Robin did not hide her hatred at all. "You sent someone to find me… it's not just to provoke me, is it?"
Spandam laughed heartily. "Haha! Of course not! I just wanted to show you… I now wield that kind of power myself!"
At Judicial Island, Spandam held a golden Den Den Mushi, a smug grin on his face.
"Thanks to my father's achievements and the trust of Admiral Aokiji, I now have the authority to use the Buster Call! "
Cold sweat instantly trickled down Robin's temples.
The terrifying shadows of her childhood came rushing back.
Struggling to maintain her composure, she spoke sharply, "You'd really use a Buster Call just to capture me? Don't be ridiculous! We're in Water 7—every Navy ship here was built here!"
Robin had still greatly underestimated the ruthlessness of the World Government.
In the original timeline, Spandam accidentally triggered a Buster Call targeting one of the World Government's critical institutions, Judicial Island!
And the result?
It was utterly destroyed!
If a Buster Call could annihilate Judicial Island, a mere city like Water 7 would be insignificant in comparison.
Fortunately, Spandam had no real intention of deploying it… at least, not yet.
He sneered. "Just capturing you alone would be a waste. But as far as I know, you're allied with that 'young master,' Sith Oguro."
"His subordinates include someone potentially rivaling a Navy Admiral."
"If he intends to protect you, I'm sure the World Government won't hesitate to unleash a Buster Call!"
Robin's face tightened.
That Spandam… so cunning!
Just like his father, he cared nothing for others' lives if it served his purposes.
Taking a deep breath, Robin sneered coldly. "So all this talk… you just want me to surrender, right?"
Robin was sharp; she immediately understood Spandam's plan.
He obviously didn't want to deploy a Buster Call himself, nor did he have the strength to snatch her from Oguro's hands—so he came directly to Robin.
"Heh heh… I like speaking with clever people! So, Nico Robin, what's your choice?"
Silence fell. The alley felt increasingly oppressive. Bruno even prepared to act if necessary.
"Heh!"
Suddenly, Robin's cold laugh shattered the tension.
Her face was icy, her tone even colder.
"Why would you think I care about their lives? You should know that every organization I've been part of has been destroyed in the end!"
"And I… have betrayed those who sheltered me more than once!"
"I should thank you, though—for reminding me in advance! Giving me plenty of time to escape from Water 7!"
"Humph! Truly the Devil's Child! But unfortunately… you don't get that chance!"
Spandam growled.
"If you don't obediently surrender, I'll unleash the Buster Call right now. None of you will escape!"
Robin felt ice run through her veins.
As expected, this man was a lunatic!
Bruno couldn't help glancing at the Den Den Mushi in his hands.
If Spandam triggered the Buster Call now, what would happen to our squad?
Damn Spandam—only concerned with glory, not our lives!
At that moment, Robin remembered something Oguro once said.
We will create a fair world. In that world, disasters like Ohara will never happen again.
Someone like him… she could not throw her life away recklessly!
Soi Fon was strong, but after all, she was just one person.
The Buster Call could summon more than five Vice Admirals!
And once Navy HQ knew Oguro and his group were here, they might even send an Admiral!
Spandam himself had said he was highly trusted by Aokiji, which granted him the authority to order a Buster Call.
At that point, a single Admiral could pin down Soi Fon, and five Vice Admirals would be enough to capture Oguro and the others!
"Fine… I'll go with you."
Robin relented.
Even though she had previously betrayed without hesitation, this time she simply couldn't.
"Seems the me trapped in the past is starting to look forward to the future as well."
Robin glanced up at the bright sun, then followed Bruno into the shadows.
...
In the commercial district, Oguro had returned to the agreed meeting point after sightseeing.
Soon, Soi Fon and the others also came back.
Their shopping bags were so full that Hanatarō Yamada had to borrow a cart to carry them.
"Strange… where's Robin?"
After a while, as dusk fell, Nami finally asked.
No one knew—everyone shook their heads. But Oguro's expression instantly changed.
Water 7!
How could he have forgotten? This was where the Judicial Island incident had begun!
"Careless!" Oguro muttered to himself.
Since summoning Soi Fon and Rukia, he had stopped worrying much about anyone below Admiral-level.
No matter how many came, they'd die anyway.
Thus, he had unconsciously ignored Lucci and the others in Water 7.
"Strange… Robin should know our strength. Why would she still be threatened?"
Oguro was puzzled.
In the original timeline, CP9 had threatened Robin using Luffy and the others' lives.
Back then, Luffy and his crew were weak; defeating Crocodile required cunning. Robin being threatened was normal.
But now, Oguro's side had power rivaling an Admiral!
Threaten her with CP9?
Take Lucci, hailed as the strongest in 800 years. You really think that claim carries weight?
Rocks, Roger, Whitebeard, Golden Lion… how many top-tier fighters has the sea produced in 800 years?
If Rob Lucci claims to be the strongest in 800 years, is that really credible?
Oguro shook his head.
"Lucci was a talent wasted by the World Government."
He was supposedly the strongest in 800 years, yet given only a regular Zoan Fruit—not a rare Logia, Mythical Zoan, or Ancient Zoan.
Even an Ancient-type Zoan wouldn't have been a problem, but instead, he got a common one.
And then he was sent undercover in Water 7 for seven years as a shipwright!
Seven years!
Prime growth years for a person's strength—wasted on carpentry!
Considering all that, Lucci's ability not falling out of the mainstream ranks was still remarkable.
"Soul King, should we go fetch her?" Soi Fon asked.
Robin hadn't formally joined Oguro's crew. If he didn't want to interfere, no one could object.
"Let's go! We're bringing her back!" Oguro said firmly.
Though he had little interest in the Void Century, he admired Robin's courage in seeking the truth.
Most importantly…
Spandam dares to take her from my ship now? Does he think I'm dead?!