Chapter 44: 44. Lucky Coincidence, Perfect Secretary

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- Ohara, West Blue The two crucial pieces of news instantly captured Alex's attention. With his keen senses, there was no chance he could have misheard. Since the Tree of Knowledge has now been completely destroyed, the only remaining link to Ohara is Nico Robin—the sole survivor, who was given a bounty of tens of millions at just eight years old. "Allow me to serve you, Captain." Laffitte, standing behind him, noticed Alex's reaction and his gaze shift. Twirling his cane lightly, he stepped forward towards the two individuals nearby. Eager to demonstrate his abilities in front of Alex, Laffitte clapped his hands. Immediately, the two men—who had been on guard due to the stranger's approach—went blank-eyed, as if all awareness had left them, standing dazedly before Laffitte. It was as though their minds had been taken over completely. Curious, Yamato asked, "Laffitte, what did you do to them?" Even as a child, Yamato could sense the change in the two men. "I've put them under temporary hypnosis," Laffitte replied with a grin. "Captain Alex, you may now ask them whatever you wish to know." "It seems you've eaten a Devil Fruit," Alex remarked, eyeing Laffitte. Such a skill was far from ordinary. "Yes, but let us deal with your questions first. I'll explain after we leave this place." Laffitte gestured invitingly toward the two hypnotized men, and Alex nodded, stepping forward. "Repeat what you were just discussing," Alex commanded. Under his gaze, the two men, now fully under hypnosis, quickly began recounting the information. One of them had indeed spotted Nico Robin and, fearing her infamous reputation—even as a mere child—had sought the courage of a companion to investigate further. Hearing this, the other man intended to go back, confirm the sighting, and then report it to the Marines in hopes of a substantial reward. "The infamous Devil Child... showing up on this island, of all places," Laffitte mused aloud. As a native of West Blue, he was all too familiar with the legend surrounding her. "Indeed, we're quite lucky," Alex replied with a smile. Nico Robin was, after all, Alex's primary target in coming to the West Blue. He had initially planned to draw her out using Poneglyph as bait, but fate had made things far simpler. Now, aside from those who possess the Voice of all things and the awakened ability of the Three-Eyed Tribe, Robin is the only person who can decipher the full history recorded in the Poneglyphs. Of course, Alex had little interest in the so-called Void Century; to him, the past was just frozen history. The present and future are what define the era. What he truly sought were the three ancient weapons, capable of reshaping the world. He already knew the locations of Pluton and Poseidon—the only mystery that remained was Uranus. Alex didn't know much about Uranus, only suspecting that it might be in the World Government's grasp. If Robin's knowledge could reveal even one or two abilities of this ancient weapon through the Poneglyph, it would make her skills invaluable to him. Of course, beyond her historical expertise, Robin would grow into a striking beauty. One of the two iconic "goddesses" of the Straw Hat crew in the original story two years later, her allure and elegance were unquestionable. (T/N: The real reason) Moreover, with her extensive knowledge and the power of the Flower-Flower Fruit, Robin's abilities in espionage and tactical support could be unparalleled, making her an ideal candidate for a position in management. In Alex's mind, she'd make the perfect secretary. How could he not feel intrigued by the prospect? Led by the man who had spotted her, Alex and his group arrived at a small restaurant. According to their guide, Robin was working here under an alias as a young laborer. After the man had served his purpose, Laffitte snapped his fingers, putting him out cold, and then carelessly left him slumped on the street. "Sir, we're closing for the night," came the voice of the restaurant's owner as Alex pushed open the door. Alex strode to the bar and placed several tens of thousands of Berries in front of the man. "Take me to meet Nero—the young black-haired girl who's been working here recently." The owner's eyes widened as he quickly scooped up the money, nodding eagerly. He led Alex and the others to a back storage room. The room was cluttered with various odds and ends, with some makeshift bedding spread across a few tables pushed together. It was a stark, humble space, typical of a small eatery that would employ an eleven-year-old for cheap labor. Yet, Robin was nowhere to be seen. "This... Nero might have stepped out for a bit," the boss stammered with an apologetic expression. "It's fine. Prepare a nice spread of food and bring it here," Alex replied. "Consider it payment for the meal." The owner nodded quickly, rushing off toward the kitchen, spurred on by the allure of extra cash. "It seems the person you're looking for has slipped away," Maria observed, glancing around. The window above showed signs of having been opened from the inside. "She's clever, no doubt about it. It would make sense for her to make it look like she'd fled," Alex replied, moving toward a pile of wooden barrels stacked to the side. It was an easily overlooked hiding spot, particularly with a window nearby. Using his keen Observation Haki, Alex sensed a tense, frantic heartbeat emanating from the innermost barrel. With a slight movement of his hand, the barrel floated toward him, and as it tipped over, the loosely placed lid fell off, revealing a small black-haired girl who tumbled directly into his arms. Robin's face paled, and in an instant, she crossed her arms. Small hands sprouted from Alex's arms, attempting to break free, but despite her struggles, she couldn't move him. "Relax," he said calmly. "I'm not here for the bounty on your head—79 million Berries is irrelevant to me." Robin's struggles gradually ceased, though her gaze remained sharp, her guard still fully up.