I didn't expect you to be hiding such a trump card.
Nico Robin's expression was complicated. Facing Rainer's terrifying lineup, she no longer had the will to fight.
She had pieced it together.
It wasn't that Blue Oni or Red Oni had some kind of teleportation ability. All those powerful figures… were this golden-haired man's ability.
She didn't know exactly how it worked—Devil Fruits came in all sorts of bizarre forms—but it was clear he could create and control these "followers."
Robin lowered her arms, her coat sliding back as she sat down warily in a chair.
"What do you want from me? If I join you, what do you plan to use me for? The Ancient Weapons?"
Click.
"Nothing at all."
Rainer recalled the undead, lit a cigarette, then tucked his lighter back into his blue shirt pocket.
"You can just keep chasing the Poneglyphs. As for Pluton, Uranus, Poseidon—we have no interest."
He exhaled calmly. "But among the Poneglyphs, there are four Road Poneglyphs. Together, they point to the final island—Raftel.
"Our captain wants to be Pirate King. You want the truth of history. Why not travel together?"
He spoke casually, sliding off the chair to sit next to her on the stone table.
Robin's pupils shrank. "How do you know this?! Where did you hear it?!"
She had spent her whole life hunting the Poneglyphs, yet she had never heard of Road Poneglyphs. Even the names of the Ancient Weapons—Pluton, Uranus, Poseidon—were secrets sealed tightly by the World Government.
Yet this man tossed them out as if they were common knowledge.
Rainer only smiled faintly. How? God's perspective, of course.
"In the New World, the big names know about it. Not exactly a secret.
"The real secret is what lies behind them—the Void Century. That's something even the strongest on the seas barely grasp."
But he wasn't interested in that. So he didn't say more.
Robin lowered her gaze, thinking deeply. So there were things about the Poneglyphs even she didn't know.
And she had thought herself the world's foremost expert, the last one alive who could even read them.
The New World…
A faint light returned to her eyes. She had nearly given up. But now…
Now she remembered the scholars of Ohara, annihilated for chasing the truth.
Her gaze hardened.
One more try. In the New World.
The thought of ending her life vanished completely.
She lifted her face, her wheat-toned skin soft under the torchlight. Quietly, she said:
"…I'll think about it."
"Good enough. That's all for today."
Rainer nodded. What had worried him most was that she might take her own life. That was why he had rushed here in the middle of the night.
But now she had her resolve back. She would continue the search. He had nothing more to fear.
"Our ship is docked at a coast seven or eight kilometers east of Nanohana.
"We'll be in the palace until the Log Pose records enough magnetism. Then we'll set sail."
Rainer stood, glancing at her shoulder—the wound Crocodile had left still bleeding faintly.
"Patch yourself up. I'll take my leave."
As he left, he tossed out a final line—an HR catchphrase:
"We look forward to having you on board."
He picked up the two black suitcases and left the casino.
Robin was smart. Smarter than most. He knew she was consumed by the Void Century. Just a hint, and she would fill in the rest herself.
And in the New World, surviving without a crew to back her was nearly impossible.
Sooner or later, she would come to the Straw Hats. Even if only temporarily.
As for whether she would leave later, Rainer wasn't worried.
There was always that miracle-worker, Luffy.
With the Straw Hats' warmth and bonds, Robin, who had spent her life alone, would feel as though she had finally come home.
Summoning his great falcon, Rainer leapt onto its back.
The bird spread its vast wings and soared through the cold night sky.
"…Exhausted today," Rainer muttered, lying on its back and staring up at the moon.
"Aokiji's another problem…"
He remembered the man who had been watching Robin from the shadows. A Marine admiral, whose very first appearance had exuded overwhelming power.
If Robin could settle down, he would turn a blind eye. But if she kept wandering through the underworld, stirring up powers left and right…
Then Aokiji himself might erase her.
Even if Robin never intended harm, the mere fact that she could read Poneglyphs made her a threat in the Government's eyes.
Forever drifting between factions, even unwillingly, would inevitably sow chaos. That was how Aokiji would see it.
"…Well. No point overthinking. Better to just keep getting stronger."
Rainer clasped his hands behind his head, closing his eyes. "The Florian Triangle… we've still got a long road ahead."
From dawn yesterday, they had landed in Alabasta and fought nonstop through the desert and the battle.
Even for bodies as inhumanly resilient as theirs, exhaustion had piled up.
Their muscles were fine. Their minds were not.
Soon, the Log Pose would guide them to Jaya.
Rainer thought of Enel—wielder of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, with its terrifying speed, attack power, and range thanks to Observation Haki.
If things went right, he'd fuse that template too.
Compared to the underwhelming Sand-Sand and Fire templates, lightning was irresistible.
High speed. High attack. And above all—
It was cool.
By the time they returned to the Alubarna palace, Rainer went straight to bed.
The others rested too—except Nami and Vivi, who whispered through the night.
The next morning, Rainer slept until noon. Harsh sunlight poured through the window.
