Chapter 102

"I know."

Luo En looked at the beer glass before him, now containing nothing but ice, and smiled:

"But for a true traveler, sometimes danger is a rather fine seasoning along the journey, isn't it?"

"And I also believe my strength is enough to protect a historian who only wishes to understand the truth of history and realize her dream."

"So…"

As he spoke, he turned his head toward Luo Bin and raised the beer glass in his hand, now containing only ice, and said with a smile: "Want to come with me? Together we'll find out the truth of that blank century of history."

Luo Bin stared blankly at the black-haired youth whose face was full of smiles, and a long-absent faint tremor stirred within her heart.

Back then, Sauro's final words before his death echoed in her ears.

"The sea is vast. Sooner or later, you'll meet companions willing to protect you."

If it's this person…

Could he truly understand me?

As Luo Bin and Luo En fell silent together.

The tavern's light was dim and yellow, quiet and peaceful.

Just as Luo En was about to raise the glass containing only ice and call the owner for another drink.

Luo Bin, seated beside him, lowered her head and said softly: "If your ship wouldn't mind taking on a 'Devil of Ohara' who would bring danger…"

"Then please let me join your journey."

…………

On the streets of Rain Dinners City, gunfire never ceased; members of numerous underground organizations and Baroque Works clashed in fierce combat, the slaughter terrible.

In a dim alleyway.

Luo Bin and Luo En walked side by side.

"I came to Alabasta to join Baroque Works and become one of Crocodile's subordinates—all for the sake of that legendary Poneglyph in this country. But until now, I still haven't caught even a whisper about that stone tablet."

"Legend says that stone tablet records the location of the ancient weapon, Pluton. That's what Crocodile wants to know, which is why I cooperated with him."

Luo Bin spoke as she walked.

"That stone tablet should have been hidden somewhere by Alabasta's royal family…"

"I know where it is."

Luo Bin suddenly turned her head to look at him, her eyes full of astonishment.

Luo En smiled at her: "I told you—I know far more than you imagine."

…………

95, The Power to Control Steel (2/4, requesting subscriptions!)

As dawn arrived.

The great melee within Rain Dinners City also reached its end—it was Baroque Works' victory.

After tonight, Baroque Works would control the entire underground force of the Kingdom of Alabasta.

Of course.

The premise for all of this was whether Crocodile, Baroque Works' Mr. 0, could struggle to survive his gravely wounded, near-death state…

…………

Inside a small inn.

Luo En introduced Nico Robin to Konice.

"This is the historian, Nico Robin, our ship's new companion."

"Hello, Robin. I'm Konice, from Skypiea."

Konice, with a Cloud Fox perched on her shoulder, smiled and extended her hand to Robin.

"Hello."

Robin's hand met hers in a handshake.

After the two women made each other's acquaintance.

Luo En took out that Paramecia Iron-Iron Fruit from the system space and handed it to Konice.

Konice took from his hand that Devil Fruit, its skin covered in spiral patterns, and stared at the Devil Fruit in her hand, murmuring:

"So this is… a Devil Fruit."

"This is the Paramecia Iron-Iron Fruit. Once eaten, you'll gain the ability to control steel. The price is becoming a hapless duck who can't touch seawater."

Luo En's voice sounded in her ear.

"Whether to eat it or not, that's for you to decide."

Robin, wearing a cowboy hat, stood to the side, not disturbing the two.

After Konice stared at the Devil Fruit in her hand for quite a while, her gaze grew firm.

This precious Devil Fruit had been specially sought out for her by Luo En.

She wanted to respond to that expectation!

She wanted to become stronger—strong enough to be of help to him, rather than being a vase on the ship who always relied on his shelter and protection!

Only then would she truly be a companion, and only then would it be the adventure she wanted!

With resolute eyes, Konice opened her mouth and took a bite from the Devil Fruit in her hand.

An incomparably strange and foul taste spread through her mouth. Konice forced down the urge to retch and swallowed hard.

A Devil Fruit only needs a single bite.

As the remaining Devil Fruit in her hand slowly vanished, Konice, eyes closed, felt her golden braid break free of its binding; strand after strand of resilient golden long hair danced freely.

The Cloud Fox on her shoulder panicked and ran off, scurrying behind Luo En's feet to hide.

Under the gaze of Luo En and Nico Robin.

Threads of liquid steel, shimmering like flowing silver, emerged from around Conis, whose golden hair danced wildly, winding and twisting as if alive.

The steel objects within the room trembled in unison, as if celebrating the birth of their queen!

When Conis's golden hair ceased its fluttering and hung straight down to her waist,

she opened her eyes, a flash of pitch-black radiance passing through them, her aura becoming astonishingly formidable.

She extended her right hand forward.

Instantly!

All the steel objects in the room liquefied!

Threads of liquid, silver-like black steel also converged from the air toward the space above her palm!

Watching the mass of steel above her palm twist, shift, and grow larger,

Luo En, arms crossed, stood to the side with a smile.

In Robin's eyes, there was a hint of shock.

This is… the power to control steel!

Although the development of Devil Fruit abilities largely depends on the user,

before considering individual differences among users,

there are still inherent strengths and weaknesses among Paramecia-type Devil Fruits.

Fruits like the Gravity Fruit, the Shake-Shake Fruit, and the Float-Fruit, which involve rules, are the strongest, belonging to the first tier—these are rare beyond measure, and their power may even surpass that of Logia fruits.

Fruits like the Gold-Gold Fruit and the Magnet Magnet Fruit, which manipulate matter and energy, belong to the second tier.

Fruits like the Rubber-Rubber Fruit, the Slash-Slash Fruit, and the Thread-Thread Fruit, which possess certain unique traits and offensive capabilities, rank lower still, belonging to the third tier.

Robin's Flower-Flower Fruit and the Float-Fruit belong to the fourth tier—weak in attack, highly limited, and focused on support.

Now, the Iron-Iron Fruit that Conis consumed belongs to the second tier.

Purely in terms of ability, it is vastly stronger than the Flower-Flower Fruit.

After Conis consumed the Iron-Iron Fruit and became familiar with its power, the three of them left the city of Rainbase, heading toward Alabasta's capital, Alubarna.

…………

After leaving Rainbase,

Luo En told the two women to proceed to the capital Alubarna, while he quickly searched the nearby desert.

He wanted to try finding the ruins where Luffy and Zoro had fallen in the original story.

Besides the historical Poneglyph stone tablet in Alabasta's royal tomb temple,

another one was buried within that mysterious ruined pit.