You're Really Awkward

In the highest tower of Judicial Island, Spandam saw Rob Lucci and the others returning from Water Seven, which made him very pleased.

"Good work, everyone." Spandam smiled.

"It's nothing. All for the mission." Rob Lucci said flatly.

Though they had lurked in Water Seven for five years, for intelligence agents like them, that was the meaning of their existence.

Let alone five years, there were plenty who had lurked for ten or twenty years.

"Don't worry, I won't forget your contributions." Spandam said.

This time, to boost CP9's combat power, he had specially obtained two Devil Fruits—as for what abilities they held, he didn't know.

To this, CP9 merely watched Spandam calmly, saying nothing.

Spandam didn't mind and went on: "Where are those two now?"

"Right at the gate. Nico Robin has already been cuffed with Sea Stone."

"Good work."

Spandam nodded in satisfaction. Truly, these professionals handled things reliably. That being the case, he wasn't in a particular rush to see those two.

His men had spent five years on this mission; he couldn't just charge straight at the objective. He had to say a few formal words first.

With that in mind, Spandam started talking about other matters.

Meanwhile, Franky at the gate was scanning his surroundings, looking for any chance to escape.

Beside him, Nico Robin kept her head down, as if she had already accepted her fate, showing no will to live.

After struggling for a while, Franky found he couldn't break free from the chains binding him and temporarily gave up.

He glanced at the silent Nico Robin and noticed there wasn't a trace of life in her—she was like a dead person.

"Hey, I'm asking you, are you really just giving up like that?" Franky said. "They chased all the way from Water Seven for you, and even the Gods of Water couldn't stop them."

"Are you really not going to answer them?"

But unfortunately, Nico Robin had no intention of acknowledging him. She still kept her head down and said nothing.

"What a stubborn one." Franky said irritably.

"What could you possibly understand?!" Nico Robin looked up at Franky and said. "You have no idea what kind of power they've got."

"The Buster Call..."

Franky's expression grew serious. A force capable of destroying an entire island was indeed terrifying, but... that wasn't a reason to just surrender.

"No one can resist the Buster Call..."

Nico Robin finished speaking and lowered her head again, the dead weight in her aura even heavier.

"I don't know if I can solve the Buster Call problem, but... this idea of sacrificing yourself to save them—they definitely won't accept it."

Franky leaned against the wall, staring at the window in front of him. "No matter what you say, those reckless fools are going to come here to save you."

"That's an unchangeable fact!!"

Even though he hadn't known them long, Franky could tell they were the kind of people who would do anything for their partners.

If they dared to charge through the terrifying Gods of Water, what wouldn't they dare to do?

Nico Robin's body trembled at his words, pain gradually surfacing in her eyes.

She wanted to keep adventuring with her partners, but the problem was, if she didn't obey CP9, her partners would be killed.

Nico Robin couldn't accept that, so she had no choice.

"Hmph, what a stubborn one, just like that Long Nose." Franky said.

Suddenly, Franky noticed a strange Marine.

This Marine had crawled in through a window in the distance, but wasn't that direction a cliff?

Or was there a passage on that balcony leading somewhere else?

With doubt in his mind, Franky fixed his eyes on the distant Marine.

And that Marine was none other than Xi Yan!

"Phew~"

"Looks like I found the right place."

Scanning the two tied to the wall, Xi Yan revealed a smile.

The one in black clothes was Nico Robin, apparently cuffed with Sea Stone handcuffs. The other must be Franky.

Glancing at the tightly shut Great Gate, Xi Yan calmly walked toward them.

"Hey, Marine, what are you doing?" Franky said coldly, staring at Xi Yan.

If this Marine got too close, he wouldn't mind biting the guy.

"Shh."

"It's me."

Xi Yan looked around, and only after confirming there was no one else did he crouch down and say, "You're Franky and Nico Robin, right? I'm here to rescue you."

Nico Robin: !!!

Franky: ???

Nico Robin's face showed shock. She didn't know Xi Yan, but those words felt so familiar.

Not long ago, Usopp had come to rescue her just like this. She never thought someone would sneak all the way here this time!

Franky, meanwhile, stared at Xi Yan in confusion, unsure what kind of trick this Marine was playing.

Suddenly, as if a thought struck him, he said, "You're that ninja?!"

"That's right, it's me." Xi Yan nodded. "My name is Xi Yan."

Franky's face lit up with sudden realization. No wonder he'd never seen this guy before—he was the ninja who'd just joined the Straw Hat Pirates.

Then Franky got excited. This was a ninja, after all!

"Ninja?"

Nico Robin looked at Xi Yan in bewilderment, not understanding what Franky meant.

She'd seen the word "ninja" in some paintings, but wasn't that stuff fictional?

"I just joined the Straw Hat Pirates," Xi Yan explained. "On the way to Judicial Island."

Nico Robin's first reaction was disbelief. How could such a coincidence exist in this world? Luffy just happened to pick up a ninja as a partner on the road?

Who would believe that? She certainly didn't.

In Nico Robin's view, this guy was probably a Marine sent to test her sincerity. If she actually showed any desire to leave with him, CP9 might take action against Luffy and the others.

Seeing Nico Robin's distrustful expression, Xi Yan felt a bit helpless. It wasn't his fault he'd never met her before.

"It should be him," Franky spoke up, confirming Xi Yan's identity. "When Curly Brow was communicating with Straw Hat earlier, I heard this guy's voice. He was with Straw Hat and the others at the time."

Nico Robin looked at Xi Yan doubtfully. Could Luffy really have picked up a ninja as a partner on the road?

Wait, did that even make sense?

"Now do you believe who I am?" Xi Yan said.

Nico Robin was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Since Franky said this guy had been with Luffy and the others, it was probably true.

She'd seen enough of Franky's character during this journey to trust his word.

"In that case, let's get out of here quickly," Xi Yan said. "If those guys find us, protecting you two while fighting them will be a hassle."

"We'll settle the score with them once we reunite with Luffy and the others."

While speaking, Xi Yan drew his Kusanagi Sword, planning to first cut the chains binding the two of them.

As for the handcuffs on Nico Robin, he'd figure that out later—the priority was getting them out of here.

"No, I can't go with you." Nico Robin shook her head. "Please leave."

"I came all the way here, and you're telling me to leave?"

"Yes, leave." Nico Robin said. "Even though I've never met you, since you're a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, I don't want anything to happen to you."

Nico Robin didn't want this new partner who'd just joined the Straw Hat Pirates to get hurt. That would make her partners sad.

"How stubborn..."