In a dark room where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.
"Whut?"
Dak groggily opened his eyes, taking a few seconds to adjust to the darkness before he could make out a few details.
He didn't know where he was.
But he could see a silhouette sitting on a barrel in front of him.
"Awake?"
A slightly commanding voice echoed.
Dak blinked, then realized that this woman must be Robin.
The reason he didn't recognize her immediately was partly because his mind was foggy, and also because Robin's voice now differed significantly from how it sounded nine years later.
Nine years later, her voice was commanding too, but it seemed deeper, rougher, likely a result of the events she had experienced during those years.
Especially during her time in Alabasta, living in a sandy environment, it was impossible for her throat not to undergo some changes.
"Nico Robin?"
"You were looking for me after all. I've been watching you all day. I didn't expect the Marines to tolerate you for so long."
Robin's tone carried a hint of disbelief, clearly shocked by Dak's method of continuously laughing around the Marines.
"If I didn't do that, I wouldn't have been able to find you."
Dak grinned, not blaming Robin for the rough treatment.
Given Robin's current situation and everything she had gone through up to now, it was already good that she hadn't killed him outright. Plus, earning Robin's trust might take some time.
"What's your relationship with Saul?"
Robin didn't seem to care much about why Dak was looking for her.
She was more concerned about Dak's relationship with Saul, needing to know this before deciding whether to continue talking to Dak.
"Uh"
Dak furrowed his brows, considering what reason he could fabricate to gain her trust.
"You better tell the truth."
Robin's voice rang in Dak's ear, as she had moved in front of him, pressing a dagger against his neck.
However, these actions posed no threat to Dak.
At this moment, Dak could easily subdue Robin with just his Conqueror's Haki, and even without it, the defense provided by his Armament Haki was likely enough to withstand the dagger's edge.
"Well, even if I told you, you wouldn't understand much anyway."
Dak shook his head, choosing his words carefully before saying, "Robin, I've seen your past."
Was this a lie?
Of course not.
Dak had not only seen Robin's past but also her future.
Of course, that was assuming everything remained unchanged. Now, Robin's future was naturally different.
"What did you say?"
Robin tightened her grip on the dagger, even bringing it closer to Dak's neck.
Dak's words had startled her greatly; anyone would be shocked to hear someone else claim to have seen their past.
Dak could clearly feel the sharpness and coldness of the blade but remained unfazed.
"Are you a Devil Fruit user?"
Robin furrowed her brows, then thought of the possibility of Devil Fruit powers.
"I'm not."
Dak shook his head.
"Then on what basis do you say that?"
Robin clearly didn't believe him.
If it had been just after her escape from Ohara, she might have been easily deceived, but not anymore.
She had reason to suspect Dak was just trying to trick her, perhaps to hand her over to the Marines.
"'Listen, Robin, the sea is vast and boundless. One day, comrades who will protect you will appear. Being born into this world, you're not destined to be alone forever. Run, Robin, and remember to laugh like I taught you, Derechichichi~'"
Dak lifted his eyes to look at Robin, who was just inches away, and said this somewhat distantly.
This character was also one of his favorites, though he liked Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji more, of course.
But after coming to this world, that fondness had faded a bit, even if seeing Robin only made him a little startled.".
Robin, hearing Dak speak like this, was suddenly taken back eleven years.
It was Saul who had said these words to her when Aokiji froze his lower half. That scene was still deeply etched in her mind.
Only two people knew this phrase, her and Saul, and possibly Aokiji.
It was impossible for anyone else to know.
"So, do you believe me now?"
Dak looked at Robin, who slowly moved the dagger away, and grinned.
"What else do you know?"
Robin looked at Dak with a strange gaze.
It was normal, as Dak might be the only person in this world, aside from Aokiji, who knew her past.
Used to disguising herself, Robin felt uncomfortable with someone like Dak suddenly appearing before her.
"A lot, a lot. It even includes things you don't know."
Dak tried to move, only to realize his hands and feet were still bound by Robin, "Can you untie me? It's uncomfortable. I won't hurt you; I specifically came to take you away."
"Take me away? To where?"
Robin's eyes showed a hint of wariness; she wasn't going to trust someone who appeared out of nowhere.
Even if this person knew a lot.
But what of it? In this vast sea, isn't betrayal common?
"To my store, emmm, or you could say my home. Don't worry, you'll be absolutely safe there, even Fleet Admiral Sengoku would have to behave himself."
These words might seem normal to Dak.
But to Robin, it sounded like Dak was either crazy or boasting.
There's no place absolutely safe in this sea.
And who takes a girl home the first time they meet without having spoken a few words?
Is this person a thug?
Robin had reason to suspect Dak was a pervert coveting her beauty, a type not uncommon.
Many bandits, mobsters, and pirates coveted her beauty, wanting to possess her. She had often used this to pit these men against each other, becoming a sort of "pirate's Diao Chan."
"I can't possibly go, you-"
"What if I say I have news about Saul? Would you still not want to go?"
Dak didn't wait for Robin to finish but interrupted her.
"What do you mean?"
Robin, hearing what Dak said, was taken aback, then looked at him anxiously, "Is Saul still alive?"
"Come home with me, and I'll tell you."
Dak's smile was wicked, at least in Robin's eyes.
It was like that of a creepy otaku uncle luring a young girl.
When it comes to recruiting clerks, Dak is quite unreasonable, just like with Bon Clay, simply knocking them out and taking them away.
Robin was already receiving much better treatment than Bon Clay; if Robin's role in the original story wasn't so significant, her situation wouldn't be much better than his.
(End of Chapter)