"Alright, Gin, it's not your fault. For someone dealing in intelligence, finding a way in is too simple."
Sage, as if expecting this, rose with his back to Robin and waved his hand, "Everyone, fall back."
A group of female pirates retreated accordingly. Sage straightened up, took a cigar from a small side table, sniffed it, and said, "Turned down my offer, then joined someone else's crew?"
As he spoke, a red glow flickered in his eyes before disappearing, "Oh... the Straw Hat came to this town, seems like we're on the same route, you boarded his ship?"
"He's quite an interesting fellow."
Robin smiled slightly, then a hand extended from the side table, picked up a lighter, and lit a flame.
"I've decided to follow him for a while, to continue searching for history."
Sage bit his cigar, leaned over to light it, took a deep puff, and slowly exhaled the smoke.
"Then why are you here? To chat over family matters? Besides our bloodline, there's not much worth discussing between us, I don't know you, and you don't know me. Are we supposed to talk about O'hara's past?" Sage chuckled.
"Bloodline?" Renedia asked, "Sage, she is your..."
"I'm his sister, you know."
Robin smiled, "Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Nico Robin, like your captain, I'm also an O'hara survivor... one of only two survivors."
Sister...
Lily squinted her eyes, her hand resting on the sword hilt relaxed.
No wonder they look alike, turns out they are related by blood.
"Sage, you're being too high-profile."
Robin walked up to Sage and said, "Seeing where Pluton is is enough, why take the Poneglyphs? The World Government will be after you..."
Sage paused, a sly grin appearing on his lips, "Isn't it normal for the World Government to be after me? Do you think if I don't take the Poneglyphs, they'll let me go? Come on, with my bounty this high, do you think O'hara's influence isn't a factor?"
"That's the World Government!" Robin's expression was solemn.
Sage grinned, laughed heartily, "I'm a pirate after all!"
He opened his arms, "This is what pirates do, chase dreams, fear nothing; if I were worried about everything, I might as well die poor in the East Sea, what's the point of sailing out! Am I right!"
Lily stood solemnly but resolutely by Sage's side, her unwavering stance said it all.
Marika smiled and continued roasting food on the grill.
Renedia rested the mechanical hammer on her shoulder, mimicking Sage with a grin.
"Not afraid of the Buster Call?" Robin's voice was calm.
Sage clenched his fist and gave Robin a smile, "Destroy it!"
He didn't first learn he was an O'hara survivor today, he found out at two years old after surviving the Buster Call.
Previously in the East Sea, it was purely to prevent disappointing his deceased foster father's expectations, trying to find an unobtrusive vocation, but he had tried everything; being a pirate was the only path left.
Buster Call...
Such a thing, just like bad luck, if strength is enough, don't even mention five Vice Admirals and ten warships, even if the Five Elders came with ten warships, they'd be trampled underfoot!
He never feared such a thing!
Robin gazed deeply at Sage for a long moment, shook her head with a smile, "Destroy it... truly a bold statement, no wonder your bounty was so high the moment you set sail. It's right not to join you, being apart allows us to truly uncover history."
"I'm a big illiterate, so why tell me this?" Sage rolled his eyes.
"Why, at this moment, do you not admit to being an O'hara scholar?" Robin asked, puzzled.
Illiterate?
An illiterate can't read the Poneglyphs.
He had personally stated Pluton's location; besides understanding the Poneglyphs, there's no other explanation.
"I really am illiterate, can't read a single word... whatever, it's not important, why are you here? Just to talk about this?" Sage asked.
"No, I just saw your ship and out of curiosity came to see my blood relative... our purpose here is to find Sky Island," Robin said.
"Sky Island... all I know is an upward current, as for how to get there, investigate yourself."
Upon hearing this, Robin's eyes brightened, "You believe Sky Island exists?"
"Does it matter whether I believe it or not? A pirate is such a creature, won't give up without seeing with their own eyes, besides..."
Sage laughed, "It actually exists!"
"I understand now."
Robin pondered for a moment, nodded, "Then I won't disturb your rest here, Sage... we'll meet again someday."
With that, she walked out the door and vanished.
After she disappeared, Lily finally spoke, "A sister? Sage, since there's this connection, why not have her join your crew?"
"We're not on the same path, what's the point of joining, she has her own thoughts, forcing her aboard would only lead to her leaving." Sage replied.
Both he and Robin knew very well that they only shared a blood bond; otherwise, they were no different from ordinary pirates.
Dragging someone aboard by force won't work, just like a certain Straw Hat.
Why didn't Garp forcibly recruit his grandson into the Navy?
And that Dorag as well.
Everyone has their own path, Sage isn't interested in others' paths; he only wants to sprint freely on his own path, spread his wings, soar high, striking a variety of poses!