Western Kingdom, Burial Chamber.
Bahr leaned lazily against the stone wall, hands behind his head, his gaze fixed on Nico Robin who had been standing before the Historical Text for a long time. He teased, "Well? Not what you were looking for, is it?"
He knew the Historical Text was hidden at the bottom of the Royal Tomb. Though he wasn't familiar with the mechanisms, his spatial ability made piercing through the rock layers to reach the Burial Chamber as easy as pie.
"Is this all?" Robin's fingertips lightly traced the cold stone surface, her voice thick with poorly concealed disappointment.
Just as he had said—nothing she wanted was here.
"That's all there is." Bahr shrugged and strode toward Robin, his footsteps echoing clearly in the empty chamber. The next moment, he wrapped an arm around her waist from behind, pressing close to her ear as he chuckled lowly, "Disappointed?"
Nico Robin stiffened sharply but didn't struggle. She turned her head to demand, "Do you know what's written here?"
"Just some old tales about this country and the whereabouts of Pluton, that's all."
A rich, intoxicating fragrance seeped through the gaps of his mask, invading his nostrils—alluring yet carrying a hint of danger, utterly bewitching.
"You can read the Historical Text?" Nico Robin's eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.
"Nope." Bahr answered casually, his palm stroking the sun-kissed skin at Robin's waist, his fingers deliberately—or perhaps not—brushing upward. "Just happened to know what's written on this particular stone."
The texture was just as firm and appealing as it looked.
If he remembered correctly, Nico Robin was supposed to be stabbed by Crocodile's hook here. But now... things had turned out quite differently.
"This one?" Robin frowned, sharply catching the keyword. Her eyes instantly brightened, and she even ignored the wandering hand at her waist as she pressed urgently, "You know the locations of other Historical Texts?"
"Too bad." Bahr smirked, poking her flushed cheek with a fingertip, his tone dripping with amusement. "The ones I know don't have what you're looking for."
Robin's gaze flickered, clearly weighing the truth of his words. Suddenly, she turned her head away with a frown, her voice laced with irritation. "Stop pointing at me. It's uncomfortable."
Bahr: "..."
Which part are you talking about?
Nico Robin pressed her palm back against the Historical Text, her fingers tracing the raised glyphs. "I told you, historians only believe what they see with their own eyes."
At this stage, Nico Robin trusted no one completely, least of all Bahr. She wouldn't give up until she saw the evidence herself.
"Then that's your problem." Bahr suddenly tightened his grip around her waist and chuckled. "Now... time to fulfill our deal, don't you think?"
He was no saint. Going through all this trouble to bring Nico Robin to the Royal Tomb to see the Historical Text naturally came with a price.
Nico Robin trembled slightly but said nothing, as if she had already resigned herself to everything.
In this deal with the devil, she could no longer tell whether he was exploiting her weakness or if she was silently permitting this dangerous game.
Bahr let out a low laugh and didn't speak further. With a flick of his finger, the tied sash loosened instantly, while his other hand retrieved an eyepatch from his spatial storage.
....
Click.
A soft sound, and a faint blue flame flickered to life. Bahr leaned against the stone slab inscribed with the Historical Text, leisurely puffing on a cigarette as he surveyed the desolate chamber.
Originally, this tomb was destined for destruction. But now, not only was it preserved, but its occupants had also been treated to quite the spectacle. Nefertari's ancestors ought to thank him.
Exhaling a smoke ring, Bahr looked thoroughly satisfied.
Clearly, he was extremely pleased with this transaction. Nico Robin's mature, icy allure was intoxicating on its own, but combined with the thrill of her identity, the sense of achievement was downright addictive.
Thinking of Nami, Robin, even Princess Vivi—this straightforward "fair trade" was far more satisfying than those old "fishing" tactics.
Wait, no. This wasn't just a "trade." They were all in dire straits, and Bahr had descended from the heavens to guide them... He was practically a savior!
Hmm. Decision made. He would save all those beauties drowning in despair.
