Though Tony's words seemed unrealistic, they gave Robin a sense of warmth she hadn't felt in a long time—like the kind of warmth from Salon, or her mother.
No one had ever treated her as a partner before, and now, at that very moment, her hollow heart seemed to be illuminated by a ray of light.
That ray of light was Tony…
She decided to take a gamble, believing that this man in front of her was worth the risk.
What Robin didn't realize, though, was that her decision would change her life forever.
In the future… this man named Tony would truly cause the World Government to be thrown into chaos.
Upon hearing that Robin had agreed to join him, Tony was overjoyed.
In a flash, he scooped her up into a princess carry and spun around with her in his arms.
As you might expect, this action was met with Robin's angry retaliation—a flurry of slap attacks. Dozens of arms sprouted from Tony's body in a whirlwind of flowers.
If Tony hadn't been a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, he would have surely been beaten into a swollen mess.
Robin gritted her teeth, her face flushed with embarrassment, stomping her feet in anger. It was the first time in her life a man had picked her up like that, and she couldn't do anything to stop this "pervert."
Though, she didn't hate it as much as she thought she would…
Tony quickly apologized in a very serious manner, claiming that his actions were all due to his excitement about Robin joining him.
So, it was "uncontrollable"!
Tony's little plan was absolutely brilliant—he got what he wanted while acting like a gentleman.
After his moment of joy, Tony turned his attention to the still-standing Daz Bonez and the terrified Mikita, who was sitting on the ground, trembling in fear.
"You two are lucky to have your lives spared. I'm in a good mood today, so I don't feel like killing anyone else."
"Go back and tell Crocodile that Nico Robin is now my partner. Don't think about seeking revenge."
"Otherwise, I won't hesitate to deal with him as well. Don't think I don't know what you're planning."
Daz Bonez was furious inside. Not only had two agents died in this operation, but the vice president had also defected. He knew a beating or scolding awaited him when he got back.
But he also knew that defying Tony now would only result in certain death. To challenge someone when you know you're no match is simply foolish.
At most, he would get a harsh punishment when he returned. Given the situation, that seemed like the best option.
In the end, Daz Bonez agreed to convey Tony's message to Crocodile, then helped Mikita to her feet, and they disappeared from Tony's sight.
...
After everything was settled, Tony and Robin took a stroll along the beach.
Tony's mind was already picturing the beautiful future scenes aboard his ship.
Meanwhile, Robin walked behind Tony, her thoughts racing. Although she had joined Tony's crew, she knew for a fact that Crocodile would never let her go so easily.
From what she knew, Crocodile was someone who would never give up until he achieved his goal. Moreover, Tony had killed two of his subordinates.
At this moment, Robin furrowed her brows, deeply troubled.
Tony immediately noticed her concerns and comforted her.
"Don't worry, Robin. Don't overthink things. If that crocodile's criminal record gets exposed, the Marines will never let him off easily."
"We're not like him. He's stuck here with no way out. But we can leave anytime. I believe he won't be able to figure out our stance right away."
"He won't dare to make another move against us."
Listening to Tony's analysis, Robin couldn't help but tease him.
"You really do think things through, but your methods are a bit... ruthless."
"Hahaha, I'm no big shot, so who cares if it's ruthless or not?"
"As long as it keeps us safe, it's a good plan."
Tony responded naturally. He had nothing to hide from his partners. Pretending to be a righteous person was too exhausting for him. He wasn't noble enough to be that kind of person.
Meanwhile, Mikita and Daz Bonez had returned to the Baroque Works base, where numerous assassins were sitting quietly in place.
Crocodile was in his office, smoking a cigar, quietly waiting for the good news from them.
Seeing that the office lights were still on, Mikita and Daz Bonez nervously pushed open the door.
Crocodile's brow furrowed as he saw only two of the five agents return… and Nico Robin was also missing.
She was the key to finding the ancient weapon "Pluton"!
Crocodile's face immediately darkened, and he stood up, his voice low but filled with killing intent.
"Mr. 1, where are Gem, Bora, and Robin?"
"Are they dead?"
Mikita, standing behind Mr. 1, started trembling, her body shaking with fear from Crocodile's oppressive aura.
Mr. 1 could only tell the truth now. He had been expected to be dead himself, so was there really a reason to fear at this point?
"Gem and Bora were killed by Tony, the Flame Controller, and Nico Robin… she listened to him and became his partner... she betrayed us."
Mr. 1 finished speaking and lowered his head, falling silent.
Bang!
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T/N:
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