As Robin silently absorbed the conversation, her mind reeled. She knew the official story from the newspapers: the Red Hair Pirates had attacked the Celestial Dragons on this very island. The World Government had made sure everyone knew it. But now, it seemed the real person responsible was this young man, who looked to be about her own age. Considering the World Government's long history of twisting the truth and presenting lies as facts, she wasn't entirely surprised. It was just another Tuesday for them.
Meanwhile, a new thought struck Takero, and a wide, excited grin spread across his face.
"Oh, that's right! You said the World Government is keeping a close eye on her?" he asked, looking at Robin with genuine interest. It was the look of a gamer who just found out a certain enemy drops the rarest loot. "So, that means they're probably going to send people to try and capture her, right?"
"Yes, Boss!" Tesoro confirmed, though he couldn't quite grasp why this was good news. "And considering how important she is to them, they'll likely send powerful forces. We could be looking at Marine Vice Admirals, or maybe even fighters from a higher tier!"
"Isn't that perfect?" Takero slapped his thigh, unable to contain his excitement. "That saves me the trouble of having to fly all over the world looking for these so-called powerhouses! They'll just deliver themselves right to my doorstep. It's so much more efficient! Little Tesoro, this information is exactly what I wanted to hear! I owe you one for this!"
Robin could only stare, completely baffled. She was once again lost, unable to follow the logic of the young man in front of her. A disaster that anyone else would run from was, to him, a cause for celebration? How could anyone be happy about the prospect of an Admiral showing up?
Tesoro, however, seemed to have grown accustomed to his boss's unique perspective on life. He let out a quiet, helpless sigh. It wasn't strange at all; it was just how Takero was. The stronger the opponent, the more thrilled he became. It was a simple, unchangeable fact.
Takero paid no attention to Robin's bewildered expression. He casually tossed the apple core he'd been eating, and it sailed through the air, landing perfectly in a trash can across the room. He then turned his curious gaze back to her.
"Hey, Maid Number Two. I'm a little curious about that 'Ohara Incident' he mentioned. What did you do to get on their bad side? Did you break some kind of sacred rule? Did you go on a rampage, or maybe dig up the grave of one of their ancestors?"
Faced with such a direct and almost rude line of questioning, Robin fell silent for a moment. A deep, unspoken sadness and a profound weariness flickered in her dark blue eyes. Finally, in a voice so devoid of emotion it was nearly empty, she slowly spoke a single word.
"History."
"What was that?" Takero asked, leaning in slightly as he hadn't heard her clearly.
"I just... I wanted to study the true history," Robin explained. Her voice was soft, but each word felt as if it carried an immense weight. "Because of that, my home was destroyed. My family, my friends, my teachers... they all disappeared in a single night. I was the only one left, and I became the 'demon' that the World Government must erase from existence."
A heavy silence descended upon the living room. Tesoro and Monet both looked emotional. They couldn't begin to imagine enduring such a cruel fate, one that seemed far heavier than any of the hardships they had ever faced.
Takero's reaction, however, was completely different. After listening to her story, he simply frowned, his face a mask of pure, unadulterated confusion.
"So you're telling me you're being chased all over the world just for studying history?" He nonchalantly dug a finger in his ear, glancing around the room as if looking for someone who could explain this ridiculous idea. "Is the World Government completely stupid? Do they have something seriously wrong with their heads?"
That blunt, straightforward complaint, which lacked any hint of pity but struck directly at the heart of the matter, was like a shockwave. It sent an unexpected ripple across the calm, guarded surface of Nico Robin's heart.
She stared blankly at Takero. Ever since she was a child, she had been called a demon, a monster, and a harbinger of evil. She had heard countless people condemn her existence and justify the world's hatred for her.
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