Robin

"R."

A ball of light emerged from Ye Qiong's palm. He sensed it carefully, then finally expanded it into a massive circular space.

"R takes a little too long to activate, around two seconds. Hmm, my stamina is continuously draining."

What method could speed up its activation and allow the R space to be maintained for a long time with minimal consumption?

That way, he could perfectly use "R" as combat support.

As Ye Qiong pondered, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

The intense stamina consumption was most likely because the expanded space was too large. If he shrank it...

Ye Qiong acted as soon as he thought of it, controlling his ability and attempting to shrink R.

The circular space contracted slightly, shrinking by a small ring. To his delight, the stamina it consumed truly decreased a little.

But when he tried to shrink it further, Ye Qiong found it somewhat difficult, as though there were an indescribable resistance.

Still, this showed him the direction in which R could be improved. As long as he kept training, he believed he would soon be able to freely control its size.

Mastering spatial abilities and training Ancient Martial Arts body techniques.

In a little over a year, how strong would I become?

The Buster Call had always weighed on him so heavily that he could barely breathe. Whether he had been comforting himself or avoiding reality, he could finally face it, at least a little.

Ye Qiong suddenly smiled, and his entire body relaxed.

Without realizing it, his mindset had undergone some kind of transformation.

Eastern residential district, Robin's home.

Ye Qiong sat stiffly beside Robin, facing a married couple. The pair were currently examining him with strange looks.

Although he knew the two across from him were merely Robin's mother's uncle and his wife, they had taken on the responsibility of raising Robin since she was young and could be considered her closest relatives.

No matter what, since he had come to their home for dinner, he should explain himself.

"Uh, I'm Robin's..." Ye Qiong awkwardly rubbed his nose.

"He's my lover," Robin suddenly interjected from beside him as she quietly ate.

Pfft!

Ye Qiong nearly choked. Fortunately, there was nothing in his mouth, or he would have made a complete fool of himself.

"We've already pledged ourselves to one another," Robin continued calmly.

She really never stopped until she said something shocking!

Ye Qiong staggered and nearly fell out of his chair.

"Robin, this drumstick is delicious. Eat more." Ye Qiong hurriedly scooped a chicken drumstick onto her plate, trying to plug her mouth with it.

If she kept talking, Ye Qiong could not guarantee she would not suddenly mention having a child or something.

Seeing the dumbfounded couple opposite him, Ye Qiong forced himself to explain. "You two, actually..."

"Ah, ah, we understand. Young people, right?" Robin's uncle nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes. I never expected Robin to have such a handsome boyfriend." The aunt continued scrutinizing him from head to toe.

This couple was a little strange.

Ye Qiong was speechless.

Were people in this world really so open-minded?

Ye Qiong's heart stirred. He glanced at Robin, who was quietly eating beside him, and suddenly remembered that Robin's relationship with the relatives raising her did not seem very good.

They might have merely treated her as a servant living in their home, never truly regarding her as family.

After that, the couple politely kept adding dishes and pouring him drinks.

Although Ye Qiong felt helpless, he thought it was fine. At least they did not seem to object on the surface.

Looking at the calm Robin beside him, Ye Qiong could only glare at her, indicating that he would deal with her next time.

What astonished the couple was that Ye Qiong's stomach seemed bottomless. Even though they had prepared extra food, it was still not enough to fill him.

"Being able to eat is a blessing." Robin's uncle looked at him somewhat strangely.

"Next time you come, I'll make even more," the aunt said, nodding along.

"Then thank you very much."

Now that he knew they did not have such a good relationship with Robin, Ye Qiong did not stand on ceremony. After eating his fill, he let out a long breath.

It was his first time eating the food of ordinary residents in the pirate world, and it was not bad.

Just then, hurried footsteps and frightened cries from people on the street clearly drifted in through the window.

"Run, pirates are here!"

"Go home and lock your doors and windows!"

The couple's expressions changed as well, and they hurriedly stood up.

"What's going on?" Ye Qiong asked doubtfully.

"Pirates have invaded. Don't make a sound. Hide well. They won't search house by house," Robin's uncle explained in a low voice.

"Pirates are invading so openly? Aren't they afraid the Marines will suppress them?" Ye Qiong asked curiously.

Although he did not think highly of the Marines, under normal circumstances, whether to preserve their positive image or maintain internal order, they would do their best to uphold public safety.

"Yeah. For some reason, more and more Marines have withdrawn from Ohara Island lately. There are fewer and fewer people to maintain order," the aunt said worriedly.

Ye Qiong's expression grew solemn. He had not expected that the Marines had begun receiving some news already.

That made sense. Things happened gradually, after all.

"You, have you seen a black-haired, black-eyed boy recently..."

A rough voice sounded from outside the window. It should have belonged to the invading pirates, but the question made Ye Qiong feel somewhat strange.

A black-haired, black-eyed boy? Were they looking for him?

Ye Qiong's eyes shifted, and he smiled knowingly. He had roughly pieced together what had happened.

He stood and walked toward the door.

"Ye Qiong, don't go out! Hide!" The couple looked at him anxiously.

"I think those pirates are probably here for me." Ye Qiong shrugged helplessly, opened the door, and walked out.

"This..." The couple did not know what to do.

Robin was still quietly eating. Somewhat helplessly, she reassured them, "Don't worry."

"Ye Qiong is very strong."

