Chapter 60: Incarnate as HR

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Incarnate as HR Chapter 60: Incarnate as HR "I didn’t expect you to be hiding so deep." Nico Robin’s expression was complex. Faced with Reiner’s formidable lineup, her will to fight evaporated. This man is truly insidious. She now fully understood the scene from earlier. It wasn’t that the Blue and Red Ogres possessed spatial movement abilities; rather, all these powerful fighters were products of this blond man’s power. Although she didn’t know the specifics of his ability, the seas were full of strange Devil Fruits; likely it was a type that allowed creation and control of subordinates. Robin relaxed her hands, letting them fall, then lifted the back of her coat and sat down on a chair, looking warily at Reiner. "What is your objective? After I join you, what do you plan to use me for?" "The Ancient Weapons?" Click. "We don’t need anything," Reiner said, recalling his undead. He lit his cigarette with a lighter, then tucked the lighter back into the breast pocket of his blue shirt. "You just continue searching for your Poneglyphs. Uranus, Pluton, Poseidon... we have no interest in any of them." Reiner continued coolly, "Among the Poneglyphs, there are four Road Poneglyphs. Bringing them together points the way to the Final Island, Laugh Tale." "Our captain wants to become the King of the Pirates, and you want to pursue the truth of history. It just happens we can travel together." Reiner’s voice was very calm. He slowly stood up, walked over to Robin, and casually sat on the edge of the table beside her. "Where did you learn this information?!" Nico Robin’s pupils dilated, utterly shocked. In all her years chasing the Poneglyphs, she had never even heard of these ’Road Poneglyphs’. And the names of the Ancient Weapons – Pluton, Uranus, Poseidon – ordinary people couldn’t possibly have access to this kind of information; the World Government guarded it tightly. Reiner just smiled faintly. How else? Anime’s perspective, of course. "Not many people know about this even in the New World, but it’s not exactly a huge secret..." In fact, pretty much anyone of note in the New World knew about it. The real great secret was the history of the Void Century hidden within. That was information even the strongest individuals standing atop the seas in the New World rarely knew. But Reiner wouldn’t mention that point; he had no interest in it either. Hearing this, Robin lowered her head in contemplation. So there was still so much about the Poneglyphs she didn’t know. And here she thought, as the only person left in the world who could read the Poneglyphs, her understanding of them was already unparalleled. The New World... A spark of light rekindled in Robin’s previously desolate eyes. She had originally planned to just give up. But now, it seemed there was still hope. Thinking of the Ohara scholars who were silenced because they sought the truth during her childhood, Robin’s gaze became even more determined. I’ll try again in the New World! At this moment, the thought of ending her own life had completely vanished from her mind. Robin lifted her tanned face and said softly to Reiner: "I understand. I will consider it." "Okay. Let’s leave it at that for today then." Reiner didn’t press further. His main concern had been that Robin might attempt suicide; that’s why he had rushed here overnight. Now it seemed Robin would likely continue on the path of collecting Poneglyphs, so he didn’t have much else to worry about. "Our ship is docked on the coast about seven or eight kilometers east of the ’Nanohana’ port." "We’ll be staying at the Royal Palace for the next couple of days too, waiting for the Log Pose to set its magnetic record before departing." Reiner stood up, glanced at Robin’s shoulder – the spot injured by Crocodile earlier still showed traces of blood. "You should treat that injury. I’ll head back first." As he turned to leave, he left behind a classic HR parting phrase: "We look forward to having you join us." Reiner picked up the two black suitcases and walked straight out of the casino. He knew Robin was one of the few truly intelligent people around, and he knew about her obsession with the Void Century. Just revealing a tiny bit of information would allow her own mind to connect the dots and infer much more. To survive in the New World, lacking a reliable faction to depend on would make progress incredibly difficult. Currently, she had nowhere else to go. The Straw Hat Pirates were the obvious choice. Even if only temporarily, she would definitely come. As for whether she would leave later, Reiner wasn’t worried. Everything depended on the amazing Luffy. Given the atmosphere and bonds on their ship, someone like Robin, who had been adrift and alone since childhood, would feel like she had finally come home. Summoning the hawk, Reiner leaped onto its back and flew directly towards the Royal Capital without stopping. Under the night sky, a giant hawk spread its wings, soaring straight through the cold, desolate expanse. "Exhausted today," Reiner murmured, lying back on the hawk’s back, gazing boredly at the bright moon above. "Aokiji... he’s another