Chapter 141: Robin Is Drunk [52K]

"Waaah!"

Nami pointed at the giant block of ice and shrieked.

Aokiji slowly withdrew his right hand, his gaze indifferent.

He had long grown accustomed to reaping shock from those around him after making a move.

He could guess exactly what this little girl named Nami would say next.

It would be nothing more than things like, "So this is a Marine Admiral?" or "What a terrifying ability."

But then—

"Nojiko, this guy's ability is totally just imitating yours!" Nami turned her head and said indignantly to Nojiko.

"I was clearly first!" Aokiji was rendered speechless, black lines floating on his forehead.

"It's still not quite the same," Nojiko shook her head slightly. "If I were to make a move, I should have turned this elephant into a snowball, not this kind of crystal-clear ice block."

"That's true."

Nami struck her fist into her palm as if realizing something. "I wonder, if you two used your abilities on each other, who would end up freezing whom..."

"Is there even a need to ask!" Aokiji roared, baring his sharp teeth.

"Sigh..." Aokiji rubbed the space between his eyebrows; the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere of interrogation he had worked so hard to create just now was completely ruined.

Since he didn't want to argue with little girls, he turned his head to look at Siano:

"Not even a reaction? It seems this big fellow really isn't an accomplice of yours."

"Indeed, we're not close."

Siano glanced at the mammoth elephant.

He didn't understand why this guy had appeared here either, shouting about bonds and protection before rushing up to get himself killed in one second.

"Then let's ignore him for now and continue the previous topic."

Aokiji stared into Siano's eyes. "You... were laughing just now, weren't you, Siano? Was what I asked you that funny?"

"Was I laughing?"

"Does it matter?" Siano said indifferently. "Probably. Anyway, I definitely intended to mock you."

"Mock me?" Aokiji frowned.

"Don't understand? Then let me perform it again, just like that..." Siano mimicked Aokiji's tone from earlier, closing in on him, and said in an icy voice:

"—Where do you intend to place the Marines, and the justice we believe in? And exactly what kind of ambition do you harbor?"

"Pfft-hahaha!"

Siano couldn't help but slap his thigh. "You put on such an imposing air, yet ask such utter nonsense. Hey, Kuzan! How can you keep a straight face? You probably want to laugh yourself just hearing it!"

"Stepping in when seeing injustice, beating up evil-doers when encountering them, protecting those you want to protect to the very end—this is what I believe in, and what I've always been doing! Something so simple and clear, yet you insist on piling all these accusations on me... Aren't you just masking your own jealousy!"

Aokiji fell silent for a moment, then said lightly, "I'm jealous of you?"

"Of course!"

Siano laughed wildly. "And extremely jealous at that, because I can do this freely, while you cannot!"

"You know the filth of the World Government better than anyone, yet you still shamelessly act as their lapdog, cleaning up the messes for those bubble-wearing scum everywhere! The innocent civilians wrongly accused and killed due to your so-called acts of justice are probably no fewer than those who died at the hands of pirates!"

"In a situation like this, you still keep talking to me about how the Marines are upholding justice?"

"What justice?"

Siano's voice suddenly rose an octave:

"Is it the justice of helping the Celestial Dragons annihilate one country every three years!"

Aokiji finally could not maintain his indifference; he snapped his head up, his expression changing drastically:

"Even I only accidentally learned of these secrets a while ago. How did you kn—"

"That doesn't matter, does it?"

Siano narrowed his eyes slightly, cutting off his question, his tone becoming increasingly aggressive. "But you actually knew too... No wonder you're so dejected. A distinguished Marine Admiral, yet you reek entirely of a confused, good-for-nothing middle-aged man; you can't even hide it anymore!"

"Though this rotting stench has been emanating for quite some time; it must have been ten years?"

"Kuzan, the reason you pay so much attention to Robin, the reason you care so much about Ohara from back then, is precisely because from that moment on, your laughable justice could not bypass the barrier in your own heart, and collapsed with a crash!!!"

"..."

Aokiji's breathing clearly hitched.

His face looked terrible; subconsciously stepping forward, a biting cold air suddenly began to emanate from his body, and white frost instantly climbed onto his eyebrows.