As for that nonsense about "not winning their hearts"—what he wanted was the person. What use was something as intangible as a "heart"? How many Berries could that even buy?
Robin pulled off the eyepatch, her cheeks flushed like she'd been drinking, her chest rising and falling with each breath, her gaze hazy and intoxicated.
She turned to stare at Bahr—or rather, at the faint outline of his face beneath the tilted mask—and snapped irritably, "Your twisted tastes... are truly beyond words."
A deal was a deal. Why did he have to blindfold her? Was he that afraid of his identity being exposed?
Truth be told, she was growing curious about this masked man who knew about the Historical Texts.
"I'm too handsome. Afraid you'd fall for me at first sight." Bahr detected her displeasure but paid it no mind.
Play was play, but boundaries had to be maintained. Mystery was key.
Robin scoffed, a flicker of something complex passing through her eyes before she abruptly changed the subject. "If you know the clues about Pluton, don't you have any interest? Crocodile has been scheming for so long just for that thing."
"Don't bother testing me. I'm not interested." Bahr lazily took a drag from his cigarette before suddenly yanking her into his arms, grinning. "Compared to some cold, dead weapon, I much prefer soft, warm women."
"..."
Robin frowned but said nothing. She truly couldn't understand—did this powerful man have no ambitions beyond women?
Stealthily pushing Bahr's hand away, a glimmer of hope suddenly flashed in Robin's eyes. She asked softly, "You said you know the locations of other Historical Texts... Could you tell me?"
Pausing, she bit her lip. "I can pay the price."
The first time was the hardest. Once the line was crossed, there was no going back.
"Oh? Such a generous offer?" Bahr arched a brow at Robin's serious expression before chuckling darkly and leaning in to whisper by her ear, "Then... how about you?"
Only a fool would turn down such an offer.
Robin stiffened violently. Glancing down, her lips twitched, but then she thought of the Historical Texts...
"Fine. But you tell me the locations first." Nico Robin gritted her teeth, clearly resolved.
Bahr hadn't expected Robin to agree so easily. His eyes gleamed with amusement—this straightforward "transaction" was exactly his style.
"Alabasta's is already here. There's one on Sky Island, another on Fish-Man Island, Zou Island... and the territories of the Four Emperors." He stroked his chin, trying to recall. These details were old, and he'd never been particularly interested in the Historical Texts, so his memory was fuzzy.
"Sky Island?" Robin sat up straight, staring intently at Bahr. "I've heard of Fish-Man Island, and the Four Emperors' domains are out of the question. But Sky Island? That's just a myth. Are you messing with me?"
She'd heard rumors about "Sky Island," but they were just that—rumors. Nico Robin suspected this man was spinning tales to deceive her, all to satisfy his own twisted desires.
Seeing Robin's skepticism, Bahr shrugged. "Believe it or not, up to you."
He'd said his piece. If she didn't believe him, what could he do? It wasn't like he was going to take Nico Robin on a world tour to verify it. Was she stupid?
Robin fell silent, but for some reason, her instincts told her this mysterious man wasn't lying.
Yet among these locations, Fish-Man Island might be manageable, but the Four Emperors' territories were a death sentence. As for Sky Island... it was like chasing a phantom from legend.
Most importantly, she still didn't know the exact locations of the Historical Texts.
After a long pause, Nico Robin asked quietly, "None of these places have what I'm looking for?"
"Maybe." Bahr couldn't quite remember. Noticing the lingering hope in Robin's eyes, he suddenly added, "Blindly searching like this won't get you anywhere. Here's a tip—find Gol D. Roger's One Piece, and you'll learn everything you want to know."
"What?" Robin was utterly stunned.
She'd never heard such a claim before, but once again, her instincts told her this man wasn't lying.
Could he truly know some hidden secret?
Bahr didn't care either way. According to the original plot, Nico Robin would soon head to Sky Island to verify everything. Giving her a heads-up now was just motivation—so she wouldn't slack off during their upcoming... activities.
Then again, with how much he'd already altered the story, would Nico Robin even join the Straw Hats now?