troublesome one." Reiner couldn’t help but think of the man secretly watching over Robin. He still had some impression of the Admiral who displayed overwhelming strength upon his introduction. If Robin could settle down peacefully, it would be fine; Aokiji would probably just turn a blind eye. But if she couldn’t remain stable and continued drifting between various factions, Aokiji himself might eventually step in to deal with her. Even if Robin herself harbored no dangerous intentions, the mere fact that she could read the Poneglyphs made her extremely feared by the World Government. Constantly moving between major powers, even unintentionally, she would inevitably cause great chaos in the future – at least, that’s likely how Aokiji saw it. "Ai~~ No use thinking too much. Better focus on getting stronger quickly." Reiner placed his hands behind his head, closed his eyes, and began to rest. "Thriller Bark... still a long way to go..." From landing in Alabasta early yesterday morning until now, the entire time had been spent either fighting or crossing the desert. Even for them, possessing superhuman constitutions, they were utterly exhausted. Physically, they were okay, but mentally, their eyelids felt heavy. According to the route, after a few more islands, they should reach Jaya Island. Reiner couldn’t help but think of Enel – user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and Observation Haki with an incredibly terrifying range. If things went as expected, he should be able to merge Enel’s template too. Compared to the ’somewhat useful’ Sand element control and the ’who knows what it’s useful for’ Fire element control, Reiner greatly coveted the high-attack, high-speed attributes inherent to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. More importantly... It’s super cool! After returning to the Alubarna Royal Palace, Reiner was led by a guard to his room to rest. The others had also turned in early, only Nami and Vivi were still up chatting. The next morning, Reiner slept straight through until noon. The blazing sun shone through the window, illuminating the entire room brightly. Knock knock knock~ A knock sounded at the door. Reiner, still drowsy-eyed, climbed out of bed. "Coming." Sitting on the edge of the bed, he rubbed his eyes, put on his glasses, and, with his golden hair completely messy, slowly stood up and opened the door. Meeting his eyes was a tall figure. His bluish-yellow curly hair was meticulously styled. He cleared his throat as if testing his voice. "Oh, oh~ Mr. Reiner. I’ve come to escort you for your meal," Igaram smiled, pinching the collar of his shirt. "Mister, you’re still alive! Looking good," Reiner recognized Igaram and smiled back. "The Baroque Works people earlier said they threw you in the sea to feed the fishes." "Actually, I was captured and locked up the whole time," Igaram explained, gesturing with a ’please follow’ hand motion. "Yesterday, the Marines suddenly raided one of Baroque Works’ bases. I only managed to rush back late last night." "I see. Vivi must be very happy then." Reiner smiled lightly, following Igaram’s direction while running a hand through his hair to tidy it. "Where are the others?" Igaram naturally knew Reiner meant his companions. "They are already in the reception hall. Only you and the swordsman mister are left." "Zoro hasn’t woken up yet either?" "No... his room is already empty. We just can’t find him anywhere." Igaram looked slightly awkward. "To prevent you from getting lost as well, I came personally to call you." Reiner: "..." Following Igaram to the reception hall, Luffy was already eating heartily. Seeing Reiner arrive, he called out indistinctly, "Reiner, you’re here! Where’s Zoro?" "He’s definitely lost, for sure," Reiner stated calmly, walking straight over and sitting down between Nami and Chopper. "You really know how to sleep like a pig," Nami said irritably, handing him a portion of meat. "By the way, where did you go last night?" "Went to Rainbase. Crocodile’s casino," Reiner replied, taking the food and biting into it directly. Right, haven’t brushed my teeth yet. Ah well, smoke first. "Casino?" Nami paused, then instantly realized he must have gone looking for money. She stood up, hands on her hips: "Bastard! You actually went secretly without telling me!" Immediately after scolding him, her expression instantly changed to one of fawning flattery. She leaned close, whispering in his ear, "So how much did you loot?" "Nothing! Not a single Beri!" Reiner slammed his hand heavily on the table, looking resentful. "Those damned Marines! They picked the peach before I could! Really pisses me off!" "What!?" Hearing this, Nami looked as if flames were burning above her head. She raised her fists and cursed angrily, "We were the ones who defeated Crocodile! It’s all your fault! Why didn’t you go immediately after the fight!?" ??? My fault? "Yeah, yeah, all my fault," Reiner rolled his eyes, lit a cigarette, and said, "All my fault for being too slow and only managing to get two hundred million. I’ll punish myself with one cigarette." They say women change faces quickly; Reiner didn’t know if that was true, but Nami definitely