But in the end, it all dispersed.

He lowered his eyelids, shadows obscuring all expression.

For a long time, he spoke no words.

It wasn't that pirates hadn't mocked his stance in front of him before.

But that could never cause any wavering in his conviction, because vicious and ferocious pirates were simply meant to be erased from this world.

He would often be too lazy to even finish listening before directly freezing the other party into an ice sculpture.

Yet Siano... was an outlier.

This so-called "pirate" with a bounty of one billion was doing things purer than the Marines.

It made him unable to act against his own conscience, and powerless to refute even a single point.

Aokiji slumped dejectedly onto the bench; he looked up at the starry sky, spread his arms helplessly, and exhaled a breath of depression that had been pent up for many years.

His gaze shifted slightly, first looking toward Robin.

The woman who had once been accustomed to hiding in darkness was now leaning against a streetlamp; the tension and panic from before had vanished without a trace.

The evening breeze stirred the ends of her hair; a faint smile played on the corners of her lips—that was a smile of relief Aokiji had never seen on her face in all these years.

So he turned his gaze toward Smoker.

That old partner, known for many years and perfectly matched in temperament, curled the corner of his mouth around his cigar into an arc, staring silently at himself.

Aokiji's gaze finally fixed upon Siano.

"I somewhat regret coming to find you today."

He spoke with a touch of self-mockery, "Originally, I intended to probe your background, but in the end, wasn't it I who got seen through by you?"

"Off I go, off I go."

Without waiting for Siano's reply, he shook his head, stood up.

"Time to go back and rest; really, I can't even talk sense into a teenager barely in his teens—how utterly boring."

Casually straightening the tie beneath his white suit, Aokiji leaned on the chair back, bent down, and reached behind the bench with one hand.

Only then did everyone realize that an old-fashioned bicycle lay toppled on the lawn.

Aokiji lifted his long legs, easily straddling the frame; the bicycle emitted a series of creaks, yet steadily bore the weight of this Marine Admiral.

"We've met again after so long; shall we not share a dinner?" Smoker exhaled a ring of smoke, glancing sideways at him.

"Spare me, please."

Aokiji waved his hand, "Once outside the garden, there are too many eyes and ears; for a Marine Admiral to be photographed dining with a great pirate would be rather improper."

"Hey, kid."

He glanced again at Siano.

"Let me continue witnessing, then; let's see just how far an outlier like you can travel across these twisted seas."

With that, he moved his long legs, rode the bicycle out of the garden, one hand resting on the handlebar, the other casually tucked into his trouser pocket.

Ding-ling!

The bell chimed lightly; the towering figure gradually vanished into the twilight, only his final words drifting faintly on the wind:

"However, remember your words today; I hope you can maintain this original heart... otherwise, the next time we meet, I will personally end you."

The night breeze brushed gently over the garden, carrying a slight chill past everyone's sides.

Everyone watched that receding silhouette, exchanging bewildered glances.

"He's leaving just like that?"

Nami was the first to come to her senses, muttering discontentedly, "What's this? Seeing his dazed and lost demeanor just now, I thought Big Brother would be able to persuade him to defect outright."

"Cough!" Smoker, cigar in mouth, nearly choked on the smoke upon hearing this, "Asking a Marine Admiral to become a pirate? You really dare to dream."

"It's not entirely impossible, though."

Siano withdrew his gaze from the distance, speaking calmly, "But a figure like that possesses his own pride and convictions; how could he be so easily persuaded by mere words?"

Matters cannot be accomplished in a single day.

Today's confrontation could be considered planting a seed within the other's heart.

Perhaps someday in the future, if an opportunity arises, there might truly be a chance to recruit Aokiji into his own camp.

After all, a standard pirate villain like Blackbeard and Aokiji simply do not mix; yet even he managed to exploit a weakness and recruit him.

His own probability of success should only be greater, then.

"Let's go; never mind that fellow." Siano shook his head, turned around, and smiled at his companions, "We've been delayed so long; everyone must be hungry by now; let's head to the dining hall first."

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh, banquet time!" Nami cheered exuberantly, rushing out of the garden first.

The others followed, chatting and laughing, but Siano deliberately stayed behind; once none of his companions were paying attention to him, he lifted his head to gaze at the distant sea surface.

