Chapter 105

"Huh? Someone's running across the rooftop."

"His nose looks just like Usopp's!"

Sima Di followed Vivi's pointing finger and caught sight of a figure leaping over a nearby rooftop—the silhouette under the sunlight bore an unmistakably Usopp-like long nose.

He was Kaku, a shipwright from the Caribou Company, and also a covert CP9 agent.

Sima Di glanced at Robin, who looked languid—this was her true state, one she only showed around those she trusted.

The destruction of Ohara and the World Government's Holy War had always been Robin's deepest pain...

It was her nightmare.

Perhaps...

"Over there, they're selling water-meat!" Vivi cheered. "It's a specialty of the Seven Water Cities—I've heard of it many times in Alabasta, but never tasted it."

"Oh? Then let's go eat some." Sima Di smiled.

"Yay!"

As princess of a desert kingdom, this water city held too many surprises.

Sima Di temporarily set aside all thoughts, simply accompanying the two women as they wandered, ate, wandered, ate, wandered, ate...

His telekinesis carried bags upon bags—plainly flaunting it in public.

A hundred-million-Berry bounty made him a minor figure in the first half of the Grand Line, and his identity was quickly recognized.

Yet Sima Di showed no intention of toning it down.

Only by nightfall were the two fourteen-year-old girls worn out from walking.

Sima Di finally said: "Let's find a place to rest... tonight, we won't return to the ship."

Sleep on the Going Merry?

Too many eyes there—though exciting, it's too cramped to do anything.

And...

Robin covered her mouth with a stifled laugh and threw Sima Di a sultry glance.

Who's afraid of whom!

Vivi's face flushed red—she sensed what was about to happen, yet showed no sign of refusal.

Thus,

Sima Di led the two girls to their destination—the Bruno Bar!

"A little drink before bed is good for body and mind," Sima Di smiled.

He then called for the bartender, "Bruno," to bring the drinks—also a member of CP9.

Sima Di had been using Kenbunshoku Haki to observe Bruno closely.

On the surface, he appeared calm, but his eyes subtly and repeatedly flicked toward Robin, verifying her identity.

Robin's last wanted poster was from childhood; confirming her identity after so many years would take some effort.

Sima Di did not interfere, instead continuing to flirt with Vivi and Robin.

As if he had noticed nothing.

When they had drunk enough,

Sima Di gave Robin a glance and said: "Vivi seems a bit drunk—I'll take her back to the room."

Robin nodded with a smile, clearly understanding Sima Di's meaning.

—She's a virgin; too many people around would make her too shy.

"I'll have a bit more," Robin said.

—Wait until you've taken care of Vivi, then I'll take over the next round.

The advantage of being with an older sister? One glance and she knows exactly what you want.

Sima Di carried Vivi—pretending to be drunk, but actually faking it—away.

Robin felt no jealousy, sipping her drink leisurely.

She was very satisfied with her current life.

She had the one she loved beside her, and trustworthy companions to adventure with.

It was far happier than the past twenty years of only fleeing and betrayal.

As for Sima Di having other women?

In this sea, strong men having multiple concubines was perfectly normal.

Robin had never imagined she could monopolize Sima Di.

Suddenly!

Robin's vision darkened—Bruno, the bar owner, stood before her.

"No need to refill," Robin said politely. "I'll finish this bottle and leave."

But...

Bruno said in a low voice: "I'm a CP9 agent. The Daughter of the Devil, Nico Robin—you're wanted by the World Government. The power of the World Government—you know better than anyone, don't you?"

Robin froze!

She stared into Bruno's calm eyes and believed him.

Then silence.

Should she resist?

With the Golden Bell and Angel Wings, even a CP9 agent couldn't hold her.

But...

What then?

What about his own companions, his own beloved?

With the Straw Hat Pirates' current strength, they might be able to escape the pursuit of CP9 right now.

But...

Robin remembered that day, when cannon fire shrouded the entire Ohara island, and the threat of death was everywhere.

That was a human hell!

If the World Government were to make every effort to arrest the Straw Hat Pirates, could they evade it?

Robin did not know.

So she fell silent.

After thinking for a long time,

Robin drained the wine in her cup, stood up, and looked straight at Bruno.

"I will go with you, but do not alert the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates."

Bruno nodded, turned around, and left.

Robin glanced back at a window in the inn across from the tavern, lingered for a few seconds, then resolutely turned and left; a single tear fell to the floor and shattered.

The wind carried a sentence drifting far away.

— "Farewell, companions. Farewell... Sima-chan."

Little did she know,

at the moment Robin turned to leave,

Sima Di appeared at the window she had just been gazing at, his eyes somewhat helpless.

"Why not choose to believe in me, to believe in us?" Sima Di sighed.

Clearly, because of his joining, the Straw Hat Pirates had gained unprecedented strengthening.

With the addition of Crocus and Laboon, their combat power could be said to far exceed that of the Straw Hat Pirates two years later.

Yet Robin still chose to sacrifice herself to ensure the safety of the Straw Hat Pirates.

This approach was, one must say, very foolish, yet it was also the plan with the smallest cost.

But...

"Do you really think any of us would approve of this plan?"

He shook his head.

Sima Di had no intention of chasing after her; he needed to let Robin know the Straw Hat Pirates' stance.

— With the Golden Little Bell present, no one in the small CP9 could harm her.

He turned to look at the bed, only to meet a pair of eyes that had quietly opened.

The moment their gazes met,