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**Chapter Headline Serial ・ Big News 15 ・ The Girl Who Wasn't Needed**
North Blue, on a certain island. Her mother and family thought she was useless, so no one needed her. They took her to the mountains and warned her not to follow them back. The four-year-old black-haired girl was isolated and left helpless in the forest, crying in despair. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew by, sending old newspapers flying around her... At the end of the mountain path, tall figures started to appear.
---
Robin cautiously said, "Is it really okay? We're outsiders, and if we get caught, it could be bad, right?"
Hancock smiled playfully, "What does it matter if we're caught? They'll forgive me anyway. It's no big deal!"
Her smile was so beautiful... Robin stared for a moment, then quickly shook her head, realizing how easily Hancock's looks could distract her.
Hancock suddenly exclaimed, leaning in so close their faces were almost touching, teasing, "Were you... wait, are you blushing? Ha Ha Ha!"
It was rare for Robin to feel embarrassed, and she snapped, "What are you laughing at?"
Hancock knew well the power of her charm, so why did she have to overreact just because Robin got distracted for a second?
"Oh, nothing. It's just that, Jolyne, your reaction was so amusing just now!" Hancock laughed. "I always thought you were so calm, but it seems I was wrong..."
Hearing Hancock call her "Jolyne," Robin had the sudden urge to tell her that her real name was Nico Robin... but then she snapped out of it.
What's wrong with me? Is Hancock's charm really this overwhelming?
No wonder Hancock naturally assumed no one could ever deceive her... No wonder she found that scene from *The Room* so hard to accept...
---
"Why are you grinning like that?" Liam walked over.
Hancock immediately looked displeased, pulling at the corners of her mouth in protest, "What's wrong with my smile?!"
Does this guy have bad eyesight? My smile is beautiful!
Liam shrugged, "I'm afraid you'll distract me, so I have to tease you a little to balance things out."
"Is that...?" Hancock tilted her head, suspicious, "Is that a compliment?"
"Interpret it however you like!" Liam said as he lay down next to Robin, stretching out. "I thought I heard something about books earlier. Are you still talking about *The Room*? I told you, that was just to mess with Hancock a little!" His dark armor approached, massaging his body to relax his muscles.
"What did you just say?!" Hancock fumed. She flipped over, raising her leg to kick Liam in the head. Liam stayed lying down, completely unbothered, as his combat partner, B.I.B., blocked the kick for him.
"That's not it." Ignoring the scuffle between Hancock and the dark armor, Robin lightly patted a few books on her lap and whispered to the relaxed Liam, "Hancock noticed I've been reading a lot, so she thought she'd take us to the Snake Princess's palace library to borrow some more books..."
"That might not be a good idea."
Liam didn't pay any attention to the fight happening next to him, his legs crossed as he said, "If we get caught, it could be a real hassle. The environment here is great, with plenty of nutritious food, and the beasts we use for training are strong. I want to stay here for a few more years... If we get discovered, we might have to run."
Robin wanted to say that running away together didn't sound like a bad idea.
Hancock, on the other hand, was annoyed, pushing aside the bothersome black-armored man and huffing, "What are you so afraid of? Even if we get caught, so what? As long as I'm the one who takes you there, the Snake Princess will definitely forgive me!"
Liam shook his head. "It's not that simple."
Hancock glared at him, "Why not?"
Liam replied, "Because I'm different."
Hancock frowned, "How are you different?"
Liam said, "Even you, if you break the iron laws of your Amazon Lily kingdom, I doubt the Snake Princess would let you off so easily."
Hancock was annoyed, "Why are you talking about this? Just tell me how you're different!"
Liam sat up. "Because I'm a man! If the Snake Princess finds out that you brought a man into Kuja, no matter how much she likes you, she won't forgive you easily..."
"Wait a minute!" Hancock held up both hands in disbelief. "What did you say you were?"
Liam said, "A man."
