A Debt of Gratitude

As Cavendish turned and left, Bartolomeo wore a victorious smile.

Then, he grinned and said, "Why would I open a barrier for you, kid?"

"What if Robin- senpai gets into danger?"

If Robin gets injured while he's with him, he won't be able to explain it to Luffy.

By the way, how is Robin- senpai?

With that thought in mind, Bartolomeo turned his gaze to what was behind him.

"Senior Robin?"

Looking at Nico Robin holding Den Den Mushi, Bartolomeo's eyes showed a hint of doubt. Who was she going to call?

"Contact Merry," Nicole Robin explained.

"Pineapple pineapple pineapple~"

"Pineapple pineapple pineapple~"

"Pineapple pineapple pineapple~"

"Kaga ~"

"I am Merry."

"It's me, Robin," Robin said. "How's things going on your end? Did you give the key to Luffy?"

Although Rebecca's chances of survival are extremely high with Merry around, no one knows what unexpected things might happen, so she needs to figure it out.

"I'm fine, Rebecca and I are both safe," Merry said. "The key was given to Luffy, and he's already inside the Royal Palace with Law. They should be fighting Doflamingo right now."

"That's good."

Nicole Robin breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed things were going very smoothly.

"But..."

"But?"

Nico Robin's heart suddenly jumped; could something unexpected have happened?

"The Soldier Uncle seems to be having a tough time fighting the Top Executive, Diamante," Merry said. "I'm considering whether to go down and help, but if I do, I might not be able to protect Rebecca."

If she focuses all her attention on Diamante, then something unexpected might happen to Rebecca.

This is not what she wants to see, and the Soldier Uncle wouldn't agree to it either.

"I see..."

Nico Robin thought for a moment, then turned her gaze to Bartolomeo and Cavendish.

"What's wrong, Robin -senpai?"

"Cockscomb Head, can you two take care of this?" Nico Robin asked.

Now that Cavendish is here, Bartolomeo isn't fighting alone, so Nico Robin thinks she can go and support Merry.

"Sure!"

Bartolomeo's expression suddenly became very excited, and he said, "Do whatever you want, leave this to me!"

This was the first time Robin -senpai had made a request of him, and he was determined to fulfill it!

"Alright, then I'll leave this place to you." Nico Robin looked up at the sky and said, "I need to go up and take a look."

Since the soldiers' battle was exceptionally difficult, it meant that the enemy might not be able to defeat the Top Executive named Diamante.

But!

If the Straw Hat Pirates want to achieve final victory, they must eliminate all of the enemy's officers!

Therefore, in order to ensure the Straw Hat Pirates' victory, Nico Robin felt it was necessary to go and help.

"No problem!"

Bartolomeo gave Nico Robin a thumbs-up and said, "You can go without worry, everything will be fine here."

"Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Cockscomb Head."

"No problem!"

Bartolomeo seemed to have received a sacred mission; he trembled with excitement, and tears streamed down his face.

Robin- senpai asked him for a favor!

He is so lucky!

Nico Robin smiled at this, then looked down at the Den Den Mushi and said, "Wait for me, Merry."

"Profound!"

"Kaga ~"

After ending the call with the Den Den Mushi, Nico Robin quickly activated her Devil Fruit ability to create one long, slender leg after another on the cliff face. She then used these legs to run upwards at an extremely fast speed.

"Huh?"

"Eh!!"

Bartolomeo stared at Nico Robin in disbelief. Could her powers really be used like that?

That's... amazing!

As expected of Robin- senpai!

"What a cunning woman, Nico Robin!" Gladius said grimly, his eyes fixed on Nico Robin on the cliff through his binoculars. "But I won't let you interfere with the Top Executive!"

With that, Gladius raised his weapon and aimed it at Nico Robin on the cliff.

"Rock Hurling Explosion!"

"Bump!"

"Bump!"

"Bump!"

