Nico Olvia looked in surprise at her daughter, who seemed to have become unfamiliar once more, while Mousse wore a deeply gratified expression. Over the past few months in Ohara, he had not merely been reading and studying; he had also helped Nico Robin thoroughly develop her Flower-Flower Fruit.
Although her physique was still weak and many abilities could not yet be used, the results of today's two displays of "Four ounces deflect a thousand pounds" showed that their previous training had been quite effective.
"Against opponents under 300 Doriki, she should be able to win easily. She might even be able to take down someone with 500 Doriki. Robin herself, though, only has the boost from her Devil Fruit, so she's at most around fifty or sixty Doriki. The Flower-Flower Fruit really is incredibly useful."
After briefly marveling to himself, Mousse went over to the robber whom Nico Robin had subdued with a joint lock. After questioning him, he learned that, just as he had expected, these obviously inexperienced bandits were actually farmers who could no longer survive.
However, one point had been beyond Mousse's expectations. These farmers had not suffered a famine, nor had they—at least not primarily—been driven into a corner by debt collectors. They had no food simply because they could not afford the taxes.
"Over the past ten years or so, the taxes collected by the imperial court have grown heavier and heavier, but the grain we grow has been selling for lower and lower prices..."
Upon hearing the former farmer's complaints, Mousse quickly understood the reason behind it, but as he continued probing deeper, he made quite a few unexpected discoveries.
When he had previously been at that foreign trade port, Mousse had learned that after Wang Zhi's Rebellion twelve years ago, the Flower