Gage: I'm Begging You to Take Me Under Your Wing!

"...?"

Storm put away his casual attitude and stared intently at Robin.

"Are you being cunning again?"

As is widely known.

Robin is a cunning woman.

Although she appears to be a gentle and beautiful mature woman with long, straight black hair, she has also eaten the pink and tender [Flower-Flower Fruit].

But in reality, once the archaeologist cut it open, he found that it was all black inside!

Robin's words were so abrupt and outrageous.

So much so that Storm felt this guy was starting to spew out black liquid again.

Really.

Shouldn't Storm have dragged that cunning archaeologist over to assemble the giant combiner robot?

"Um?"

After hearing Storm's words, it was Robin's turn to be puzzled.

"Scheming? And why 'again'?"

"Captain, what kind of image do I have in your mind?"

Robin realized there was a discrepancy between her plan and the outcome she wanted.

She had originally intended to observe the Captain's reaction based on what she had just said...

Surprisingly, the Captain was unaffected, while her reputation seemed to have been damaged.

Without hesitation, Storm gave a three-part evaluation.

"Misancipient, scheming, and with bizarre aesthetic tastes."

These three points are indeed Storm's most direct impressions of Robin.

As for appearance?

Storm has face blindness; he can't actually tell who's more beautiful among Nami, Robin, and Perona.

Robin placed one hand on her forehead and sighed deeply, her bulging clothes rising and falling with her breath.

"Sigh... Is the Captain hating me?"

"It's not that bad."

Storm answered meticulously.

So, what exactly did Vinsmoke Gage say?

"You know, Robin, I can actually read your brain's memories directly."

Storm possesses [Observation Haki], which allows him to "read minds".

However, aside from combat, he rarely uses this ability in his daily life.

He doesn't want to see how dark people's hearts are.

"No!"

Robin quickly stretched out his hands and made an "X" shape in front of his chest.

"I'd rather have the Captain see my body naked than have Captain see my soul."

"Well, Dr. Gage did ask me to deliver a message to the Captain."

Dr. Gage's exact words were--

"The Germa Kingdom is willing to completely submit and join the Storm Pirates. If the Captain doesn't mind, we can select members from Vinsmoke Reiju and the other three Vinsmoke to recruit into the Storm Pirates."

The meaning of Vinsmoke Gage can be simply summarized in four words:

I need someone to leech off me!

As the king of the Germa Kingdom, Gage has always dreamed of "restoring the glory of his ancestors".

However, given Gage's strength, "restoring the glory of his ancestors" is far too difficult...

The Germa Kingdom can engage in minor skirmishes within the North Blue region.

However, if we look at the world as a whole...

The power of the Germa Kingdom is simply insignificant!

Before Storm defeated Donquixote Doflamingo and wiped out the Donquixote Family.

The Germa Kingdom's power in the North Blue has been repeatedly annexed and squeezed by the Donquixote Family.

In his pursuit of wealth, Gage even led his entire nation across the Red Line Continent to the East Blue to fight for other nations...

Is this something a legitimate, powerful force should be doing?

Gage finally waited until Storm defeated the Donquixote Family.

But before he could even adjust to the intensity of the North Blue, now devoid of the Donquixote Family...

Storm then became the Pirate Emperor once again.

This is the Pirate Emperor!

Among countless pirate factions, the supreme Pirate Emperor stands at the very top!

Moreover, compared to Whitebeard, Beasts, and Red-Haired.

Storm, the newly crowned Pirate Emperor, exerts the strongest sense of oppression on the world.

At least that's how Gage felt.

Because Storm did not "infiltrate the ranks of the Yonko".

Storm defeated Charlotte Linlin and seized Big Mom's throne, thus becoming the Pirate Emperor!

After seeing the newspapers reporting that Storm had become the Pirate Emperor.

Gage's first reaction was "shock", his second was "excitement", and his third was --

"Regret"!

I knew Vongola Storm would become the Pirate Emperor.

Gage had already sold his entire fortune to this "White Dragon"!

Although Gage had previously "submitted" to Storm.

However, that kind of "submission" is merely a survival strategy that one has no choice but to adopt under the pressure of the other party's absolute military power.

Gage only nominally submitted; he did not actually consider himself Storm's subordinate.

Things are different now!

White Dragon defeated Big Mom and became the Pirate Emperor.