The next moment, a large number of special bullets flew out of the weapon's nozzle, heading straight for Nico Robin on the cliff.

Nico Robin's expression changed upon sensing the attack; she was in a difficult position to defend herself here.

Just then, Bartolomeo's barrier flowed in from afar at an incredible speed!

"Flowing Barrier Racket!"

"Smack!"

"Boom!!"

The giant barrier, transformed into a tennis racket, precisely blocked Gladius's explosive attack from beside Nico Robin.

"What?"

Gladius's expression changed; his attack had actually been blocked?!

"Hehehehe~"

"Gladius!" Bartolomeo laughed and said, "I won't let you get in Robin's way!"

"Um?"

Seeing Bartolomeo emerge from the smoke and dust, Gladius's expression turned grim.

That bastard is still alive?

Normally, shouldn't this guy have been killed by his explosion? Why is he still alive?

Then, as if he understood something, he focused his gaze on the barrier.

"Surviving by relying on a barrier... that's a tricky ability," Gladius frowned.

It seems that to kill this guy, we must first break through his barrier.

"Go quickly, Robin -senpai!" Bartolomeo said with a laugh, "I'll help you block his attack!"

"Hehehehe~"

"Thank you, Mr. Cockscomb Head ~"

As she spoke, Nico Robin winked at Bartolomeo, which made Bartolomeo jump up excitedly.

"You're really making me feel bad..."

Did the sentence just now mean, "Mr. Cockscomb Head, you did a good job, so I'll make you my servant"?

No, no, no, that's absolutely shameless, Bartolomeo!

But... why was he so excited at the thought of becoming Robin- senpai's servant?

Hehehehe~

The excitement is getting higher and higher!

"What is this bastard doing?"

Gladius stared at Bartolomeo, utterly bewildered. Why had this guy's barrier suddenly transformed into a human shape and was even twisting and turning?

Is this yet another attack tactic?

With this in mind, Gladius became wary.

Before he could even be on guard for long, Cavendish appeared in front of him.

"Gladius, prepare to die!"

"Cavendish?!"

Gladius stared in astonishment at Cavendish, who was completely unharmed. Why was this guy like that too?

Then, as if he had realized something, he said, "You little brat, you actually hid inside the barrier too!"

Only in this way can we explain why Cavendish was unharmed.

"That's right!" Cavendish shouted. "Sorry I couldn't do as you wished, Gladius!"

"Take this!"

"Beautiful Sword - Blue!"

As he spoke, Cavendish raised his weapon, intending to deliver a fatal blow to Gladius.

"Black Feather Arm Cannon!"

Realizing he couldn't just sit and wait to die, Gladius also activated his Devil Fruit ability, instantly swelling his arm, clearly intending to kill Cavendish with an explosive attack.

Before the two of them could make a move, they heard a booming sound in the distance, as if something terrifying was rushing towards them.

At the same time... the screams of the henchmen could be heard from the other side.

"Lord Gladius!"

"Ah!"

Ignoring the minions, Gladius and Cavendish focused their attention on the massive barrier charging toward them.

"Bartolomeo?" X2

Both of them stared at Bartolomeo, somewhat dumbfounded. What was this bastard planning to do?

"Barrier - Bull Charge!" Bartolomeo roared as he charged forward with the barrier activated. "Senior Robin, I will definitely not let you down!!"

"Watch me crush these bastards!"

"Awooo!!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Bartolomeo ran even faster.

Cavendish:...

Cavendish, who was running rapidly into the distance, turned green with rage.

Why does this bastard always do things that are so incomprehensible?

"Stop right there, Bartolomeo!" Cavendish roared. "I'm here too, you know!"

"Sorry, Cabbage," Bartolomeo laughed loudly, "I have a reason I can't stop!"

"Ha?"

Cavendish looked at Bartolomeo with a puzzled expression. What was this "reason for not being able to stop"?

"What's the reason?"

