Chapter 290: Robin's Night Visit and the War Is About to Start
Chapter 290: Robin's Night Visit and the War Is About to Start
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After opening all the treasure chests, Aoki felt quite satisfied with the harvest. With a simple thought, he left the alternate space.
Upon returning to the real world, he noticed someone in the room.
"Robin?" he called out.
Robin turned around, her expression calm. "Are you back?"
Aoki gave her a glance, then pulled out a chair and sat down.
"You're not here to apologize too, are you?" he asked bluntly.
Robin remained silent.
Aoki shook his head. "Each of you carries such a strong sense of responsibility."
Robin finally spoke. "After all, it's because of me..."
Aoki waved his hand, cutting her off. "Alright, I already know what you're going to say, so spare me the speech. Let me make one thing clear: in my eyes, you are far more important than Heaven. Got it?"
If Robin had simply been a valuable butler before, now, after receiving the mission related to "ONE PIECE," her importance had skyrocketed. Without her, the mission would have been impossible to complete.
To Aoki, the most crucial people in Heaven were Hancock and Robin.
Robin hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to speak.
Aoki sighed. "Don't tell me you're thinking that because of you, Heaven has been targeted by both pirates and the Navy, and it'd be better for everyone if you left?"
Robin stared at him silently.
Aoki continued, his tone firm. "Don't even think about it! Do you think Heaven is a place you can come and go as you please? Just stay and work for me honestly!
Now, we're not only aiming to eliminate the Celestial Dragons, but we also have another goal—to find ONE PIECE. Yes, the very one you're familiar with.
If you leave, who's going to interpret the historical texts for me?"
Robin looked momentarily confused. "What's the connection between the historical texts and ONE PIECE?"
"You don't know?" Aoki raised an eyebrow.
He explained, "Laugh tale isn't on any ordinary route. To find it, we need four landmark historical texts. Each contains a set of coordinates. When you connect them, the intersection reveals Laugh tales location."
Robin's eyes widened in realization. "So that's how it works."
She finally understood why the BIGMOM Pirates had been so intent on capturing her, and why no one had managed to become the Pirate King since Roger's time.
Aoki added, "By the way, the historical truth you're looking for is also in Laugh tale."
Robin shuddered. "Really?"
"Absolutely," Aoki confirmed.
Robin couldn't calm down, her thoughts racing. This was the first time in years that she'd come across concrete information about the historical truth she'd been seeking.
Suddenly, a thought struck her. "Doesn't that mean Lord Rayleigh knows the truth of history?"
"Don't even think about it," Aoki replied firmly. "Rayleigh has no intention of sharing the truth of history with anyone. If you want answers, we'll have to go to Laugh tale and see for ourselves."
Robin paused for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I understand."
Rayleigh, once the Pirate King's right-hand man, had unfathomable strength. If he refused to reveal the truth, no one could force him to. Moreover, given Rayleigh's close relationships with Hancock and Aoki, it was impossible for them to pressure him.
"Oh, one more thing," Aoki added. "One of the historical texts is in the hands of the BIGMOM Pirates. Whether or not your identity is exposed, a confrontation with them is inevitable."
He gave her a warning look. "So don't do anything reckless and cause trouble for me. If you do, I'll have to come and capture you myself."
A faint smile appeared on Robin's face. "Don't worry, I won't run away."
Aoki nodded, satisfied. "By the way, how was your identity exposed?"
A hint of helplessness crossed Robin's face. "It was a complete accident. During a battle, my Thousand Illusions Mask was damaged, and someone happened to see my face. Unfortunately, that person was from the West Blue and recognized me."
Aoki sighed. There was no need for Robin to elaborate further—he could easily guess what happened next.
Aoki said, "It's good that it's broken. With our current strength, you don't need to live behind a mask anymore."
---
Whole Cake Island.
The main hall was filled with tension. Katakuri, Daifuku, Snack, Bobbin, Pekoms, and other prominent members of the BIGMOM Pirates were gathered. At the head of the room sat Charlotte Linlin, also known as Big Mom.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
Katakuri spoke slowly, his tone heavy. "This morning, the life cards of Perospero, Oven, Smoothie, and Tamago, who had gone to hunt down the Burning Heaven Pirates, suddenly turned to ash. The life cards of Amande, Yuen, and others were seriously damaged, and shortly after, they too were completely destroyed.
"Despite our best efforts, we've been unable to contact any of them. It's almost certain—they've all been killed.
"The last message they sent said they had located the Burning Heaven Pirates and were preparing to attack. It's highly likely they were defeated by the Burning Heaven Pirates."
