Chapter 117 - Nico Robin 02.

[Chapter Size: 2022 Words.]

Third Person POV

Somewhere Sea, First Half of Grandline.

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Robin didn't respond to Luffy; she continued walking towards the stones as if her legs had gained a life of their own, ignoring all the jewels and gold in the place and walked up to the indestructible stones. As Robin's eyes traced the intricate contours of the Poneglyphs, a torrent of thoughts tumultuated her mind. Each inscription was like a link to her past, a direct connection to the lost era of Ohara. The words engraved on these stone blocks were a silent testimony to the forbidden knowledge she had always sought to preserve.

The atmosphere in the vault room became dense, charged with the historical significance these Poneglyphs carried. For Robin, it was more than a mere encounter with ancient artifacts; it was a meeting with the very essence of her existence, with her passion for history, and her struggle to unveil forbidden secrets and all the price she had to pay with no results until this day.

As she observed the meticulously carved symbols, silent tears streamed down her eyes. These tears were not of sadness but of a complex mix of emotions. It was the joy of finally finding what she had to sacrifice and lose in her life to be here, the death of her mother and Professor Clover, the sorrow for the destruction of Ohara, and the constant threat looming over her for being the last survivor of the island for almost two decades. While she remained immersed in contemplation before the Poneglyphs, a torrent of emotions swept through Robin's heart. Luffy's words echoed in her mind like a hopeful melody, 'Join me,' and a growing warmth settled within her. Her gaze, initially fixed on the ancient inscriptions, shifted to the pirate who remained at some distance.

Luffy maintained a small smile, radiant with genuine happiness for Robin. The girl, whose life was marked by tragedies and loneliness, finally found a ray of light. She was a character in the story he cherished the most, and Luffy was determined to help her achieve her dream.

In an impulse of emotion, Robin attacked. Her eyes met Luffy's, and she surprised him with a hug. Her arms enveloped the pirate, and she pressed her head against his bare chest. Tears of gratitude flowed freely as she murmured sincere words.

"THANK YOU!" She shouted tearfully, letting the emotions overflow.

"Thank you..." She murmured again, still wrapped in the hug, with tears of joy streaming.

"Thank you..." Robin's expression conveyed not only gratitude but also a mix of relief and hope. In that embrace, a special bond formed between them, marking the beginning of a shared journey in search of the secrets buried in the Poneglyphs and, perhaps, the blossoming of deeper feelings amid the twists of fate.

Luffy put his hand on her waist and moved her back a bit, fixing his eyes on hers with penetrating seriousness.

"I'm not lying when I say I want you with me, Robin. I'll help you achieve your dream because I like you and also need you. After all, my journey is intertwined with the lost century." Luffy smiled as he observed the woman from top to bottom, his words echoing with extraordinary weight.

Robin finally realized the unsettling closeness with that man and stepped back a bit, her face turning a shade of red as she realized the unintentional boldness.

"Sorry for that..." she murmured, embarrassed.

"Hahaha. It's okay; I have nothing to complain about it." Luffy said, maintaining his smile, but his eyes remained serious with the matter being discussed here.

"What did you mean by your journey being intertwined with the lost century?" She quickly changed the subject to a point that caught her attention.

Luffy, keeping his serious expression, shared a secret with Nico Robin. "Let me tell you a secret, Nico Robin. Most of the Poneglyphs we find across the seas describe ancient weapons, apologies, and some other information. But if you want to know about the lost century, the story is stored on the last island, Raftel." His words reverberated, emphasizing the importance and seriousness of this knowledge.

"That?!" A shock ran through Nico Robin; her expression revealing a mix of surprise and fascination.

"This means that..." She mumbled, barely able to articulate her words.

"Yes, Gol D. Roger learned the story with a part of his crew," asserted Luffy, his conviction transparent in his words.

"Are you really telling the truth? How do you know all of this? Who are you!?" Robin couldn't understand this man, his intentions, and how he could possess so much vital information she had never heard of. He even claimed that Poneglyphs outside Raftel do not describe the lost century, leading Robin to question if Monkey D. Luffy could also read them.

"If you think I can read them, you're mistaken," Luffy cut off that thought immediately. "As for how I know these things, it's a secret I'll take to the grave. Not even my wives and children will know. I'd like us to keep this conversation between us too..." Luffy spoke, asking for silence and trust from Robin. He would never reveal about his past life to anyone in this world, trusting that Robin would limit herself to suspicion, and he trusted that she wouldn't share this conversation with anyone.

"As for who I am, isn't it obvious? I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I intend to be the Emperor of the Seas, and I need an archaeologist like you with me, Robin. I don't care if I'm hunted by the government or if you consider yourself a curse. Let me tell you a secret: before coming to the Grand Line, I killed a Celestial Dragon, and everyone on this ship knows it. If you want proof that I won't betray you by turning you over to the government, then trust my words. If I have to burn the world just to protect you, I will!" Luffy spoke with conviction.

