Chapter 25: Nico Robin

Standing across from Law the two of us clash blades as we sparred on the deck of the Black Pearl.

Not only to help each other improve our swordsmanship, but also to help each other try and unlock our armament haki.

It's been two weeks since I informed the crew about the different types of haki and we began training to awaken and master them.

Alfia and I are good on the observation haki front, but neither of us has managed to grasp armament haki.

While where everyone else in concerned no one has managed to unlock either observation or armament haki yet. But everyone is taking the haki training seriously so I'll know they'll get there eventually.

Now then concerning conquerors haki I am at a complete and utter loss on how to awaken it. Hell I don't even know if anyone on my crew has it. Myself included.

Though if any of us do I am sure if we keep progressing and working to surpass our limits it will eventually awaken. I mean that's what happened with Luffy, Zoro, and even Kid, so I'm sure we'll be fine.

Law and I eventually finished our spar.

After we did so I moved to grab a towel I set out nearby and used it to dry the sweat off my body.

"Ouch!"

Hearing the familiar yell of Weisz as I did.

A common occurrence in the past two weeks. The same for everyone else on the ship except for me and Alifa.

Why?

It's all do to the training regimen I came up with to unlock everyone's observation haki.

We would all carry batons on us and then hit each other at random times except for when we are sleeping, eating, or in the bathroom. This way the others will be able to awaken observation haki at a much faster rate. Since along with the random baton hit method we also use the blindfold training method Rayleigh did with Luffy during the two-year timeskip.

At this rate my crew will soon be able to use observation haki like its nothing.

I just wish armament haki was as easy.

But again I'm sure we'll all get there eventually.

After I finished drying off I went and put the towel away.

Then I relieved Alfia from steering the Black Pearl and took over myself. Our ship reaching the next island in our journey.

As we docked the crew explored the island and stocked up on supplies.

But we also subtly looked for any leads on the whereabouts of Nico Robin.

Which we've been doing ever since we entered West Blue.

Though it has not been easy. But then I never expected it to be. Robin has been on the run from the World Government and damn near everyone else in the entire world for over a decade now. Her skills at evading detection are polished and refined beyond belief.

Still, we will find her and we will make her a part of our crew.

If only to give her a place where she can truly be herself and truly relax and smile from the bottom of her heart.

The crew and I finished up on the island and then set sail.

As we sailed from island to island we continued our training, and also searched for the whereabouts of Nico Robin.

Over a month and a half passed we as did the same routine over and over again. Until eventually we caught a break.

We met an info broker who gave us the name of the island where Robin was rumored to last be seen.

A place called Thicket.

Which was only a few hours sail from our current location.

Paying the man the others and I quickly returned to the Black Pearl and set sail.

Hoping that Robin would be on the island when we arrived.

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(3rd Person: POV)

In just under two hours the Black Pearl reached the island of Thicket and docked on its far side, away from the city and the port.

That is because if Robin was still on the island and they did manage to find her and bring her aboard their ship they didn't want any of the locals to see them do so. For fear they would rat them out to the marines.

A strong possibility.

Standing on the deck of the Black Pearl Roberts face his crew. A serious expression on his face.

"Here's the plan everyone. Weisz, Alfia, and I will head into town and look for Nico Robin. While the rest of you remain here." Roberts explained. "One more thing, don't mention to Robin that we know anything about her past."

"Why, wouldn't that make her trust us if we did?" Weisz questioned.

Roberts shook his head at this. "No Weisz, it wouldn't. The thing about Robin is she's likely never felt safe. Always on the run, everyone you know and loved dead, others thinking you are a criminal. That doesn't breed trust, but instead the opposite. So if we push she'll definitely shut down." He explained.

Though Roberts is no psychologist he is pretty sure that is what might happen if they try and force Robin to trust them. Just like the Straw Hats they need to let her integrate with the crew and then show her they truly care about her as a person and aren't afraid to watch her back. Even if the enemy is the entire world. Which in this case it is.

But since Roberts is looking to be the next king of the pirates he doesn't give two flying fucks about the World Government in the first place. So really its no skin off his back.

Weisz nodded at Roberts explanation.

"Alright, let's do this." Roberts said.

He, Alfia, and Weisz then de-boarded the Black Pearl and hiked all the way to the main town on Thicket.

Once there Alfia and Roberts spread out their observation haki over the entire town. Weisz at their side they moved through the town inch by inch, looking for any sign of Nico Robin.

Eventually they found just what they were looking for.

Standing on a crowded street Roberts spotted a familiar woman.

She looked younger than in the anime/manga and was wearing a cowboy but Roberts was sure he was not making a mistake.

He would never forget her face.

Especially since in his previous life he used her as fap material. But that's neither here nor there at the moment.

The point is Roberts spotted Nico Robin amongst the crowd.

"Found her." Roberts whispered to Alfia and Weisz.

The two of them then subtly looked in Nico Robin's direction. Confirming Roberts' words.

"So, what's the plan?" Weisz asked.

"You two circle around, I'll approach her." Roberts said.

Nodding Alfia and Weisz left his side and headed down a side street to circle in front of Robin. Meanwhile Roberts began to approach her.

