You're Really Awkward

In the tallest building on Judicial Island, Spandam met Rob Lucci and the others returning from Water Seven, which made him very happy.

"You've all worked hard," Spandam said with a smile.

"It was nothing. Everything was for the mission," Rob Lucci said calmly.

Although they had been lurking 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 even twenty years.

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

This time, in order to strengthen CP9's combat power, he had specifically obtained two Devil Fruits. As for what abilities they had, he did not know.

CP9 merely looked at Spandam calmly and said nothing.

Spandam did not mind and asked, "Where are those two now?"

"They're at the door. Nico Robin has already been shackled with Sea Stone."

"Good work."

Spandam nodded in satisfaction. As expected, having professionals handle things was reassuring. With that, he was no longer in such a hurry to see those two.

His subordinates had worked hard for five years to complete this mission. He could not immediately rush toward the mission targets; at the very least, he had to exchange some pleasantries.

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

Meanwhile, Franky at the door was scanning his surroundings, searching for a possible chance to escape.

Nico Robin beside him kept her head lowered, as if she had already accepted her fate. She showed no desire to survive at all.

After struggling for a while, Franky realized that he could not break free from the chains around him and temporarily gave up.

He glanced at Nico Robin, who had not said a word, and found that she had no life in her at all, like a corpse.

"Hey, I'm asking you, have you really just given up like this?" Franky said. "They chased all the way here from Water Seven for you. Not even the Gods of Water could stop them."

"Are you really not planning to answer them?"

Unfortunately, Nico Robin had no intention of responding to him. She kept her head lowered and remained silent.

"You really are awkward," Franky said irritably.

"What could you possibly understand?!" Nico Robin raised her head and looked at Franky. "You have no idea what kind of power they possess."

"The Buster Call..."

Franky's expression turned grave. The power to destroy an entire island was indeed terrifying, but... that was no reason to surrender without a fight.

"Under a Buster Call, no one can resist..."

After saying that, Nico Robin lowered her head again, and the deathly aura around her grew even heavier.

"I don't know whether the Buster Call can be dealt with, but... the idea of sacrificing yourself to save them clearly won't be accepted by them."

Leaning against the wall, Franky looked at the window in front of him and said, "No matter what you say, those reckless idiots will come here to save you."

"That is an unchangeable fact!!"

Even though he had not known them for long, Franky could tell that they were the kind of people who would disregard everything for their partners.

They even dared to brave the terrifying Gods of Water. What was there that they would not dare to do?

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

She also wanted to continue adventuring with her partners, but if she did not obey CP9, her partners would be killed by them.

Nico Robin could not accept such a thing, so she could only do this.

"Hmph, you're really an awkward woman, just like that Long Nose," Franky said.

Suddenly, Franky noticed a strange Marine.

This Marine had climbed in through a distant window, but was that direction not a cliff?

Or was there a passage on the balcony over there that led somewhere else?

With those doubts in mind, Franky stared intently at the Marine in the distance.

And that Marine was Xi Yan!

"Phew~"

"Looks like I found the right place."

Xi Yan swept his gaze over the two people tied to the wall and smiled.

The one in black clothes was Nico Robin. She appeared to be restrained by Sea Stone handcuffs, and the other one was probably Franky.

After glancing at the tightly shut Great Gate nearby, Xi Yan calmly walked toward the two of them.

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

If this Marine dared to come too close, he would not mind biting him.

"Shh."

"It's me."

After looking around and finding no one else nearby, Xi Yan crouched down and said, "You're Franky and Nico Robin, right? I'm here to save you."

Nico Robin:!!!

Franky:???

Nico Robin revealed a shocked expression. Although she did not know Xi Yan, why did those words sound so familiar?

Not long ago, Usopp had come to save her in exactly this way. She had not expected someone to sneak in here this time!

Franky, meanwhile, looked at Xi Yan in confusion, not knowing what this Marine was up to.

Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and said, "You're that Ninja?!"

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

Franky immediately showed a look of realization. No wonder he had never seen this person before. He was the Ninja who had just joined the Straw Hat Pirates.

Then Franky became excited. This was a Ninja!

"A Ninja?"

Nico Robin looked at Xi Yan in confusion, not knowing what Franky meant.

She had seen the word Ninja in some drawings before, but were those things not fictional?

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

Nico Robin's first reaction was disbelief. How could there be such a coincidence in this world? Luffy had picked up a Ninja as a Partner on the way here?

Who would believe that? She certainly did not.

In Nico Robin's view, this guy might be a Marine deliberately sent to test her sincerity. If she truly showed any desire to leave with him, CP9 might take the initiative to harm Luffy and the others.

Seeing Nico Robin's distrustful expression, Xi Yan felt somewhat helpless. After all, he had never met Nico Robin before.

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

Franky spoke up to confirm Xi Yan's identity.

Nico Robin looked at Xi Yan doubtfully. Could Luffy really have picked up a Ninja as a Partner on the way?

No, was that even reasonable?

"Do you believe who I am now?" Xi Yan asked.

Nico Robin fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

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

She had seen what kind of person Franky was during this journey.

"Then let's get out of here quickly," Xi Yan said. "If those people discover us, it'll be troublesome to protect you while fighting them."

"Once we reunite with Luffy and the others, we'll settle the score with them."

As he spoke, Xi Yan drew his Kusanagi Sword, intending to cut the chains binding the two of them first.

As for the handcuffs on Nico Robin, they could think of a way to deal with them later. At the very least, he had to get them out first.

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

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

"Yes, leave." Nico Robin said, "Although 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 did not want anything to happen to this Partner who had just joined the Straw Hat Pirates. The others would be sad if he were hurt.

"You really are... awkward."