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Robin put on a pitiful expression, her eyes widening with an almost pleading look.
Jasmine simply responded with a sweet, calm smile, her voice as smooth as honey. "I'm afraid that's not possible," she replied gently, her words carrying an unyielding finality.
"Besides, I don't have the authority to release you. Master Daiki has already given specific instructions regarding your capture. But don't worry they're all good people here and won't harm you."
Despite the comforting words, Robin couldn't shake her uncertainty.
The recent turn of events had been more disorienting than usual. Her mind, sharp and instinctual, had always guided her out of trouble.
But today, things felt different; the steady control she'd relied on was slipping.
"Then, could you at least tell me why I've been captured?" Robin asked, trying to glean some useful information from Jasmine. Her voice was calm, but the question bore a quiet urgency.
She knew her situation was precarious, yet she felt strangely compelled to understand the motives behind her captors' actions.
Jasmine paused for a moment, casting her eyes downward thoughtfully. "I'm not exactly sure," she admitted, her tone more reserved.
"But I can tell you this much our King is a kind man. Even if you're a pirate, he's not one to hurt others lightly."
"You see, even our navigator was once a pirate. And look at him now," she added with a smile, trying to dispel Robin's worries. "Everything's fine. No one's harmed him."
The words brought Robin little comfort, yet they intrigued her.
She had often heard tales of rulers who despised pirates or sought them out solely for profit.
However, the suggestion that a former pirate could work for this kingdom made her wonder about the King's character.
Could he be as benevolent as Jasmine claimed? Her thoughts drifted, and she began to dissect every detail, searching for clues to her captors' true nature.
In the depths of her thoughts, Robin barely registered Jasmine's voice urging her softly, "Eat something before it gets cold. You must be hungry."
The smell of the food on the table teased her senses, reminding her just how long it had been since her last meal.
However, her focus lingered on her surroundings, examining every corner, every creak in the walls, as though committing the room's layout to memory would offer some escape.
She had always been an excellent observer, and if she couldn't act yet, she could at least plan. Her cautious glances didn't escape Jasmine's notice, who watched her with a knowing but unbothered look.
The restraint collar around her neck was another silent reminder of her vulnerability.
She recognized its purpose immediately as an efficient tool for suppressing Devil Fruit powers without the physical paralysis caused by seastone.
She could still move and live normally, but her abilities were sealed, reducing her to an ordinary human, at least in the eyes of her captors.
Still, her mind was her strongest weapon, and that, they could not restrain.
As Jasmine arranged the plates, she offered Robin a final gentle smile before stepping out, leaving her alone once again.
The silence that followed was thick, pressing down on her as she huddled into a corner, pulling her knees close to her chest.
A subtle shiver ran through her, a reaction more to the unyielding uncertainty than the coolness of the room.
It was as if the walls themselves bore witness to her isolation.
In this small, dimly lit chamber on the ship, Robin knew, perhaps with a fatalistic certainty, that her situation was grave. Her eyes drifted to the door, solid and unyielding, and her mind flooded with memories of countless close calls, battles, and narrow escapes.
Yet here, confined to these four walls, she felt her once-formidable defences beginning to falter. She took a steadying breath, but the weight of her situation proved unrelenting.
Tears stung at her eyes, escaping despite her attempts to hold them back. For the first time in a long while, she let herself be vulnerable, the weight of her fears pressing down with each silent tear.
Outside, Jasmine rejoined the guards posted by the door, casting them a wordless glance that held no trace of sympathy.
It was merely duty a job that had to be done, no matter the cost.
The morning passed slowly, the ship's quietness almost haunting in the stillness of the open sea.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the ship, Anos was engaged in a lengthy discussion with Cobra.
They spoke casually, mostly about family matters and shared memories, keeping politics and national affairs far from their conversation.
Cobra seemed comforted by the casual nature of the discussion, but a subtle tension underlined Anos's demeanour.
Though he feigned relaxation, he knew the importance of his role and the weight of the secrets he harbored.
