Chapter 31: The Location of Pluton? Who Doesn't Know That?
Ryuji's voice echoed in the empty room.
"..."
Naturally, there was no answer.
Seeing this, Ryuji sighed. "If you leave cola out for too long and it loses its chill, it loses its soul. You have to put it back in the freezer."
"Just like when a person has a rare chance to fulfill their true value, but misses it for some reason, and ends up having to hide back in a dark corner... Is that what you want?"
His words were undeniably ridiculous—getting all philosophical over a glass of soda.
But at this moment, Ryuji was speaking very seriously.
Because in his vision, he could clearly see the text on the glowing screen.
[Current Session Analysis Complete: Dice-Dice Fruit LV1, Mole-Mole Fruit LV1, Kilo-Kilo Fruit LV1, Wax-Wax Fruit LV1, Clone-Clone Fruit LV1, Bomb-Bomb Fruit LV1, Spike-Spike Fruit LV1, Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Dachshund LV1]
Those eight fully analyzed fruits were already a massive harvest.
But Ryuji's reasons for coming to Alabasta didn't end there.
His eyes were fixed on the text at the very bottom of the screen.
[Analyzing Devil Fruit: Flower-Flower Fruit. Progress: 76%]
That was the source of his words.
"I know what you seek. I know why you stay with Baroque Works."
"You want to know the hidden history, the truth of the world. So I think... we can talk."
He grinned.
"Even after saying all that, you still won't come out?"
"Miss All Sunday... or should I call you... Nico Robin?"
As he spoke the name...
He saw it. On the sofa across from him.
A pair of eyes and a mouth silently bloomed on the upholstery.
They were deep blue, watery eyes and thin lips. Even from just these features, it was clear the owner was a beauty.
But right now, those eyes staring at Ryuji were filled with shock and disbelief.
"Who... are you?"
Her voice carried an indescribable wariness and fear.
Seeing her finally reveal herself, Ryuji chuckled under his mask.
"Strange. You should know who I am. After all, the assassination order on me came from Crocodile through you."
"But, since you asked so sincerely..."
He raised his cola glass in a toast.
"I am one of the top executives of 'The Zodiac'. Codename: 'Ryuji'."
"If you haven't heard of me, I assume you've heard of 'Yuji'. He's my colleague."
Hearing Ryuji's words, Nico Robin's heart grew even colder.
'Ryuji, Yuji... just as our intel suspected.'
As a member and Vice President of Baroque Works, she handled most of the organization's affairs for the hidden Mr. 0, 'Crocodile'.
This included the assassination order, which Mr. 0 had authorized and she had issued.
She had a lot of intel, including Ryuji's appearance—especially that distinctive Dragon Head Mask.
It was enough for her, like King Cobra before her, to draw a similar conclusion: Ryuji was likely connected to the criminal 'Yuji' who had stolen the Celestial Tribute.
But because the Alabasta royal family had kept information on Ryuji strictly confidential, leaving no paper trail, her theory had remained just a guess.
Until now.
Yuji, Ryuji... they really are from the same organization.
But clearly, this explosive news was now the least of Nico Robin's concerns.
Her mind was swirling with questions.
How does he know my identity and my goal? How does he know about Crocodile? How did he discover my ability?
And most importantly...
"This man's ability... it's so similar to Aokiji's."
Just thinking about it made Robin's mind reel.
Using her Flower-Flower Fruit, she could sprout parts of her body on any solid surface.
So, during the assassination attempt... she had been watching the whole time.
She had witnessed the overwhelming power of the monster called 'Ryuji' firsthand.
The power to control ice was terrifyingly similar to the nightmare of her childhood.
But she had also seen him use a completely opposite power—heat. Otherwise, she would have suspected that the man under the Dragon Head Mask was Admiral Aokiji himself.
"What fruit user is he?"
Countless questions clouded her mind.
Fortunately, having survived and grown up under the World Government's relentless pursuit, she had a sharp mind.
Even in her confusion, she managed to ask the most critical question.
"What is your goal?"
"And..."
She gritted her teeth.
His strength, his knowledge of her and Crocodile—none of it mattered right now.
What mattered was what he wanted to do, and...
"What do you need me to do?"