Knock knock knock.
"Coming…"
He rubbed his eyes, messy blond hair sticking out in all directions, glasses crooked as he opened the door.
A tall man with neatly styled blonde curls smiled politely, testing his throat like a singer warming up.
"Ohh~ Mr. Rainer, I've come to escort you to lunch."
"…You're alive, old man? Looking well." Rainer recognized him instantly—Igaram.
"Baroque Works goons said you'd been fed to the fish."
"I was captured. Locked away until last night, when the Navy raided one of their bases. I escaped then."
"I see. Princess Vivi must be glad."
Rainer adjusted his hair, following him down the corridor. "What about the others?"
"They're in the reception hall. Only you and the swordsman are missing."
"Zoro's still asleep?"
"No, his room was empty. We couldn't find him anywhere. That's why I came personally to fetch you, just in case you got lost too."
"…."
In the hall, Luffy was already devouring meat. "You're here, Rainer! Where's Zoro?"
"Lost, probably."
Rainer sat down calmly between Nami and Chopper.
"You sleep like a pig," Nami scolded, handing him a plate of meat. "Where were you last night?"
"Rain Dinners. Crocodile's casino."
Rainer tore into the meat. Oh right. Didn't even brush my teeth.
Forget it. Cigarette first.
"…Casino?"
Nami blinked, then realized at once—he must have gone for the money. She sprang up, hands on her hips.
"You bastard! You went without me?!"
Then instantly switched to a sweet smile, leaning close to whisper:
"So… how much did you rake in?"
"Nothing! Not a single berry!" Rainer slammed the table, scowling.
"The damn Navy beat me to it. Took everything!"
"What?!"
Nami's hair seemed to catch fire. "We defeated Crocodile! Why didn't you go right after the fight, you idiot?!"
"…Huh? This is my fault?"
"…Fine. Fine. My bad."
He rolled his eyes, lighting a cigarette. "All my fault. I was late. Only grabbed two hundred million. I'll punish myself with one smoke."
Women changed moods fast, but Nami… Nami was the world champion.
"Two hundred million berries?!"
Instantly, her anger melted into sunshine. "Oh my~ You must be starving. Try this roast lamb leg—it's delicious, and—"
"Denied."
"…Ten million?"
"Denied."
"Damn it! Starve then!" She stomped off to complain to Vivi.
Rainer just shrugged. Nami never stopped trying to squeeze money out of him, but he never gave in either.
"Where's Sanji?" he asked.
Chopper looked up, big round eyes blinking. "He's helping in the kitchen. Said he'll go buy ingredients later."
"Got it. And the Log Pose?"
"Tomorrow we can sail. Um…" Chopper shuffled, embarrassed. "Rainer, could I… borrow some money this afternoon? I'd like to buy desert herbs. Some are unique here…"
"Of course. Anytime you need something, just ask. We've got plenty of money."
"Really? Thanks, Rainer!"
That afternoon, after a hearty meal and some rest, they set out into the capital.
Nami and Vivi clung together, eager to shop.
Luffy and Usopp begged for pocket money to eat, drink, and explore.
Rainer, Sanji, and Chopper went to the markets for supplies.
…Wait. Weren't they forgetting someone?
Ah well. Too late now.
The streets bustled with life, the fear of war already melting. People who had hidden away now filled the avenues with noise and laughter.
"Camel meat here is top-notch," Sanji pointed at a butcher's. "Let's check it out. I'll make braised camel ribs for dinner."
"Sounds good."
While Sanji haggled over cuts, Rainer noticed Chopper staring at a cotton candy cart.
He walked over. "One pink cotton candy, please."
"Right away!"
"…How'd you know I wanted pink?" Chopper asked from his perch on Rainer's shoulder.
"Hm? Looks like cherry blossoms," Rainer said casually, handing it to him.
"…Thanks."
Chopper licked it, smiling. Sweet.
He'd only been on the ship for about a week. Everyone had been kind to him, but he still didn't really know them yet.
"You're really thoughtful, Rainer. Like Doctrine—gentle."
"Am I? Honestly, everyone on the ship's gentle. Especially Sanji. But tell me…"
Rainer paid the vendor, amused. "Who do you think is most like Dr. Hiluluk?"
Chopper thought hard. His eyes sparkled. "…Luffy."
"Ha! Our idiot captain, of course." Rainer chuckled. "Alright, let's grab some fruit wine. Desert fruits are extra sweet."
Meanwhile, in another street—
"Damn it, wasn't I just in the palace? How'd I end up here?!"
A bandaged green-haired man strode out of an alley, three swords at his waist.
"Don't run, swordsman~!"
A voluptuous woman in skimpy clothes chased after him. "Our dancers are all eighteen, pretty as flowers! Come inside, just a look!"
"…Still chasing me?!"
Zoro's face darkened. He grit his teeth, sprinting away.
Damn those four-eyes and curly-brow! How the hell do they deal with this crap?!