After midday, Anos returned alone to his quarters, seeking a brief moment of solitude.
As he settled into his chair, he closed his eyes, sensing Daiki's presence behind the door even before the knock sounded.
A knowing smile flickered across his face. "Come in," he called softly.
Daiki, standing just outside, didn't knock but waited respectfully, sensing that Anos had acknowledged his presence.
Once certain, Daiki entered, carrying an air of calm. Upon seeing Anos, he bowed low. "Your Majesty, the item has been located."
"Ah, very good," Anos replied, his eyes glinting with interest. "Have you managed to make any rubbings?"
Without a word, Daiki produced several sheets of paper, each marked with precise, dense symbols. Due to the historical text's sheer size, it had been transcribed in segments.
Anos reached for the sheets, taking a moment to appreciate the effort and precision involved.
These were no ordinary documents; they held the secrets of an ancient world, whispered through time in symbols few could decipher. "System," he called mentally, "scan and translate."
Almost instantly, a system prompt echoed in his mind.
[ Ding... Scan complete. Translation requires 10 million Beris. Confirm payment? ]
Anos felt a surge of irritation. "It's relatively cheaper than I thought it would be", he muttered before reluctantly consenting. "Fine. Pay."
[ Payment successful. Translation complete ] the system replied.
With a focused gaze, Anos scanned the translated text, quickly recognizing references to the legendary ancient weapon, Pluton.
His fingers traced the delicate lines as the details began to unfold before him: the weapon's origin, its construction, and, most importantly, its location.
As Anos absorbed the weighty information, his fists clenched.
The power promised by Pluton was both a thrilling and terrifying notion, something no one should wield without extreme caution.
Breaking his concentration, Daiki spoke, his voice low and steady. "Your Majesty, we encountered unexpected resistance. A crocodile known as the 'sand crocodile' showed up in the underground palace."
"We managed to drive him away, but he put up a fierce struggle. Most of his forces escaped, though we managed to capture one woman. From what I understand, she might be able to decipher the text."
A dark gleam sparked in Anos's eyes. "Oh? And where is she now?" he asked, intrigued.
"She's aboard the ship, under careful watch," Daiki answered, his tone respectful yet firm.
Anos's smile returned, one of satisfaction. "Excellent work, Daiki. You've done well." His expression shifted slightly as Daiki continued.
"Your Majesty, we were unable to destroy the historical text. It's remarkably durable, more so than anything we've encountered. Even with all my strength, I couldn't leave a scratch on it."
Anos only nodded, unfazed by the news. "Naturally. If it could be destroyed, it would have been erased from history eight centuries ago. Its resilience is exactly why it endures."
After a pause, Daiki ventured a question, his voice hesitant. "Your Majesty, what do we do with it now?"
Anos took a breath, his gaze returning to the rubbings. "This text only one person in the world can interpret it now, and she's in our custody. We'll visit her soon. For now, your mission is complete. Take some rest; the rest can wait."
Just as he finished speaking, Anos sensed movement outside. "It seems we have company," he said with a calm smile. "Head back. I'll inspect the ship once this matter is handled."
Daiki nodded and left swiftly, disappearing through a side passage as the main door swung open. In strode Vivi, her expression curious and slightly unsettled.
"I could have sworn I heard voices in here just now. Where is everyone?" she asked, scanning the room with wide eyes.
Anos met her gaze calmly. "Why are you here?"
"This is my home, isn't it? Why wouldn't I be here?" Vivi replied defiantly, seating herself on the sofa.
"Get up," Anos commanded sharply. His usually composed tone carried a note of irritation.
Vivi blinked, clearly taken aback. She had unknowingly sat on one of the rubbings he'd left on the cushion.
For a brief moment, Anos's stern demeanour softened, revealing his exasperation at the young girl's innocent brazenness.
However, Vivi was unfazed. She rose, glancing curiously at the rubbings he'd been studying.
Before she could reach for them, Anos gripped the papers, and with a fierce look, he squeezed until they crumbled into powder.
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