The remaining Baroque Works agents, excluding Robin, wore grim expressions. They were all too aware of Gem's abilities… if the enemy had survived that explosion, it meant that the screams they heard just now were...
The terrifying visual impact made their bodies tremble uncontrollably.
Suddenly, a man wreathed in flames emerged from the smoke. The figure was clearly not the familiar Gem, but Tony.
This meant that the scream they had heard earlier was...
The fear from the scene made them shudder even more.
Tony showed no mercy. For those who sought to kill him, he saw no reason to spare them.
His cold voice, like that of the Grim Reaper, echoed in their ears.
"What's wrong? Is this the level of competence you Baroque Works agents have when it comes to assassination?"
"It seems your boss didn't teach you well enough. He turned you into weaklings who fear death?"
"The only people who are worthy of killing are those who are prepared to be killed in return!"
Bora glared at Tony, her anger flaring. She could not stand people who lectured others.
"Damn it! Don't underestimate us! We're senior agents of an evil organization!" Bora roared as she extended her arms, growing thorny spikes from them, preparing to charge Tony.
Tony did not hesitate just because his opponent was a woman. For those who sought his life... there was no room for leniency.
His cold, emotionless eyes stared down at her.
"Fire Fist!"
Boom!
A tremendous blast of fire shot out of Tony's hand, the flames powerful enough to destroy a Marine warship. The roaring flames surged forward like a wild tiger breaking free from its cage.
The flames engulfed Bora in an instant. A figure could be seen writhing in pain and screaming as she struggled within the inferno. Moments later, she collapsed, lifeless.
Tony paid no mind to the dying Bora on the ground as he calmly walked toward the remaining agents.
Seeing Tony's cold eyes and his ruthless methods, the remaining Baroque agents realized the truth: the man before them was no pushover. He was not some soft target they could easily crush. They were operating on a completely different level.
Being Devil Fruit users, they had believed their abilities would give them an edge, but in the face of Tony, those advantages were useless.
Daz Bonez, realizing the vast difference in power, understood that the man in front of him was someone far beyond their league. He had to think of a way to warn Crocodile that the Flame Master Tony... was extremely dangerous.
Mikita, paralyzed with fear, collapsed to the ground, trembling. Watching two of her companions die in flames right before her eyes made her fully aware of her own weakness. She was silently praying for her survival.
Robin, however, had witnessed countless deaths since childhood—beheadings, stranglings, poisoning, and murders. She had seen it all. Facing Tony's methods, she didn't feel much fear.
At this moment, all she could think about was how to escape from the predicament she found herself in. Though she stood behind Daz Bonez and Mikita, she knew this wasn't a safe place.
Just as she was lost in thought, Tony's next action left her stunned and unsure of what to do.
"Nico Robin, would you like to join me as my partner?"
"I sincerely invite you to join me. Never betray me..."
"Crocodile is not your true place. Instead of wasting time with him, why not come join me? Come aboard my ship and become my companion."
With that, Tony flashed a warm, inviting smile, the innocent, charming expression adding to the impression he had made on Robin.
Robin was taken aback. Just moments ago, the man before her had seemed like a grim reaper, and now he was suddenly transformed into a bright, upbeat young man who invited her to join his crew.
"Never betray..." The words Tony spoke made Robin fall into deep thought.
She remembered her childhood when she was dubbed the "Demon Child" by the Marines and had a bounty of 80 million Berries on her head. She had spent years looking for work to survive, but her identity and the astonishing bounty on her head made her repeatedly betrayed and abandoned by others. She had lived like this, alone, for nearly 20 years, never believing in the concept of "companionship."
But deep down, Robin still hoped that someone would treat her as a partner… someone who needed her, someone who would help her.
"The sea is vast, and sooner or later, you'll meet someone who's willing to protect you, Robin!"
At that moment, Salon's words echoed in Robin's mind, as if telling her that the man before her was the very partner she had been waiting for.
Robin forced herself to suppress the rising emotions inside, her heart torn, and said, "Partner? Heh, don't say nice things. My enemies… you can't even imagine the extent of them, the level of power they wield. When you find out, you'll abandon me, betray me… absolutely..."
Before Robin could finish speaking, Tony responded with a smile.
"Isn't it just the World Government? No big deal, we'll just destroy them."
"Whether or not you become my partner, that's up to you once you're on my ship. At least give me a chance to prove that what I've said is the truth."
Stunned… Robin had no idea how to respond to this man before her.
It turned out Tony had made himself very clear, but Robin couldn't see it.
A rare smile crept up on her lips, and a few tears welled up in her eyes. She covered her mouth, unsure if she was crying or laughing.
"Such an incredible man… would you really stand against the World Government for me?"
"Alright! I, Nico Robin, will join you… and see if you truly have the ambition…"
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T/N:
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