"Have you seen this person?"
Ian paused, his gaze unfazed at the familiar figure before him, as if he had been mentally prepared for his appearance.
One of the three admirals from the Marine Headquarters, Kuzan, better known by his alias, Aokiji.
Still, Ian made no move, showed no expression. He only glanced at Kuzan, then at the photo in his hand while frowning slightly.
The photo showed a lovely little girl with shoulder-length black hair. She leaned sideways, seemingly contemplating something; in her eyes was a trace of loneliness and sorrow.
Nico Robin, a major wanted criminal of the World Government, known as the Devil Child.
The very same Robin who was now his wife, only as a child.
As Ian stared at the photo with a slight frown, Kuzan, holding the photo, observed him with a lazy expression, a hint of interest on his lips, as if curious about his next choice.
Does this guy know the Devil Child's identity?
If he doesn't, what will he do?
If he does, what would he choose?
Pretend not to know her?
Or does he know her, but still fiercely protect the Devil Child or sell her out without hesitation?
What choice will this retired Lieutenant make?
Just as Kuzan waited...
"I don't know her!"
A flat voice came from the other side.
He finally made his choice.
"…"
So he chose, don't know her, huh?
Kuzan's eyelids twitched, a mixture of emotion and regret filling his heart.
But before he could say anything, the hand clutching the photo trembled slightly.
The photo was snatched away by the guy across from him. He blew on it, seemingly to clear away the invisible dust, and then put it close to his body.
Kuzan: "…"
A stunned look appeared on Kuzan's face.
What is this guy doing?
Doesn't he know her?
If he doesn't know her, why would he try to snatch her photo?
"You're already an old man, and yet you're still carrying around a picture of a little girl? Aren't you afraid of being misunderstood?"
Ian said expressionlessly while tucking the picture close to his body.
"I'll put it away for you. Don't do it again next time. If there's nothing else, I'll leave first. My wife is waiting for me at home for dinner."
You're kidding! This is his wife's childhood photo. He has seen it all, so why wouldn't he keep it with him?
Kuzan: "..."
Hearing Ian's words, Kuzan's face suddenly turned dark. He raised his trembling hand, and he looked at the guy who had snatched the photo and acted as if nothing had happened.
The initial temptation, regret, curiosity, and anticipation in his heart all vanished in that moment.
[My wife is waiting for me at home for dinner?]
Shameless!
He had never expected that after pretending not to know him, this guy would be so brazen.
It shattered all the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
This guy was definitely doing it on purpose!
But it didn't matter. For him, the final outcome would remain the same.
"Wait a minute."
Kuzan exuded a bone-chilling cold from head to toe, his face also showing an icy expression, though his tone remained lazy as he said: "You stole my stuff, and you're just going to leave like that? Retired Marine."
"My name is Ian, not some retired marine."
However, facing the icy chill that hit him, Ian remained unfazed. He paused and looked at Kuzan, who was staring at him expressionlessly. "And you said this is yours?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Kuzan, who had been radiating a bone-chilling cold, suddenly lost the coldness on his face.
Instead, he looked at Ian with interest. "Interesting. Do you actually know or don't know? Looking at you, it seems like you already guessed I was planning to beat you up."
"I don't know."
Nonsense! He didn't appear in front of Robin, but only after he had come out to train alone.
And when he arrived at the back mountain, his Observation Haki had already detected a figure.
This guy didn't try to conceal his whereabouts at all. So, either he was testing his choice, or… he simply wanted to give him a beating.
But now it seems this bastard wanted both to test him and to give me a beating!
Of course, Ian didn't care, treating it like he was meeting his father-in-law.
It's natural to be angry when a pig eats the cabbage he had secretly raised.
Neither of them mentioned Robin's name.
Kuzan used the excuse that the photo had been stolen, and Ian pretended he had never seen the Devil Child.
For a moment, the two of them stared at each other, a sharp yet unique aura emanating from them.
Ian dropped his clothes and once again bared his torso, while Kuzan's face remained brimming with interest.
"You are no match for me."
Kuzan put his hands on his hips while the cold wave emanated from him again: "But I have to say..."
His tone shifted, filled with chilling menace: "You guessed right. I did come to beat you up, a scum who tricked an amnesiac woman into marriage."
As soon as he finished speaking, a biting coldness spread towards Ian, who was holding a one-handed ax opposite him. Everything in his path was frozen and turned into a cold and ferocious ice cone.
But just as the cold was about to reach Ian's feet, suddenly…
"Wait a minute."
Ian barked out.
And for some reason, Kuzan was also very obedient. He stopped the spreading ice, looked at Ian, and said lazily: "Boy, it's too late to ask for mercy now."
"Who's begging for mercy?"
Ian replied, and under Kuzan's confused eyes, he took out a Devil Fruit, which was the Devil Fruit he obtained from the Giant Bear Pirates last time.
When Ian revealed the Devil Fruit, its pale-green skin reflected the sunset's afterglow, making it shine with a faint light.
But Ian ignored it, and right in front of Kuzan, he took a bite expressionlessly, his brow furrowing slightly.
How unpalatable!
But he swallowed it anyway. As he consumed the Devil Fruit, the sunlight that had been bathing Ian seemed to be absorbed by him, causing him to radiate a faint glow.
At that moment, the fatigue from his training instantly vanished, and he felt revitalized.
No, more accurately… Ian could sense that his condition was several times better than before.
He raised the axe single-handedly and faced Kuzan head-on as he said calmly: "We can begin now."
Meanwhile, in Sibia Village.
"Then we will build the factory here!"
Village Chief Martin said excitedly while gazing at the open space before him.
Then he looked up at the setting sun. "It's getting late, Robin. You should go home and rest. You have been busy all day. We will talk tomorrow if anything's needed."
He added with resignation: "If Ian knew you had been so busy, he would be furious."
After hearing Village Chief Martin's words, Robin, who was surveying the terrain, couldn't help but smile in relief.
She nodded and said: "Then I'll go back first, Village Chief Martin. I'll come back tomorrow."
"Go on! Coming late tomorrow is fine too. I figure that brat should be back by now anyway."
As Village Chief Martin finished speaking, Robin packed her things. But as she turned to head home, she seemed to sense something and glanced involuntarily to the side.
The bright smile on her face vanished instantly, and she stared intently at the mountain behind him, her eyes filled with confusion and fear, as something seemed to pop up in her mind.
Village Chief Martin, standing nearby, seemed to notice as well. He glanced over there, puzzled.
Seeing the white mist swirling in the sky behind the mountain, he was startled. "Is winter coming?"
He glanced at Robin, who was still staring blankly at the mountain, and with a helpless smile, he soothed her: "Don't worry about Ian. It's just a cold wave. That brat won't be beaten by something like that. He is probably already home. You should hurry back, too!"
"Hmm!"
Robin came to her senses after hearing Village Chief Martin's words, but she still nodded gently and smiled, though it was tinged with a hint of bitterness and worry.
"My husband won't be in trouble. Maybe he's already waiting for me. I'll go home first."
Without hesitation, she turned and headed home. But her stumbling back still betrayed worry, causing Village Chief Martin to shake his head and sigh: "What a loving couple!"