Damn~… two hundred million. I really thought I was about to get rich.
Rainer crouched down, flipped open the suitcase, and quickly counted through it. Then he glanced at the man clutching his bleeding shoulder.
"Are there any secret rooms around here?"
"Y-Yes! Yes, there is!" the man yelped in panic. "There's a basement, but I don't have the key. Only the boss ever went in there!"
"Take me there." Rainer's tone was calm as he picked up the suitcase and stood.
A few minutes later, led slowly by the trembling man, they reached the door to a subterranean chamber. A massive stone gate loomed before them, sealed tight.
"S-sir, this is it. But it's locked. I… I can't open it."
The man turned back, terror plain on his face, clearly expecting to be silenced the moment his usefulness ended.
"I got it. You can go."
Rainer waved him off casually.
Then he summoned Blue Oni, and with a flicker of Observation Haki, sensed a living presence inside.
"So that's where you are. Let's blow the door open."
Rainer didn't move. Blue Oni stepped forward, fist cocked, ready to smash the gate.
Inside the chamber, a massive glass tank dominated the room, filled with crystal-clear freshwater—more precious than gold to Alabasta's people. A dozen Banana Gators swam leisurely within.
Nico Robin sat before the tank, staring at the creatures blankly.
She didn't know what to do anymore.
For years, she had chased after the Poneglyphs, desperate to uncover the truth of the Void Century.
But she was exhausted.
Since childhood, she had wandered through shadows, bartering her life among one dark organization after another. Betraying, being betrayed… conspiracies and exile had followed her every step. Alabasta had been her last hope.
She had spent three years embedded in Baroque Works, helping Crocodile weave his grand plot.
And still… it all amounted to nothing.
Robin leaned back, closing her eyes with a weary expression.
What next?
Continue drifting between predators like before?
Or end it herself, here and now?
Her thoughts wandered back to the boy in the tomb earlier—the one with the straw hat.
With just a single look, he had smiled and said he trusted her. Trusted her over something so trivial.
In all her life, she had never met someone like that.
…No. Once, she had.
Another figure came to mind. That same open, genuine smile. Warm. Unpretentious.
Unbidden, the corners of her lips curled faintly.
Then—
Rumble!!!
The stone gate shuddered violently. Robin's eyes snapped open as she turned toward the noise.
The door split apart in a cloud of dust. Two figures emerged through the haze.
Recognizing them, Robin's eyes widened. She murmured, "Here to settle a score, then?"
Yes, they had helped take Crocodile down in the tomb. But that didn't make them allies. She had been Baroque Works' second-in-command. Of course, they'd come for revenge.
Her gaze lifted to the towering figure known as Blue Oni, her brows knitting. She could never beat someone of that strength. Her eyes slid instead to the other man—
Golden hair neatly combed. Glasses catching the light. A gentle smile masked his face.
She remembered him well. The man who had tricked Crocodile with a single bullet. The man with the bone-chained sword at his hip.
Robin's keen mind replayed the day's battle in detail, analyzing his abilities, already calculating counters.
If she could guard against Blue Oni's strange ability to warp space… perhaps she could strike the golden-haired man down first.
But she didn't move. Not yet. After all, he had saved her earlier.
Instead, she asked coldly, "What are you doing here? Crocodile has already been captured. The Marines took all the treasure."
Rainer lit a cigarette slowly, deliberately, forcing his expression into a look of open friendliness. He wanted to try inviting her. Whether it worked was Robin's choice… though in truth, the final say would lie with his captain, Luffy.
But for now, he would play recruiter.
"I came for you."
To Robin, though, that smile was anything but kind.
This sly bastard is scheming again. And that line—!
He's after me, then.
Her eyes chilled. Arms crossed, she snapped, "Seis Fleur!"
"…Huh??"
Rainer blinked. Wait, what?
Six phantom arms sprouted from his body, locking tight around his limbs and throat.
"Clutch!"
Robin growled, twisting sharply.
But Rainer's body didn't move. Not an inch.
Her eyes went wide. She could feel it through her own conjured arms—the crushing, immovable power in his frame. Like trying to wrench apart a mountain.
He had braced himself the instant she raised her arms. With his current body, stronger than Luffy's and rivaling Blue and Red Oni, Robin's ability couldn't so much as bend a joint.
Rainer casually flexed, snapping free of her grip.
Sorry. I'm a scrub… but my stats are broken.
Pushing up his glasses, he grinned like Luffy. "Nico Robin. I like you. Join us."
"No. I refuse."
The reply was instant, cold, cutting.
"…Tch." Rainer's smile cracked, his face darkening.
What the hell? Not even Naruto-level talk-no-jutsu works here?
He coughed, composing himself. "Anyway… It's not like you've got anywhere else to go. If you still want to chase the Poneglyphs, wouldn't having allies help?"
Doesn't matter how—get her on board first. Once she's on the ship, she won't leave.
"You… know about the Poneglyphs?" Robin's surprise was genuine. Her suspicion deepened instantly.
Anyone who knew she could read them either wanted to capture her… or use her.
"Finally, something to talk about."
Rainer smacked a fist into his palm, stepping forward with a smile.
"Your bounty posters aren't rare. The Ohara Incident shook the world. The Government made sure to spread your name far and wide, to make an example of you. Twisted the truth, of course… but still.
"Anyway—"
He strode to the great stone table and seated himself at the head.
"You've met our captain. He's a good man. Better than that sand crocodile, at least. And most importantly—"
Rainer raised his hand.
"We're strong."
In an instant, Red Oni and the rest of his elite undead manifested around him.
Robin's pupils dilated.
Blue Oni. Red Oni. The Saw Brothers.
Every name in her intelligence reports—every dangerous fighter among the Straw Hats—stood here now.
Not as free warriors. But arrayed like loyal knights.
Guarding one man.
Golden hair gleaming. A calm smile under his glasses. Hands clasped before him on the table's arms. His gaze was steady, deep.
Like a sovereign seated upon an invisible throne.
The undead intoned in unison:
"Praise be to the Death Lord."
(Dog head emoji.)