Even with half his face hidden by his scarf, Katakuri's expression was grim. Veins throbbed on his forehead, and the murderous intent in his eyes was palpable.
To him, family was everything.
Today, six of his siblings had died, including his brother, Oven. This marked the heaviest loss in the history of the BIGMOM Pirates.
Charlotte Daifuku was in disbelief. "How is that possible? How could the Burning Heaven Pirates have killed Smoothie and the others?"
The rest of the room shared the same shock and anger. Smoothie was one of the strongest fighters in the BIGMOM Pirates, second only to Big Mom and Katakuri.
The Burning Heaven Pirates were known troublemakers who had inflicted losses on the BIGMOM Pirates in the past, but nothing to this degree. Since being taken seriously, they hadn't been able to claim a single victory over the crew.
Katakuri's eyes darkened. "It's highly likely someone else intervened. Smoothie and the others' life cards vanished simultaneously, and it happened in an extremely short amount of time."
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the implication.
There were only a handful of individuals in the entire ocean capable of such a feat.
Given the strained relationship between the Burning Heaven Pirates and the World Government, it was inconceivable that they had received help from them. This narrowed the list of suspects even further.
Famous names began to surface in everyone's minds.
"Could it have been the mysterious figure who rescued Boa Hancock last time?" someone speculated.
Katakuri shook his head. "I can't say for sure. The time frame is too short. We haven't gathered any useful information yet."
"Mmmmmm…"
A cold laugh echoed from above.
Everyone turned toward the source of the sound.
"Gather the crew," Big Mom's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Find the Burning Heaven Pirates and wipe them out completely. I want them erased from this world!"
Her tone was cold and oppressive. A surge of Conqueror's Haki filled the room, black and red lightning crackling in the air. The light dimmed and flickered as an overwhelming murderous aura caused everyone present to shudder.
"Yes, Mama!"
The crew responded in unison.
---
The Next Day.
The news spread like wildfire across the Grand Line, sending shockwaves through the world.
Reports confirmed that a fleet of the BIGMOM Pirates had clashed with the Burning Heaven Pirates on an unnamed island. The ensuing battle had ended in a decisive victory for the Burning Heaven Pirates.
The BIGMOM Pirates' fleet was completely annihilated.
Among the casualties were several high-ranking members, including Smoothie, one of the Four Sweet Commanders, and Perospero, the eldest son of Big Mom.
Since its establishment, the BIGMOM Pirates had never suffered such a devastating loss.
As everyone knew, Big Mom was notoriously vindictive and ruthless. Anyone who dared to offend her or damage her reputation would face her full wrath.
Previously, when a general from her crew was killed, she mobilized a massive fleet to encircle and suppress the Burning Heaven Pirates. Now, with the losses this time, it was almost certain that the BIGMOM Pirates would come out in full force to annihilate the Burning Heaven Pirates entirely.
The Burning Heaven Pirates were undeniably a rising force, their strength growing steadily. However, compared to the overwhelming might of the BIGMOM Pirates, no one held much optimism for their survival. History supported this outlook.
That's how it should have been.
But something was different this time.
The fleet led by several officers of the BIGMOM Pirates, sent to crush the Heaven Pirates, had been inexplicably wiped out. Not a single survivor escaped to report what had happened.
Anyone with even a basic understanding of both sides' capabilities could sense that something unusual had occurred.
Given the strength of the BIGMOM Pirates' fleet, it was already uncertain whether the Heaven Pirates could even achieve victory. Yet, not only had they won, but they had completely annihilated the opposing fleet.
If this news was true, it could only mean one thing: the Burning Sky Pirates had undergone significant changes, and their strength had increased dramatically.
Rumors began circulating, hinting that a mysterious, extraordinarily powerful figure might have intervened in the battle.
---
Naval Headquarters
Garp sat at a table, munching loudly on senbei, the crunching echoing through the room.
Aokiji lounged on the sofa nearby, looking as relaxed as ever, his posture lazy and uninterested.
Sengoku, however, stood by a desk, his expression grave as he listened to the soldiers' report.
"…That's the situation. The only thing we can confirm is that the BIGMOM Pirates' fleet was completely annihilated. All officers and crew members were killed."
Sengoku leaned forward, his hands pressed firmly on the table. His face was grim.
"If a super-powerful individual did intervene, who could it be? Kaido is still in Wano Country, and Whitebeard's whereabouts are well known. Who else is left?"
The room was silent, save for the persistent crunching sound of Garp chewing his senbei.
Click, click, click.
After a moment's pause, Sengoku asked in a serious tone, "What's the BIGMOM Pirates' response?"
