I can feel Robin shaking behind me. Oh, right, if I think about it, Robin hasn't run away that much. Of course, she's scared.
And the situation is terrible, surrounded by Marine ships, just like a Buster Call.
"Robin. Hey, Robin."
Robin flinches.
"It's okay. I'll stay with you until the end."
Even in the worst case, if I, the Captain, go wild, ready to die, I can create a chance for you to escape.
"So, be ready."
I look at Robin out of the corner of my eye. She's sweating, and she's still shaking, but she nods. Good. That's good for now. The problem is...
What's going on? I can't believe Sengoku or Kuzan would betray me over this. ...Wait, how did they find out about Robin? Could they have seen her use her power to sail the ship?
More importantly, who gains from this?
Sure, the Robin issue is important, but they could have dealt with it later. It would be much easier after they picked up the soldiers, and making such a big scene is—honestly stupid.
The Marines were supposed to settle a lot of things with this fake story... The World Government would also have a bargaining chip in their talks with the Marines if they got involved in this matter.
If this plan is ruined, the whole world will truly become crazy... crazy...
—Could it be that sneaky, low-life, pink-wearing, rotten-glasses guy!? Did that jerk mess things up!?
If Doflamingo is really involved in the slave business, he would definitely do this. I saw the newspaper, and he's not a Warlord yet... But if not, then who is working for him? He's in the North Blue, right?
The man who asked for Robin... Well, he's definitely the problem.
"Excuse me, everyone. Do you know who that shouting person is?"
I ask the frozen Marines behind me, and the girl who looks like Tashigi—Amisu—answers.
"Y-yes. He's the man who manages the West Blue region."
"...Is he important?"
I don't know. I really don't know.
If he were an overly ambitious person like Spandam from the original story, who has a little power but doesn't see the big picture, he might be tricked by that nasty pink guy. But why would a man with a great position like Regional Manager do this?
"By the way, what kind of Marine is he?"
I ask Amisu, and she tries to speak right away—then stops.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, no, sorry. He's a person I haven't heard many stories or rumors about..."
...Huh?
"Does anyone else here know him?"
I ask the people behind Amisu, but they look at each other, talk softly for a bit, and then all shake their heads.
In the Marines, how did he become a Manager without any good stories?
"Um... He did sink pirate ships and capture Mafia ships." says one marine.
"He's unremarkable, or rather, he got achievements without much notice, but the details aren't anything special..."
...I have a bad feeling about this. The Marines have no reason at all to trick us at this time. If they are doing it, it's likely for a personal reason, not for the Marines.
Also, from what he said earlier, they want Robin. If they only wanted to shut her up, they would have fired the cannons a long time ago.
Wanting her alive means they want to hand her over to someone—to make a deal.
It's not just that one man. There's someone in the World Government, a Celestial Dragon, and... well, it's not something one person can handle...
One thing has become clear. That man who is shouting, the Regional Manager—I think he has a very dark past.
It's probably bribes or something like that, but not only that. When people get involved in things like that, they sink deeper and deeper.
That's dangerous. I thought I had stepped into hell that time, but I had actually found good luck.
You scoundrel, were you involved in it?
–
"Is that information true, Joker!?"
"Yes, it is true."
A few hours earlier, the man who got his position through money and plots was begging the man who made it possible.
"You know what's coming. Sengoku and the others are starting an internal check. You have no way out."
The other person—"Joker"—whose voice was changed so that he couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, calmly spoke the facts.
"No matter what you do, you'll be looked down on for the rest of your life. But... I found a way for you to live a somewhat normal life without going to prison. You should thank me. Fuffuffuffuffu."
"Yes, yes... Thank you, thank you, Joker! You are always reliable!"
The man had always done what "Joker" told him to do. He had followed him all the time. He got his position because he followed him, and he lived the life he wanted because he kept following him.
"I can't say their name, but a very important person in the World Government wants to have Nico Robin."
"The Demon of Ohara?"
"That's right. If she were a stubborn old person, they'd have to kill her, but they think they can control the kid who only has knowledge."
"B-but what for...?"
"Fuffuffuffu, you'll die if you dig into that, so stop it."
"Ah, aah... I see... Sorry."
When the man was heading in a dangerous direction, Joker always warned him and offered to help. That's why the man never doubted Joker.
"The World Government is calling its leaders to Mariejois to talk with the Marines. Listen, that's the only chance. If someone like Sengoku finds out what's happening, you're done."
"I must catch Nico Robin who is with that kid called Silent Step before then..."
"Yes. Once you catch Nico Robin, bring her to the place I tell you later. I'll make sure you meet the World Government person there. Then—"
"I can become a person of the World Government, right!?"
He didn't doubt him at all, like a fool.
"Ah, don't think you'll get a high position. You'll be a mere helper at best. You'll be changing your name, too."
"I won't ask for such luxury now! Besides, I hid all the money I made from that business! As long as I have a decent status, I can live comfortably!"
"...That's right, fuffuffuffu. You worked hard. And hard work deserves a proper reward."
"Listen, hide after you catch Nico Robin. You'll be a wanted person for a while no matter what you do, right?"
"Yes... But I'm surprised that a World Government person is moving for a child with a bounty."
"You know how much the World Government cares about the Void Century, right? Even more so after seeing the Buster Call. Even though she's a kid, her knowledge is worth a thousand gold pieces. No ambitious person wouldn't think about using that."
"I'm going to hang up now. Good luck, Manager."
"Yes, we can handle those kids if we use all our forces. So I'm counting on you, Joker!"
--
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