Aokiji's movements appeared leisurely, yet at this moment he had already ridden to the horizon, nearly vanishing at the very end of the sea line.

One could not help but suspect whether, after leaving their line of sight, this fellow had secretly pedaled furiously with his long legs to accelerate.

Or perhaps he was simply shouldering the bicycle and sprinting?

In any case...

"After spouting threats and acting cool, you think you can just leave?"

Siano folded his arms and snorted; did he think it would be that easy?

He was the type of person who repaid even the slightest grievance!

At the very least, leave your wool behind, you!

Yes.

He had not yet plucked Aokiji's wool.

Facing such a top-tier powerhouse of the world.

Even someone as adept at stealing techniques as him lacked the confidence to take something from the other without the slightest detection by their Observation Haki.

Previously, successfully plucking Garp and Akainu was only possible because they had fought for a long time, with close-range physical clashes and both parties' attention focused entirely on the battle, providing ample opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

But this time... unfortunately, no fight had occurred.

Aokiji hadn't even felt it proper to make a move against him; surely he couldn't strike first and slap Aokiji hard across the face just to create an opportunity to pilfer something, could he?

That would be somewhat inappropriate.

Fortunately, with that new item, this fellow's wool was not going anywhere.

Siano opened his inventory panel.

"Pickpocket" Card Set activated!

—Effect: Five cards, five chances; each time, regardless of distance, randomly seize one item from any person within sight!

For the first use, the target is decided: you, Aokiji!

On the sea surface.

Kuzan rode his bicycle, his expression gloomy and silent.

Not long ago, in Sengoku's office, that document he had accidentally stumbled upon floated back into his mind.

The truth behind the battle at God Valley thirty-two years ago.

It was precisely this document that had intensified his wavering faith in justice once again, and for this reason, the idea of coming to meet Siano had sprouted in his mind.

But the result...

Kuzan shook his head, casting these troubling distractions out of his mind.

He then recalled a certain small detail he had noticed just moments ago.

Flames had erupted from that orange-haired girl... Could the user of the Mera Mera no Mi actually be this girl?

Should he make a call to the Headquarters' strategy department and have them correct the bounty?

Kuzan tilted his head.

He could easily guess the reason.

This must be Siano not wanting his younger sister to become a target for everyone, thus using various methods to deceive the public and causing the Headquarters' intelligence department to make a wrong judgment.

Little girls are timid; she was probably afraid her bounty would increase...

Then let it be.

An underage little girl didn't seem to warrant that much attention.

Kuzan lazily yawned, pedaling his bicycle forward.

Wherever the sea surface passed, it left behind a narrow trail of ice.

But somehow, suddenly, he felt emptiness beneath his feet.

Instinctively lowering his head, he found the spot where his bicycle had been was now empty, leaving only a dotted line; before he could react, his entire body fell into the sea—

Splash!

The icy seawater instantly engulfed him, bubbles gurgling upward; Kuzan opened his eyes wide, gazing blankly at the sky.

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

Siano looked at the bicycle that had suddenly appeared in his hands with some surprise.

An unexpected joy!

He had originally just been drawing lots casually without much hope; anyway, randomly getting a suit jacket, gloves, sunglasses, or anything similar would be valuable, and an eyepatch would be even better.

Yet the result was a special grand prize.

His luck really was quite good.

Without hesitation, he activated the Sacrifice.

【Sacrifice: Kuzan's Bicycle】

【Quality: Epic】

【Value: 4500 Points】

【Appraisal Comment: The iconic mount of Navy Admiral Kuzan; though it appears to be an ordinary bicycle, it has witnessed countless legendary moments along the journey. While it offers no combat bonuses, as one of the most recognizable modes of transportation in this world, its value cannot be underestimated.】

4500 Points, huh?

Indeed valuable enough, priced the same as Akainu's peaked cap that was practically pickled in sweat.

His remaining points, originally 27,000, suddenly surged to 31,500.

"That feels good."

Siano clapped his hands in satisfaction, closed the system panel, just as Nami ahead turned around, waved, and urged, "What are you doing, brother? Hurry up and catch up!"

"Coming!"

