In February of the Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1502,
While other regions still clung to the tail end of winter, Dressrosa had already entered spring.
A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers as Mihawk's small sailboat glided past the Marine docks at the harbor, slowly approaching the coastline.
On the boat's deck, Nico Robin had already shed her heavy cloak and coat, now wearing just a long-sleeved black shirt, leaning over the side and curiously examining the surrounding scenery.
After so many months sailing back to Dressrosa with Mihawk, the young Robin had grown tired of the long voyage.
It wasn't that Robin couldn't endure hardship, she had grown up alone, far more capable than other children her age. But spending eight months on a cramped sailboat with a cold-faced swordsman wasn't easy for anyone.
Eating, sleeping, everything happened on that tiny boat. One could only imagine how difficult life had been for Robin.
Now, even someone like her, who rarely showed emotion, couldn't help but cheer with joy when she saw land ahead.
"Land!"
"Mr. Mihawk, is this our destination?"
Seeing the Marine base situated near Dressrosa's coast, even Mihawk's face showed a slight smile.
"Mm. This is Dressrosa."
As he spoke, Mihawk's eyes turned toward the shore. There stood a red-haired youth in a Marine cloak, calmly watching their approach.
Once docked, Mihawk stepped up behind Robin, scooped her into his arms, and leapt lightly off the boat, landing on the dock.
Seeing Tsugikuni Yoriichi standing nearby, Mihawk asked, "What are you doing here? Did you come to receive her personally?"
As he spoke, he gently set Robin down. At the same time, the young Nico Robin looked up and began observing Yoriichi.
The moment she laid eyes on him, her attention was completely drawn to him. Of course, it wasn't any strange fascination. It was simply because Yoriichi carried an aura that was impossible to ignore.
His vibrant red hair, the flame-like mark on his face, and the relaxed posture with one hand on the hilt of his sword, all of it gave off a strange contrast. He looked like an ordinary man, yet something in his presence felt incredibly imposing.
"I owe it to Kuzan to at least see this through myself," Yoriichi said.
"Thanks for the trouble, Mihawk."
As he spoke, Yoriichi looked down at Robin. She met his gaze and raised her head, eyes unflinching.
Then, she bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Mr. Marine."
Seeing Robin's calm and composed manner, Yoriichi's eyes softened.
"So, you're Nico Robin."
"My name is Tsugikuni Yoriichi. I'm a friend of Kuzan and Issho."
"They've entrusted you to me. From today on, you'll live here in Dressrosa."
"There's a Marine school here. You're just the right age to start attending. Don't worry about housing, I'll prepare a dormitory room for you."
"Until you're an adult, I'll be your guardian."
As Yoriichi said this, he watched Robin closely.
He already had a vague impression of her personality before meeting her. Though his memory of Robin was faint, he still remembered her as wise and composed even as a child.
Now, meeting her in person, she matched his expectations perfectly.
"Mm."
Robin nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
"Good. From now on, you won't be using your old name."
"I heard from Kuzan that you carry your mother's surname. You should already understand your situation."
"Even if everyone who knows about you is trustworthy, it doesn't mean there won't be trouble in the future."
"There are still Ohara survivors out there. On this vast sea, the odds of meeting one might be slim, but not impossible. So, to be safe, you'll need a new identity."
"Robin, I'll create an official record for you here in Dressrosa. Remember this, your hometown is not Ohara, it's Dressrosa."
"Your parents died in a pirate attack on this island. You're an orphan."
"Bury the name 'Nico' in your memory."
"From now on, your name is just Robin."
Yoriichi stepped forward, knelt down in front of her, and spoke gently.
For a moment, Robin's calm face twitched when she heard the word "Ohara." When told she could no longer call herself Nico Robin, her eyes filled with tears.
The sea breeze brushed past her thin frame. Hugging her arms tightly, she began to cry.
"This is the first time I've seen her cry," Mihawk said, lowering his head to look at Robin.
Hearing that, Robin shuddered and bit her lip hard, clearly trying to suppress her emotions and hold back her tears.
Was she not sad? Of course she was. She just didn't want these Marines to think she was weak or useless.
Even at her age, Robin knew she had to prove her worth if she wanted to be accepted.
"After what you've been through, it's okay to cry."
"You don't need to hold it in."
"In Dressrosa, no one will hurt you again."
Yoriichi took off his cloak and gently wrapped it around her small body.
"You're saying there are still Ohara scholars alive?"
In Marineford, inside the office of Admiral Sengoku,
Spandine from CP9 laid a few photos on Sengoku's desk. The most prominent photo was of a little girl with long black hair, standing on a blue-and-white warship with the word "ICE" printed on its hull.
Sengoku spread out the photos. Alongside that first one were several more, shots of the girl walking with Issho through the streets. From the way they looked in the pictures, they seemed close.
There was even a photo of the girl boarding Mihawk's sailboat.