Robin, who had been watching silently, widened her green eyes and opened her full lips in shock. Then, as understanding dawned on her, she closed her mouth again and returned to her calm demeanor.
No wonder I always thought Hancock treated Liam too casually. So, she...
She's been assuming Liam is a woman this whole time…
"You're a man? You're *that* kind of man?" Hancock was stunned, her worldview collapsing. She stared at Liam, muttering to herself, "No wonder Giorno felt so... ugh!"
Her neck creaked as she slowly turned to look at Robin.
Robin calmly said, "I'm a woman."
Her neck creaked again as Hancock turned back to Liam. Barefoot, she walked in circles around him, mumbling, "So, this is what a man looks like? Doesn't seem all that different..."
Liam let her observe him, and then, suddenly, she cried out in disbelief, "You've been lying to me this whole time?!"
"How did I lie to you?" Liam was confused.
Hancock stomped her foot and stood in front of Liam, hands on her hips, angrily leaning over him. "The book you showed me said that men are supposed to be horrible!"
"Are you out of your mind?" Liam said, mildly irritated. From this angle, Hancock's angry, pouting face was too much to handle. He was not immune to her charm, unlike a certain rubber man...
"You dare insult me?!" Hancock gasped.
"What are you so shocked about?!" Liam was equally surprised. "I've hit you plenty of times before, haven't I?"
"That's different!" Hancock fumed.
Liam waved his hand, calling over B.I.B. to step in. "Then let's see if you still think it's different after this!"
"Ah! No, stop it, Giorno!"
The spoiled girl was chased around by the dark figure for a few rounds before she had no choice but to spar with it again. Eventually, exhausted and lying flat on the ground, she gasped, "Stop... stop... I have no more Haki left..."
B.I.B. stopped and floated back to its master.
Liam was busy discussing the earlier conversation with Robin.
"It's been a while since I had the chance to buy any books." He scratched his chin. "Vegapunk's materials can't really be considered 'books'... and most of them are too complicated for me to understand... So, why not take a trip to the Snake Princess's library?"
Robin smiled. "Sounds good."
Hancock, still lying on the ground, groaned, "Just don't get caught!"
Liam teased, "Why aren't you saying, 'It doesn't matter, they'll forgive me no matter what' anymore?"
Hancock snapped back, "Then don't come! I'll just take Jolyne by herself."
"No way." Liam immediately refused.
Even he, with the power of the Gasu Gasu no Mi (Gas Gas Fruit) that allowed him to fly away easily, wouldn't dare enter the Snake Princess's palace without a backup plan. If things went wrong, it would be hard for Robin to escape.
"If that's out, and the other option's out, then what do you suggest?" Hancock sat cross-legged, propping herself up on one hand, looking troubled. "If Snake Princess and the others have been out to sea, they'll definitely recognize you as a man... Ugh, it's so annoying. Whatever, even if you're a man and breaking the law, they'll still forgive me..."
Robin gently reminded her, "You don't have to do all this for us, you're part of Kuja..."
Hancock raised her chin, "I want to!"
"It could be simple, though..." Liam grabbed B.I.B.'s left arm, patting the blue flame-patterned armor, and grinned at Hancock. "But you'll need a little something extra inside you!"
Robin sweatdropped, wondering if it was what she thought. Liam's strange ideas never failed to leave her speechless.
Hancock, clueless, had a big question mark appear over her head.
---
At dusk, in a secluded corner by the Kuja City wall.
The Den Den Mushi, having regained its Shiro Shiro no Mi (Castle-Castle Fruit) powers, swallowed all the scattered items into its Castle interior. Liam fed it some food, then scooped it up and stuffed it into his pocket.
Hancock stood motionless beside him, her expression a little vacant.
Robin's face was hard to read...
"Tank, start up!" Liam pulled Robin along, heading toward Hancock. Both of their bodies began to shrink rapidly...
(End Of Chapter)