Chapter 164: The Leader Has Ordered, The Stars Will Gather
"A mural from eight hundred years ago? Hiding the truth of the Void Century?"
Whiskey Peak, inside the secret room of Baroque Works' temporary headquarters.
Crack!
Robin, wearing the "Heart Moon Fox" mask, walked closely beside Ryuji, excitedly snapping the pen in her hand. "Lord Ryuji, where is it? Is it the place you are going to this time? Is it also the organization's intel?"
Her words naturally carried unconcealable excitement.
She certainly couldn't have imagined—Ryuji going out casually would discover something of this magnitude.
After the trip to Skypiea, Robin naturally had no doubts about Ryuji's words.
"Can I see that mural? I can help translate, record... I... I can do anything!"
Usually quiet, she seemed to be turning into a chatterbox.
But Ryuji wasn't surprised—he knew well that for Robin, a "Survivor of Ohara", the meaning of this news probably outweighed her life.
Even if told it was in Mary Geoise, he estimated Robin would turn into Fisher Tiger.
"You are my subordinate in the 'Dragon Division', I will definitely let you see that mural."
"But the situation of that mural is special—it is a 'Residual Image' left directly from the past due to a fruit ability. It cannot be brought out. I'll take you there later."
However, Ryuji didn't reject Robin's proposal.
As he told Robin, he had deduced the general content of the mural constructed by "Mirage Qi".
Davy Jones, the Twenty Kings who were ancestors of Celestial Dragons, Giants, Fish-Men, and the rise and fall of that massive kingdom—the ancient history on the mural was obviously the "Void Century".
"Unless unexpected, the black shadow in the tree should be that 'Lord Imu'."
"He/She seemed to have cooperated with Davy Jones, giving him that round object, which might possess some power... Davy Jones used it to become the first pirate and plundered the 'World'."
"He brought all races under his command, establishing the 'Great Kingdom'—even deep-sea Fish-Men and powerful Giants joined him, granted 'Treasure Tree Adam' and 'Sunlight Tree Eve' as foundations for survival."
This could also explain why the rule of "Davy Back Fight", named after Davy Jones, is "Loser submits to Winner".
Because this might be what Davy Jones did personally back then.
He was the founder and first king of that Great Kingdom 800 years ago.
But then, he was clearly betrayed.
The ancestors of Celestial Dragons, the "Twenty Founding Kings", betrayed him and signed a new contract with Imu.
One can imagine a massive war must have occurred—Davy Jones allied with the "Sun", but ultimately lost. That "Sun" was undoubtedly Joy Boy.
The kingdom from 800 years ago was destroyed. Davy Jones might have been heavily injured, eventually forced to flee the Great Kingdom on The Abyss, hiding in the mist.
The World Government was established, and the "Order" of the sea became what it is today.
Of course, Ryuji still had many questions.
Like the origin of everything, information about that "Tree", and the round object Davy Jones obtained—many things were still mysteries.
Since the mural indeed had a small amount of ancient text, he really needed Robin to help decipher the content.
But clearly...
Not now.
"I have things to do, Miss All Sunday."
Looking at Robin, who wished to see the mural immediately, Ryuji said softly.
"Things to do?"
Hearing this, Robin suppressed her anxiety, frowning slightly.
"Didn't you just return from a mission?"
Ryuji shook his head. "No... going to the Florian Triangle was just a 'Prerequisite' for the mission."
"The real mission starts now."
"The Leader has ordered, the stars will gather."
"I received the summons; I must respond."
Ryuji said in a low voice. "Coming back this time was just to introduce him to you before leaving..."
Saying this, he pushed open the secret room door.
A tavern appeared before him.
This was the public identity of Baroque Works' temporary headquarters at Whiskey Peak—Cactus Saloon.
At this moment, Robin saw at a glance.
A skeleton lying in the center of the tavern.
Robin's eyes lit up instantly. "Lord Ryuji, could this be... a skeleton from eight hundred years ago?"
She almost instinctively reached for her archeology gloves.
As soon as she spoke, she saw the skeleton blink—even though he had no eyes.
"Ah? Me?"