qualified. "Eh!? Two hundred million Beri!?" Nami immediately beamed with joy. "Aiya, you must be hungry after sleeping so long! Here, this roasted lamb leg tastes great, you..." "Dame." (No) "Ten million?" "Dame." (No) "Bastard! Starve then!" Nami huffed and went off to find Vivi. Even though Reiner never fell for her act, Nami persisted relentlessly, always trying to find ways to squeeze money out of him. "Where’s Sanji?" Reiner lowered his head and asked. Chopper lifted his furry head, his round eyes looking at Reiner. "He went to help in the kitchen. Said he needs to go buy some ingredients this afternoon too." "I see. By the way, how much longer for the Log Pose?" "Nami said we can set sail tomorrow. Um..." Chopper fidgeted, asking shyly, "Reiner, could you give me some money this afternoon? I want to buy some medicine materials. This region’s unique terrain and climate mean there are quite a few specific to the desert..." "Sure! From now on, just ask directly if you need anything," Reiner rubbed Chopper’s hat and smiled. "We’re loaded. Don’t worry about money." "Okay okay! Thanks, Reiner!" After a while, the group finished eating and rested for a bit. Around four or five in the afternoon, they prepared to explore the Royal Capital. Previously, due to the imminent war in Alabasta and considering Vivi’s mood, the group had been constantly rushing ever since leaving Whisky Peak. Now they could finally relax properly. Nami and Vivi stuck together as usual, preparing to hit the shopping streets. Luffy and Usopp got some pocket money from Reiner, planning to eat, drink, play, and experience the local Alabastan culture. Reiner, Sanji, and Chopper headed to the market to purchase supplies. Feels like I forgot someone? Ah well. Still haven’t found him. Forget it for now. The trio strolled leisurely down the bustling streets. The civilians, who had been in refuge yesterday due to the war, had now all started coming out. Perhaps because they had been suppressed by the conflict for too long, less than a day after the Rebel Army’s ceasefire, this once prosperous metropolis was gradually beginning to regain its liveliness. "I hear the camel meat here is excellent, along with the beef and lamb," Sanji suggested, pointing towards a butcher shop. "Let’s go take a look. I can make you guys Braised Camel Chops later." At sea, they rarely lacked seafood, but livestock and poultry still required landfall to replenish. Especially for Luffy – aside from Sea Kings, he disliked small fish and shrimp, and even considered shellfish not real meat. "Braised Camel Chops, huh? Sounds good. Let’s go." The group headed towards the butcher shop. While Sanji was picking out meat, Reiner noticed Chopper staring intently at a cotton candy vendor’s stall nearby and took him over. "Boss, make me one cotton candy, please. Pink," Reiner requested, stopping before the small stall and pointing behind the owner. "Alright! Coming right up!" "Reiner, how did you know I wanted pink?" Chopper asked curiously, looking up from Reiner’s shoulder. "Hm? Because it looks like a cherry tree," Reiner replied casually, taking the cotton candy from the vendor and handing it to Chopper. "Thanks," Chopper blinked, took the cotton candy, and licked it. Very sweet. Chopper had only been on the ship for about a week. Everyone treated him with great care and affection, but he hadn’t really gotten to know the others well yet. Chopper looked curiously at Reiner, licked his cotton candy again, and smiled contentedly. "Reiner, you’re actually a very considerate person. Gentle, like Doctoreen." "Am I? Actually, everyone on the ship is very gentle, especially Sanji. But..." Reiner took out his wallet, handed the vendor a 100 Beri coin, and asked with interest, "Chopper, who on the ship do you think is most like Dr. Hiriluk?" Hearing this, Chopper rolled his eyes thoughtfully, carefully recalling everyone on the ship for a moment, then answered directly, "Luffy." "Figured it would be the idiot captain! Hahaha!" Reiner laughed lightly, then led Chopper away. "The temperature difference in Alabasta is huge, so the fruit grown here is very sweet. Let’s go buy some fruit wine." "Damn it! Wasn’t I just in the Royal Palace!? How did I end up here!?" Meanwhile, on another street, a green-haired man covered in bandages, three swords at his waist, emerged irritably from an alley. "Don’t go, Mr. Swordsman~~" From the alley behind Zoro, a scantily clad woman with an enchanting figure chased after him, shouting: "All our dancers here are eighteen and beautiful as flowers! Please, just come inside and take a look!" "She actually followed me out here!?" Hearing the voice, Zoro’s face instantly turned green. He gritted his teeth and bolted. "Damn it! How do Four Eyes and Curly Brows deal with these people!?" (End of this Chapter) ♧♧♧ -> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE -> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS Chapter ♧♧♧ -> 15 Advanced Chapters Now Available on Patreon!! -> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais (Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally) If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that’s help the story a lot Thank you