The First Time Meeting Robin

"Who exactly are you? Why are you investigating the Poneglyph?"

Her voice was cool and clear, like an icy spring striking rock, scattering the silence of the secret chamber.

Robin appeared, slowly stepping out of the shadows, her gaze locked onto Lin Feng.

It was an inquisitive, wary scrutiny, as if she intended to see straight through Lin Feng's mind.

The air seemed stifled, and the atmosphere suddenly grew oppressive.

Bart tightened his grip on his sword hilt and watched Robin. The moment Lin Feng gave the word, he would immediately step forward and subdue the woman.

Lin Feng, however, remained unmoved. Instead, he turned around, the corners of his lips curving with interest.

He looked Robin up and down with keen interest, as though admiring a work of art.

He had to admit that Robin was indeed a beauty—mature, intelligent, and exuding a unique charm, like a rose blooming in the darkness, mysterious and dangerous.

"Yo, beautiful. You have such a lovely voice."

Lin Feng whistled, his tone frivolous and teasing. "What, are you interested in me?"

His deliberately flippant manner instantly shattered the solemn atmosphere Robin had created.

The corner of Bart's mouth twitched. Was his captain always like this? Had he changed too quickly?

A moment ago, he had seemed unfathomable. How had he suddenly become so frivolous?

Robin's brows drew together slightly. She clearly had not expected Lin Feng to react this way.

She had assumed that anyone capable of deciphering the Poneglyph would be a highly learned and serious scholar.

She had not expected the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates standing before her to be so... frivolous.

"Don't change the subject. Answer my question!"

Robin's voice remained cold, but a trace of displeasure had entered her tone. "Who exactly are you, and what is your purpose in approaching the Poneglyph?"

Her eyes remained fixed on Lin Feng, not missing the slightest change in his expression.

Robin had to know whether this man who had suddenly appeared was friend or foe—and what he intended to do with the Poneglyph.

Lin Feng withdrew his playful expression. His gaze grew deep, like a tranquil abyss that no one could see into.

"Oh? You recognized me?" he countered calmly, with an almost imperceptible hint of probing.

He wanted to find out how much Robin knew about him, as well as her true reason for approaching him.

Robin's gaze shifted slightly, and Lin Feng's question seemed to surprise her.

However, she did not evade it. Instead, she admitted frankly, "Naturally. You're Lin Feng, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' Sixteenth Division, a rising pirate who has recently made a name for himself, with a bounty of six hundred million Berries."

Robin slowly stated Lin Feng's identity in an even tone, as though merely recounting something ordinary.

Yet complicated emotions surged within her—surprise, curiosity, and even a barely perceptible trace of... anticipation?

Lin Feng raised his brows, and a smile once again appeared at the corners of his lips, tinged with self-mockery. "Looks like I'm fairly famous. Even a beauty like you has heard my name."

He once again revealed his slightly narcissistic and playful side, attempting to ease the atmosphere.

After all, it was hardly wise to remain at daggers drawn with a beautiful woman.

Besides, he had rather taken a liking to Robin.

Ignoring Lin Feng's teasing, Robin continued pressing the central question. "Why would someone from the Whitebeard Pirates be interested in the Poneglyph? And you can understand the ancient writing on it as well?"

Robin's question struck directly at the heart of the matter, highlighting what concerned her most. This was the true purpose behind her investigation: why Lin Feng had approached the Poneglyph.

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and gave Robin a meaningful look.

This woman was indeed meticulous. She had grasped the key point of the issue instantly.

The corners of Lin Feng's mouth lifted, revealing a confident smile.

"Of course I can read it. Otherwise, why would I have come here? Did you think I came here sightseeing?"

He walked toward the Poneglyph and gently brushed his fingertips over the ancient writing on the stone tablet, his tone carrying a hint of mystery.

"The Poneglyph is a treasure that records the truth of the world. No one would reject its allure, would they?"

Robin fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the truth of Lin Feng's words, before speaking again.

"What do you really want to obtain from the Poneglyph? The World Government will never allow anyone to decipher it. By doing this, you're making yourself an enemy of the world."

Lin Feng's expression hardened. He turned his head sharply, his gaze shooting toward Robin like a blade, his tone icy.

"The World Government? I've never cared about that rotten rule! What I want is the truth of the world—and freedom! The Poneglyph is the key!"

His voice was low and powerful, carrying an unquestionable force.

This was the first time Lin Feng had revealed part of his true purpose, though he had still retained an air of mystery.

