The words Maude spoke struck deep into Robin's heart.
Choosing death would indeed be the easier path.
However, the precious things she carried would vanish along with her life.
Silhouettes flickered through Robin's mind, and her will to survive, once ashen and dim, suddenly rekindled.
Maude noticed the change and, without thinking, tossed the antidote onto Robin's lap. He then raised his head, gazing at the ceiling, which was continuously shaking and shedding fragments of stone and dust.
"This place is going to collapse soon."
He lowered his eyes, looking at Robin clutching the antidote.
"But don't expect me to take you all out—unless you plan to use the 'Shadow Mark.' Or… cure Luffy, and let him carry you out."
Robin quietly lifted her head, staring at Maude.
A moment later, this gravely injured, mature woman, in such a dire situation, showed Maude an inexplicable smile.
She took out the gecko that housed a sliver of Maude's shadow.
"This thing is precious—I won't use it so easily."
Her voice was weak and frail, but her tone was unwavering.
Maude's eyelids lifted slightly. "Suit yourself."
Robin carefully stowed away the Shadow Mark, then, gritting her teeth through the pain, began crawling toward Luffy, inch by inch.
Watching her struggle, Maude's brow furrowed slightly.
He had intended for Robin to use the Shadow Mark…
If she wouldn't, so be it.
With a small shake of his head, Maude refrained from interfering with her decision.
Casting one final glance at the Poneglyph, he walked past Robin toward Crocodile's corpse.
Under Robin's curious gaze, Maude grabbed Crocodile's body and, with a flick of his wrist, hurled it into a hole in the palace wall.
With a loud thud, Crocodile's body was embedded in the wall once more, half-buried by the rubble that fell around him.
After finishing, Maude turned back to meet Robin's questioning eyes.
"Remember—Crocodile was killed by Luffy, not me."
"..."
Robin immediately understood and subconsciously nodded.
"Take care."
Maude strode out of the chamber.
Robin watched him leave, then clenched her teeth, dragging her wounded body toward Luffy, leaving a bright trail of blood behind her.
By the time she reached him, her vision blurred, and it seemed as though she would faint at any moment.
Summoning the last of her strength, she shakily poured the antidote into Luffy's mouth.
Cobra, now awake, happened to witness the scene.
The moment Robin finished feeding Luffy the antidote, she finally succumbed, collapsing onto the floor unconscious.
"..."
A flicker of emotion crossed Cobra's eyes before he quickly noticed Crocodile's half-buried body. His mind pieced together the truth.
"That boy…"
Bound and shackled, his heart surged with emotion.
The antidote worked quickly.
Within seconds, Luffy's eyes snapped open, and with a nimble kip-up, he leapt to his feet.
"So hungry…"
His eyelids drooped.
Yet hunger aside, he hadn't forgotten his mission. His head darted around as he took in his surroundings.
When his eyes landed on Crocodile's half-buried body, he rubbed his chin, trying to recall what happened before he blacked out.
He remembered punching Crocodile down… but the poison…
His gaze shifted to Robin, unconscious at his feet, and something clicked in his mind.
Back outside Rain Dinners… she had saved him once before.
"We'd better get out of here."
Cobra's voice snapped Luffy out of his thoughts.
He turned to Cobra, blinking.
"Old man, you're awake?"
"..."
Cobra's lips twitched—I woke up before you did!
On the plaza.
The sound of Vivi's voice finally brought an end to the battle between the Royal Army and the rebels.
Descending from the clock tower, Vivi briefly locked eyes with her companions before striding toward Maude.
At that moment, everyone—including the Straw Hat Pirates—focused on Maude.
As their eyes fixed on his face, none of them noticed the shadow slinking silently from the palace's western side, merging seamlessly with Maude's own.
A faint glimmer flickered in Maude's eyes as the shadow rejoined him—just in time to see Vivi approaching.
"Maude… thank you."
Vivi's eyes glistened with gratitude.
If not for this man's intervention with the special bomb and the war, the casualties would have been unimaginable.
Maude shook his head. "The ones you should thank are Luffy and his crew—not me."
He glanced toward the west.
Vivi opened her mouth to respond, but a loud voice rang out from that direction.
"Chopper! Chopper…!"
That was Luffy's voice.
Everyone turned toward the sound, only to see Luffy charging forward. He carried the unconscious Robin over his left shoulder, while his right arm wrapped around Cobra, who was muttering something under his breath.
Maude silently observed Robin lying limp on Luffy's shoulder.
The story had already diverged significantly.
However—
This woman's final destination… would still likely head toward a better future.
"Luffy, I'm here!!!"
Hearing Luffy's call, Chopper immediately ran out.
"Oh!"
Seeing Chopper, Luffy's eyes lit up. He shouted, "Chopper, this woman's seriously injured! Hurry up and treat her!"
Cobra, still cradled in Luffy's arm, sighed helplessly, lowering his voice. "Could you put me down first? My hands are just tied…"
It seemed Luffy didn't hear him at all, charging straight toward Chopper.
"Eh… That woman is…?"
Vivi, along with Nami and the others, noticed the woman on Luffy's shoulder.
Apart from Sanji, whose eyes burned with jealousy, the others all looked visibly surprised.
While Luffy sprinted toward Chopper, Maude quietly signaled Perona. The two slipped away from the plaza, making their way to the alley behind the assembly hall.
There, nearly a hundred corpses lay sprawled across the ground.
These were the remains of the Billionaires who had planned to exchange Vivi for merit.
Maude's gaze swept across the lifeless bodies before pausing on one in particular.
To be precise—on the curved blade lying beside it, its surface patterned like flickering flames.
It was none other than the renowned sword, Kashu, one of the 50 Skillful Grade Blades.
Reaching out, Maude's shadow darted forward, coiling around Flower State and delivering it—sheath and all—into his hand.
"A fine sword."
Admiring the blade's flame-like patterns, Maude couldn't help but murmur in praise.
Its quality was undoubtedly on par with Chidori.
—
Several hours later.
Within one of the palace's bedchambers—
Robin's eyes slowly fluttered open. The soft sensation beneath her reminded her that she was lying in a bed.
As her vision cleared, she saw a ceiling adorned with intricate relief carvings.
Thunk—
A sudden noise echoed from nearby as something toppled to the floor.
Robin turned her head toward the sound.
A chair lay overturned on the ground. Behind it stood a small, blue-nosed reindeer in a hat—upright and frozen.
She remembered this adorable creature—Straw Hat's doctor.
Most likely, he was the one who treated her wounds.
Watching Chopper's clumsy attempt to hide behind the chair, a faint smile played at the corners of Robin's lips.
Chopper, visibly nervous, shifted further behind the chair.
"You're called Chopper, right?"
Robin's smile widened at his awkward reaction.
Chopper nodded.
"Thank you."
"Eh?"
"You're the one who treated my wounds, aren't you?"
"Mm."
Chopper instantly understood why she was thanking him.
Meanwhile—
A group of Marines was marching toward the palace of Alubarna.
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