Nanohana harbor, dusk.
The Flame Emperor lay moored at the most secluded pier, Pier 3. Lin Yan had ordered everyone to keep a low profile. Isuka had taken a few crew members to buy supplies, while Ace trained his flame control on deck-Lin Yan's "Steam Cannon" that afternoon had spurred him on, and he had sworn to develop more refined techniques.
Chopper sorted medicinal ingredients in the cabin, while Tashigi wiped down Shigure-the battle that afternoon had once again changed her understanding of her own strength. So flames could be used like that. So combat was more than crossing blades.
Alone in the lookout, Lin Yan toyed with a small pinch of yellow sand collected from Crocodile's sandstorm. The grains flowed between his fingertips, but whenever he tried to infuse them with flames, they lost their vitality and became ordinary dust.
"Logia elementalization really does possess a unique kind of 'life,'" he murmured. "To fuse with the Sand-Sand Fruit template, I first have to understand the nature of this 'elemental life'..."
Just then, his ears twitched.
Extremely faint footsteps came from the shadows on the pier. Not an ordinary person, but someone with special training-light steps, long, steady breaths, each step landing in a blind spot.
Here they come.
Lin Yan stayed still, continuing to toy with the sand.
A few minutes later, a figure appeared on the Flame Emperor's deck like a ghost. She had neither used the gangway nor jumped aboard. It was as though she had simply "grown" out of the shadows.
She was a tall woman with long, dark purple hair and fair skin, wearing a black, form-fitting outfit beneath a dark cloak. Most striking were her eyes-deep and calm, as though they could see through every secret.
Nico Robin.
Baroque Works' vice president, codename "Miss All Sunday," and Ohara's last survivor.
Standing on deck, she swept her gaze over every detail of the ship: the Double D Flag, the flaming-fist figurehead, the well-trained crew on deck, and the black-haired young man in the lookout with his back to her.
"Good evening, Captain Flame Emperor," Robin said, her voice as calm as still water. "I hope an uninvited guest isn't too much of an intrusion?"
Only then did Lin Yan turn around. He jumped down from the lookout and landed three meters in front of Robin.
"Nico Robin, the Devil Child of Ohara." He spoke her full name. "Baroque Works' vice president. What brings you here so late at night?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Robin's eyes-it was no surprise that he knew her true identity. But his calm tone, that air of "I knew you would come," left her somewhat uneasy.
"I've come to propose a deal," Robin decided to get straight to the point. "Help me escape Crocodile's control, and I'll decipher Alabasta's Poneglyph for you."
"The Poneglyph?" Lin Yan raised an eyebrow. "How do you know I'm interested in that?"
"Because you're a D.," Robin said. "I've spent twenty years researching the Void Century, and every clue points to the D. Clan. You are the key to uncovering the truth of history, and the Poneglyphs are the keyholes."
A clever way to put it. She had both demonstrated her value and probed Lin Yan's intentions.
Rather than answer immediately, Lin Yan walked to the railing and looked toward Rainbase. "Crocodile is looking for Pluton, isn't he?"
Robin's pupils contracted slightly.
"There's no need to be surprised," Lin Yan continued. "A Shichibukai gives up competing in the New World, comes to the first half of the Grand Line to run a criminal organization, and goes to such lengths to overthrow a kingdom... other than an ancient weapon, I can't think of another reason."
"...You know a great deal."
"I know more than you imagine." Lin Yan turned and looked straight into Robin's eyes. "I know the truth behind Ohara's destruction. I know why Vice Admiral Saul betrayed the Navy to save you. I know what Dr. Clover said before he died-"
Robin began to tremble.
For the first time in twenty years, someone was speaking so calmly about Ohara in front of her. Not with fear, not with disgust, but... simply stating facts.
"What are you trying to say?" Her voice was a little dry.
"I'm saying you've come to the wrong person," Lin Yan said. "I'm not here to make a deal with you. I'm here to give you a choice."
"A choice?"
"First choice: keep following Crocodile, help him find Pluton, and then be silenced by him-don't tell me you haven't noticed. Crocodile has never trusted you. You're nothing more than his tool for deciphering Poneglyphs."
Robin fell silent. Of course she knew.
"Second choice: join my ship." Lin Yan pointed at the Double D Flag. "Become the Flame Emperor Pirates' historical adviser. Search for all the Poneglyphs with us and uncover the truth of the Void Century. And I'll guarantee your safety-whether it's the World Government or Crocodile, no one will be able to touch you."
"On what grounds?" Robin raised her head. "What makes you think you can guarantee that?"
"This."
