Pushing aside all those messy thoughts, Kuro pretended to be casual as he caught onto a key piece of information in Koza's words and asked offhandedly, "You just mentioned Miss Nico? Who is she? She sounds like someone with quite a reputation. Is she also a member of the resistance organization like you?"
To ordinary people on this sea, the surname Nico was just a name.
But to someone like Kuro, who placed extreme importance on gathering intelligence, it was as familiar as thunder.
If he were still working as a butler in Syrup Village in the East Blue, perhaps he would still be a frog in a well.
But after leaving the East Blue and traveling this far, he had gained a deep understanding of the World Government's structure.
He had memorized the names of all those major figures.
At Mary Geoise University in the Holy Land, the head of the History Department and the World Government's most authoritative historian had the surname Nico.
Koza had no idea what was going through Kuro's mind. Like an obsessive fan, he answered honestly, "Miss Nico was brought here by Mr. Crocodile. She's one of our most important companions. She's a great female scholar whose knowledge is deeper than the sea. We all admire her tremendously."
Koza looked at the bonfire in the distance, his expression becoming more serious and reverent than ever, "It was only because of Miss Nico's careful guidance and her analysis of history that I became even more certain that the path we're taking is the right one."
"Kuro, you might think Arabasta is prosperous now. But Miss Nico told us that all of this is nothing but false prosperity."
Koza waved his fist and passionately explained his beliefs, "A country should be ruled by a legitimate heir with pure blood. Queen Vivi may be doing a decent job for now, but don't forget, her biological father is Rosse, the supreme ruler of the World Government. She has no legitimate claim to the throne."
"I did the math. When Queen Dowager Titi was pregnant, King Cobra was still alive."
"If one day Arabasta's interests come into conflict with the World Government, who do you think she'll side with?"
Koza's eyes were filled with the fervor of someone who believed everyone else was drunk while he alone was awake, "When that time comes, Arabasta will absolutely be sacrificed by her! So we must take back the throne and return it to King Cobra's bloodline! With the right person ruling us and free from the World Government's control, our country will only become better!"
Listening to Koza's completely unquestioning speech, Kuro's fingers paused slightly as he adjusted his glasses.
Looking at this righteous army that used the enemy's money, lived in the enemy's house, yet was constantly preparing to overthrow the enemy, and then at Crocodile ahead, who was talking nonstop and painting a grand picture for Luffy, Kuro quietly sighed.
In this paradise-like place, there really were a lot of crazy people.
Night had grown deep, yet the manor was brightly lit. The noisy sounds of the rebels drinking and having fun kept coming from the distance.
Kuro pushed up his slightly reflective glasses and casually swept his gaze over Koza and Crocodile ahead before suddenly asking, "Mr. Koza, forgive me for speaking frankly. Just now, you kept saying that the country should be returned to King Cobra's legitimate bloodline. But as far as I know, the former king, Cobra, died of illness almost twenty years ago, didn't he?"
"He only had Queen Titi as his wife while he was alive, and their daughter is the current World Government Minister of Justice, Vivi. If that's the case, where exactly is this so-called legitimate heir supposed to come from?"
As soon as the question was asked, the air seemed to fall silent for a moment.
Koza didn't look offended. Instead, he chuckled and proudly straightened his sturdy chest, but kept his mouth shut, acting as though it were a matter of the utmost secrecy.
At this moment, Crocodile, who had just been describing the future to Luffy, suddenly stopped and turned around.
He took a puff of his cigar and said in a low voice, "That's a good question. But this is precisely our most important secret. Since you're Luffy's crewmate and are willing to follow us, I can tell you. Koza is actually King Cobra's biological bloodline who was left outside the royal family."
Crocodile looked at everyone, the corners of his mouth quietly curling up as he said meaningfully, "He's King Cobra's illegitimate son. Back then, with the royal family facing troubles both within and without, His Majesty secretly entrusted him to an extremely loyal subject to preserve this fragile spark. That subject was Mr. Toto, Koza's current adoptive father."
"Huh?"
Luffy immediately let out an extremely exaggerated cry of surprise, his eyes nearly popping out as he grabbed Koza by the shoulders and shook him hard, "Seriously? Koza, you're a prince?"
"Ah! Stop shaking me, Luffy."
Koza scratched his head awkwardly, his face carrying a simple innocence that showed how little he understood the ways of the world, "I actually don't care about being a prince at all. I grew up living pretty much the same life as an ordinary commoner. I just... I just want to carry on the wishes of both my fathers, let the people of Arabasta truly have a say in their own country, and make this country better."
"Well said! No wonder you're a man with royal blood flowing through his veins."
Crocodile immediately stepped forward and casually put an arm around Koza's shoulders, letting out several approving chuckles, looking every bit like an intimate mentor and friend.
Koza's face turned slightly red from the praise. His expression then became extremely solemn, and he bowed deeply to Luffy and Kuro, pleading, "Brother Luffy! Brother Kuro! This matter concerns the future hope of Arabasta, and only a very small number of people know about it right now. It's only because you've earned Mr. Crocodile's trust that I dared to tell you this secret in full. Please, you absolutely must keep it confidential!"
"Don't worry! I'm the best at keeping secrets!", Luffy thumped his chest so hard it practically shook the heavens.
"I won't tell anyone," Beside him, Kuro lowered his eyes, with most of his face hidden in the shadows of the night.
This royal secret might sound shocking, but all Kuro felt inside was ridicule.
Whether Koza was Cobra's illegitimate son, did it really matter?
Kuro gave a slight nod on the surface, agreeing to keep the secret, but his heart was pounding wildly.
In this world ruled by Rosse, with the World Government's unimaginable intelligence network and ability to carry out its orders, creating the identity of one, or even countless, illegitimate children would be far too easy.
