Kill The Guards And Find Robin

In front of an old private house, Arias knocked on the door.

Gulu, holding a broom as if he had been cleaning, opened it.

"Big brother? What brings you here?" Gulu asked, surprised to see Arias alone.

With a gentle smile, Arias softly inquired, "Is Luo Li your sister?"

"Ah? You know my sister?" Gulu asked, wide-eyed.

"She asked me about you earlier," Arias replied. "We were childhood friends. I recently heard she came to Obenluo Island, and since I was passing through, I thought I'd catch up with her."

He crafted the lie effortlessly, knowing a child Gulu's age wouldn't be able to see through it. But his visit confirmed one crucial detail: Robin was still on the island.

The small, insect-like drone Arias had deployed began its search in the vicinity. Meanwhile, he asked Gulu, "Is your sister at home now?"

With a touch of disappointment, Gulu shook his head. "No, she said she had something to take care of and wouldn't be back for a couple of days."

Arias nodded, noting that Robin likely sensed the danger after the recent incident. It was clear she had been nearby when Arias acted, but she was now on alert.

"Big brother, do you want to come inside for dinner?" Gulu offered, warming up to Arias. After all, when he opened the box Arias had given him, he found 100,000 beli inside—a sum that could support his family for a long time.

Arias smiled and declined. "No, thank you. I'll look for Luo Li. If I can't find her, I'll be on my way."

"Alright," Gulu replied, understanding. He didn't press further when Arias made it clear he wouldn't be coming in.

As Arias walked away, the door behind him closed. But what Gulu didn't notice was the small drone that had slipped inside just before the door shut.

Through the drone's monocular lens, Arias scanned Gulu's home, finding only Gulu's elderly grandfather inside.

"It seems Gulu was telling the truth—Luo Li isn't here," Arias concluded. But where could she be hiding?

Standing in the street, Arias pondered his next move. While the drone continued its search, Arias had also enlisted Job and others to help track down Robin. However, Robin was cautious, leaving no trace of her whereabouts.

Wandering the streets without direction, Arias suddenly noticed a group of soldiers armed with spears—but no armor—appearing before him. They quickly surrounded him.

The captain, wielding a long knife, pointed at Arias. "I am the captain of the guard of Obenluo Town. We have reports that you killed the town's sheriff. I'm placing you under arrest!"

Obenluo Island, though small, was part of a World Government member nation. As such, a small contingent of the kingdom's guards was stationed here. However, these guards, with their basic weapons and lack of armor, served more to oppress the townsfolk than to protect them.

The three officers who had been colluding with the late sheriff were among the captain's subordinates. The captain also had ties with local thugs like Job, using them to handle matters too unsavory for the guards to address directly.

"How tiresome," Arias muttered, not stopping his advance. With a flick of his will, the iron spearheads in the guards' hands melted into molten iron, reforming into flying knives that swiftly beheaded the entire group.

Leaving their bodies behind, Arias walked on, unconcerned. These guards were useless against pirates and existed solely to exploit the innocent. Their deaths brought no tears, only relief from the townspeople who had long suffered under their tyranny.

The surrounding crowd fell silent, too terrified to speak. This man was more terrifying than any pirate, yet he didn't harm ordinary people and paid fairly for what he needed. Many silently rejoiced at the demise of the corrupt guards.

In a nearby teahouse, a girl in a sun hat sipped her tea, observing the scene below with a serene expression.

"He's not your typical pirate. If he kills guards in a World Government-aligned country, he can't be with the government. Is he from the underworld, perhaps sent by Morgance?" Robin mused, trying to piece together Arias's identity.

She didn't notice the small drone that had landed on the table in front of her.

Suddenly, Arias, who had been walking away, stopped. A smile played on his lips as he watched the drone's live feed.

In the blink of an eye, his body dissolved into iron particles, reappearing instantly in front of Robin.

"Got you, Nico Robin!" Arias declared.

Robin's heart skipped a beat as she realized the man had figured out her identity. But she quickly regained her composure, smiling gracefully as she asked, "What do you want with me?"

Arias sat across from Robin, taking in the sight of her. The nineteen-year-old had a youthful vibrance that was only hinted at in the anime, but her beauty was undeniable.

"Nico Robin, the Devil Child, with a bounty of seventy-nine million beli. A survivor of Ohara," Arias recited, each word deepening Robin's shock, though she maintained her calm exterior.

"Ohara's scholars were wiped out by the World Government through a Buster Call for investigating the Void Century. You, only eight years old at the time, were accused of sinking six Marine warships. It's absurd!"

Robin was astonished at how much this man knew about her past, even details about the Poneglyphs and the true reasons behind Ohara's destruction.

"You've spent eleven years running, constantly betrayed, with no one to trust," Arias continued, locking eyes with her. "Join me, and I can promise you'll never be betrayed, never discriminated against, never bullied."

He leaned back slightly, offering a rare smile. "I have no interest in ancient texts or the Void Century's secrets, but if that's what you seek, I can help. I even know where a few Poneglyphs are located. If you're interested, I can tell you."

Robin remained silent, her mind racing. This man knew far too much. She had searched for years without finding a single Poneglyph, only hearing rumors of their existence. Yet, he claimed to know their locations.

What could his true intentions be if he didn't want to capture her or use her knowledge? Why did he want her to join him?