"Yes!"
"That girl is a surviving Ohara scholar!"
"I confirmed her identity from among the Ohara refugees."
"Her name is Nico Robin. Eight years old. Her mother is Nico Olvia."
"A prime criminal!"
With a smirk, Spandine pulled out another stack of photos and tossed them on the desk.
"This took a lot of digging, you know."
"You Marines really did a great job this time!"
"This child came off of Vice Admiral Kuzan's ship. I have reason to believe the Marines are harboring Ohara remnants."
"Admiral Sengoku, I haven't reported this to the Gorosei yet. Hehehe. But CP9 deserves an explanation from you, don't you think?"
"I need to know what to tell them!"
Spandine beamed as he leaned across the desk, staring Sengoku down. Sengoku, however, calmly flipped through the photos. When he reached the one of Robin boarding Mihawk's ship, his eye twitched slightly.
Then he looked up, his expression composed.
"Director Spandine, I think you've misunderstood something. According to you, this child is eight years old, correct?"
"How could an eight-year-old be considered a scholar?"
"Even if her mother was Nico Olvia, so what? From our intel, Olvia spent most of her time at sea. Her actions have nothing to do with her daughter."
"As for why the child was on Kuzan's ship…"
"Isn't it expected for an excellent Marine to help a homeless child?"
Sengoku gathered the photos and returned them to Spandine.
Spandine's smile froze.
Then he grinned darkly, circling around the desk and placing a hand on Sengoku's shoulder. Leaning down, he whispered:
"Admiral Sengoku, think carefully."
"Will the Gorosei accept that explanation?"
"Aren't you too seasoned to play naïve?"
"What if, just what if, Olvia passed something on to her daughter before dying?"
"Do you really think calling her 'homeless' will wash your hands clean?"
"Can you bear the consequences of this?!"
With a loud slap, Spandine smacked Sengoku's desk and shouted. Nearby, Kuzan, seated on the couch, turned his head in surprise.
A CP9 agent dared to slap the desk of a Marine Admiral?
Even for Kuzan, this scene was unexpected.
Sengoku's expression remained gentle. He calmly retrieved the photos, flipped through them again, and pulled one from the stack, handing it to Spandine.
"What's this?" Spandine asked as he took the photo, it showed Robin boarding Mihawk's ship, with Mihawk's face captured clearly.
Sengoku said nothing. He opened a drawer, pulled out a file folder, and handed it over.
"Our Marines simply helped a child in need. That's all."
"As for the responsibility… I don't bear it."
Before Spandine could explode, Sengoku added, "If you want to blame someone, go blame these people."
"They're not under my command. When you report to the Gorosei, hand this file over as well."
Sengoku tapped the folder in Spandine's hand, still smiling.
Frowning, Spandine opened the file and skimmed the top page.
"Tsugikuni Yoriichi?!"
He flipped through more, next came Issho's personal file. Seeing his photo, Spandine's eyes narrowed.
He recognized the blind Marine.
Then came a third profile, Mihawk, the man with hawk eyes.
Seeing these names and faces, even Spandine wasn't dense enough to miss the message.
"Dawn Blade… They're all part of the Dawn Blade division?"
His shocked whisper echoed through the Admiral's office.
In all of Marine HQ, the CP feared no one more than Tsugikuni Yoriichi, the man stationed in Dressrosa.
Why?
Because men like Kong and Sengoku followed rules and protocols. Even when tensions rose, they only argued.
But Yoriichi? If he had a problem, he drew his sword.
"Captain Braggi!"
"We're almost at Dressrosa! Tell the crew to hide the pirate flag!"
"I heard Marines are stationed there!"
Out at sea, a battered pirate ship sailed swiftly toward Dressrosa. From the crow's nest, a rough face shouted down to the deck.
"Hide it?"
"What nonsense are you babbling?"
"We've crushed so many pirate crews to get here! This is where the world will learn the name of the Braggi Pirates!"
"This time, we're stocking up big!"
"I heard Dressrosa's a prosperous place. Once we dock, let's sell this fish-man off. The royals there might love a prize like him. Maybe we'll even pay the palace a visit."
"After we get a new ship, we'll keep sailing."
"I'm gonna find the Pirate King's treasure and become the next Pirate King! Hahaha!"
A loud laugh echoed across the deck. A burly man with a broadsword raised it excitedly, swinging it with joy.
Beneath his foot was a large, muscular fish-man with red skin. His body was bound in heavy chains, writhing in pain beneath the man's heel, his face twisted in fury.
Feeling the movement, Braggi grinned viciously and stomped hard on the fish-man's face. The groan and blood only excited him more, his laughter grew wilder, his stomps heavier.
"Move! I told you to move! Hahaha!"
"Come on, dance for me! Hahahahaha!"
His crazed laughter rang across the deck as the pirates around him cackled along, enjoying the spectacle.
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