"Hey! Who the hell are you?!"
A rough voice rang out. Ryan glanced up and saw Franky in his blue overalls—the Iron Man himself.
Ryan paid him no mind, instead returning his gaze to Robin's face. Seeing hope rekindled in her stubborn eyes, the curve of his lips deepened. "It seems they're working quite hard to save you."
"What do you want?" Robin's face instantly paled, her voice trembling even as her eyes remained locked on Ryan.
Just as Ryan was about to speak again, a dark object came hurtling from the direction of Enies Lobby, landing with a smack in a crevice near Franky's feet. It was a small package wrapped in oilcloth.
Franky blinked in surprise, bent down to pick it up, and unwrapped it. Inside were several oddly shaped keys and a palm-sized Den Den Mushi. Before he could process this, the Den Den Mushi suddenly lit up and emitted Usopp's unmistakably loud voice: "Franky! Those keys plus the one I have here are all you need to unlock the Seastone handcuffs!"
As the voice continued, Franky's eyes grew brighter. He snapped his head up to look at Robin lying on the ground, then shot a glance at the composed Ryan nearby, his brow furrowing.
"A-All of them?!" Spandam shrieked, stumbling back half a step as he stared in disbelief at the Den Den Mushi in Franky's hand, his face turning ashen.
Ryan remained unperturbed, leaning close to Robin's ear, his warm breath carrying a teasing tone. "Tell me, if I were to make a move against the Straw Hat Kid and his crew right now, would you cry?"
Robin's body instantly tensed. Her nails dug deep into her palms, drawing blood that seeped between her fingers unnoticed. She whipped her head around to glare at Ryan, the stubbornness in her eyes burning fiercely. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh? What wouldn't I dare?" Ryan's smile grew more amused as he lightly tapped the Seven Star Sword at his waist, its silver stars glinting dangerously in the sunlight. "A Seven Warlord taking action against a bunch of Pirates—isn't that perfectly justified?"
"You..." Robin trembled with rage, yet the Seastone restraints left her without even the strength to stand.
The man before her was the one who had killed Crocodile. His formidable power had been deeply etched into her memory back in the Tomb Hall. If he truly intended to harm Luffy and the others, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Franky, listening nearby, grew furious. Though he didn't know Ryan's background, the man's attitude toward Robin and his arrogant demeanor made Franky's anger boil over. "Bastard! What are you saying to Nico Robin?!"
Ryan completely ignored Franky, his gaze fixed on Robin's pale face. He found this drama increasingly entertaining. Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice to a whisper, laced with temptation. "How about this—I won't make a move."
Robin's body went rigid with shock. She lifted her head in disbelief, her blood-streaked face a mask of confusion and astonishment.
"But..." Ryan's tone shifted abruptly. His fingertip gently traced through Nico Robin's blood-matted hair as a playful smile curled his lips. "You have to remember—you owe me a favor. How about that?"
Robin's lips trembled slightly as she mentally weighed the significance of this "favor." Given this man's temperament, he would undoubtedly use it for something in the future—perhaps an even more unbearable threat than being captured by CP9.
But the moment she thought of Luffy and the others braving the hail of bullets at Enies Lobby, of their desperate, all-out efforts to rescue her...
"...Fine." Nico Robin closed her eyes briefly. When she reopened them, the hesitation in her gaze had been replaced by resolve. "I owe you a favor."
Ryan raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by Nico Robin's swift agreement. A flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes before being overtaken by deeper amusement. "Since you're being so cooperative, I'll lend you a small hand."
Before Robin could process his words, a firm, irresistible strength pressed against the small of her back. Ryan's hand had somehow found its way there, and with a seemingly casual yet precisely calculated push, he sent her flying through the air, her body tracing a parabolic arc.
"Nico Robin!"
Franky, who had been tense throughout, lunged forward and caught her descending form in his sturdy arms. Holding Robin securely, he took two steps back, his eyes filled with confusion and wariness as he glared at Ryan. "What the hell are you trying to do?!"
Nearby, Spandam stared dumbfounded, first at Ryan's sudden assault on Robin, then at Franky's seamless catch.
What was this Seven Warlord playing at? One moment he wanted to take away the key prisoner, the next he was pushing her toward the enemy—it made no sense!
Ignoring Franky's questioning, Ryan slowly turned his gaze toward the frozen Spandam and began walking toward him.
"W-What do you want?" Spandam stammered, retreating half a step and fumbling for the sword on his back. "I'm a World Government official! The commander of CP9! If you lay a hand on me, you're making an enemy of the World Government!"
Ryan let out a derisive chuckle, his steps unwavering. His eyes settled on the peculiarly designed sword strapped to Spandam's back—its scabbard adorned with intricate patterns, the hilt faintly ivory-like in texture. This was none other than the Elephant Sword, Funkfreed, which had consumed the Zou Zou no Mi.
Stopping before Spandam, Ryan looked down at him with such indifference that the latter fell silent. In one fluid motion, Ryan snatched the Elephant Sword from Spandam's back before he could react. The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the "elephant trunk" near the hilt twitched slightly, emitting a low hum.
Spandam's face turned as pale as paper, his lips quivering, but he dared not utter another word. Ryan weighed the sword in his hand, tapping the hilt lightly with his fingertips, a smirk curling his lips.
"A weapon with a Devil Fruit... intriguing." After examining it briefly, Ryan suddenly tilted his head toward the distant horizon, where a formidable presence lingered. Clicking his tongue, he casually tucked the Elephant Sword into his belt. Faint Flame Clouds materialized beneath his feet, lifting him gradually into the air.
Another troublemaker arriving.
Spandam watched Ryan's ascending figure, his legs giving way as he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. His sweat-drenched shirt clung to his back. Only when Ryan had shrunk to a speck in the distance did he dare lift a hand to wipe his face.
That was the World Government's property, the symbol of CP9, and it was just snatched away like that? Yet he didn't even dare to utter a word!
Franky held Robin in his arms, standing in place as he looked up toward the direction where Ryan had disappeared. Then he glanced at Spandam, who was slumped on the ground, and his frown deepened. "That bastard... is he friend or foe?"
Robin leaned against Franky's chest, gazing in the direction Ryan had left. Her fingers curled unconsciously as she touched the spot on her waist where Ryan had pushed her, and that complicated feeling surged in her heart once again.
This man, as expected, had never intended to play by the rules from the very beginning.