Chapter 364 Robin's Recruitment
Brett looked at the woman who'd suddenly appeared, his lips curving upward.
Without question, this woman was his objective for coming to Alabasta—Nico Robin.
Tall and slender, with long straight black hair. Fair complexion. A distinctly pronounced nose bridge. Overall, an extremely beautiful and striking woman.
Nico Robin looked utterly bewildered by the current situation.
The casino had begun collapsing. The floor and walls were turning to sand. Undoubtedly only Crocodile could accomplish this.
But this was his lair—why would he destroy it?
If there had to be a reason, it could only be because of this guy, right?
Nico Robin warily focused her attention on Brett.
So who was this guy? Crocodile's enemy?
Brett smiled. "Nico Robin. Finally meeting you. I came here specifically for you."
Massive chunks of stone fell from the ceiling, smashing onto his body and shattering.
Amid the earth-shaking tremors, Nico Robin's expression suddenly turned deathly pale. Almost reflexively, she crossed her arms before her chest.
"Nueve Fleur!"
Several slender arms sprouted from Brett's body, gripping his various joints as if attempting to snap his body apart.
But—
"What?!"
Robin's expression changed drastically.
Absolutely no effect. She activated her ability with all her strength, yet couldn't budge this guy even slightly.
Was his body forged from steel?!
"Alright, this place is collapsing. Let's go outside first."
The next instant, Nico Robin discovered that voice coming from behind her. Then a hand grabbed her shoulder. Then came intense weightlessness.
Brett seized Nico Robin in one motion. His legs exploded with force, launching upward. He smashed straight through the casino, flying skyward from inside the crocodile sculpture atop the pyramid.
Treading on air and hovering in midair, Brett looked down below.
The casino had completely collapsed. The surrounding ground had entirely transformed into sand. Even the pools had been utterly drained.
In the blink of an eye, this place had become pure desert.
"Awakening?"
Brett raised an eyebrow.
Simply absorbing moisture couldn't accomplish this.
This had to be awakening ability, right? Directly assimilating the surrounding environment into desert?
But perhaps incomplete. After all, Crocodile could only transform the environment into desert—he couldn't actually control the sand.
"Stop that."
Brett casually swatted away an arm sprouting from his nose, stabbing toward his eyes. Nico Robin immediately grunted.
The Flower-Flower Fruit could bloom flowers anywhere within sight, but when these petal-formed limbs took damage, the user felt synchronized pain.
Nico Robin clutched her injured arm, her expression horrified.
Who the hell was this guy? Before him she felt as helpless as a child!
"Ran away?"
Brett shook his head.
Crocodile's presence had vanished deep beneath the desert. He'd fled the battlefield directly, apparently unwilling to continue fighting.
Made sense. A cunning crocodile wouldn't stubbornly choose to fight to the end after discovering an absolutely unbeatable opponent.
But that didn't matter.
Crocodile would think his plan had been discovered by the Government. Naturally he had no reason to remain in Alabasta.
Let him run. They might meet again in the New World.
"Well then, let's head back."
Brett smiled. Gripping Nico Robin, he transformed into a shooting star in the next instant, soaring skyward and quickly vanishing into the azure sky.
Wind rushed at them head-on, whipping Nico Robin's black hair wildly, slicing at her face like knives.
This guy was actually running through the air while carrying her!
Could humans even do this?! Robin's heart filled with confusion.
She didn't know about the technique called the Six Powers.
Now she finally understood why Crocodile had destroyed his lair—because he'd encountered an unbeatable opponent and could only escape in the chaos.
What fate awaited her next?
Despite wandering the seas these past dozen-plus years since age eight, experiencing various unimaginable betrayals and pursuits, Robin's heart still felt extremely anxious.
"Startled you, didn't I?"
At that moment, Brett spoke with a smile. He pulled down his hood with one motion, looking down. "Please relax, Miss Robin. I mean you no harm. I just hope you can help me with something."
"You... you're!!"
Nico Robin finally saw this man's face. She couldn't help exclaiming, "The Deep Sea Emperor! Fish-Man Brett!"
This man was far too famous. Even naive children would instinctively shout his name upon seeing this face.
Ruling Fish-Man Island, the Emperor dominating the deep sea!
No wonder! If this was the man, Crocodile fleeing in panic made complete sense!
How could a Warlord possibly defeat a Pirate Emperor?
"Seems I still have some fame. No need for self-introductions then."
Brett smiled. He directly transformed into a crimson dragon, releasing flame clouds to wrap around Robin.
Nico Robin couldn't help swallowing. This was the Deep Sea Emperor's power!
Truly astonishing! Just looking at his current form gave one a feeling of insurmountable might!
Brett smiled. Naturally he could hear clearly—Nico Robin's internal anxiety and panic.
He said, "It's just that no one else in the world can help with this favor except you. That's why I came specifically to find you."
No one else could help except herself?
Nico Robin immediately understood what favor Brett wanted.
"Is it about ancient text?"
At this moment, Robin actually felt somewhat expectant. "Could it be a Poneglyph?"
"Yes, a Poneglyph."
Brett nodded. "Only you, born in Ohara, possess the ability to translate ancient text."
"You have a Poneglyph?"
Robin hurriedly asked. "If that's the favor, I can help you!"
Would she finally see a second Poneglyph?
She felt almost impatient.
"I do hope you'll help me translate the ancient text on Poneglyphs, but it's not just one."
Brett smiled. "It's four."
Robin's eyes widened.