Den Mushi displayed Luffy's face.
Clearly, Zian had set this up earlier, unbeknownst to Luffy.
"Hey, Luffy."
"Zian?!"
"Gomu Gomu Pistol!"
"Boom!"
On a nearby rooftop, Luffy punched a charging Marine away, dodging a spear attack at the same time.
"Where are you? Did you find Robin?" he asked afterward.
"We found her."
"You really are amazing, Zian! That's awesome!" Luffy said in relief. "Where are you? I'm coming to you."
Zian had located Robin so quickly, far faster than Luffy expected. Truly a ninja's skill.
"We're in the tallest building. You can see it from the court's rooftop."
"Got it," Luffy nodded. "Is Robin alright?"
"You guys…" Robin opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
"They aren't afraid of even the Sea Gods, how could they be scared of Judicial Island?" Franky laughed. "These are fearless people."
Franky seemed to understand Zian's plan and, as a bold man himself, he naturally supported it.
"Haha, Robin, we'll be there soon," Luffy said with a laugh. "Wait for us!"
"Why are you coming…?"
"Why else? Because we're your friends," Zian said.
Then he ignored Robin, speaking into the Den Den Mushi again. "Luffy, there's something I need to tell you."
"Go ahead."
"Damn, you guys are stubborn," Luffy muttered, glaring at the Marines chasing him. He bit down on the Den Den Mushi and used it to spring himself away.
Landing on another rooftop, he finally had a moment of uninterrupted conversation.
"I could forcibly take Robin now, but if we don't solve this problem, something like today could happen again," Zian explained.
Luffy was silent for a moment, then said, "Yeah, you're right."
If someone could use them to threaten Robin today, tomorrow they could force her to kill herself.
"So…" Zian grinned. "Luffy, declare war on them."
"I'm right at their front door. I'll handle the Buster Call issue."
Seeing Robin in person made Zian realize that if he didn't destroy this obstacle, she would never escape her nightmares.
If that was the case, he would destroy it himself.
"Hey! Can you listen to me!!" Robin's eyes widened.
She couldn't believe it. This new crewmate was planning to directly challenge the Buster Call? Where did he get that confidence?
"Do we need to ask that?" Luffy clenched his fist. "Go for it, Zian!"
"No matter if it's CP9 or the Buster Call, I'll crush them all!"
"Hey, you guys…"
"Robin!!" Luffy shouted, cutting her off. "Wait for us!"
Snap!
The Den Den Mushi's transmitter was crushed in Luffy's hand.
"Did you hear that, Robin?" Zian said, crushing his transmitter as well. "Your will cannot change ours."
"No… why are you all like this?"
Franky froze. He had wanted to ask about his crew, but now the transmitter was destroyed.
Sighing, he looked at Robin, who stared in shock. "See? This is their resolve."
"They fought all the way out from Water Seven, broke through the Sea Gods strong enough to destroy everything, and arrived at Judicial Island, standing for 800 years without falling."
"And they did all this… just to save you!"
Franky's words echoed in Robin's mind, her eyes fixed on the man striding toward the door with unwavering determination.
That man… showed not a shred of fear toward the World Government.
Boom!
Zian slammed a fist into the main door, blasting it off its hinges and sending it flying onto Spandam's head. He collapsed to the floor in shock.
CP9 members turned sharply toward the entrance, their expressions hardening with focus.
Zian walked into the room with one hand in his pocket, glancing at CP9 before grinning.
"Hello there, bastards!!"