"It's not like you can actively predict what happens for beings who reach our stage. I gave you the mana as a thanks for that in a way. If I wanted to, I could've stopped it when you repaired Robin's world. The extra you took to stabilize your universe after that fight is something I overlooked on purpose." Adam said.
"Thanks for that. It would've run my reserves low, leaving the world vulnerable. But still, I don't think I can be friends with you anymore. What you did violated my principle." The administrator folded his arms and leaned against the terminal. "Today or later, I will get back at you."
"Well… do as you wish, with the consequences in mind." Adam shook his head before summoning the door to his shop. "Then, until next time."
The administrator saw him walk through the door and turned back to the terminal.
"I said that, but I don't have the power to get back at him." He muttered. A flash of light in his eyes. "Although I hate to say it, he played me well this time."
Time seemed to come at a pause as the Administrator started to think. Years passed, but not even a day would pass in the world below because of the disconnect between the places. He stood there, thinking. This was the first time he had used his brain to this extent, he did all that just to find a way to get his revenge.
Soon, two images floated on the terminal. Two women, both had long black hair and otherworldly beauty compared to the rest.
Nico Robin and Boa Hancock. One rocked on a hammock in her cabin reading a book, while the other looked out the window of her bedroom with a dreamy expression. They were in different places, in different situations, doing different things, however, their minds thought of the same person.
"Adam… I have decided. This will be my revenge, Hihihi!" The threads of destiny belonging to these women started to entangle.
Unlike the edge of the universe, time followed naturally in the world below.
The week had passed since the incident at Mary Geoise, and a new morning arrived, and with it came a bird delivering papers to everyone. It didn't matter if they were marines, pirates, nobles, or peasants. Everyone in the world received the news, the news of the changes that had happened in their world.
In a ship rocking along the gentle waves of the ocean. A ragtag group of pirates were making their journey to the next island. The navigator of this group had recently joined them, thus needed some time to get used to hubbub of the ship.
"Here's your Super Special, made with Extra Pure Love, Breakfast Set, Nami-Chwan~~!!!" The ship's chef, Sanji, pushed the cart on the deck twirling like a ballerina.
The woman he was catering to was their new navigator. She had a harsh beauty about her with her long orange locks and clothes that showed her maturing curves.
Normally, she'd throw a bone to Sanji so he keeps a good attitude, but today was different. Without even glancing at the food, she rushed to the cabins.
"Robin!" Inside the cabin she shared with her long-time boss, she shouted with the newspaper in hand.
"What's got you so out of whack this early?" Robin asked, her voice gentle.
"Look at this!" Nami showed her the wanted poster that came with the newspaper.
"…" Robin fell silent for a moment before a smile broke out on her stern face.
The familiar poster she had been seeing for years now hadn't changed. The picture of the white-haired man remained the same, but the number at the end had changed.
"10 billion berry… I didn't expect his bounty to rise that much." Nami felt a headache rising.
"It is to be expected after what he had done." Robin wasn't surprised in the slightest, her information network had an impressive reach even with the Marine's effort to hide the big news.
"Going against the World Government isn't something to be taken lightly." Nami grumbled.
"Going against it? He already destroyed them from the looks of it, marines have locked down the area around the Holy Land and the slaves taken by the Celestial Dragons have all returned home, their wounds healed." Robin smiled, a sense of pride in her eyes.
"Boss… getting in touch with him will spell disaster." Nami had to stress this like never before.
"You are free to leave if you want Nami, I won't be stopping till I meet him." Robin kept the bounty poster in her suitcase, carefully placing it in a book so it doesn't crumble. "I finally have a solid lead on his whereabouts."
"…So, that's why you joined this crew in Alabasta while making me enter in from Cocoyashi?" Nami's voice turned serious.
"Yes. If you want to leave you can." Robin said again.
"Boss you are a cruel one. How can you say that after we've been through so much over the years?" Nami said in a sincere tone.
"If it weren't for the contract, you would've run away years ago." Robin didn't fall for it though.
"W-Well, let's go and have breakfast, Sanji made it for us." Nami tried to get off the topic before something happened, but Robin didn't say much and the two arrived on deck.
"That meat is delicious make me more of it." Luffy, the captain, said while Sanji violently shook him by the shoulders.
"Damn you Luffy! That was for Nami-Chwan! How can you eat that? I warned you?!" Sanji howled.
"Stop ruining my sleep, it is not like you can make Luffy cough the meat up!" Zoro, the swordsman, held his head as the hangover from yesterday night's drinking hit him hard.
"You shut up Mosshead! If it's for Nami-Chwan I can make him cough up everything!" Sanji roared.
"The meat's already digested, that's why I asked for more." Luffy said still subjected to violent motions.
"Luffy stop making it worse." Ussop said from the side.
"Seriously what a rowdy bunch." Nami said leaning against the doorframe.
"It doesn't matter to me as long I find him." Robin turned to Nami, her voice serious and without a hint of deception. "I can void the contract we made that day and you can have full access to your share of the money we gathered over the years."
"…Why so suddenly?" Nami shrunk at that.
"Well, I don't want to bring you along a journey you want no part in by force. He wouldn't like that after all." Robin held out a bundle of parchment paper, each full of words and her signs at the end. "I completed everything last night, so if you want you can go back to Cocoyashi village. I am sure your mother and sister would be happy to have you back so early, and with three billion berries in savings you can live easy while tending to the tangerine grove."
Nami held the papers in hand. The sign and content, everything was genuine. If she wanted, she could really return and kick back, finally enjoying the riches she had worked for. However, this didn't give her any joy, she was happy but not to the extent of her original expectation.
"I… do want to meet him once. I want to thank him for his help." Nami said, holding the papers.
The main reason she started working with Robin was to meet Adam through her. He had saved her village from a great disaster. Although she had some strong opinions about him as a child, deep down she knew what he had done for them.
"Then, I guess you are coming along with me." Robin smiled at her, already knowing this would happen.
"…You really are a cruel boss." Nami laughed for a moment before looking at the papers, her eyes turned serious as she hid the stack behind her. "Just so you know I won't give this back."
"I am not that cruel, you know?" Robin's face stayed still.
But soon her eyes landed on the crew below. They were still fighting, yet it felt harmonious. They didn't look like the typical pirates either. Each one of them was unique in their own ways, and the only thing pirate-esque about them was the term, Pirate.
'They are the key to meeting him, I don't know how but that is the only lead I have so far.' Robin looked at the sky, still wearing the white dress she got as gift.
Just like her, it had grown over the years to fit her. It was the only proof she had of her bond with him, so she never parted with it.
'I wonder if he is still running that shop of his… it was a cozy place.' Robin smiled, looking forward to visiting that place again and eating with him.
***