Ash had already seen through Nico Robin's disguise.
A girl who had been running from the world since the age of eight, hiding in the shadows to escape the Marines and bounty hunters, surviving by trusting no one, would never walk blindly into a place like Twin Capes. Everyone in the Four Seas knew the area was controlled by bounty hunters.
"You came here for me," Ash said calmly. "I'm not wrong, am I?"
Robin let out a quiet sigh. Her shoulders relaxed slightly as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and looked straight at him.
"Ash, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Anyone who pays attention to the seas would know your name," she replied. "But I didn't know you were here. I never expected to meet someone like you in person."
Ash gave a small cough and shifted his posture, silently telling her to continue.
Now that her disguise had been dropped, Robin appeared calm. She had no choice but to stay calm.
She had originally expected to face nothing more than a powerful group of bounty hunters. Even if they could not reach an agreement, she believed she would at least have a chance to escape.
But the situation had changed completely. The bounty hunters she expected turned out to be connected to one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Running was no longer an option. At the same time, Ash did not seem hostile toward her. Thinking about his reputation, Robin gradually steadied herself.
If he was willing to talk, then she would talk.
After fifteen years of living on the run, Robin had mastered the art of reading people. If there was even the smallest chance to survive, she would take it.
She did not sit across from Ash. Instead, she remained standing, showing respect to someone far stronger than herself.
"Before coming to the Grand Line, I investigated everything about the bounty hunters at Twin Capes," she said. "I learned that they only hunt pirates. They do not harm civilians, and they even drove away two pirate crews who had bounties but had not committed any real crimes. Only after confirming this did I decide to come here."
"I admit I was gambling. I did consider relying on the bounty hunters here. But I never imagined that the group at Twin Capes belonged to you."
She paused, then continued firmly.
"I know my own strength. I would never approach a major figure like a Shichibukai on purpose. That would be madness."
Her tone was steady, but the meaning behind her words was clear. She was trying to reduce any hostility Ash might have toward her, repeatedly making it clear that she had no intention of plotting against him.
Ash understood exactly what she was doing, and he almost laughed. In the original timeline, she would soon work with Crocodile. When survival itself was already difficult, she still risked everything for the sake of the poneglyphs. That was far more reckless than this.
Ash disliked speaking in riddles, and his current strength allowed him to be direct.
After thinking for a moment, he spoke.
"Nico Robin, the sole survivor of Ohara. I know far more about you than you think."
The moment those words were spoken, Robin's heart froze.
The reason she was hunted was not only her bounty. It was because she was the last survivor of Ohara. Hearing Ash casually reveal the truth that she had tried to hide for fifteen years instantly filled her with fear.
Then Ash continued.
"You don't need to worry about your safety. Hunting bounties is only a side job for my crew. Your seventy nine million Berries means nothing to me."
"I also do not believe everything the World Government says is right. For example, the Buster Call that destroyed Ohara."
Robin's eyes widened slightly.
Ash continued in a calm tone.
"I don't believe searching for the truth of history is wrong. Everyone has the right to know the truth. But trying to uncover that truth while having no power to protect yourself is a mistake."
"I'm not someone who worships power alone. But the reality is simple. If you want to protect something, you need strength. Otherwise, anyone can take it away from you."
He looked at her for a moment before speaking again.
"Think about it carefully. You can stay here for now. If you need anything, you can ask Sali."
Ash smiled faintly.
"You already figured out most of the people here before I arrived, so I don't need to explain who he is. Just remember one thing. As long as you stay here, you are safe."
Ash stood up and stretched, then looked back at Robin.
"Before I go, I'll tell you two things that might make you happy. First, the man who saved you fifteen years ago, Jaguar D. Saul, is not dead. Second, I know the locations of most of the poneglyphs you're searching for. I even have one in my possession. It still has Gol D. Roger's words carved into it. If you're interested, ask Sali to show it to you later."
Robin stood there in shock, unable to say a word.
Ignoring her stunned expression, Ash left Twin Capes and returned to Gourmet Island to continue his own training.
Surprisingly, Robin did not resist staying behind.
Time passed quickly, and before anyone noticed, the sea calendar reached June 10th, 1517.
After half a year of sailing around West Blue, Nami finally completed a full map of the entire sea. Soon after, the Dawn Ship crossed the Calm Belt and headed toward North Blue.
When the ship reached the northwestern Calm Belt, they unexpectedly encountered a ship from Amazon Lily.
Youki and the others were confused. The Kuja pirates usually stayed in the Calm Belt near Paradise. No one understood why they had come all the way here.
Fortunately, the Dawn Ship had already gained a powerful reputation. The Kuja ship did not make any reckless moves. Pini and Youki also kept their distance because the Kuja pirates were still connected to a current Shichibukai.
Both ships simply passed each other in silence.
While everything was calm aboard the Dawn Ship, something far more explosive happened at Twin Capes.
June 15th.
Crocodile, the Sand Human of Alabasta, suddenly had a wild idea. He traveled across the sea and arrived at Twin Capes, intending to recruit Sali and his group.
Of course, it was nothing more than a foolish dream.
Because Crocodile was still one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Sali and the others could not simply kill him. What Crocodile did not realize was that his title had just saved him from a brutal beating.
Over the past two months, Pini and Youki had frequently traveled between the Dawn Ship and Twin Capes. After countless sparring sessions, Sali and the others had already begun to master advanced Armament Haki. They were even starting to understand how to release their Haki outward and damage an opponent internally.
Since they could not kill Crocodile, using him as a training partner was the next best thing.
And so, the battle began.
Crocodile attacked first, filling the air with sand and trying to turn the entire battlefield into a desert.
Sali instantly grew furious.
He could tolerate a fight, but he would not allow someone to destroy the place he lived in.
Before the sand could spread, a thick layer of ice suddenly covered the ground, stopping the desert from forming.
Crocodile immediately launched a Desert Spada.
Sali responded with a thunderous strike.
Another Desert Spada followed.
This time Sali countered with an ice spear thrust.
After several exchanges, Sali realized something.
Crocodile kept using the same few attacks over and over again.
Was this supposed to be a Shichibukai?
Anger flashed in his eyes. He stopped relying on his Devil Fruit power, entered his semi beast form to increase his strength and speed, and used Observation Haki to instantly close the distance.
The next moment, a single Ryuo infused punch slammed directly into Crocodile's body.
Crocodile was knocked to the ground.
Both men were stunned.
Crocodile was shocked because he never expected to meet someone this powerful in Paradise. A suspected Mythical Zoan user, someone who possessed both Observation and Armament Haki, and someone whose Haki was incredibly fierce.
Sali was stunned for a completely different reason.
He had not expected Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, to be this weak.
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