Ryan was briefly stunned by Enel's words.
They'd already found them? That fast?
Just moments after stepping foot onto the Sabaody Archipelago, Enel had spread his Observation Haki across the entire area, pinpointing Robin's location with frightening precision.
Ryan couldn't help but feel a wave of awe.
"Are they in danger right now?" Ryan asked.
"Danger? No, no — not at all. In fact, they're still quite lively!" Enel said with a grin, though his expression turned dark as he finished, "But give it a little while… who knows what might happen."
"Since there's no immediate danger, go to His Majesty first. Report Robin's situation and wait for his orders," Ryan instructed.
"And what about those… slavers?" Enel asked, a flicker of eagerness in his tone.
"Leave them to Wiper and the others. This is His Majesty's test for the reserve troops. If you get involved, there'd be no point in calling it a test."
"Tch… so I really was just here to find them. I wanted a real fight," Enel muttered.
"To you, those slavers are nothing but shrimp. What's the fun in stomping shrimp?" Ryan replied calmly.
"Exactly," Wiper said, stepping forward. "Those shrimp are ours. You go protect His Majesty."
His words were cold, but as he walked out, a faint, almost sinister smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"We're counting on you to guard His Majesty," a burly Skypiean said, clapping Enel on the shoulder with a grin before following Wiper out.
One by one, the other reserve members clapped Enel on the shoulder as they passed.
"Relax. We'll take care of the shrimp. You won't need to lift a finger."
"Hey! Wait — I want to fight too! At least leave me a few!" Enel shouted after them.
"Enough. Go to His Majesty," Ryan said sharply. "This won't be resolved so easily. His Majesty is furious — you want a battle? Stay by his side. That's where the real action will be. When the time comes, you'd better be strong enough to keep up — or you'll just be a spectator."
"You sure about that?" Enel narrowed his eyes, staring at Ryan.
"Who knows? All I can tell you is that His Majesty is very, very angry. His face may look calm, but beneath the surface, it's like a volcano ready to erupt. He's itching to make an example of someone — to send a message to everyone who dares target the Grey Kingdom or Robin."
A bead of sweat rolled down Ryan's forehead under Enel's piercing gaze.
"Good. Then I'll go at once!" Enel said.
With a flash of blinding lightning, he vanished before Ryan's eyes.
"Terrifying… the power of a Logia truly is unfair," Ryan muttered, his face set with determination. "In just a single year, he's grown so strong he puts pressure on even me. I can't afford to slack off."
…
In the lawless district, Rosinante was moving quickly, gathering intel on Robin's whereabouts.
Suddenly, he froze mid-step.
A bolt of lightning struck the ground before him, and Enel appeared in a flash of crackling energy.
"Your Majesty!" Enel saluted sharply.
"Where are Robin and the others?" Rosinante asked immediately.
He knew exactly what Enel was capable of when combining Observation Haki with his thunder fruit — it was monstrous.
In the original timeline, Enel could monitor every single movement across all of Skypiea.
In this life, Rosinante had personally guided Enel, helping him develop his abilities based on what Rosinante remembered of Enel's future potential.
He was fully aware that the moment Enel had set foot on Sabaody, every sound, every heartbeat across the islands had already been recorded in his mind.
"They're not far — right over there, in the zone marked '1.' They're not in immediate danger, but…" Enel's tone darkened, "they've been collared with explosive shackles. If they try to break free, the bombs will detonate automatically."
Enel hadn't forgotten his mission. From the instant he arrived, he had released his Observation Haki, fusing it with electromagnetic waves to sweep through the archipelago.
He had been born with awakened Observation Haki, and after joining the Bloodsworn Guard, he had trained extensively in the Guard's "Heart-Net Technique," sharpening it even further.
Then he ate the Goro Goro no Mi. With lightning amplifying his senses, his Observation Haki had reached an entirely new level.
In the world of One Piece, when it came to sheer range and precision, there was likely no one who could match Enel's Observation Haki.
He could monitor every corner of Sabaody in an instant.
And if someone's emotions flared too strongly, he could literally "hear" their thoughts through the electromagnetic pulses in their body — the terrifying power of the Goro Goro no Mi. Not only did it grant one of the deadliest offensive powers in existence, it also allowed Enel to peer into the very hearts of men.
It was through this "heart-net" that Enel had caught someone in Grove 1 whispering the name "Nico Robin." He traced the soundwaves, built a mental image using electrical mapping — and saw everything.
In Enel's mind's eye, Robin had already regained consciousness.
A splash of cold water had jolted her awake.
She found herself bound, stuffed inside a sack. Panic flared in her chest as she struggled to break free.
"Let me go! Who are you people? Why are you taking us?" Robin shouted, fighting against the ropes.
"See? Still full of life," Kela said with a grin, speaking to the man in charge of Human Auction House No. 1.
"Good. If she were dead, her value would plummet," the auction master said coldly. "Someone who can read the Poneglyphs is incredibly rare. The major powers are desperate to learn what those stones really say. Mystery draws curiosity — and Nico Robin is the key. Put her on the block, and we'll get an astronomical price."
"An auction?!" Robin's eyes widened in shock. "This is… a slave auction!"
"That's right, little Robin," the man sneered. "And you, my dear, are going to fetch a very high price."
"No! Absolutely not! You villains!" Robin shouted angrily.
She gritted her teeth and activated her Devil Fruit power.
Small hands bloomed from nowhere, reaching desperately for the ropes binding her body — trying to break free!