Filling the Gaps in Strength: Robin Appears

"That's right, this is the ability of that Explosion Man you just encountered."

Roman nodded, confirming Luffy, Nami, Zoro, and Vivi's guesses, facing several jaws that had dropped to the floor. Roman pointed to the book in Nami's hand and continued.

"I have scientific evidence for this."

???

"As everyone knows, Devil Fruits change the life factors of the eater, which is DNA..." Faced with four bewildered faces, Roman had to rephrase.

"Just think of it as changing the eater's physique, bloodline, or something like that."

"According to Old Vegapunk's... that is, Vegapunk's theories and practices, it's possible to extract Devil Fruit abilities from the life factors of Devil Fruit eaters through technological means to create 'Artificial Devil Fruits,' so I based this on..."

Facing four blank stares resembling those of failing students in a calculus class, Roman had to simplify again.

"Simply put, this book, 'The Art of Thief,' is actually a part of my body that I 'separated' using my ability. It possesses the characteristic of 'being alive' and can provide nutrients and maintain the activity of the drawings made with the 'Explosion Man's' blood preserved in the book."

"This way, the book provides 'energy' through me, and the Explosion Man's blood provides the 'ability,' which is then attached to blank paper with biological properties—"

"This allows Nami to use that guy's ability... Did you understand what I said?"

"Mm, mm." X4

Very well, looking at the four pairs of eyes filled with 'wisdom,' Roman gave up explaining.

"In short, just think of it as me 'drawing' the opponent's ability and giving it to Nami to use."

"Got it, got it~~"

You guys don't get it at all!

"But, Roman."

Nami frowned. Although she didn't understand the principle, she had noticed quite a bit of the key information.

"Since the essence of this book is your 'body,' will it have any effect on you?"

"And when I use this book, I'm consuming your 'stamina,' right? Will it...?"

"No need to worry,"

Roman waved his hand.

"I just don't want to see you slacking off when we're fighting as a team."

"Although this book is something I created, the 'materials' are just a part of my fat and muscle. Losing them won't have much of an impact on me. —As for the consumption, don't even mention it. What kind of consumption can such a weak ability have on me?"

However, this was just a temporary measure.

Roman had already figured out his next 'enhancement' route, which he believed could significantly increase Nami's combat power. —Relying on Nami's Climate Baton, with its ridiculously long 'wind-up' time, was less effective than Roman's book, which was simple and crude.

Moreover, he didn't even know where the materials for the Climate Baton were currently located.

As for the flesh and blood used to create the book?

Hah, Trafalgar Law dared to use his own heart as collateral and could still talk and laugh with an empty chest. Today, for me, Roman, to shave off some fat and muscle to make a book is completely fine.

"Alright, at least this way Nami has some self-preservation ability—"

"But,"

Nami still couldn't smile as she hung the 'equipment' Roman made on her waist.

"This doesn't help us with the predicament we're facing at all... Roman, didn't you say those Shichibukai are beings who can destroy countries with a wave of their hand?"

...Roman seriously stroked his chin.

"Destroying countries with a wave of their hand is a bit of an exaggeration, but destroying a city is still quite easy."

"See,"

Nami looked utterly defeated. "We don't stand a chance at all..."

"Ahem, everyone."

Just then, an uncle codenamed Mr.8, whose real name was Igaram, appeared carrying several dummies.

"I'm sorry for getting you involved, but there's still time—"

"I'll take a straight route to lure away the pursuers, and Princess Vivi will take your ship on the normal route. Although it will pass through a few islands, it should be safer."

"Uncle, your disguise is a bit too..."

Roman stepped forward and patted the man, making the already injured Igaram give a wry smile.

This was indeed a plan: use a decoy to attract attention, then let the princess quietly return to the country. However:

Roman discreetly glanced at the wall beside them:

There was a rotating eyeball, and not far away, an ear!

Dazzling eyes

Blossoming ears

That was Robin's Flower-Flower Fruit ability, meaning... their every move was under the control of that intellectual beauty.

"Princess Vivi, I'm leaving. Please take care."

"You too."

Entrusting the princess to a group of pirates they had only just met, and who were even 'enemies' half an hour ago, was a desperate measure. But people like Luffy were naturally able to win others' trust with ease, just as he was naturally able to discern a person's true nature.

"Hahaha, that old man is really funny."

Facing the ship carrying a few decoys and Igaram away, Luffy's hearty laughter remained unchanged.

"Mhm, I've always trusted him."

"Let's go, we too—"

Just as Luffy and the others turned around, a huge explosion suddenly echoed from the distance!

BOOM!!

They whipped their heads back, only to be met with—

A sea of fire.

The ship that had just departed had vanished into flames and the ocean!

"How... how is this possible?"

