A Brush with Fate

Nico Robin hid behind a wall on the street corner.

Whew--Whew--Whew--

She breathed softly, her chest rising and falling beneath the large black robe, creating a graceful curve in the fabric.

Another boss has betrayed him.

Of course, this wasn't unexpected, just a little faster than expected.

However, things might not go as the former boss expected. He probably won't get the bounty, as the World Government won't let anyone connected to them go unpunished.

Nico Robin cautiously peeked out from the corner of the wall, and then she saw that the marines had surrounded two people, one tall and one short, both shrouded in black robes.

The navy probably mistook that person for themselves.

Robin thought to himself.

No wonder, their outfits were almost identical, and their height and build were very similar, so it's understandable that the pursuing navy would mistake them.

How lucky!

Robin shrank back into the corner.

If it turns out it wasn't them, the Navy probably won't bother that person.

I'm sorry, but I can't worry about that now. I absolutely can't die here.

Robin gritted his teeth, ripped off his black cloak, put on a large sun hat, and hurriedly merged into the panicked crowd.

Meanwhile, Hiyori, surrounded by the navy, looked completely bewildered.

She thought she had been discovered.

It turned out they weren't there to see her.

Nico Robin, who is this?

"Nico Robin, bounty of 79 million Beli."

Hiyori didn't know, but Black did. He calmly said, "Known as the Child of the Devil, he is a descendant of Ohara, the Island of Knowledge, which was destroyed by the Buster Call fourteen years ago."

79 million Beli?

The bounty isn't even as high as my own.

Hiyori thought to herself.

At the same time, she told the Marines, "You've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not the Nico Robin you're after."

"Stop making excuses, Nico Robin!"

The leading naval officer, his face flushed with excitement, roared, "Do you think we're fools?"

This is a notorious criminal the government has been hunting for fourteen years!

Although the reward isn't very high, its significance to the government is absolutely extraordinary!

If we can catch her, it will be a huge achievement!

"This is truly frustrating."

Hiyori sighed.

She had figured out what was going on: the woman in black robes who had just brushed past her was the real Nico Robin, and she had just been unlucky enough to become her scapegoat.

Judging from the navy's attitude, they probably won't let me off easily.

"Black, what did our captain say?"

Hiyori and Japanese greetings.

Black had, of course, relayed what had happened here to Sirius was elsewhere on the island.

"The captain said, do whatever you want, retreat or cause a ruckus, it doesn't matter," Black said.

"Understood."

Hiyori nodded.

She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword and said calmly, "You've really mistaken me for someone else. I am indeed not Nico Robin. Please allow us to leave."

"Still trying to resist?"

Ignoring everything Hiyori said, the naval admiral raised his sword and shouted, "All hands on deck! Prepare for battle!"

You only have one choice now!

He shouted, "Put down your weapons! Stop resisting! Obey arrest by removing your hood!"

"Although the first two conditions cannot be met, the last one is not a problem."

Hiyori chuckled softly, then slowly raised her hand and removed the hood that was covering her head.

Black looked up at her.

Sirius is right; Hiyori can be a little mischievous at times.

"Kindness?"

The navy personnel were immediately taken aback.

It really wasn't Nico Robin.

Although the woman's wanted poster was from fourteen years ago, one could still vaguely deduce her current appearance, which was completely different from the woman in front of them.

It lacks the signature three-dimensional nose bridge!

Wait a minute, but why does it still look so familiar?

The naval commanders seemed quite surprised.

She looks so familiar, like I just saw her not long ago.

"This, this woman is!!"

Fortunately, he didn't recognize her, but someone else did. A navy man next to him suddenly exclaimed, "That female swordswoman from the Black Wolf ship!"

"That female swordsman? It's really impolite to use such a term for a lady,"

Hiyori frowned slightly. "My name is Hiyori."

The naval admiral's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and his body even trembled slightly. "Black... Black Wolf???"

How did the Pirate Emperor end up here?

When did they arrive at the West Blue? And why are they here?

Weren't they here to hunt down Nico Robin, the Child of the Devil?

How did we end up with Black Wolf's crew?!

Wait, could it be that--

The naval commander exclaimed in surprise, "Nico Robin has defected to Black Wolf's side?"

Hiyori was also impressed by the navy officer's ingenious idea.

How did you come up with that connection?

But it doesn't matter anyway.

Hiyori slowly drew the Nidai Kitetsu from her waist, "Please listen to my music, gentlemen of the Navy, Hiyori's One Sword Style - Samadhi."

A melodious piano tune began to play.

The navy man's vision suddenly became blurry.

"Hahaha, that's hilarious!"

On the other side of town, amidst the chaotic crowd, Sirius and Yamato were eating at a roadside stall. Yamato laughed heartily, "Hiyori was mistaken for someone else and ended up being cornered by the Navy. Who's really in trouble here?"

Sirius couldn't help but chuckle.

Yes, so who's really the unlucky one?

"But Sirius, what place is Ohara that Black mentioned?" Yamato asked curiously.

Sirius had Black's communication core clipped to his chest. Black, being quite sensible, didn't offer any explanation; he knew it was time for his captain to step up.

"It's a place that was destroyed in the pursuit of historical truth."

Sirius sighed.

Who should be blamed for the tragedy of Ohara?

Just as he was marveling at this, Sirius's gaze suddenly sharpened as he noticed someone in the crowd on the street.

"Hmm, she seems different from most people."

Yamato and Sirius's understanding of each other had reached an unimaginable level; the moment Sirius noticed that person, Yamato's attention also turned to her.

Sirius chuckled softly. "Because it really is very different."

The person in the crowd seemed very alert. The undisguised gazes of Sirius and Yamato made her wary, and she turned her head to cautiously examine Sirius.

Sirius waved to her warmly, hoping she would come over and sit down so they could chat.

But the person made no attempt to linger, disappearing into the crowd and leaving immediately.

"What a pity,"

Sirius lowered his hand, sighed, and said, "I still have some questions I want to ask her."

Back then, due to time constraints, Oden left some omissions in the Ancient Text training manual he gave to Sirius. Sirius originally wanted to ask this expert in Ancient Text to give him some extra lessons.

But clearly, the teacher was in a hurry to catch the ship leaving the island and didn't have time to pay attention to him.

"That's Nico Robin, right?"

Yamato said with great certainty.

I guessed so.

Sirius said with a smile.

"Still in the mood for jokes, Captain?"

At that moment, Law and Jack Bepo approached. "The Navy has surrounded us."

Sirius smiled. "Really? Would you like something to eat first?"