Luffy's words shocked Robin on a level she only remembered happening at the time of Ohara's destruction. The revelation unfolded before her, plunging her into a reality that defied her expectations. Robin's expression was a mix of shock, disbelief, and curiosity in the face of the captain of the Straw Hat's bold words.

"You really killed a Celestial Dragon?!" She exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Yes, he wanted to take my mermaid, something I'll never accept." Luffy spoke with a serious tone.

"And want another proof that I want to trust you? You know this same mermaid? She's one of the Ancient Weapons, called Poseidon." Luffy wasn't afraid to say something like that to Robin; she would find out easily in the future, and he would prove that he trusts this woman.

"Hm!?" Robin couldn't be more surprised. Of course, she knew very well about the Ancient Weapons, as Crocodile was after one of them.

"She's an ancient weapon?! How is that possible?" Robin exclaimed with a tone louder than she could control.

For Robin, Luffy's words echoed in the recesses of the vault room, and the revelation about Poseidon engulfed Nico Robin in a whirlwind of perplexity. Her eyes, now widened in surprise and disbelief, sought Luffy's for some additional explanation. The weight of the information he shared seemed overwhelming, challenging all of Robin's understanding of the world.

"It's hard to believe, I know. But you'll have to figure that out on our journey. Crocodile's plans are doomed to fail, as Pluton is in Wano, actually, the weapon is the country itself, from what I know." Luffy spoke, and a flash of memory reminded him a bit about the existence of Pluton. If his suspicions were correct, Pluton would be located at the bottom of Wano.

Robin was beyond shock now. Her internal thoughts became a chaos of inquiries as she tried to assimilate what she had just heard. 'Who is this man?! And how does he have information that would shock the world?!' The question pounded in her mind, even though Luffy had already answered; the reality of these revelations was so overwhelming that Robin felt on the brink of the abyss of the unknown.

Robin stared at Luffy with an unparalleled intensity; her hands trembled before the disclosures of this man who possessed information capable of redefining her entire perspective on the world. Luffy's desire to reach Raftel sparked in Robin a flame of hope that had been dormant until then. For the first time in her life, she looked at a man with the light of expectation in her blue eyes.

Raftel, the island she had longed for so much, the place where her dream could come true. Those words resonated in Robin's mind, evoking memories of her troubled past. The image of the giant Saul, the friend who embraced her in childhood, emerged in her memory.

Saul would look at young Robin affectionately, his enormous hands resting gently on her fragile shoulders. His eyes, filled with wisdom and compassion, would meet hers with a comforting gleam.

"Little Robin," Saul would begin with a deep and reassuring voice, "the sea is vast, and life is a journey full of challenges and discoveries. One day, you will find companions who care deeply for you, people who will share your dreams and help light up the darkest paths. Dereshishishishishi!"

He would smile, revealing a warm expression, as if he saw a promising future for the girl. "Believe me, even in the most intense storms, there is always a rainbow waiting to color the horizon. And when that day comes, embrace these companions with an open heart, for they will be invaluable treasures on your journey."

With these words, Saul would express his belief that Robin's destiny was intertwined with extraordinary events and that she would find not only allies but true friends who would be a light in her life, making her journey through the sea richer and more meaningful.

Robin felt the magnitude of her decision echoing in that moment. Joining Luffy was not just a choice of loyalty; it was the promise of a future where she could continue her quest for Poneglyphs and unravel the mysteries that these inscriptions hid, knowing what the government so feared. She saw in Luffy someone who truly understood the value of her goals and was willing to support her on her journey.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding this new path, Robin understood that sometimes it was necessary to take risks to achieve the true freedom she had always longed for. With determination, she decided to trust the hope that was budding, taking the next step toward an uncertain destiny but now accompanied by true allies who shared her eagerness to uncover the world's secrets.

"I will join you, Monkey D. Luffy." She finally spoke with tears and a small smile.

As she uttered these words, Robin felt a mix of emotions intertwining in her chest. The decision to join Luffy was not just a logical choice, but something deeper was happening within her. As she looked at the captain of the Straw Hats, she realized that, beyond gratitude for the opportunity to fulfill her dream, there was a strange feeling beginning to blossom.

She tried to rationalize, delving into the deep waters of her own psyche to understand what it meant. He was a remarkable man, undoubtedly. His unwavering determination, his ability to inspire, and, above all, his genuine understanding of the value of each crew member's dreams were characteristics that could not be ignored.

Robin was not accustomed to trusting or depending on anyone, but there, in that moment, something began to change. Perhaps it was the way Luffy looked at her, as if he saw beyond the scars of the past, or perhaps it was the promise of a true camaraderie that she had never experienced before.

[System - Crew: Nico Robin has joined as a member of your crew!]

"Hahahahaha! That's great; welcome to the group, Robin." Luffy smiled at the message and was happy to have someone like Robin, even before reaching Alabasta.

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