Vivi stared at everything before her, dumbfounded. That was the ship that had accompanied her as she grew up, like family...

"...No... No, how could the pursuers have arrived so quickly?!"

You're mistaken, Princess.

Roman lowered his eyelids. The pursuers had never left! However:

Roman glanced at the captain, who was slowly sinking into the flames. Even if Robin hadn't saved him, that old man wouldn't have died. When Roman had patted his shoulder earlier, he had secretly covered the man with a stack of paper.

While it wasn't as sturdy as the 'Paper Dance - Iron Armor' he wore, it was enough to withstand an explosion.

Amidst the explosion, flames soared into the sky!

"Nami! Is the Log Pose ready?"

Nami was taken aback by Luffy's shout before she could react.

"It... It's ready."

"Roman! Zoro! Set sail—"

"No problem, Captain."

"Nami, grab that girl, and let's go!"

With that, Luffy ran directly towards a nearby building, where Usopp and Sanji were still lost in dreams.

Heh, that's why.

Luffy was always trustworthy in critical moments. In that instant, even Roman hadn't thought of the 'Log Pose', but the usually carefree Luffy was the first to suggest it.

"Vivi, hurry up, if we get discovered..."

Nami ran towards the blue-haired girl staring blankly at the flames on the sea, but the expression on her face stunned her.

Regret, helplessness, blood dripping from her bitten lips...

It was exactly the same as Nami's own past!

Slap.

Pulling her into a hug, Nami didn't know what to say, so she just patted her shoulder.

"Don't worry, we'll take you to Alabasta."

"Quick, quick, sail the ship..."

As Zoro stowed the ship anchor and Roman raised the sails and turned the rudder, Luffy dragged Usopp by the nose and Sanji by the leg, sprinting towards them. He still had a speechless look on his face, "These two are really something, still able to sleep at a time like this."

No, no, it looks more like they've fainted, doesn't it?

Seeing Usopp and Sanji, who had been dragged all the way, their faces covered in blood and their eyes rolling back, Roman twitched the corner of his mouth.

Never mind, as long as they're not dead.

With Nami, the blue-haired princess named Vivi, and her mount 'Karako', a land-walking duck capable of carrying people, all aboard, the Golden Merry slowly sailed away from the dock, and everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Of course, these 'everyone' only consisted of Nami and Vivi.

As for the others:

"Hey, hey, hey, why the rush to set sail! So many beautiful women... I mean, such a nice town..."

"Yeah, yeah, aren't we pirates? It's okay to take it easy... It's not even dawn yet..."

Facing the protesting Sanji and Usopp, Zoro, with his arms crossed, sighed helplessly.

"Someone go explain it to them—"

Bang! Bang!

"It's been explained."

What the—

Seeing Sanji and Usopp with their heads smashed into the deck, Vivi, witnessing the 'Straw Hat Pirates'' method of explanation for the first time, didn't know what kind of expression to make.

"Not bad, you can already use 'The Art of the Thief' with such ease."

Roman nodded.

The second page of that book depicted Miss Valentine's Fluffy-Fluffy Fruit, which allowed the book's weight to be changed between one kilogram and ten thousand kilograms. While not very useful, it was:

Quite handy for shutting certain crew members up (physically).

"It's getting foggy, be careful~~~"

"The sky is almost light..."

As everyone was focused on sailing the ship, a mature and intellectual voice interjected.

"Ah—it's good to escape from pursuers."

?

"This ship is quite nice."

??

Clang,

"Who!"

"You're—"

The people on the ship turned their heads, only to discover a mature woman sitting on the railing of the second floor, who had appeared at some unknown time.

She wore a cowboy hat, a vest and leather skirt, and high boots. Her long legs were crossed, and she propped her chin with one hand, watching everyone on deck with great interest.

"Wh-what are you doing here?"

Vivi, the only one who recognized her, looked at the newcomer, trembling all over.

"Miss All Sunday!"

PS: I'm writing a pirate fanfiction, so naturally, there won't be any other elements; everything is built upon the pirate system. Therefore:

Of course, it wouldn't really be some 'Explosive Tag'~~ The protagonist ate the Paper-Paper Fruit, not the Dream Come True Fruit. — Without understanding the principle, it's impossible to develop such an ability.

Otherwise, the protagonist would instantly have 'Golden Rotation' in his left hand to surpass space, 'Infinite Bubbles' in his right hand to pierce through misfortune, 'Golden Requiem' behind him to exploit bugs, and 'Platinum Star' beneath his feet to pause the world, possessing time, space, fate, and causality all at once...

Let alone the mere Three Admirals or Yonko, even Joy Boy would instantly give up thinking.

Mhm, mhm, so you don't need to worry about the combat power being unbalanced.