Chapter 111: Departure
Beneath the Royal Tomb, Secret Chamber Containing the Poneglyph
Robin suppressed her surging emotions and silently deciphered the ancient inscriptions, her eyes gleaming with intensity, her thoughts unreadable.
Rhodes approached: "How's the progress? Can you read it?"
A brief silence fell.
"..."
Robin hesitated for a long moment before finally sighing, as if making a profound decision.
"I've deciphered it. It records..."
"That's good enough," Rhodes interrupted, showing no interest in listening further. He stated calmly:
"I'm not interested in the so-called ultimate battleship."
External power was, after all, external. With his knowledge and abilities as guidance, Rhodes was confident he could reach the pinnacle and dominate the world through his own strength, not through some ancient weapon.
Compared to the Pluton battleship, he was more interested in Poseidon.
After all, with Poseidon's power, he would never lack for premium deep-sea cuisine again...
"Huh?" Robin looked at Rhodes with slight surprise. "How do you know this mentions Pluton?"
She hadn't said the Poneglyph revealed Pluton's location, so why was Rhodes so certain?
The only people in the world who could understand the true historical texts were probably the scholars of Ohara, and she was the sole survivor.
Facing Robin's puzzled gaze, Rhodes didn't explain, but calmly replied:
"I know more than you might imagine."
"If you want to learn more, we can explore that together eventually."
His expression was incredibly serious, his tone profound, carrying the mysterious air of someone who seemed to see through the world's hidden truths.
But Robin sensed something was off. She could tell Rhodes didn't want to discuss this further, so she suppressed her curiosity.
Inevitably, Robin felt a surge of fascination about this enigmatic young employer.
He was so powerful and knowledgeable, even privy to history buried beneath centuries of dust...
" Could he have access to some hidden historical records?" Robin's mind raced, her usually composed thoughts beginning to waver. Exploring history and solving its mysteries was Robin's greatest passion.
"Let's go. This is someone else's royal tomb, after all. It wouldn't be appropriate to linger too long."
Soon, the pair reached the tomb's entrance where Cobra, King of Alabasta and Vivi's father, had been waiting patiently.
Although somewhat curious about the tomb's contents, Cobra clearly understood what questions to ask and which to avoid.
The three continued to the magnificent palace, where a feast had already been prepared.
Vivi appeared in an elegant white off-shoulder gown. The form-fitting fabric accentuated her graceful figure, while the dress was adorned with small silver sequins that resembled scales. Her subtle makeup made her look absolutely radiant.
Rhodes couldn't help but stare for several moments, genuinely impressed.
Seeing this reaction, Cobra's eyes narrowed with the smug satisfaction of a cunning old fox whose schemes were proceeding perfectly.
A young man combining Rhodes's strength and character was rare on the seas. Even though he was a commoner, Cobra would be delighted to have Vivi marry him.
And judging by his daughter's recent behavior, it was clear she had developed feelings for this young man.
As an experienced father, he naturally had to play matchmaker.
After rounds of toasts, both hosts and guest were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Then Rhodes announced his departure.
"You're leaving already?" Vivi asked with obvious reluctance.
"But Alabasta's drought crisis isn't even completely resolved yet."
Although their time together had been brief, the fact that he had single-handedly transformed Alabasta and set it back on the right path had left an indelible impression on her heart.
"That's something you, as the future queen, should handle," Rhodes smiled, gently ruffling Vivi's hair and completely ruining the hairstyle she'd spent hours perfecting. He continued leisurely:
"The sea is both vast and small. We'll have many opportunities to meet again."
"Besides, Robin will be staying here. If you get lonely, you can visit her."
Most of what he'd set out to accomplish during this journey had been achieved; there was no need to linger any longer.
He was destined never to remain in one place too long—there were still many people in this world worth surpassing.
Hearing Rhodes's response, Vivi couldn't hide her disappointment. She mumbled something under her breath but ultimately remained silent, her expression somewhat dejected.
"I'm leaving now."
"By the way, that dress looks beautiful on you."
Before he could finish speaking, Rhodes had already vanished from the spot. In a few swift movements, he was outside the royal capital, heading toward Nanohana Port.
Vivi stared blankly at Rhodes's retreating figure, feeling hollow inside.
Cobra sighed softly, realizing he had underestimated this young man.
This wasn't someone who would stop his journey for a woman. His singular focus, from beginning to end, was becoming stronger.
"Silly daughter, if you truly want to stand beside him in the future, you should start by strengthening yourself."
"Is that so?" Vivi whispered to herself, a determined gleam gradually appearing in her eyes.
Nanohana Port
Robin, wearing a form-fitting black outfit made from Black Dragon leather, showcased her impressive figure while her appearance and demeanor radiated intellectual elegance—a captivating contrast of qualities.
A pair of black-framed glasses would make this even more perfect, Rhodes thought to himself.
"Here are my compiled notes on Haki training methods and suggestions for developing your Hana Hana no Mi abilities," Rhodes said, handing over some documents. "I also know the locations of many Poneglyphs. When I have time, I'll take you to decipher them."
"For now, focus on intelligence gathering. I've left you with sufficient funding."
"If you encounter anything you can't handle, contact me."
Robin reached out and accepted the papers. After a moment's silence, she nodded seriously.
For the first time, she felt genuine trust—not the blatant exploitation she'd experienced in the underworld before.
In Rhodes's eyes, Robin could never detect any malicious intent, only a faint trace of sympathy.
His occasional teasing felt like friendly banter that lightened the atmosphere.
"Remember, if you want to recover lost history, if you want to seek revenge against the World Government, you must first become strong yourself."
Having said this, Rhodes stepped aboard his ship and set sail.
The wind was favorable, and the sailboat moved swiftly, disappearing from Robin's sight within moments.
"Sigh..." Robin exhaled softly. He truly was an unpredictable employer.
She always felt that Rhodes could see right through her completely.
The man's eyes always held a calmness that seemed to control everything around him.
In his gaze, it seemed that even the World Government—which had ruled the world for eight hundred years and dominated everything—was just another mountain to eventually climb over.
"Since I have such a remarkable employer, I should work with peace of mind," Robin murmured softly while facing the sea breeze.
(End of Chapter)
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