Night Conversation

Chapter 87: Night Conversation

The strength of Aokiji was undeniable, but he was also truly lazy. After a hearty meal on the Black Pearl, he went straight to the hammock and fell asleep.

He wasn't afraid of the cold; there were very few things colder than him in this world. Although his heart was warm, his Devil Fruit ability was ice-cold. He should exchange abilities with that cold-blooded guy, Sakazuki...

The Admirals were interesting characters. The most enthusiastic one ate the coldest fruit, the coldest one ate the hottest fruit, and the laziest one ate the fastest fruit. Such abilities...

The night breeze grew cooler in the harbor, but Rodney didn't feel much because it was still warmer than Kuzan's ice. If not for his Boil Release, he guessed that his flesh and blood would have frozen, and his skin would have been frostbitten. He was lucky.

With Kuzan on board, there was no need for him to split his clones for night watch. There were very few places safer than where an Admiral was, but this guy was indeed formidable. Like Garp and the others, it seemed like he could fall asleep anytime, anywhere.

Passing by Robin's library, Rodney knew that only Robin and Reiju occasionally visited there.

Seeing the light inside, he knocked on the door, and Robin said, "Come in."

Seeing the visitor, she smiled, "Captain, why are you still up so late? Can't sleep?"

"Can't sleep, just came out for a walk." 

Rodney pulled over a chair and sat down, looking at the notes in front of Robin. 

"What are you doing?"

"Just some historical notes." 

Robin flipped through the notes in front of her. 

"Not just the official history, but other histories I want to know about as well."

"Is that so? Do the scholars of Ohara think the same way?"

"They all do." 

Robin fell into memories, shook her head, and said, "Captain, as you know, I want to know that part of history."

"I know." 

He rested his head on the table and said, "I'm also somewhat interested in that history. What's hidden in the Blank Period? Why does the World Government want to conceal that part of history? Also, Admiral, eavesdropping is not a good thing."

Robin's expression changed, she covered the notes in her hand as she saw Kuzan scratching his head, wearing his eye mask as he walked in, "Ah, I'm really not imposing my presence, but why are my senses so sharp, even though I'm not good at using Observation Haki? I just happened to pass by."

"You completely didn't hide your aura, did you? It's just that Robin isn't good at combat and hasn't used Observation Haki, otherwise, anyone with some strength can feel it." 

Robin wasn't good at direct combat, but she had a lot of room for maneuvering in espionage, assassination, and using her Flower Flower Fruit, her potential for growth was also quite high.

"So, why did Admiral come here so late? Don't tell me you got up to use the bathroom. This is Miss Robin's private domain, and you can't just barge in."

"Don't say that. After all, I let her go back then." 

Sighing, Kuzan also pulled over a chair and sat down, saying, "I've been aware of Robin's whereabouts over the years. Rodney, are you going to be her backer?"

"What's the problem?"

"That's okay, but be prepared to be held accountable by the World Government. Germa's eldest daughter might be forgivable, but I'll definitely write about Robin in my report."

Rodney's hands clenched tightly, and his fingertips turned slightly white. He lowered his head, lost in thought, and it wasn't clear what he was thinking.

Rodney scratched his head with a helpless expression. 

"I say, don't you know what happened back then? Robin didn't do anything, right? She's just a survivor of Ohara. You guys are capable of doing such things, framing a little girl with such a ridiculous crime."

When Ohara was destroyed, after knowing that Robin survived, the World Government issued a bounty on her, concealing the real reasons for wanting her and giving her a laughable crime of "destroying six Marine battleships," with a bounty of 79 million bellies.

Tell me, how can such a young child destroy six Marine battleships? Are you out of your mind?

Kuzan: "These are the World Government's people."

"Yeah, a bunch of idiots." Rodney waved his hand.

"If you know what happened back then, did you choose to protect Robin for the sake of official history?" Kuzan asked.

"Yes, any problem with that? Besides, a pretty lady like Robin is much more pleasant to look at than a brute like you. Don't underestimate people's curiosity."

"But sometimes curiosity can kill. Just like those people from Ohara." Kuzan looked at Robin as he spoke.

"I know, but humans just love to court death, don't they? They keep jumping around the edge of death, repeatedly. When there are no external enemies, humans are capable of killing themselves."

"I didn't expect you to be a philosopher."

"No, I'm just someone who inherited the three major attributes of humanity."

"Three major attributes?"

"Rationality, Emotions, and Morality!"

Kuzan: ??

Robin: ??

"Here we go again, Captain's words are so inexplicable."

"Cough, back to the topic. Kuzan, I want to say, Nico Robin, I will protect her! Even if she's no longer a Warlord!"

"Ah, you'll be hunted down. You'll go from a Shichibukai to a criminal with a bounty worth billions. Is it worth it?"

"Sure, I have no objections. I've never worried about such things. According to the rules, I haven't violated any of the World Government's laws. Even if you're an Admiral, you don't have the authority to dismiss my position as a Shichibukai. Besides, Nico Robin is under my command. According to the rules, I can use my privileges to request the World Government to pardon her crimes."

Every Shichibukai could make requests when they assumed the position, but Rodney hadn't made any. The matter of the bounty was a concession from the World Government, not his request, so he still had the right to make requests.

But regarding Robin, the likelihood of the politicians agreeing was slim.

"Indeed, I don't have the authority to arrest you now." 

Kuzan followed the rules but wasn't bound by them. As Rodney said, they hadn't violated any rules, so he had no right to arrest them. In fact, he didn't want to arrest Robin; if he wanted to do that, he wouldn't have let her go twenty years ago.

He just wanted to see if Rodney was willing to protect her.

Although he was beating around the bush and evading the issue, he was still willing to protect her. Did he consider her a partner? Nico Robin, you've come across a decent person this time, someone who likes to court death and play with fire.

Well, it has nothing to do with me. Official history... It's not within the mission scope...

Looks like the report needs to be revised.

"I'll keep an eye on you. Rodney, when you threaten the World Government, I'll personally come to arrest you." Kuzan got up to leave.

"Is that so? Threaten the World Government?" 

Rodney took out a shuriken and played with his nails, saying, "Aren't the Marines always the World Government's lapdogs? Just like us Shichibukai, shouting 'absolute justice,' but executing the World Government's orders. You've killed quite a few ordinary people, too. Sometimes your reputation is even worse than that of pirates."

The Marines were the World Government's enforcers, maintaining safety on the seas. But sometimes, they had to follow the World Government's orders, and some of those orders could be inhumane and contradict their own ideals.

But they had no choice but to follow them.

Many Marines doubted their sense of justice. What were they fighting for, in the end? Many people who admired justice became confused about their own and the Marines' sense of justice after a series of events.

Indeed, there were many bad people among pirates, but you couldn't generalize; there were still some good ones among them.

Choosing to eliminate those pirates was one thing, but it didn't mean that there weren't any good people among them.

Kuzan just remained silent. It was an undeniable fact that the Marines were different from what they used to be. But he knew that many of them still aspired to justice!

That was the reason he continued to fight until now.

"I have always believed in 'justice.'"

"Your justice? The Marines' justice? The World Government's justice? Or the justice of those five old geezers, Admiral Aokiji?"

Kuzan remained silent and left, closing the door behind him.