Chapter 68: New Member Robin, The Ope Ope no Mi Acquired

Their eyes met.

Kuke stepped onto the shore and saw Nico Robin rushing out of the crowd. She looked younger than he had imagined.

Neither of them said a word.

"Come on, from now on, I'll protect everything about your future," Kuke said, extending his hand.

Robin couldn't help but smile through her tears. Reverently, she placed her delicate hand in his, symbolically entrusting her entire future to him.

"Your nightmare is over. Enjoy the journey to your dreams," Kuke gently patted her on the back. "Welcome aboard."

He admired Nico Robin deeply. Compared to someone like Luffy, who had a family legacy backing him up, Robin's struggles were far more admirable.

Only those who had truly faced the pressure of the World Government could understand just how powerful that entity was.

Kuke had his advantages with his unique abilities, but Robin? She had nothing.

"Mm!" Robin nodded softly.

"Come on, meet your new comrades. They'll be your trusted allies," Kuke said as he led Robin toward the Radiant Eclipse.

The other women on board looked curiously at Nico Robin. She wasn't a nobody; her name was well-known across the seas, and they had all learned about her before arriving.

They felt sympathy and admiration for her.

"Now that you've joined the crew, you're safe," Hancock said, standing in for Gion, who wasn't present. "Unless all of us fighters die, you won't be in any danger."

Stussy chuckled, "Now that Nico Robin has joined the crew, I'm curious how the World Government will react. I bet they'll have no tolerance left for us."

Lily clenched her fists, "We're not afraid of them!"

Belo Betty added, "I like you."

Makino smiled warmly, "If you're hungry, just let me know what you want to eat."

The crew gathered around Robin, offering her kindness and support. Robin felt another wave of emotion, an overwhelming urge to cry.

Since the destruction of Ohara, she had never experienced such warmth.

Everyone she had encountered after Ohara's fall had only wanted to use her for her bounty. They wanted to trade her for the massive reward she carried on her head. Even those who didn't want the money had trembled at the mere mention of the World Government.

She had never been treated like this before.

"Everyone…"

Robin was so moved, she could barely speak.

The Sun and Moon Pirates were even better than she had imagined. They were perfect. At that moment, she felt a surge of loyalty, a determination to live and die with this crew.

After being betrayed so many times, Robin had grown used to it. But now, she had made up her mind.

The Sun and Moon Pirates were her final destination.

"Captain, please take care of me," Robin said, bowing slightly, her body radiating with a bright energy.

She was fully committed to joining the crew.

The twelfth member of the crew: Nico Robin!

Position: Historian

Devil Fruit: Paramecia-type, Flower-Flower Fruit

Combat Power: 3,562

Robin's combat power wasn't particularly high. Despite her bounty of nearly 80 million Berries, her strength didn't match it. Robin's high bounty was not due to her combat ability, but her knowledge.

Her unique ability to read the Poneglyphs made her just as valuable to Kuke as anyone else on the crew.

And Robin's future potential wasn't weak either. With proper training, her Flower-Flower Fruit had more to offer, including new forms and techniques. One day, she could even hold her own against a Yonko like Big Mom.

"Let's go. Time to meet up with Gion," Kuke announced.

The Radiant Eclipse came and left quickly, without much delay. It had been easier than expected. Kuke had prepared for the possibility of waiting a month, but Robin had arrived even faster than the ship.

Once again, Kuke was reminded how useful his reputation from invading Mariejois had been. Having a fearsome name made recruiting much easier.

Even if an Emperor of the Sea had come, it would have been nearly impossible to convince the cautious Robin to join so willingly. But because of their actions, she had stepped forward without hesitation.

...

Meanwhile, on Minion Island in the North Blue…

Pirate captain Diez Barrels sat in his hideout, toying with a heart-shaped Devil Fruit.

"The Ope Ope no Mi is worth this much? The World Government is offering 5 billion Berries for it?" he muttered as he carefully placed the fruit into a chest.

Five billion.

He had never seen so much money in his life. If he got that much, why would he even want to stay a pirate?

"What's going on? Why is it so hot in here?" Barrels suddenly felt an intense heat.

Even though Minion Island was a cold place, the temperature had shot up unnaturally.

"Caw!"

A high-pitched cry rang out as the roof of the building melted away, revealing a blazing phoenix that landed inside the hideout.

The fiery bird slowly transformed back into its human form.

Gion had arrived.

"A former Marine. Is that the Ope Ope no Mi in your hand?"

"Traitor Gion?" Barrels was horrified at the sight of her. "Why are you here?"

He quickly clutched the Ope Ope no Mi behind his back.

"So, the Ope Ope no Mi is in your hands."

With confirmation, Gion wasted no time.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll eat the fruit—"

Before Barrels could finish his sentence, Gion moved.

In her presence, this group of pirates didn't stand a chance.

Bullets and cannon fire melted into nothing within the fiery aura of the phoenix.

Gion grabbed the Ope Ope no Mi.

In a flash, she transformed into her phoenix form again and shot into the sky, leaving the island behind.

Less than a minute had passed.

She didn't want to waste a second more.

After nearly a month apart from Kuke, Gion couldn't wait to return.

Her phoenix wings spread wide as she soared into the clouds.

Meanwhile, not far from the island, a flamingo-themed pirate ship was racing toward Minion Island.

"We can't afford to lose the Ope Ope no Mi again!"

Onboard, Donquixote Doflamingo's eyes gleamed with insane greed.

The last time he had tried to obtain a Mythical Zoan, the Phoenix Fruit had slipped through his fingers.

This time, no matter what, he was determined to get the Ope Ope no Mi.

No one was going to stop him.

Suddenly, something felt wrong. Doflamingo looked up, stunned as he saw a crimson trail streak across the sky, left by the phoenix disappearing over the horizon.

"A phoenix?"

Doflamingo's heart sank.

No. It couldn't be.

Not again.

"Faster! Hurry up!" Doflamingo yelled frantically, urging the ship forward. He was growing impatient, and in his desperation, he used his own abilities to move toward the island.

When he arrived, all that was left was destruction and burning bodies.

"Damn it!!!"

"Doflamingo, we have a problem. Vice Admiral Tsuru's warship has just arrived at the port."

"Vice Admiral Tsuru? She's demanding we hand over the Ope Ope no Mi on behalf of the World Government. Otherwise, they'll attack us."

Hearing this, Doflamingo nearly spat out blood in fury.

"I didn't even see the Ope Ope no Mi! Gion took it!!! If the World Government wants it, they can go take it from the Sun and Moon Pirates! Why are they coming after me?!"