Chapter 17

"I just saw how hard you were trying to save this country, so I accidentally helped you... you foolish princess of a fallen nation." Robin teased.

This made Vivi instantly furious!

"Don't look down on me! You jerk!"

She took out her weapon, the Peacock Slashers, but the Straw Hat Pirates were one step faster. Sanji and Zoro were about to strike, but were quickly grabbed by arms growing from their bodies and thrown far away.

Hana Hana no Mi!

Only Lord Lord Sima Di, who had been watching calmly, Crocus, and Luffy, who hadn't sensed any malice, were not affected.

"Is that a Devil Fruit ability?"

"What a strange ability."

"Looking closely, isn't this a beautiful young lady!"

Lord Lord Sima Di came back to his senses at this moment.

He had been thinking just now...

Should he follow the plot and let Robin leave, only for her to become a crewmate in Alabasta?

Or should he intercept her right here?

Just now, he figured it out.

Although he knew the plot was one of his golden fingers, compared to the spirit of adventure where he could do as he pleased, he didn't want to be bound by the plot.

Experiencing the scenes from the anime might fulfill a dream, but then there would be no unknown adventures to explore!

So...

Lord Lord Sima Di chose to activate his ultimate move—Talk-no-Jutsu!

"Should I call you Miss Allsunday, or Nico..."

Robin's playful expression changed!

Clearly,

she didn't expect that even Vivi hadn't recognized her identity, yet Lord Lord Sima Di could see through it.

After all, she hadn't appeared in the public eye for many years, and her appearance had changed a lot.

"I didn't expect to be recognized." Robin said vigilantly. "Then it seems this journey will have to be terminated early. We'll see each other again in Alabasta..."

[Using the Hana Hana no Mi causes uncontrollable laughter!]

The next moment,

Robin, who was about to use the Hana Hana no Mi to leave, suddenly burst into laughter, and the arms she had manifested dissipated into petals.

After a few seconds,

Robin composed her sudden laughter, stood up with a solemn expression, and stared at Lord Lord Sima Di without saying a word.

"Now we can have a proper talk, Ms. Robin." Lord Lord Sima Di said like a gentleman. "Actually, you don't need to worry. I have no malice toward you. Not many people know the inside story of the Ohara Buster Call, and coincidentally, I happen to be one of them. I'm also quite curious about the Void Century that the World Government wants to cover up!"

Upon hearing this, Robin didn't relax; instead, she became even more tense!

"Who exactly are you?"

"Me?" Lord Lord Sima Di took a step forward. "Just an explorer who went to sea for adventure. I happened to run into an interesting pirate crew and became a pirate... Nico... you need to help our captain decipher the Red Poneglyph to find the location of Laugh Tale, and I'm also very interested in that Void Century..."

This sudden "friend request" left not just Robin, but the entire Straw Hat crew stunned.

Crocus was the one to ask in surprise, "Kid Lord Lord Sima, you actually know that you need the Red Poneglyph to go to Laugh Tale?"

"Yes." Lord Lord Sima Di nodded. "And the only person in the world who can read the Poneglyphs right now is the Nico... right in front of us."

Luffy finally understood!

The man who will become the Pirate King = the woman in front of him!

"Come be my crewmate!" Luffy grinned. "No matter what you did in the past, I can feel that you have no malice. Come be our crewmate!"

Hmm...

Since the captain had spoken, the others could only wait and see.

Only Vivi and Igaram were displeased, but knowing they were currently under someone else's roof, they could only grit their teeth and watch.

Robin looked at the earnest Lord Lord Sima Di and Luffy, and suddenly laughed.

"You guys... have no idea what you're doing..."

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18. Robin's hug! Huge pressure!

"You guys... have no idea what you're doing..."

"I certainly do." Lord Lord Sima Di interrupted. "According to my guess, the reason you stayed in Alabasta is for the Poneglyph there, right? The one kept by the Alabasta royal family."

Robin was shocked!

She truly didn't expect that the young man in front of her could guess this!

Robin had no intention of hiding it either; after all, digging into history was her only motivation for living now.

"How did you guess?" she asked directly.

"It's simple." Lord Lord Sima Di snapped his fingers. "The fundamental reason Ohara was destroyed was because they were trying to decipher the Poneglyphs and restore the history of that Void Century... This is a common trait for those in literature, and as the sole survivor and scholar of Ohara, you would certainly inherit this belief."

"You, who are being hunted by the World Government, shouldn't have stayed in the same place for so long, let alone become a vice president."

"So, it must be that Alabasta has something you want."

"And the president of Baroque Works probably isn't a simple character either, right?"

"Otherwise, it would be impossible to cover up your tracks for so long without being discovered by CP0."

Lord Lord Sima Di's argument was well-reasoned and convincing.

Robin was also greatly surprised!

To be able to analyze so much information from just a brief contact and a few words?

This logical reasoning and intelligence were simply monstrous!

—With 100% brain development and top-tier mortal intelligence, Lord Lord Sima Di could indeed be called a monster.

Before Robin could speak,

Lord Lord Sima Di looked at Vivi and said, "Ms. Robin, as someone who once lost her country, she surely wouldn't have the heart to watch Alabasta fall, which is why she guided you to discover the existence of Baroque Works..."

"But she is the Vice President of Baroque Works! She is responsible for the operation of the entire organization!" Vivi retorted.

"Simple, it's just about interests." Lord Lord Sima Di said knowingly. "I just said, Ms. Robin's goal is the Poneglyph, so... as long as you promise to lend the Alabasta Poneglyph to Ms. Robin to read, I think she will choose to stand on our side, right?"

The last sentence was directed at Robin.

Robin was silent for a moment, her gaze shifting to Vivi.

"Princess Vivi, what is your answer?"

Clearly!

If she could obtain permission from the Alabasta royal family directly, Robin wouldn't want to deal with Crocodile.

Vivi calmed down.

She realized that Lord Lord Sima Di was not wrong; Robin was indeed someone who could be won over.

Furthermore,

if she, as the Vice President, defected, it would undoubtedly be more beneficial than harmful to Alabasta.

And the price was merely reading access to the Poneglyph.

If it could save Alabasta,

even giving the Poneglyph to Robin would be perfectly fine!

As for the harm Robin had done to Alabasta over the past three years...

Vivi could only choose to ignore it.

"I understand." Vivi suppressed her impulses. "I promise as the Princess of Alabasta, as long as Nico..."

"Wait." Lord Lord Sima Di interrupted. "I think you misunderstood. Ms. Robin's task is not to assist Alabasta. Promising her to view the Poneglyph is her reward for escorting you back to Alabasta and helping you save the country... It's too dangerous."

Seeing Lord Lord Sima Di shake his head, Vivi felt despair in that moment!

Could it be that even 1 billion Berries couldn't get them to help?

Unexpectedly...

"...It's too dangerous, you'll have to pay more."

Lord Lord Sima Di's "you'll have to pay more" left everyone speechless!