He got closer and closer, until eventually he was within inches of Robin.

Then as soon as he was he whispered to her. "Nico Robin, a pleasure to finally meet you."

The second after Roberts said this to Robin he noticed her tense up. But it only lasted for an instant before she visibly relaxed. Telling him she had encountered this exact situation many times and had gotten used to dealing with it.

"What do you want?" Robin asked.

"Follow me and you'll find out. And if you try to run I'm sure everyone would love to know you're here." Roberts said. Threatening Robin.

Which he did not feel too good about. But if he wanted to get her alone and out of the open this was the only way.

I mean he could just beat her up and forcefully take her back to the Black Pearl but that would defeat the purpose of trying to recruit her to his crew and gaining her trust.

Plus he's not that kind of guy.

After Roberts spoke he started walking, Robin following right behind him.

The two of them eventually reached a side alley and walked down it. A few minutes later they were completely alone.

As soon as they were Roberts turned around to face Robin.

Who already had her arms crossed and raised.

Seeing this Roberts knew what was coming. Robin was going to use her devil fruit powers on him.

But before she could Roberts closed the distance, grabbed onto Robin's left arm and began using [Leech] to drain her vitality.

Within a few minutes of this Robin could no longer stand.

As she started to fall to the ground Roberts caught her in his arms. The moment after he did so Robin started to struggle to free herself from his grasp.

But do to her loss of strength because of Roberts' ability her struggle was vain.

"Hey stop that. I'm not trying to hurt you." Roberts spoke.

As he did so he took a good look at Robin from her head all the way down to the tips of her shoes. Roberts examined Robins' entire physique, and as he did so he came to realize the anime and manga didn't do her justice.

Robin was much prettier in the flesh than on a page or a screen.

'She truly is gorgeous.' Roberts thought.

Just after he did so Weisz and Alifa entered the alley.

Sensing their approach Roberts turned his gaze toward them.

When he did so he found Weisz getting ready to cry tears of blood, while Alfia had a passive expression on her face.

"No, let me go." Robin said.

"Like I said, just calm down. We are not going to hurt you." Roberts repeated.

"Maybe she would believe you if you obviously didn't drain her vitality." Alifa curtly spoke.

"Well she didn't leave me a choice, she was going to attack me. I had to defend myself." Roberts replied. Shrugging his shoulders after he did so.

"Sure, but did you have to drain so much of her vitality she became this weak?" Alifa questioned.

"Well if I could give it back I would." Roberts said.

A moment after he did so a crazy idea popped into his head.

Roberts knew he could drain the vitality from others and use it to empower himself. But what if he could also used the vitality he drained and stored to empower others.

It was a crazy idea, but then again Roberts knew most devil fruits powers were crazy. Most of them were not so simple and straightforward, especially those of the paramecia-type.

Law Op-Op No Mi, Brook Yomi Yomi No Mi, even that bastard Doflamingo's Ito Ito No Mi. All three three fruits were paramecia-type whose users in the series were able to do incredible things with the abilities they gained after eating them and truly coming to understand their fruits.

So why couldn't Roberts do the exact same thing.

Deciding to give his idea a try Roberts focused on the vitality/energy he had stored inside of himself. He then tried to transfer it to Nico Robin.

For a moment nothing happened. Then all of a sudden Roberts felt the vitality transferring from him and into Robin.

This brought a smile to Roberts face.

Since it just gave him a new devil fruit ability to explore and master.

Slowly but surely Nico Robin regained her strength.

Once Roberts was sure she had enough to function on on her own he stopped transferring vitality to her. He then helped Robin stand to her feet.

After he did so he backed away from her.

Which left Robin staring at him. She also sent a glance in both Weisz and Alfia direction and realized she was surrounded with no way to escape.

'Is this the end for me?' Robin thought. 'Mom, professor Clover, Saul, everyone. It looks like I'll be seeing you soon.'

Robin resigned herself to death.

Seeing the look on Robins' face Roberts sighed. "Listen to me carefully. We are not here to harm you Nico Robin. Instead I want you to join my pirate crew."

Hearing this Robin was for one of the rare times in her entire life speechless.

Staring at Roberts her mouth hung open, yet no words came out in response.

Several seconds passed as Robin simply stared at Roberts. Her brain still trying to process the words she just heard from him.

Noticing how stunned Robin was Roberts waved his left hand in front of her face for a few seconds, but stopped when he got no response.

"Captain I think you broke her." Weisz said.

"And to think you were the one who said we shouldn't come on strong when asking her to join us." Alfia sharply spoke.

It's a good thing Roberts had thick skin otherwise those comments just now might've given his severe emotional damage.

Ignoring them he once again shrugged his shoulders.

As he did so Robin finally returned to her senses.

"Sorry, can you repeat that? I don't think I heard you." Robin spoke.

"I said, join my pirate crew." Roberts said. "The name is Soren D. Roberts. Captain of the Thanatos Pirates and the next king of the pirates. As well a man who lives for adventures. A pleasure to meet you Nico Robin."

"Yes. Robin replied.

Since for the second time in as many minutes she was left completely and utterly speechless.

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Nico Robin: Age 19 years old