She asked the question.
Calming down slightly, she realized something.
He knew her identity and codename. His organization's intelligence network was terrifyingly vast; they seemed to know everything about Baroque Works.
Given his overwhelming power, she shouldn't have even been given the chance to have this conversation.
"It's so much easier talking to smart people."
Hearing her question, Ryuji seemed to smile.
"Yes. I could have gone straight to the Spiders Cafe and captured you."
"Or I could have told King Cobra, the World Government, or the Underworld about your location and identity... There are plenty of people interested in the 'Devil Child.' With Alabasta's ports locked down, you'd have a hard time escaping."
"Once your identity is exposed, I doubt Crocodile would protect you. Harboring a survivor of Ohara could cost him his Warlord status."
Every word he spoke weighed heavily on Robin's heart.
Spiders Cafe—the headquarters of Baroque Works in Alabasta, located west of Elumalu.
She had indeed planned to return there after the assassination to report to Crocodile.
"But... I didn't. Because as a merchant, I want to discuss a partnership."
Ryuji raised a hand. "A win-win partnership."
"Partnership?"
Robin laughed lightly, but the sound was cold. "Let's hear it."
She had heard that word countless times since she was eight years old.
To her, it had always meant exploitation and betrayal.
Ryuji seemed to ignore the coldness in her voice.
"I know what you need. You want to research the true history, so you need the Poneglyphs."
"You also need an organization willing to protect you."
He spread his hands. "Coincidentally, our organization happens to know the locations of several Poneglyphs, including the one here in Alabasta."
Hearing this, the coldness in Robin's eyes deepened.
"You're saying you can help me get the Poneglyphs, but in exchange, I have to tell you their contents?"
"Like the one in Alabasta, right?"
She had heard this too many times.
In fact, the only reason she was in Baroque Works, cooperating with Crocodile, was because he needed her to decipher the Poneglyph to find the location of the Ancient Weapon, Pluton.
And now, Robin naturally assumed 'The Zodiac' had the same goal.
These two organizations were birds of a feather!
But...
Ryuji's next words left her stunned.
"Of course not."
"We already know what the Alabasta Poneglyph says... The location of Pluton? We know where it is."
Ryuji said calmly.
"If you're willing to pay the price, we can even tell you its location and contents. That's part of the 'partnership' I mentioned."
He held up a finger, looking at the dumbfounded Robin.
"We will protect you, and for a price, we will share the locations and contents of Poneglyphs we already know. But we won't find new ones for you... Whether you can find those hidden stones depends on your own ability."
"As for whether you tell us the contents after you find them... that's up to you. We won't ask."
Under the mask, Roy was being sincere.
Honestly, he was curious about the Void Century, the Poneglyphs, and Laugh Tale.
But he wasn't obsessed with finding the truth.
To him, the value of a Poneglyph was far less than a rare, powerful Devil Fruit.
Besides, Roy knew Nico Robin.
If you forced her to share the Poneglyph's contents, she would lie—just like she did to Crocodile in the original story.
So Roy genuinely didn't care if she told him the truth.
If I really want to know later, there are other ways. The Kozuki clan in Wano, or an awakened Three-Eye Tribe member... plenty of options.
He mused internally.
But Robin was flabbergasted.
"Wait... wait... what did you say?"
Even through the sprouted eyes, her doubt, confusion, and shock were visible.
"You know the contents? You mean... your organization has someone who can read the Poneglyphs?"
This was the most unbelievable part.
"That falls outside the scope of our transaction, Miss Robin," Ryuji laughed.
"..."
Robin was silent for a moment.
Then she said, "I don't believe you."
"If your organization truly has no interest in the Poneglyphs, then... I can't think of a reason why you'd want to partner with me."
She knew her greatest value was her ability to read the ancient text.
If they weren't interested in that, what did they want from her?
Robin couldn't find an answer.
But she also knew Ryuji had no reason to lie to her.
As he said, since 'The Zodiac' knew her identity, her life was already in their hands.
"You're wrong, Miss Robin."
Ryuji chuckled. "You have another identity besides 'Devil Child'."
"In fact, the identity we're interested in is..."
He stood up and extended a hand.
"Hello, Miss All Sunday."
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