On the street, people with pale faces hurried away in one direction. Only Ye Qiong walked toward the pirates, and his movement against the flow drew particular attention.

"Friend, it's dangerous over there!"

"Run for your life!"

Many passersby looked at him anxiously and tried to persuade him, all out of kindness.

Ye Qiong nodded to show that he understood, but his steps did not falter as he continued toward the pirates.

As he neared the screams, the street ahead had already been emptied.

Only a pirate gang of around twenty people remained. Each looked vicious, armed with swords and guns, and they were grabbing several residents to interrogate them.

When they saw Ye Qiong approaching, they were puzzled and turned their gazes toward him. They had not expected that while everyone else feared them, a child would actually walk toward them.

"Kid! Do you have any information to provide?" a pirate asked arrogantly, pointing at Ye Qiong.

"Look, am I black-haired?" Ye Qiong asked in return.

The pirate looked him over and nodded.

"Then look again. Do I have black eyes?" Ye Qiong pointed at his eyes.

The pirate was confused, but nodded anyway.

"Then look one more time. Am I a boy?" Ye Qiong spread his hands.

"You obviously are..." The pirate felt that he was being toyed with. Just as he was about to get angry, he froze, seeming to understand something.

"Idiot! He's the brat who got the Devil Fruit!" A pirate behind him smacked him on the back of the head.

"Congratulations, you guessed right."

Ye Qiong shrugged disinterestedly. He found that these pirates seemed a little useless. Mentally, at least.

"Brat, congratulations. You've angered us." The pirates released the residents, their fury rising.

The residents lying on the ground and groaning looked worriedly at Ye Qiong. Ah, poor child. He would be killed, wouldn't he?

"Come on, let me see your anger." Ye Qiong waved at them indifferently.

The pirates exploded on the spot.

"Brothers, get him!"

The pirates swarmed forward, swords and guns raised!

"R."

Ye Qiong extended his left hand and released R, enveloping the surrounding area.

Everything appeared clearly in his mind, with nowhere to hide!

Ye Qiong vanished from where he stood with Teleportation. In the next instant, he appeared amid the pirates, kicking several down before launching into a flurry of punches.

In just a brief instant, several pirates were sent flying, rolling a long way across the ground.

Once Ye Qiong entered the pirate group, he was like a tiger among sheep. The battle was completely one-sided.

None of those pirate lackeys could withstand even a single exchange with him!

Before this, dealing with them would have taken some effort. But after gaining spatial abilities, taking care of them was simply far too easy.

With spatial Teleportation alone, the numerous pirates did not touch even Ye Qiong's sleeve throughout the entire fight.

An effortless crushing victory!

In the end, only Ye Qiong stood on the ground, his clothes spotless. The other pirates lay around him, unable to rise and groaning repeatedly.

The residents peeking from the surrounding streets were dumbstruck!

Who could have imagined that a child who appeared to be eleven or twelve possessed such strength?

"You, leave this place immediately!" Ye Qiong said coldly as he looked at the fallen pirates.

"Yes, yes..." How could those pirates dare linger? Supporting one another, limping or clutching their arms, they hurried away.

Ye Qiong was in a fairly good mood today and did not want to start slaughtering people in a residential street, so he had merely broken arms and legs without killing anyone.

This could count as killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.

After the pirates fled in panic, crowds poured back into the street, cheering as they headed toward Ye Qiong.

But as though he had anticipated it, Ye Qiong vanished using "Silver Flash."

Leaving behind a group of jubilant people.

"Silver Flash" activated, teleporting him behind Robin, only for him to discover that he had barged directly into Robin's room.

Unlike the rooms of other girls, it had no decoration at all: bare wood, a simple bed, and a wooden desk by the window piled with books.

"Ye Qiong, you're standing on my bed!" Robin had become accustomed to his sudden appearances, but she still slapped him in dissatisfaction.

"Oh, oh..." Ye Qiong took off his shoes.

Robin looked at him speechlessly. Who had allowed this bad guy onto her bed?!

Ye Qiong smiled, pulled her soft, petite body into his arms, and lay down on the bed.

You had always been alone. You must have been so lonely, Robin.

He thought of how, before meeting him, Robin had always quietly read alone. Her mother's departure at sea, the coldness of her uncle's family, and the bullying from the villagers—Robin had endured it all with a soft, warm heart. She must have been terribly lonely and sad.

Ye Qiong's heart ached slightly.

"Qiong, did you take care of them?" Robin did not resist. Blushing, she asked softly.

Sometimes, she liked calling him "Qiong" when they were alone.

"Mm." Ye Qiong nodded, closing his eyes and breathing in the faint floral scent of her hair.

"Qiong, you're not allowed to do anything bad," Robin whispered into his ear again.

What was this girl even thinking about?

Even if he wanted to do something, he would have to wait another ten years or so.

Ye Qiong patted her head. "Sleep for a while."

"Mm." Robin closed her eyes and buried her head in his warm embrace.

Not long after, the two of them drifted into sweet dreams.

A faint sense of happiness filled the simple room.

The next day, amid the rocks on the island's eastern shore.

Ye Qiong was bare-chested, carrying an even larger boulder than before on his back.

The blazing sun beat down, and sweat poured like rain.

He struggled forward step by step, but his heart was as firm as a rock, without the slightest wavering!

Stronger! Stronger! Stronger!

He shouted toward the sky! He marched toward the future!

Ye Qiong swore to overturn the original story!