He had not told the whole truth. His real goal was far more than merely learning about the erased history of the Void Century.

What Lin Feng wanted to do was change the structure of this world, perhaps even... overturn it entirely!

Robin was shaken by Lin Feng's sudden force. Her heart trembled, for she had not expected him to be so arrogant as to openly oppose the World Government.

At the same time, however, she sensed an unprecedented ambition and determination in his words.

Lin Feng softened his tone and once again revealed a smile, a trace of amusement in his expression.

"However, 'Demon Child,' I'm becoming more and more interested in you. You're so fixated on the Poneglyph. Could it be that you're doing this solely for the scholars of Ohara?"

There was a hint of probing in his tone. He wanted to uncover the secret buried deep within Robin's heart.

Robin's eyes flickered like the surface of a dark lake stirred by the wind. Her silence hung between them like a massive stone, heavy and oppressive.

Lin Feng's words seemed to touch the softest place in her heart. The memories of Ohara, a long-sealed painting, slowly unfurled before her.

The atmosphere inside the tomb grew heavy. The dim yellow light stretched the shadows of the two figures across the walls, twisting and intertwining like a silent battle of wits.

Their conversation was filled with probing and hidden currents, like two beasts cautiously testing one another while assessing each other's threats and intentions.

Robin thought of Ohara—that once lush and verdant island, overflowing with the fragrance of books. Now it had been reduced to scorched earth, leaving behind only endless sorrow and ruins.

She thought of her mother's dying wish. That gentle yet steadfast woman had entrusted her with the mission of deciphering the Poneglyph, hoping that she could uncover the truth buried beneath history.

A powerful longing surged within her, like a parched desert yearning for rain, like a lost traveler longing for a lighthouse.

She also remembered a prophecy she had seen in an ancient book. Those obscure and difficult words had been like a bolt of lightning, tearing across the sky of Robin's memories.

"A man dressed in strange garments will wield a black blade and cleave apart the historical truth buried by the world."

"Are you that man, Lin Feng?"

Robin murmured inwardly, her gaze once again settling on Lin Feng as she tried to find an answer in him.

The man before her matched the description in the prophecy so perfectly. Could he truly be the person destined to fulfill it?

After a moment, Robin murmured softly, her voice barely audible.

"Ohara..."

"It was a beautiful place. Unfortunately, it no longer exists."

Her voice carried a barely perceptible tremor—the longing for her homeland and the grief for the loved ones she had lost.

Lin Feng quietly watched Robin without saying a word. He knew that what Robin needed at that moment was not comfort, but someone willing to listen.

"My mother and the scholars of Ohara guarded the secrets of the Poneglyph with their lives, yet they were slaughtered by the World Government."

Tears glimmered in Robin's eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.

"They only wanted to know the truth. What did they do wrong?"

Her voice was filled with grief and indignation, like an injured beast letting out a low growl.

"Why does the World Government want to conceal history? What are they afraid of?"

Robin's gaze fell on Lin Feng once again. There was a trace of inquiry in her eyes, along with a hint of hope.

"Can you tell me the answer?"

Lin Feng looked at Robin, complicated emotions surging in his heart.

He knew about Robin's past and the mission she carried. He also knew about the pain and confusion in her heart.

"The truth is often cruel."

Lin Feng slowly spoke, his voice low and powerful. "But only by facing the truth can we find the direction forward."

He walked up to Robin and looked at her with a determined gaze.

"Believe me. We can uncover the truth of history."

Robin looked at Lin Feng. Surprise flashed through her eyes, followed by a glimmer of hope.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Lin Feng smiled, his expression carrying both confidence and sincerity.

"Because I'm someone who pursues the truth as well."

"And besides, I'm very interested in you, 'Demon Child.'"

There was a trace of teasing in Lin Feng's tone as he tried to ease the heavy atmosphere.

"You..."

Robin was caught off guard by Lin Feng's words and found herself at a loss for what to say.

"All right, enough with the 'you' and 'I.'"

Lin Feng cut her off, his tone relaxed and teasing. "We're 'accomplices' now."

He pointed at the surroundings of the tomb and continued, "This place is gloomy and sinister. It's hardly a good place for a conversation. Let's get outside first."

Robin looked around and also felt that they should not linger there. She nodded, agreeing to Lin Feng's suggestion.

Lin Feng and Bart led Robin out of the tomb, relying on their memory of the route they had taken to get there.