Don raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his eyes, as he took the newspaper from Robin's hands.
"What? Did I get a bounty?"
"How could that be? You're not a pirate."
Robin smiled softly, sitting down beside Don. She lifted her finger and pointed at the front page of the World Economy News.
"Look. Isn't that you?"
On the page was a blurry side profile of Don.
To strangers, it might not have been recognizable, but anyone familiar with him would know at a glance. Besides, the article was clearly about his fight with Chinjao.
"There's even a photo of you!"
Don skimmed the paper, but seeing it wasn't a bounty poster, he quickly lost interest. What caught his attention instead was that in the aerial shot, Robin's figure also appeared.
Of course, it was only her back, taken from above, with her hood drawn up—her face completely hidden.
"This shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Robin froze for a moment at his words, then smiled faintly.
Though she had relaxed quite a lot traveling with Don, the shadow of pursuit that had always hung over her was not something she could easily forget.
"I may dislike the World Government, but… I have to admit, controlling the Marines makes their influence enormous."
Don set the newspaper down and glanced at her expression, then patted her shoulder.
"What do you mean?"
Robin blinked, not quite grasping his point.
"If the World Government truly wanted to capture you, there's no way you could have hidden in the West Blue for this long."
Seeing her fall silent in thought, Don chuckled and slipped an arm around her.
"So in the World Government's eyes, you might not be as important as you think. Your bounty poster may bear their seal, but perhaps only certain individuals are still interested in you."
Feeling his arm rest gently across her shoulder, Robin nodded slowly.
"I think I know who it is now."
She recalled that World Government officer who, back in Ohara, had tried to seize her mother.
"Spandine…" Robin whispered the name.
"A World Government officer—head of CP9. Though by now, it might be his son."
Don sifted through the information he knew. Robin's bounty had been issued under Spandine's orders, a ploy to capture the survivor of Ohara and earn merit.
But after the Ohara Incident, Spandine had vanished from sight. His position had passed to his son, Spandam—the very mask-wearing man who later tried to use Robin for his own glory at Enies Lobby.
"Even so, he's still a high-ranking World Government official."
Robin sighed, her mood turning heavy.
"This sea is vast, and the Grand Line is even bigger. Once we finish matters here in the North Blue, let's set sail for the Grand Line."
Don's tone carried quiet confidence.
He was someone who valued stability.
Back in Shimotsuki Village, when he had answered Koushirou, it was the same—he simply wanted to live safely in this world.
Now that his strength was enough not only to protect himself but to overflow beyond that, pursuing greater ventures was not impossible.
Even before he crossed into this world, Don had been the kind of man who liked to travel, to plan trips, to see new cultures.
And this—this was a world of pure fantasy, one he longed to explore.
"Then I'll be in your care from now on."
Robin tilted her head, gazing at Don's profile with a smile.
"No problem. But right now… I think the World Government has other things to worry about besides you."
Picking up the newspaper again, Don pointed to an article.
"'The Water 7 sea train route has officially opened and begun operation'?"
Robin leaned closer to read where he pointed, softly repeating the headline.
"It does seem important… but what are you implying?"
Don smiled at her puzzled look.
If Spandam's long-term plan had been to capture Robin, then the opening of the sea train was something far more critical.
Because tied to it was the matter of the Pluton blueprints.
This was enough to draw most of Spandam's focus—after all, he himself was stationed there.
"The blueprint of an Ancient Weapon has caught the World Government's attention."
Ancient Weapon?
As a historian, Robin was naturally familiar with the term. Legends of such things had always circulated widely.
"Could it be… Pluton?"
"That's right."
"No wonder… If it's that, then it makes sense."
Robin spoke, though curiosity flickered in her eyes. How did Don, here in the West Blue, know of this?
After all, nothing of this appeared in the paper.
"You… aren't involved with this, are you?"
Her eyes narrowed, suspicion tinged with concern.
"No. I've no interest in Ancient Weapons. They say Pluton's cannons could destroy an island with a single shot—but to the true powers of this sea, such destruction isn't difficult.
Pluton is nothing more than a weapon the World Government covets as a tool of threat—a deterrent."
"True… If they had it, a Buster Call would be much simpler."
Robin lowered her head, voice faint.
"You're still pursuing the truth of the Poneglyphs?"
Don studied her downcast expression.
"Yes. That's the wish of my people. Now, I'm the only one left… so I'll carry it through."
Her voice was firm, resolute.
But she knew how dangerous it was.
Ohara had been annihilated for daring to uncover the truth.
To continue the search now could draw further disaster—perhaps even to Don. She didn't want to hide it from him.
She didn't know how he would respond. Watching him closely, her heart tensed.
"…It's wonderful, isn't it? To have a goal of your own."
Don smiled warmly, eyes filled with quiet admiration.
"If that's your path, then walk it. I'll be here to help you."
"Thank you. And what about you?"
Robin tugged lightly at his sleeve, coaxing him to sit back down. Her eyes searched his face as she asked.
"…I'm not sure. For now, my goal is to make a name across the Four Seas. Once I reach the Grand Line, there will be two enemies I must face… but beyond that, I haven't thought too much."
Don's gaze shifted to the bustling members of the Happo Navy working aboard the ship.
"Perhaps… you could set a goal for yourself too."
Robin smiled knowingly.
"Go on."
"For example—becoming an Emperor of the Seas."
END OF CHAPTER
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