He pointed at himself with a bone hand.
Then...
"!"
He jumped up angrily. "How... how rude! Do I look like I've been dead for eight hundred years? I've been maintaining myself properly... Oh, though I am indeed dead, Yohohoho!"
"However, judging by the voice, the esteemed lady seems to be a beauty. Would you mind showing me your pan..."
"Alright, save the boring skull jokes and pervert jokes for later."
Ryuji interrupted him mid-sentence.
Seeing Brook shrinking aside, muttering "It's not a boring joke, I thought about it for a long time... Oh, though I have no brain" while hugging his knees.
Ryuji turned to Robin. "This guy is Brook, he is..."
He briefly explained Brook's identity and the reason for his appearance.
"He will become a temporary member of the organization, under your command for now. Please also take care of the corpse he brought back."
After saying this, he turned to Brook. "This is my subordinate 'Heart Moon Fox'. Mr. Brook, before you find partners to fulfill your promise, follow her."
Yes.
After leaving "The Abyss", Ryuji returned to Thriller Bark and brought Brook and Ryuma's corpse out.
Brook was extremely grateful and made a request to Ryuji.
"I intend to continue fulfilling the promise to my comrades, return to Twin Capes to pick up 'Laboon' after circling the world."
"But before that, I think I need to find some reliable partners."
After the experience in the Florian Triangle, Brook clearly knew—it was impossible to traverse the Grand Line alone.
He needed strong, determined partners.
But clearly, such guys were hard to find.
"So before that, can I work part-time in your organization to earn some living expenses?"
"After all, looking like this, going elsewhere would scare people, which would make my conscience uneasy... Oh, though I have no heart, Yohohoho!"
Because of his request, this scene occurred.
"I see..."
Hearing this skeleton wasn't an 800-year-old artifact but just an ability user, Robin nodded with slight disappointment.
But as the person handling Baroque Works' internal affairs, she made a judgment quickly.
"You said you are a musician?"
"Genuine article."
"In that case, you'll be responsible for washing dishes in the bar."
Robin smiled. "Coincidentally, the bounty hunter washing dishes before was killed by a pirate on a mission."
Brook: "Uh... no... I said... music..."
"The pay is good—joining the organization comes with various allowances, monthly pay is at least this much..."
"Ah... this... Mission accepted! Ma'am!"
Mm... in a sense, this "Devil Child" was indeed a devil.
"Then, I'll leave first."
Seeing Brook captured by money and abandoning his musician pride, Ryuji grinned.
Seeing Ryuji heading for the tavern door.
Robin suddenly said, "Lord Ryuji."
"Hm?"
"You... will take me to see that mural, right?"
She asked.
But when Ryuji turned around, he saw the unconcealable worry in Robin's eyes.
Naturally—Robin wasn't stupid.
She had spent considerable time with Ryuji, knowing this usually lazy powerhouse rarely moved so solemnly.
Not to mention, Ryuji just said.
This mission wasn't something "He" wanted to do.
But the Leader issued a mission to "Them".
Robin could guess the meaning.
If her guess was right, then...
Undoubtedly, Ryuji was about to participate in a "Major Event" that would shake the entire sea situation.
And major events often meant—the enemy must be dangerous.
So, she naturally worried.
During this time, she had accepted and become accustomed to life in the organization.
The calm, stable life without worrying about Marine pursuit or organization betrayal, researching history openly, felt almost unreal to her.
It was a life she hadn't experienced since Ohara's destruction.
So unknowingly.
She had completely accepted her identity.
She wasn't just Nico Robin.
But also a Top Executive of The Zodiac, one of the Star Spirits under Ryuji... "Heart Moon Fox".
"Of course."
Then, Robin heard Ryuji's calm answer.
BOOM!
Thunder exploded.
In the sky, a lightning bolt fell in front of the tavern.
Accompanied by sweeping gales, Ryuji's figure transformed into a red dragon soaring amidst the lightning strike.
"We are 'The Zodiac'."
As he spoke, his eyes under the mask looked in only one direction.
"Of course we will win."
That was the direction of the New World.
That was...
The direction of "Totto Land".