Asriel Royal Palace.
Ginil, the bearded middle aged man from last night, sought out King Gallos early this morning and, invoking the authority of the World Government, compelled Gallos to agree to his proposal.
Furthermore, the royal decree would be delivered to Sagamia today.
Gallos felt extremely aggrieved.
The World Government was openly interfering in his country's internal affairs.
However, in response to Gallos's dissatisfaction, Ginil merely stated calmly that he could voice his objections at the next World Conference.
The King's order quickly reached Sagamia. Mayor Zelas, who had just returned, was so shocked upon receiving King Gallos's command that his jaw nearly dropped.
People from the World Government had actually gone directly to the King and forced him to issue an order to abandon Nico Robin.
He immediately contacted the King to confirm whether the matter was true. However, after speaking with him, he became even more unsettled, because it was indeed true.
Nico Robin, as a rare Devil Fruit ability user, was vital to his future plans, but now…
Since the King had already made his decision, he could no longer object, or even his position as Mayor might be at risk.
At that moment, he truly understood the weight of the World Government's authority.
The King of a dignified allied nation, faced with only a single CP agent sent by the World Government, could be made to comply without resistance.
"Isa, where is Nico Robin now?" Zelas asked the beautiful assistant standing beside him.
Isa raised her hand, fair as polished jade, adjusted her gold rimmed glasses, and replied in a calm, cool voice, "She contacted me this morning and said she has already arrived in Sagamia. She will come to see you at noon."
Zelas attempted to pull Isa onto his lap, but she nimbly avoided him.
"Mayor Zelas, please refrain from inappropriate behavior," Isa said coldly, her expression as aloof as ice.
Zelas did not seem bothered by her rejection.
He lightly inhaled the faint fragrance lingering in the air and said with a slightly intoxicated tone, "Isa, now that the World Government has set its sights on Nico Robin and the King has ordered me to abandon her, help me think. How can we extract the greatest benefit from this situation?"
"Hmm."
"Since we have no choice but to give up Nico Robin, a valuable asset, then we should make use of her final value."
"We can negotiate with those CP agents and, if possible, establish a working relationship with them. That way, once we enter the Grand Line, we will have some backing."
"I believe those agents will gladly accept such a proposal."
"Their most urgent objective right now is to take Nico Robin into custody. As long as we present a firm stance, I believe they will agree."
"However, we must first communicate with the King and inform him that we intend to cooperate with the CP agents. We should request that he refrain from publicly announcing Nico Robin's situation for the time being." Isa's analysis was methodical and precise.
"Hahahahaha."
"Excellent suggestion. I will contact the King immediately. Isa, make the necessary arrangements. When Nico Robin arrives at noon, detain her at once." Zelas laughed with satisfaction.
Isa then exited Zelas's office.
After leaving, she released a slow breath and a sharp glint appeared in her eyes. Regaining her composure, she began preparing the arrangements for noon.
As noon approached, Alvin finally arrived in Sagamia.
He successfully located Zelas's residence.
Zelas was well known here. After all, he had once been a mountain bandit with a bounty of 23,000,000 Berries. His brutal governance of Sagamia had caused great suffering among the citizens.
Therefore, locating his office was not difficult.
This time, Alvin applied subtle makeup, attached two fake beards, and changed into clothing that made him appear older and more mature.
He first booked a room at a nearby inn. This time, the proprietor was a middle aged man rather than a beautiful landlady.
After securing a room on the top floor, Alvin slipped quietly out through the window and onto the rooftop.
He then moved across the rooftops, drawing closer to the Mayor's office building. He needed to survey the surroundings in advance.
After infiltrating the Mayor's office building, Alvin cautiously observed the interior layout. On the third floor, while concealed inside a room, he noticed preparations underway.
Then he heard a woman's voice.
"When she arrives at noon, use overwhelming force to subdue her immediately. Do not give her any opportunity to resist."
…
Alvin had only grasped the general meaning when he heard approaching footsteps. He immediately withdrew from the office building and returned to the inn by the same route.
He replayed the information in his mind.
It seemed they were preparing to capture someone at noon. Who could require such elaborate planning to lure here before taking action?
Alvin shook his head and stopped overthinking it. He had come for Zelas's head, worth 23,000,000 Berries.
For now, gathering more information was more important. Alvin went downstairs without hesitation.
After scanning the street briefly,
he entered a bar directly opposite the Mayor's office building. This time, he ordered a glass of juice instead of alcohol.
The choice immediately drew ridicule from several patrons. In a bar, those who ordered juice were usually children.
With his height and appearance, Alvin looked like a grown man.
However, he ignored the comments and casually chatted with the bar owner.
Suddenly, Alvin's gaze shifted toward the entrance. He saw Nico Robin enter the Mayor's office building, and his brows immediately knitted together.
It was already noon, and the information he had overheard earlier mentioned preparations to capture someone at noon.
Could that person be Nico Robin?
But had she not already joined Zelas's organization?
Alvin sensed that something was wrong.
With that thought, he paid and left the bar. After returning to his room at the inn, he changed his disguise once more and headed toward the Mayor's office building.
----
Meanwhile, inside the Mayor's office building,
The ever vigilant Nico Robin did not go upstairs. The moment she stepped into the lobby, she sensed something amiss.
Upon learning that Nico Robin had not gone upstairs, Isa's fair brow furrowed. Had Robin already discerned their intentions?
Isa decided to go downstairs personally to lure her upward.
Although they could have acted on the first floor, it was too exposed. Therefore, only a limited number of personnel had been stationed there.
The guards on the first floor were meant solely to intercept Nico Robin in case she attempted to flee.
"Nico Robin, Mayor Zelas has been waiting for you," Isa called out as she descended and saw Robin preparing to leave.
Nico Robin cast Isa a deep look before continuing toward the exit.
"Stop." Isa's voice turned sharp.
In an instant, six armed guards stepped forward and blocked Nico Robin's path.
At the same time, reinforcements from upstairs rushed down.
However, Nico Robin had already prepared for such a scenario. She immediately activated the powers of the Hana Hana no Mi. In the blink of an eye, twelve arms sprouted from the bodies of the guards blocking her way.
"Dos Fleur: Twist."
"Ah."
Accompanied by a series of cracking sounds, twelve guards collapsed, incapacitated by Robin's technique.
Without hesitation, she dashed out of the Mayor's office building.
"Everyone, pursue her," Isa immediately commanded.
...
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