How is it, Xiao Tai? What's the situation?" Takero returned to the city, which had already begun to restore order, with Dragon and his group. He immediately spotted Tesoro, who was directing people to maintain order everywhere.
Before Tesoro could answer, a small, red and white whirlwind-like figure suddenly rushed out from the side and hugged his leg.
"Takero! You're back!" Uta looked up with her small head, her amethyst-like eyes staring at Takero unblinkingly, her small mouth like a machine gun, continuously asking, "Where did you go just now? You just disappeared! I thought you didn't want me anymore!"
Takero looked at her worried eyes, and his heart inexplicably softened. He reached out and stroked her soft little head, comforting her, "It's nothing, I just went out to stretch my muscles and bones. But... I made you worry." He thought, this little girl is new to Ambri Island, unfamiliar with the place, and only close to him on this island. It was quite pitiful that she would worry when he suddenly disappeared.
So, Takero was about to say a few more gentle words to comfort her... but to his surprise, after hearing his reply, Uta immediately turned around and gave a triumphant 'V' sign to Sugar, who was standing beside her with a worried expression!
"See! Sugar!" she said, "I told you Takero would be fine! You're not worried now, are you? Let's go! Let's continue playing!" With that, she pulled the still-confused Sugar and ran off in a flash.
Takero's hand, still suspended in mid-air, ready to continue stroking, instantly froze in place. 'So... this little girl wasn't worried about me at all?'
It was Tesoro who stepped forward in time, taking over the awkward situation. He reported, "Boss, the situation is basically under control. The World Government's invasion this time wasn't too large-scale; the main cause was the chaos triggered by public panic." Then, he looked at the large group of mysterious people behind Takero, whose aura was distinctly different. "Boss, these people are...?"
"Oh, them," Takero said casually, "They're from the Revolutionary Army."
"Revolutionary Army?!" Tesoro was stunned. 'First pirates, then the Marine, then secret agents from the World Government... and now, even the Revolutionary Army has arrived?! Is our Ambry Island... some kind of sacred check-in spot?! Why are all sorts of strange characters gathering here?!'
"They want to engage in some 'cooperation' with us," Takero said.
"What cooperation?"
"For the specifics, you can talk to their leader later," Takero said, waving his hand with a headache. "I'm leaving, I'll go see Robin first." With that, he didn't wait for Dragon to react, directly turned into a streak of light, and flew away.
Dragon: "..." He looked utterly bewildered.
Tesoro, however, was long accustomed to his boss's 'hands-off' style. He helplessly explained to Dragon: "Well... our boss always acts like this. You'll get used to it."
The Prisoner and the Past
Meanwhile, inside the prison on Ambri Island. Katakuri and King were previously imprisoned, and today, a new batch of guests arrived. Robin had already directed the guards to firmly control all the knocked-out CP9 members. In addition, there was also an... "unexpected captive."
In a special cell in the deepest part of the laboratory, specifically used to detain important prisoners, Kuzan, who had been knocked unconscious by Takero on the beach, had now awoken from his coma. He first looked at his surroundings, then felt the cold Sea Stone shackles on his hands and feet.
He sighed helplessly. "Oh dear... it seems this time, things are really bad." Then he looked up at the black-haired girl standing in front of him, quietly watching him. "I say," he said in his characteristic lazy tone, "you don't need to tie me up so tightly, do you? I'm already trapped by the Sea Stone anyway."
Hearing this, Robin smiled charmingly. "That won't do," she said. "After all, it's you, so we must be absolutely foolproof."
Upon hearing this, Kuzan sighed helplessly again. He lamented, never expecting that after so many years of traversing the seas, he would... also have a day when he became a prisoner. He thought back to the great fire in Ohara twenty years ago, where he was the high and mighty "judge." And now... one could only say that the tables have turned.
He no longer struggled, instead looking at Robin and saying in a complex tone, "Nico Robin, have you truly thought this through? Choosing to follow that man... means that from now on, you and the World Government will be... locked in an endless struggle."
Robin smiled like a blooming flower again. "I will follow him always." Her voice was soft, yet exceptionally firm. "...Until the ends of hell."
Upon hearing this, Kuzan fell silent. After a while, he slowly looked up and said in an extremely serious, even slightly relieved tone: "Nico Robin... you have found a very good companion."
"No," Robin corrected him with a smile. "He is my... master."
Kuzan was speechless. "...You young people really know how to have fun." He then asked, "So, what do you plan to do with me? Are you... going to kill me?" Since he had become a prisoner, whether he lived or died depended on their whims. However, Kuzan estimated that even if he managed to survive this time, he would probably... have to pay an extremely huge price. He just didn't know if Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the others had received the news yet.
Hearing this, Robin feigned contemplation, stroking her chin. "Let me think... I want to..."
Just as Kuzan was seriously listening to his "final judgment," a mischievous, cunning smile suddenly appeared on Robin's face. "...I want to let you go?"
Kuzan was silent at first, then looked utterly bewildered. 'What did she mean? Did he mishear?'
Then, before he could react, Robin had already given an order to the guards beside her. "Go, unbind Mr. Kuzan."
Feeling the cold Sea Stone shackles disappear from his body, feeling that familiar and powerful strength return to his body... Kuzan was still utterly confused. He rubbed his somewhat numb wrists and asked in puzzlement: "You're just... letting me go? Without any... other conditions?"
"No," Robin said. Then, the playful expression on her face disappeared, replaced by one of utmost seriousness. "This time, it's to repay you for... saving my life in Ohara back then. From now on... I owe you nothing more."
Kuzan understood immediately after hearing this. He asked, "You're letting me go... won't that Takero have an opinion?"
"Don't worry," Robin said. "He doesn't care about such small matters at all, and I already asked him before; he said I could decide what to do."
Seeing that she was sincere, Kuzan said no more. He just silently stood up and turned to walk out of the cell. Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he stopped and turned his head to Robin, saying: "Oh, there's something I forgot to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Sauro..." Kuzan said. "...He might not be dead."
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