"Of course... we're in high spirits!" Bartolomeo roared. "So high we're about to explode!"

Cavendish:???

"Damn it, what kind of excuse is that?!"

"Stop talking nonsense and stop right now!"

"No!"

Bartolomeo laughed loudly and charged forward relentlessly, Cavendish's frustration, but there was nothing he could do.

After all... right now, his only options are to run away or turn around and slash a few times.

"Dellinger!"

Noticing Dellinger watching from a distance, Gladius shouted, "Isn't the second floor cleaned up yet?"

"Gladius?"

Noticing Gladius, Dellinger's eyes flashed with surprise as he asked, "I'm done here, but... what are you doing?"

Are you practicing running?

But now is not the time to practice.

"Then hurry up and come to the third floor to help me!" Gladius shouted. "Nicole Robin is about to run up there. I'm too busy dealing with these two idiots to go. Go and stop her! We can't let her get in the way of the Top Executive!"

Although these two guys aren't particularly strong, it won't be something he can take down in a short time, so he has to send Dellinger to intercept Nico Robin.

"Ah~"

"This looks interesting~" Dellinger grinned. "Alright, I'm going to take care of that Nico Robin now."

With that, Dellinger prepared to leave.

But before he could even take a step, Edio grabbed his hand.

"Um?"

Noticing Edio, Dellinger frowned. This guy can still stand up?

"I... cough cough..." Edio, clutching his wound, coughed and said, "I told you not to look around, didn't I?"

"These Longarm Tribe are really annoying."

As he spoke, Dellinger glanced at Edio's prominent shoulder bones.

After casually shaking off his hand, Dellinger said, "That bone that extends from your shoulder is really strange."

Who would have thought this guy's arm could stretch several meters? If you didn't know better, you'd think he was the Devil Fruit User.

"Just exceptional talent," Edio said.

Even among the Longarm Tribe, his situation is quite unique, given that his arms can extend several meters.

"Oh."

Dellinger sneered, "Exceptionally talented?"

If he were truly a gifted individual, he wouldn't have been beaten to this state by himself.

After glancing at Edio's abdomen, Dellinger sneered, "Your stomach has already been pierced by me, why are you still standing up?"

"Wouldn't it be better to just die quietly?"

"Fighting Champion!"

"Oh."

Edio grinned and said, "That's impossible."

"Listen up, kid!"

"The world of men is all about gratitude and human relationships!"

"If I fall here, how can I face my fallen brothers?"

His mission was to stop a Donquixote Family executive here, and if he couldn't even do that, he felt he would have no face to face his brothers.

Hehehehe~

Hahahaha!

Dellinger suddenly burst into wild laughter, as if he were mocking Edio.

Then, he grinned and said, "That's really not a compliment for you, fighting champion!"

After speaking, Dellinger paused, then his expression darkened.

"You think you can stop me in your current state?" Dellinger said coldly, "Are you kidding me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Dellinger vanished from his spot, reappearing beside Edio.

"Bump!"

Without uttering a single word, Dellinger kicked Edio directly, sending him flying.

Then came a relentless barrage of attacks, and despite Edio's best efforts to resist, he was no match for Dellinger.

"Huff... huff..."

Edio, who had barely managed to block the attack, was panting heavily, his expression extremely grave.

"Ah, you're really tough." Dellinger squinted and said, "Edio, if you had been pretending to be dead just now, I really wouldn't have bothered with you."

"But why did you stand up?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Dellinger appeared in front of Edio in a flash and kicked him.

At the same time, he said, "What good will it do for a person who is about to die to stand up again?"

"Oh..."

Edio, who was directly under Dellinger's attack, suddenly grinned and said, "At least... I can buy some time, right?"

"We can't let you get in his way until the Straw Hat defeat Doflamingo!"

"We... rely on everyone's strength!"

"Remember, no one in this world can achieve victory alone!"

"Kid!"