Click, click, click.
Sengoku's patience wore thin. He slammed his fist on the table. "Garp!"
Garp looked up, startled, and held out a senbei. "Do you want one?"
"You…!" Sengoku's forehead veins bulged as he suppressed his irritation.
He took a deep breath. "Who do you think this super-strong person could be?"
Garp grinned. "Why are you in such a rush? Once the war between the BIGMOM Pirates and the Heaven Pirates begins, everything will come to light naturally!
Besides," he added with a shrug, "we don't even know if such a person really exists."
Sengoku's frown deepened, dissatisfied with the answer.
"This could be the most significant conflict in the New World in recent years," he said, his voice heavy.
Garp remained unfazed. "What does it have to do with us? Let the pirates fight each other."
He had a point. The New World was the domain of the Pirate Emperors. The Navy's influence in the region was limited, and stretching their forces any thinner was not feasible.
Aokiji, who had been lounging, sat up straighter and ran a hand through his hair, looking slightly more engaged.
"The Burning Heaven Pirates… isn't that the group Nico Robin belongs to?" he asked.
"That's correct," Sengoku confirmed with a nod.
Aokiji's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint trace of thought crossing his face. "Nico Robin… is this the choice you've made?"
Without waiting for a response, he stood up. "Then I'll go there."
"Go?" Sengoku and Garp both turned to look at him, surprised.
When O'Hara was destroyed, Nico Robin, an eight-year-old girl, escaped. Everyone present had some understanding of what had happened back then.
However, regardless of the past or the present, Aokiji's status in the Navy rendered this incident insignificant to him.
Aokiji said, "The Navy doesn't have any spare forces right now, so I'll go there myself. At the very least, I can confirm whether this supposed strong man exists and, if so, uncover his identity."
At the same time, it was an opportunity for him to see Robin's fate.
When he had let Nico Robin go all those years ago, it was partly out of curiosity—to see if she could carve out a different path for herself.
After a brief moment of thought, Sengoku nodded in agreement.
Not long after, Aokiji left the G1 branch, pedaling his bicycle slowly into the depths of the New World.
---
Wano Country, Onigashima
"That old hag really took a beating this time," Kaido said, raising a barrel of sake and taking a long drink.
His relationship with Charlotte Linlin was complicated. Both had been members of the Rocks Pirates once, and she had taken care of him back then. His devil fruit, in fact, had ties to her.
But after the crew dissolved, they had become enemies and had never spoken to each other again.
Kimg, wearing his usual mask, spoke in a serious tone. "Master Kaido, what should we do about this?"
Kaido remained silent, taking another swig of sake.
He had heard of Nico Robin's story. If one aspired to become the Pirate King, having someone who could interpret the Poneglyphs was essential. Although Wano Country was the birthplace of the Poneglyphs, the knowledge of their language had been lost.
---
East Blue, Windmill Village
Benn Beckman let out a long sigh. "The BIGMOM Pirates suffered a huge setback this time. How did the Burning Heaven Pirates suddenly grow so strong?"
Shanks sat nearby, deep in thought.
Super strong individuals were rare on the seas. Among those few, even fewer had the time and motivation to intervene in a conflict between the BIGMOM Pirates and the Burning Heaven Pirates.
A specific figure came to Shanks' mind, unbidden.
But that person had been in the East Blue just yesterday.
Ben Beckman, puffing on a cigarette, said slowly, "It's said that the Dragon King possesses a teleportation ability that lets him traverse vast distances in an instant."
Shanks' body stiffened slightly. "Could it really be him?"
Ben Beckman exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Whether it's him or not, we'll find out soon enough."
Shanks understood what he meant, his expression shifting slightly.
"This battle might turn out to be more intense than anyone expects. Perhaps, the fourth Pirate Emperor will emerge from this."
Beckman nodded. "Since the day the Dragon King's name spread across the seas, many speculated that he'd eventually rule. This is just the logical progression, four years later."
Lucky Roux fnally caught on to the conversation.
"You mean the super strong man who helped the Burning Sky Pirates was Aoki? The same Aoki who was here with us in Windmill Village yesterday?"
Ben Beckman replied calmly, "It's a possibility."
"If it's him, he certainly has the ability."
Lucky Roux muttered under his breath, his eyes widening as a realization struck. "But why? What connection could there possibly be between the Dragon King and the Burning Heaven Pirates?"
Ben thought for a moment before answering. "If I recall correctly, the Burning Heaven Pirates don't have a captain. Boa Hancock always refers to herself as the vice-captain."
"Wait… what?!"
Lucky Roux's eyes widened further, shock written across his face.