The lingering echo of the Golden Bell seemed to still drift among the clouds. The golden glow of the setting sun cast one last layer of warmth over the ancient bell tower.
At this moment, Luffy and Robin's attention was focused on the Poneglyph inscribed with ancient text.
Robin's slender fingers gently traced the cold stone surface as she deciphered it word by word. Her voice sounded particularly clear in the open space atop the bell tower. "I am the one who weaves history, existing alongside the chime of the great bell tower... The location of the ancient weapon with a god's name, Poseidon, is..."
"...Another location of an ancient weapon. Luffy, we read that Poneglyph in Alabasta. It mentioned the location of the ancient weapon Pluton, in a place called Wano Country in the New World. This one here is about Poseidon, the ancient weapon, located on Fish-Man Island."
Robin thought of Crocodile, the man who had schemed in Alabasta for years in pursuit of Pluton. It was a testament to the weapon's allure.
Possessing such a weapon must be a temptation for everyone on these seas, right?
The World Government would surely go mad if they learned of its location.
Robin paused, looking at Luffy with a searching gaze. "Luffy, are you truly not interested in the location of an ancient weapon?"
She observed his reaction closely.
A weapon bearing the name of a god symbolized destruction.
Like Pluton—a terrifying weapon said to be capable of wiping an island off the map with a single shot. Power rivaling a Buster Call, perhaps even more devastating.
"Hmm, not really interested." Luffy put his hands behind his head, his expression indifferent. "I'm looking for Poneglyphs... just because you want to know, Robin."
External power like that was unnecessary to Luffy.
True strength came from oneself. What use was a cannon that could destroy an island?
What do you do after firing that one shot?
Besides, enemies wouldn't just stand there and let you take aim.
After witnessing the giants' technique on Little Garden, Luffy knew that the power to destroy an island wasn't something beyond human capability.
Of course, Robin didn't know these thoughts of Luffy's.
But his words made her pause instinctively. Her dark pupils widened slightly as she looked into Luffy's eyes, pure and untainted by any ulterior motive. A warm current she hadn't anticipated crashed into her heart.
I'm doing this just for you.
In a choice between an ancient weapon and a single person, ninety-nine out of a hundred would choose the former, right?
And Luffy was that one percent.
Robin then chuckled softly. She reached out, a mixture of affection and mischief in her gesture, and gently pinched Luffy's rubbery cheek, pulling and stretching it.
"You, Luffy..."
"Mmrf, R'bin?"
Luffy's speech was garbled by the pinching. He instinctively tried to lean back, lowering his voice as he prepared to protest this sudden assault. However, Robin didn't stop. Instead, she leaned in closer, following his backward movement.
Luffy's back was against the cold, hard surface of the Golden Bell. There was nowhere to retreat.
Robin showed no intention of stopping her advance. As Luffy's head tilted back, she came even closer. Her flawlessly beautiful face filled his vision, growing larger until he could clearly count her long, thick eyelashes, feel her warm breath gently brushing his skin, the unique, fragrant scent of it flooding his nostrils.
What is she doing?
This woman is using her looks to bully me!
Alarm bells rang loudly in Luffy's mind.
And it was only this close that he truly realized for the first time that someone could be this beautiful.
Wasn't there a saying that distance creates beauty?
Robin had always been beautiful, but he'd never thought about it in this way before. He simply saw her as an important nakama.
And what did Robin think she was doing, pressing forward like this?
He was the captain, and a man who would be King of the Pirates!
So, steeling himself, he tried to regain his footing, his voice a bit tight. "You... you shouldn't do this."
In Luffy's mind, upon hearing this, Robin should stop. Then, perhaps with her usual inscrutable smile, she'd ask him why he shouldn't, and he'd seize that brief moment to catch his breath and push her away in one swift move!
Think you can do this?
It's not something you can just pay for!
I'm not Nami!
Who would have thought that, upon hearing this, Robin not only didn't retreat but tilted her head slightly, the corner of her lips curving into an even more playful smile as she countered, "And what, exactly, am I doing that I shouldn't?"
As she spoke, she elegantly lifted her other hand, pointing to a corner of the Poneglyph behind Luffy.
"There's another message here, left by someone else besides the historical text. I just wanted to point it out to you."
Luffy froze for a second. When he realized what was happening, his expression turned exasperated—he'd been played!
Robin wasn't doing what he thought at all; she was purely teasing him.
Robin watched the dramatic shift in Luffy's expression with an amused, knowing look, pressing her advantage. "So... what did you mean by what you just said?"
She continued on her own, suddenly reaching out. Her delicate fingers lightly pinched Luffy's chin, forcing him to look directly at her face, which had drawn close once more.
Seeing Luffy's rare mix of embarrassment and defiance, Robin couldn't help but let out a low, pleased chuckle from her throat.
She had been interested in Luffy from their first meeting. Later, she discovered he could read Poneglyphs just like her and possessed that near-miraculous learning ability.
Robin wanted to get closer and closer.
But now, she found herself enjoying this feeling of teasing Luffy more and more.
Watching him show expressions different from his usual ones because of her actions gave rise to an indescribable sense of satisfaction and intimacy.
Having spent so many years in the world of darkness, Robin had never experienced the feeling of being unconditionally cared for, of being brought under someone's wing for protection. But once she tasted that feeling with Luffy, it was like an addiction—impossible to resist, impossible to let go.
Just as Robin was admiring Luffy's flustered state, thinking the timing was about right and preparing to gracefully withdraw, she suddenly felt a strong arm wrap tightly around her waist!
She looked down, stunned.
She saw Luffy grinning at her with an extremely confident smile.
The next moment, before Robin could react, an irresistible force pulled her even closer.
Then, a kiss filled with heat and brashness was delivered right back to her!
The kiss was brief but full of declaration. Luffy soon released her, still smiling as he looked at the utterly stunned Robin, whose cheeks were now, for once, tinged with a faint blush.
***
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