"Ding! Congratulations, Host. Reward: Gentle Fist mastered! Eight Trigrams Palms mastered!"
As the system's voice echoed in his mind, Finn felt a flood of information and muscle memory pouring into him.
"I'm losing now and I'm imprisoned by seastone. Can you tell me who you are?" Robin asked, her voice trembling with apprehension as she awaited her fate.
Finn smiled. "My name is Monkey D. Finn, and Marine Vice Admiral Garp is my grandfather."
Marine...
Robin's heart raced, feeling as if she had plunged into an ice-cold abyss.
"Just as I suspected..." Her eyes filled with sorrow as she laughed bitterly. "I knew this day would come since I ran away at the age of eight. I just didn't expect it to come so suddenly..."
"Hey, what are you feeling? Who said I'm going to capture you?" Finn said, removing the seastone handcuffs from Robin's wrists and tossing them to Tashigi.
"You're not going to capture me?" Robin asked, rubbing the red marks left by the handcuffs, looking confused.
Finn shrugged. "Why would you be arrested? Are you guilty of something?"
Robin blinked, her confusion deepening. "According to the World Government's orders, am I not considered a major criminal?"
"The death penalty is something the World Government has imposed on you, not me," Finn said. "Why would it concern me?"
"Eh?" Robin's jaw dropped in shock at Finn's remarks. She was stunned, then managed to choke out, "Isn't the Marine just a lackey of the World Government?"
Finn rolled his eyes, and Tashigi's expression darkened.
"I'm not badmouthing you; I just want to clarify..." Finn said.
"It's okay, no need to explain further. You've lost to me now, and you're under my protection. I'm very lenient with my own people."
Finn waved his hand dismissively and continued, "There's no crime in archaeology. The tragedy of Ohara was the fault of the World Government and the Marine. Not only will I not arrest you, but I'm also very interested in the secrets behind the historical texts!"
"Ohara! Wait a minute..." Tashigi's eyes widened in horror. "I remember now! You're the 'Son of the Devil'!"
Tashigi had heard of Nico Robin before, but hearing about Ohara made the connection clear.
"What do you mean by 'Son of the Devil'?" Nami asked, curious and confused, looking between Tashigi and Finn.
"Alright, let me explain the incident with Ohara. After hearing it, you two can judge for yourselves who is at fault," Finn said as he took a seat and began narrating the events.
Half an hour later...
"It's disgusting! Those scholars were just seeking the truth, why kill them?" Nami fumed, her anger palpable. She approached Robin, grabbing her hand and her eyes red with emotion. "Robin, the young master is right. You're not at fault; the World Government is to blame. They must have some dark secret!"
Nami, who had already suffered from the Dragon Pirates, now felt her own plight was minor compared to Robin's.
Robin, left as the sole survivor of Ohara at the tender age of eight, had endured a life of constant flight.
Nami thought, If it were me, I might have already broken down.
With that in mind, she held Robin's hand tighter. "Sister Robin, trust me, our young master is definitely not like the World Government! He will help you."
Tashigi's eyes were also filled with tears. "Those scholars who died were so innocent. If our young master had been there, he would never have carried out such orders."
Tashigi approached Robin, placing her hand on Robin's shoulder. "Miss Robin, please believe that there are good people in the Marine too! Our young master is one of them!"
Robin smiled, touched by their support.
"Yes, there are indeed good people in the Marine," she said, her eyes reflecting nostalgia. "There was a great man who was also kind-hearted."
She thought of Vice Admiral Saul, a giant who had opposed the World Government's actions.
Seeing Robin's melancholic mood, Finn decided to change the subject. "Robin, you're under my protection now. I have a surprise gift for you that I'm sure you'll find extraordinary!"
"Huh? Why wasn't there a formal introduction earlier? You're so eccentric, young master," Nami pouted, looking both cute and disappointed.
"Hey! You little greedy cat. After all the delicious food you've had from me, you still want a special gift?" Finn teased, pinching Nami's cheek and shaking it playfully.
"It hurts!" Nami's eyes brimmed with faux hurt as she rubbed her cheek. "Why am I always the one getting hurt?"
"Special gift?" Robin's curiosity was piqued. Though she didn't know Finn well, she sensed that the gift he mentioned was significant to her.
"Can I know what it is?" Robin asked eagerly.
"Haven't you been searching for the historical text in Alabasta? I know where it is!" Finn winked at Robin.
"You know?!" Robin's excitement was palpable.
Her quest for the historical text in Alabasta was the driving force behind her actions. Finn's revelation was thrilling.
"Where is it? Take me there!" Robin urged.
"Don't worry. It's noon now, and everyone is hungry. Let's eat first, then we'll head out after dinner," Finn said, gesturing for everyone to sit down.
Nami and Tashigi eagerly sat down, but Robin protested. "No, I can't eat right now. My mind is focused on the historical texts. You go ahead; I'll join you after eating."
Nami and Tashigi exchanged puzzled looks.
Not eating?
That was more a refusal to accept the young master's hospitality.
A few minutes later...
Robin started eating.
"Delicious! This is amazing!" she exclaimed.
"Is this truly the kind of delicacy that should be in the world?"
"Nami, give me some of that sauced elbow!"
"Tashigi, save some of that delicacy for me!"
...