The Stranger Who Knew You Best

"What exactly was your goal? Why did you draw our blood?"

Sanji leaned against the wall, his face deathly pale as he stared fixedly at Sumer outside the iron cage.

He felt that this Celestial Dragon was dangerous.

For no apparent reason, he had targeted them, and for no apparent reason, he had drawn their blood.

They had been locked up.

They had already learned from Robin what the World Nobles and Celestial Dragons were.

It would not be an exaggeration to say they stood in the heavens, above all races.

They were among the most exalted people in the world, possessing absolute power, wealth, and status.

He could not understand why someone so exalted had set his sights on them.

Nearby,

Zoro also glared coldly at Sumer. If he got the chance in the future, he would definitely cut this man down.

What World Noble bullshit? Anyone who dared hurt his companions would die, even if they were a god!

"You're still far too weak."

"Focus on staying alive first!"

Through the iron cage, Sumer watched Fukurou carry over an insulated case. Inside were seven vials filled to the brim with blood.

Each vial bore a name label.

"You're Saint Germain Sumer, right?"

Luffy struggled to hold up his neck, his forehead pressed against the iron cage, bloodshot eyes fixed on Sumer.

He had learned that name, along with the man's identity, from Robin and Nami.

"You don't need to hate me. If we're being a little hypocritical, I'm not really your enemy. On the contrary, you could say I'm the stranger who understands you best."

Sumer crouched down and met Luffy's gaze through the iron bars.

He had already guessed what Luffy would say next. It would probably be something about sending him flying.

But Sumer had guessed wrong.

"Robin said you're a World Noble, a descendant of the world's most exalted gods. Even the Marines have to obey you."

"What are you trying to say?"

Sumer raised an eyebrow.

"I'm the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. Let my companions go!"

Luffy's voice trembled slightly. His head nearly slipped down several times, but he forced himself to hold it up.

Right now, he had only one thought: protect everyone.

"Luffy..."

Behind Luffy, Chopper, Usopp, and Nami all bit their lips hard, their eyes red as they fought back their tears.

At that moment,

Luffy took on the responsibility of being captain.

"I'm surprised. I thought you'd say you were going to send me flying. After all, you've always been fearless and incapable of seeing the situation for what it is."

"I already said it. I'm not really your enemy—"

Sumer rose to his feet, looked down at Luffy, then glanced at Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Robin, Usopp, and Chopper in turn before turning to leave.

He had already obtained the seven samples of blood.

All that remained was to wait and see whether the Straw Hat crew truly had protagonist plot armor.

"Wait!"

Suddenly,

Robin bit her lip, determination filling the depths of her eyes. She had thought of a way to save the Straw Hat crew.

"As long as you're willing to let us go, I can tell you a secret—a secret the World Government desperately wants."

Seeing Sumer stop, Robin took a deep breath.

"A secret?"

Sumer looked at Nico Robin with interest.

What kind of secret could make her so certain?

"Go on. What secret—"

"No, you have to agree first."

"Heh... Why do you think I would agree? Even if I did, what if I went back on my word afterward?"

"You'll agree, because this secret is very important to the World Government. As for whether you'll go back on your word, I can only gamble on it once."

Robin stared at Sumer with blazing eyes.

She understood their situation clearly. Once they were escorted to Mary Geoise, there would be no hope left.

Either they would become slaves for the rest of their lives, or they would all be executed.

At the same time, she was puzzled. Why had the World Government not simply executed them, instead of escorting them to Mary Geoise?

If it were only her, that could be explained. After all, she could read ancient writing and posed a threat to the World Government.

But Luffy and the others were merely an unremarkable group of pirates. They could be said to have no value at all.

Yet the truth was that not only had the Straw Hat Pirates been targeted, but a World Noble like Saint Germain Sumer had even been dispatched.

If she had not misheard during the day,

that old man with the white goatee had also been a Celestial Dragon. He seemed to be called Saint Mars.

In addition,

there was also a Marine vice admiral, and even Marine Admiral Aokiji was involved.

"I said before that I'm the stranger who understands you best. So in my view, the secret you're offering isn't enough to make me use my authority to release you."

"Ancient Weapons!"

The moment Sumer finished speaking, Nico Robin cut in.

She was completely confident that once he heard the words Ancient Weapons, he would do everything possible to learn their location.

Robin had already made up her mind.

Once he released Luffy and the others, she would kill herself.

She would never reveal Pluton's whereabouts to the World Government.

At that,

Sumer suddenly understood what secret she intended to offer.

He looked strangely at Robin, who had raised her head as if she had him completely figured out. He smiled first, then said teasingly,

"Ancient Weapons?"

"You mean Pluton, don't you? The information you deciphered from that Poneglyph in the underground tomb beneath the Alabasta Kingdom."

"A super warship capable of destroying an island with a single cannon shot, built in Water 7, with its exact location in Wano Country."

Robin's once-confident face froze. Her dark blue pupils visibly widened, followed by shock and disbelief.

"Y-you... How do you know?"

After a long while,

Nico Robin trembled all over, her voice shaking as she stared at Sumer.

How was that possible...

How could he know every piece of information about Pluton, even its exact location?

It was not just Robin who was stunned. Nami and the others were stunned too.

What Ancient Weapons?

Robin had never mentioned them before.

Behind Sumer, the expressions of Rob Lucci and the other six shifted as well. However, having already seen the Pluton blueprints, they found this easier to accept.

It could be said that

whether it was Pluton's blueprints or the whereabouts of its actual body, any force that obtained either would spare no effort to keep it hidden.

Because most forces lacked the strength to protect the Pluton blueprints or its location.

Only the World Government was different.

Even if the entire sea learned that the World Government possessed the Pluton blueprints and knew the location of its actual body, no one would dare seize them or stop the World Government from building Pluton.

On the contrary,

the World Government would welcome such information leaking out, because it would be an excellent opportunity to intimidate others and strengthen its rule.

That was also why Rob Lucci and the others were still alive, and why Sumer dared to speak so openly now.

Had it been any other force, the moment Sumer found the Pluton blueprints in Franky's stomach, the entirety of Water 7 should have vanished from the map.

Everyone who knew anything about Pluton, even the slightest detail, would have died—

Because if the information leaked and the World Government learned of it, they would face the World Government's all-out, no-holds-barred assault.

If that truly happened,

it would absolutely not be something a single kingdom, the Revolutionary Army, or one of the Four Emperors could withstand.