Lin Yan extended his right hand, palm up. The next second, crimson-gold flames rose from his palm, and rows of twisting characters emerged within them-not modern writing, but Ancient Script!
Robin's eyes widened. "You... you can read Ancient Script?!"
"No." Lin Yan shook his head. "But my ability lets me 'reproduce' the forms of writing I've encountered. This came from a fragment of a stone tablet I found in the Drum Kingdom. I don't understand it, but you should be able to read it."
The fiery characters flickered before Robin's eyes:
[To the D. Clan eight hundred years hence: When the sun and flames converge once more, the bell of dawn shall toll...]
The rest of the writing was indistinct, but that opening line alone was already staggering.
"This is... a document from the Void Century!" Robin's voice trembled. "Where did you find it?!"
"That isn't important." Lin Yan withdrew the flames. "What matters is that I have the 'key' you need, and you have the 'lock' I need. This isn't a transaction. It's a partnership-we each get what we need and help each other succeed."
Robin sank into thought.
For twenty years, she had been fleeing, hiding, using others and being used in return. Crocodile was the most powerful "host" among them, but also the most dangerous. And this Flame Emperor...
"I need time to think," Robin finally said.
"Fine." Lin Yan nodded. "But before you decide, I can pay a 'deposit.'"
He pulled a Tone Dial from inside his clothes-Jinbe had given it to him, and it held Fisher Tiger's recollections of God Valley.
"This contains an account of 'the sun and the D. flag,' as well as the story of a woman whose entire body burned with golden flames." Lin Yan handed Robin the Tone Dial. "I think you'll be interested."
Robin took the Tone Dial, her fingers trembling slightly.
The sun and the D. flag... a woman with golden flames...
These clues, together with the fragments she had gathered over the years, seemed capable of piecing together some astonishing truth.
"I'll give you my answer tomorrow night." Robin put away the Tone Dial, her figure beginning to merge into the shadows. "Also... be careful of Crocodile. He's already contacted the Navy. He plans to have them deal with you under the pretext of 'pirates attacking an affiliated nation.'"
"Thanks for the warning."
Robin vanished as though she had never been there.
Lin Yan stood where he was, a slight smile curling his lips.
[Ding-] [Target contacted: Nico Robin (Flower-Flower Fruit user)] [In-depth exchange achieved. Beginning template extraction...] [Acquired: Flower-Flower Fruit template (fragment)] [Completeness: 30%] [Ability analysis: Can grow body parts within the user's field of vision for manipulation, restraint, reconnaissance, and other uses] [Available fusion option: Fuse with Flame Emperor Body → "Thousand-Armed Flame Buddha" (flames can split into countless arms to launch multiple attacks)] [Store temporarily]
The system notifications arrived right on cue.
Lin Yan chose to store it temporarily. The Flower-Flower Fruit's ability was useful, but there was no need to rush everything at once. Once Robin officially joined the ship and they had more in-depth contact, its completeness would naturally increase.
He turned toward the cabin, ready to rest.
But just as he reached the cabin door, he heard a faint noise from the other end of the deck.
It was Tashigi.
She was hiding behind the mast and had clearly witnessed the entire exchange. Her face was somewhat pale, and the hand gripping Shigure trembled.
"Come out," Lin Yan said.
Tashigi hesitated, then stepped out. "C-Captain... that woman is the Devil Child of Ohara... a major criminal wanted by the World Government..."
"So?" Lin Yan looked at her. "You think I shouldn't have any contact with her?"
"I..." Tashigi was at a loss for words.
"Tashigi, let me ask you something." Lin Yan walked up to her. "If one day you discovered that the World Government had been lying all along, that the 'justice' the Navy upheld was actually built on lies... what would you do?"
"Impossible!" Tashigi instinctively argued. "The Navy exists to protect civilians-"
"Protect civilians?" Lin Yan interrupted. "What about Ohara's scholars? All they did was study history. They had no weapons and offered no resistance, yet they were completely wiped out by a Buster Call. Is that what you call 'protection'?"
Tashigi opened her mouth but could not speak. She had heard of the Ohara Incident, but the official account was that "the scholars studied forbidden history and plotted to overthrow the World Government." She had never questioned that account.
"Investigate it yourself." Lin Yan patted her shoulder. "See with your own eyes. Think with your own mind. If you still think I'm wrong after investigating, you can leave whenever you like."
With that, he entered the cabin.
On deck, Tashigi stood alone in the moonlight, the night breeze tousling her short hair.
She looked down at Shigure in her hand. The blade reflected her bewildered face.
"What... is justice, really?"
No one answered.
There was only the sound of the tide, wave after wave.
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