Gage wished he could place the entire Germa Kingdom under the protection of the White Dragon Emperor!

With Gage's power, he was unable to "restore the glory of his ancestors".

However, if one could gain the White Dragon Emperor's protection, or even support...

For Gage, "restoring the glory of his ancestors" was out of the question.

Gage felt he could completely "surpass his ancestors"!

Therefore.

After learning that Storm was about to arrive in the North Blue.

Gage immediately asked Robin to convey his plea for help to Storm.

If you don't latch onto such a powerful figure now, when will you?

"So, you really were being cunning, weren't you?"

Storm stared at Robin speechlessly.

Compared to Gage's original words, Robin only slightly rearranged the order of the sentences.

However, the two people's words gave Storm completely different feelings!

A smile spread across Robin's face, making her look like a mass-produced doll, beautiful yet fake.

The archaeologists laughed heartily, but the archaeologists remained silent.

"Snort!"

Storm snorted coldly.

"Since you enjoy relaying messages so much, I have a task for you to complete later!"

"You've been spending all your time here tending to my plants and flowers; it's a real waste of your knowledge and abilities as an archaeologist."

Upon hearing this, Robin's fake smile immediately crumbled.

She pursed her lips and spoke cautiously.

"Captain, you're not planning to send me away, are you?"

"Send you away? Send you where?"

Storm snapped his fingers, and a bright green leaf appeared out of thin air, transforming into a curly-haired figure.

"Should I send you to the navy?"

"Ah la la..."

Accompanied by a chilling aura, Aokiji appeared, his eyes indifferently fixed on Robin.

"It's good to see you again, Nico Robin, the Devil Child..."

"It's been over a decade since I last saw you; you've grown into a beautiful young woman..."

The moment Robin saw the figure, her pupils contracted sharply to pinpoints, her pretty face instantly lost all color, and she involuntarily stumbled backward several steps, even accidentally falling to the ground.

The memories of the past were attacking Robin so intensely that she was too panicked to speak.

Why is Admiral Aokiji Kuzan here!?

Robin let out a scream in his heart.

And what's wrong with you?! Vongola! Storm! Why are you just standing there watching?!

"Ah la la..."

The clone of Aokiji perfectly mimicked his personality, lazily rubbing his chin a few times.

"Am I that scary-looking?"

"It really doesn't look good."

Storm extended his right hand and patted the clone, Aokiji, on the shoulder.

"Even among the Admiral, you are a strong contender for second to last place."

As for who is last place?

Don't discuss such dark topics with a "righteous" Admiral has eaten the [Glint-Glint Fruit].

Robin is Robin after all.

She watched Storm's actions, seemed to realize something, and managed to regain her composure.

"Captain, Aokiji... are you returning to the Navy now?"

Considering Storm's earlier comment about "sending him to the Navy."

Robin felt that her guess was likely true.

"No, I've already fallen out with the Navy."

Storm waved his hand and slapped Aokiji into a leaf.

"As for this Aokiji... he's a fake."

Fake?

Robin couldn't help but put on a shocked expression.

Such a realistic figure, such a realistic personality, and that chilling aura that could have frozen someone to death just now...

Isn't this Aokiji Kuzan?

Is this fake?

"How is that possible...?"

"Of course it's possible."

Storm held the leaf created by the [Raccoon Dog Fruit]'s power between his index fingers and gently shook it a few times.

Who says only you can be cunning?

"Don't worry, Robin, I won't send you to the Navy."

"I need you to handle other tasks."

Do you know the World Economic Journal?

"Certainly..."

Robin stood up from the ground and gently patted the dust off his clothes.

"I am a loyal reader of the World Economic Journal."

"Very good."

Storm nodded.

"From this moment on, you are the deputy editor-in-chief of the World Economic Journal!"

"After you arrive in Whole Cake Island, you will report to Morgans."

Storm was already planning to send his men to take over the internal affairs of Whole Cake Island.

Robin was just about to World Economic Journal.

In any case, this archaeologist was already very skilled in intelligence work.

Storm sent her to the World Economic Journal, which was a suitable arrangement.

"I see."

Robin nodded slightly.

"And what about Dr. Gage?"

I think Gage was being a bit impolite.

Storm shrugged and said calmly.

"How dare Vinsmoke Gage try to curry favor with me using my things?"