Laughing heartily, he quickened his pace and strode forward to catch up.

And behind him.

In the silent park, a cold night wind blew; the mammoth encased in ice remained motionless...

Just like how Kuzan would get back after losing his bicycle, no one cared.

As night fell, the lights of Gourmet City sparkled brilliantly like myriad stars.

Siano and his group stepped into the reserved restaurant; the warm lighting, the rich aroma of food, and the soft, melodious music immediately put everyone at ease.

"Cheers!"

Amidst the crisp clinking of glass cups, everyone tilted their heads and drank freely.

After several rounds of drinks, Robin held her wine glass in her right hand, a faint blush rising on her Bai Xi cheeks.

Usually elegant and composed, she now rarely showed a hint of intoxication; resting her chin on her left hand, she quietly gazed at Siano.

Whether it was the effect of the alcohol or the lighting being too dim.

When she blinked.

It seemed she saw again that nightmare that had shrouded her heart since childhood, that tall figure who was powerful, terrifying, radiating a bone-chilling cold, and who had personally killed Saul...

But when Siano, with absolutely no table manners, spat out a bone and laughed while patting his belly.

She blinked again.

That terrifying figure with an icy expression vanished in an instant.

"Captain..." she called softly, her voice much gentler than usual.

"Hmm?" Siano, his mouth stuffed full, turned his head blankly, meeting her eyes which shimmered slightly with moisture.

Robin blinked, then suddenly chuckled lightly: "Do you know? Sometimes I wonder, if that day on the turtle's back, you hadn't voluntarily reached out your hand to me..."

She paused, her fingertips gently tracing the rim of the wine glass. "Where would I be now?"

"Why bring this up suddenly?"

Siano, puzzled, continued stuffing grilled meat into his mouth, chewing as he spoke. "Baroque Works is no longer an option, so I suppose she's joined some underground faction and is playing hide-and-seek with the World Government?"

"Perhaps."

Robin chuckled softly, her gaze drifting further away. "But more likely... I've already given up."

Her voice was faint, yet it made Siano fall silent for a moment.

Robin tilted her head back and drained the wine in her glass. The burning heat of the alcohol made her frown slightly, but it smoothed out quickly.

She set the glass down and suddenly reached out, gently tugging at the hem of Siano's coat.

"So, thank you."

She lifted her head, her drunken eyes carrying a seriousness unlike any before:

"Really, thank you. You made me realize that people don't have to hide in the darkness forever. That sunlight... no, even a streetlamp, can truly be this warm."

Siano froze for a second, then laughed helplessly, reaching out to ruffle her hair:

"What nonsense is this? Isn't that just natural? You're our comrade, after all."

Robin didn't pull away from his hand; instead, she squinted slightly, like a lazy cat.

At some point, she had leaned closer, her alcohol-scented breath gently brushing against Siano's ear: "Ah, but... just a comrade?"

Siano's movement halted.

At the other end of the table, Nami and Nojiko froze in their tracks, pretending to grab napkins to wipe their mouths, though their eyes kept sneaking glances in this direction.

The ash on Smoker's cigar had built up into a long segment, yet he never flicked it off. He stared intently at the wine glass before him, as if suddenly developing a deep interest in the water droplets on the glass wall.

And Sister Sister Guyina—

The young swordswoman sat quietly in the corner.

Her gaze seemed focused intently on the dessert before her, but the marks the knife left in the cream grew deeper and more chaotic...

Woof?

Silver also keenly sensed the shift in atmosphere. He tilted his head, looking left and right, before finally deciding to bury his entire dog head into the huge bowl of strawberry milk in front of him.

Just as the atmosphere grew subtle—

"Burp!"

Robin suddenly let out a small burp, covering her mouth with discomfort. She swayed, then collapsed directly into Siano's arms.

Siano fumbled to catch her, pulling out a napkin to wipe her mouth.

After putting the napkin back down, he looked down again and found Robin with her eyes closed, breathing evenly; clearly, she was drunk and asleep.

"..."

He sighed helplessly and gently lifted her into his arms.

"That's all for today," Siano said, standing up to address everyone. "I'll take her back to the ship first. Everyone, keep eating..."

(End of this chapter)