After Dragon's departure, Ian finally had the chance to take some time and meet with the descendant of Ohara, the one so many powers in the world were fighting over.
Miss Robin, two years older than Ian and already nineteen this year, was a little nervous as Kuzan brought her before him.
Ian could tell that this beautiful lady's limbs were slightly stiff, almost as if she were a zombie, incapable of bending.
"So…"
Looking at Kuzan walking beside Robin, Ian smiled and asked, "How's the reunion with the old friend going?"
"Spare me, Lord Ian. I wouldn't exactly call my relationship with this lady one of old friends."
Kuzan sighed dramatically, feigning misery.
"Isn't Jaguar D. Saul still alive and well?"
Ian said, "The Buster Call came directly from the Five Elders. You weren't even the one carrying it out—you were at most a bystander. Even that refugee ship? It was Akainu who ordered it destroyed."
"Robin could only survive that day because you let her go. Strictly speaking, you should be considered her benefactor, shouldn't you?"
Kuzan scratched his head, stunned. "Lord Ian, you really do know a lot."
It was as if he had personally been there during the Ohara incident back then.
"At this point, discussing that matter further is pointless, isn't it?"
The beautiful girl suddenly spoke. "Emperor Ian, what is it that you wish me to do for you?"
She was ready.
As long as Ian's request wasn't unreasonable, she would comply.
To fulfill Ohara's legacy, she would go to any lengths!
But—
"Do for me?"
Ian suddenly smiled. "You have no ability to do anything for me."
Robin froze.
What did he mean?
What was this guy trying to say?
He went all the way to have Kaido bring her back, yet now he claimed she was of no help at all?
Even Kuzan looked puzzled.
What exactly did Ian mean?
"You don't really think that, among the entire world, you're the only one who can decipher the ancient scripts, do you?"
Ian spoke casually, reciting a string of characters that Kuzan couldn't understand at all.
Robin, however, froze completely.
She stared at Ian in disbelief, her lips trembling slightly. "Y-you can read this too?"
There was no doubt about it—what the pirate had just spoken was ancient script, and he did so with remarkable skill!
This guy could actually decipher ancient scripts!!
"No way…"
It took Kuzan a moment to fully realize the situation, and his head began to ache.
Ian was truly that versatile—he could even understand ancient scripts?
This was something he had never imagined. Who on the seas could have guessed it if Ian hadn't admitted it himself?
But if that was the case, wouldn't that put this girl in danger?
To Ian, she no longer held any value.
On the other hand, if someone else took her, that would only become a nuisance for Ian.
Even Kuzan, who could easily transform into ice, felt a dry throat in that moment.
Ian wouldn't want to eliminate the girl just to be safe, would he?
"So," Amid Robin's stunned silence and Kuzan's quiet unease, Ian spoke. "You should go to Elbaf."
"Elbaf?"
After a two-second pause of shock, Robin's face lit up with joy. "The Elbaf where Saul is?"
"That's right," Ian said. "Bringing you back was simply to prevent others from using you. Sending you to Saul is also a way of repaying him for giving me those ancient technology materials."
"You won't be much help anyway, so go to Saul's library and organize the materials left behind from Ohara."
"The giants of Elbaf are my friends. While you're there, no one will trouble you, and you can study history in peace."
"No objections, right?"
"Of course!"
This time, there was no hesitation. Robin clenched her fists against her chest, her expression serious as she answered Ian loudly.
Knowing that Saul was still alive was already enough to make her ecstatic.
And now, she could even go see him. How could Robin have the slightest hesitation?
After all, Saul was her only friend in this world.
Kuzan also let out a small sigh of relief.
Ian really was quite something.
Before he even finished speaking, Ian was already looking at him.
"Kuzan, you'll take Robin to meet your old friend."
"Huh?"
Kuzan scratched his head, then nodded. "Alright, then."
Visiting Saul again wouldn't be bad either, and it was the perfect opportunity to inform him of his decision.
While Ian casually prepared to send Robin to Elbaf, the World Government was stirred into action because of that kidnap battle in the West Blue.
After Ian completely conquered the New World, the World Government, aiming to prevent their headquarters from being exposed at the frontline, immediately relocated Mariejois and built a new Mariejois somewhere on the Red Line.
Not long ago, in a part of this new Mariejois, the Five Elders were holding a meeting.
"According to the island residents, after the two from the Cross Guild left, there was no battle between Kaido and Dragon. Dragon and that woman simply left together with Kaido!"
Mars, the long-bearded Elder, looked grave.
"The worst-case scenario… that woman fell into Ian's hands!"
Nusjuro, wearing a white robe and gold-rimmed glasses, gritted his teeth. "It's even possible that the Beast Pirates and the Revolutionary Army have some unknown connection!"
"Ian already possesses power unmatched by any pirate in the world, and now he has the ability to decipher ancient scripts!"
Warcury clenched his fists, his mustache trembling, as if his heart shook along with it.
"The worst-case scenario is coming! No one knows exactly what Joy Boy left behind! But one thing is certain—Ancient Weapons are involved!"
"We absolutely cannot allow Ian to find the Great Treasure smoothly!"
Saturn said sharply, "At least not until we are fully prepared!"
"But how do we stop him? We can't exactly storm Wano and snatch that woman back ourselves, can we?"
Peter said, "And even if we could, that would only provoke Ian's furious retaliation!"
"To reach the Final Island, all four Road Poneglyphs are required!"
Mars said, "We don't know how many Ian already has, but he surely hasn't collected them all yet."
"The one in Charlotte Linlin's possession is definitely still out of his reach! After all, he's never had a major conflict with the Charlotte Family!"
"Then," Warcury said, "our task is simple: first, take the Road Poneglyph from the Charlotte Family!"
Just obtaining one is enough!
"Hasn't the Navy recruited two new Admirals? Send them along!"
**********
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