Boom—!!!!
Kuzan's understated words, when they reached Nico Robin's ears, were no less than a magnitude ten earthquake, enough to completely overturn her entire world! The color instantly drained from her face! Her usually calm blue eyes, which were always like still water, constricted violently at that moment!
She suddenly stepped forward, her hands even grabbing Kuzan's sleeve almost uncontrollably! "You... what do you mean by that?!" Her voice trembled with shock and excitement. "Sauro... he... wasn't he already... by you?!"
"Oh, come on..." Kuzan scratched his head, looking at her distraught appearance, and explained, "It's exactly what it sounds like. Back then, in Ohara... I did take action against that guy, Sauro. But..." A flicker of an extremely complex helplessness, mixed with "comradeship" and "struggle of position," flashed in his eyes. "...I didn't go for the kill. I just severely injured him, then temporarily froze him with ice, restricting his movements. My original plan was to secretly go back and retrieve him after the commotion caused by the Buster Call had subsided a bit. But..." He paused, a hint of confusion in his tone. "...When I returned to the ruins of Ohara again, Sauro... was gone."
After hearing this, Robin was completely stunned. A huge, indescribable surge of ecstasy, like a breached flood, instantly overwhelmed her heart, which had long been filled with sorrow and despair! 'He's still alive... Sauro... he's still alive?!'
"Then... do you know where he went?!" She clutched Kuzan tightly, asking eagerly.
However, Kuzan slowly shook his head. "I don't know." "But..." he added, as if talking to himself, "He's a giant over twenty meters tall, and a Marine renegade explicitly wanted by the World Government. Where do you think he could go in today's vast sea?"
After speaking, he no longer paid attention to Robin, who was lost in thought, and turned to walk unsteadily out of the prison. "Alright, that's all I know. I should go now." As he walked, he mumbled, "My bicycle isn't locked yet. This Ambri Island is bustling with people; I hope some clueless fellow doesn't steal it..." Slowly, Kuzan's tall and lazy figure completely disappeared from Robin's sight.
And Robin remained standing quietly in place. 'Sauro... where could he go?'
To suddenly learn that an old friend might still be alive, it would certainly be a lie to say her heart wasn't stirred. She hoped to find him immediately, right away! But... the sea was so vast. A giant wanted by the entire world, where could she... begin to look for him?
Just then, a respectful salute pulled her out of her contemplation.
"Takero!"
Robin looked up and saw that Takero had entered at some point. He looked at the almost empty prison and asked, "Has that ice-wielding Marine and those government agents been dealt with?"
"Yes," Robin replied truthfully. "Those agents have been re-imprisoned. As for Kuzan... I let him go."
"Oh." Takero nodded, seemingly having no objection to this. He continued, "Those agents are probably just pawns discarded by the World Government, no longer useful. In that case, don't waste them. Let them all stay on the island and work as illegal miners at the mine. It can be considered as contributing to the construction of our Golden Empire."
"I've noted it, Master," Robin said. "I will make the arrangements shortly."
Then, Takero turned his gaze to her. "What about you?" he asked. "Since I came in, you've been distracted. What are you thinking about?"
Robin was startled.
"That 'I have something on my mind' expression on your face is practically overflowing," Takero added.
Robin hadn't expected that this time, she would... be so unable to hide her thoughts. She was silent for a moment, but ultimately chose to tell Takero the whole story of her and Sauro, and... the news she had just learned from Kuzan, which had ignited endless hope within her.
After listening, Takero stroked his chin and concluded, "So, you really want to find that giant named Sauro now, but you don't know where to start, right?"
Robin nodded vigorously.
The next moment... "Thump!"
Takero flicked Robin's smooth forehead with a "brain tap," neither too light nor too heavy.
"Ouch!" Robin cried out in pain, covering her forehead.
"Idiot," Takero looked at her with a "disappointed" gaze. "You've read so many books! Can't you even figure out something so simple? Think about it," he began his "divine logic" analysis. "In the World Government's official records, isn't that giant named Sauro already 'dead'? Then, as a 'dead' giant wanted by the whole world, where else could he go in this situation? Besides... going home, where else could he go?"
"...Home?" Robin was stunned at his words! Immediately, a lightning-like flash of insight instantly illuminated her thoughts, which had been shrouded in mist!
She said to herself, filled with joy: "That's right! Home! Sauro... he... he might have... gone home! The giants' homeland... Elbaf!!!"
An uncontrollable, immense joy instantly overwhelmed her! Excited, she no longer cared about etiquette and directly threw herself into Takero's arms, her hands tightly wrapped around his neck! Then, on that pretty face, which was slightly flushed with surprise, she lightly, took a sip on his cheek!
"Thank you, Takero!"
"Is just this 'thank you' enough?" However, Takero revealed a mischievous grin, full of "malice." He suddenly lowered his head and... forcefully kissed her soft, slightly parted lips, which were open in surprise.
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