Even taking ten thousand steps back, there was no need to fabricate anything. They would only need to secretly take control of Koza's parents, Toto and the others, use a Devil Fruit's hypnotic ability to plant a little psychological suggestion, and they could make these people firmly believe in this identity.
After all, Cobra had been dead for almost twenty years. There was no one left to prove anything, and no way to verify his identity.
Kuro absolutely didn't believe that the World Government, which controlled everything on this sea, wouldn't know that Arabasta had an illegitimate son of Cobra.
Yet the World Government clearly knew he existed and knew he was plotting a rebellion, but deliberately let him do as he pleased.
Why?
Because only when this group of rebels had a legitimate heir with a lawful claim among the common people could many of the later acts be brought onto the stage naturally.
Thinking that countless rulers of this world might be sitting in Mary Geoise, coldly watching these self-important ants dance wildly across the chessboard, excitement rose in Kuro's heart.
Everyone continued deeper into the manor, and soon their respective rooms were assigned.
After settling in, Kuro didn't stay in his room for long.
He walked out and happened to run into Luffy and Crocodile. He casually adjusted his glasses and asked in a mild tone, "May I ask where the manor's library is? I have a habit. If I don't read a few pages before bed, I really can't fall asleep."
That was a lie.
What he really wanted was to find out more about that Miss Nico.
He had a feeling.
That Miss Nico should be playing a very important role in this whole affair in Arabasta.
"The library? No problem. I'm going there too. I'll show you the way," Koza immediately volunteered.
A glint flashed through Crocodile's eyes, and he smoothly followed along with a smile, "Perfect. I also have some information I need to verify. Let's all go together."
Luffy's head had already been completely filled with thoughts of unlimited barbecue available twenty-four hours a day. When he saw everyone heading to some library, although he had barely read any books in his life, his strong desire to join in immediately made him raise his hand, "Oh! A group activity? Then I'm going too!"
Led by Koza, the group left the manor's main building, passed through a neatly trimmed hedge, and arrived in front of a huge three-story detached building.
This building stood behind and to the side of the main structure. Judging by its layout and relatively small windows, it definitely hadn't originally been a library. It was most likely a small villa built for the servants when the manor was constructed.
The moment he pushed the door open and walked inside, Kuro's eyes lit up slightly.
Although this small library converted from a servants' villa wasn't decorated with gold and silver, it had an extremely understated sense of luxury.
All the bookshelves were made of solid wood that gave off a faint sandalwood scent. The warm yellow gas lamps gave off soft light, while the thick handmade carpets absorbed sound perfectly.
Whoever had designed and furnished this place had astonishing taste. There was no way it had been made by the rebels outside who only knew how to stuff their faces with meat.
Following the corridor into the main hall of the library, Kuro's attention was immediately drawn to the central area.
There was a circle of extremely comfortable velvet reading lounges, while rows of bookshelves surrounding them seemed to completely isolate this place from the outside world.
Naturally, in a manor filled with this bunch of rough men, there weren't many people who would come here to read in the middle of the night.
At this moment, only one person was sitting in the huge lounge area.
It was an extremely striking woman.
She wore a short purple leather jacket, with a low-cut fitted top underneath. Her long legs were crossed, and her posture was extremely elegant.
Her tall figure, long black hair cascading like obsidian, and fair skin that seemed almost translucent under the dim light were enough to make an ordinary person dizzy.
Hearing the door open, the woman didn't immediately put down the thick book in her hands. But instinctively, Kuro clearly sensed an invisible gaze silently and carefully examining every person among them.
'A Devil Fruit ability? Interesting.'
It seemed this gaze had already been there ever since they entered the manor.
Kuro's senses weren't bad. He simply hadn't found its source before. Besides, there had been many people in the manor, and countless spectators were watching from high above, so he hadn't looked into it any further.
But now, it seemed that this was the source of the gaze he had sensed when entering the manor.
"Miss Nico! You're still reading!"
The moment Koza saw her, he immediately walked over like an enthusiastic student meeting his teacher, then turned around and introduced her to everyone:
"Luffy, Kuro, this is the person I've told you about, our brains, the learned Miss Nico!"
Only then did the woman close the book in her hands with an extremely soft snap.
She slowly stood up, her tall, straight figure displaying an astonishing mature charm. With a faint, gentle smile on her lips, she walked toward them, "Welcome to our sanctuary. In such troubled times, having a few more companions is truly reassuring. I'm Nico Robin."
The moment the two sides met, Kuro's gaze instantly became extremely sharp. Without any small talk, he asked in a deep voice that sounded almost like an interrogation, "Nico? You're with the World Government? What is Olvia to you?"
The air in the hall suddenly turned cold.
Robin's footsteps paused slightly, and a complicated emotion that was difficult to catch flashed deep in her sea-blue eyes.
But soon, she returned to that gentle, flawless smile, "Looks like my mother's reputation still rings loud even in this remote part of the first half of the Grand Line. That's right. She's my mother."
Robin's voice was completely calm as she said this, without a single flaw.
Yet even Koza, who was the least perceptive person present, somehow felt a chill at the back of his neck.
Aside from Luffy, who was still looking around for meat, everyone else heard the intense rejection and coldness hidden in those words.
Clearly, the relationship between this mother and daughter was far beyond simply being bad. It could practically be described as walking on thin ice.
However, when Kuro heard this answer, even his breathing stopped for a second.
Because just now, when Robin had walked closer and answered his question, Kuro, looking down from above, had very briefly let his gaze rest for half a second on the pale, full chest that rose and fell slightly with her deep breath.
At the open neckline of Robin's fitted top, aside from the dazzling whiteness and fullness, at the deepest point where the curves on either side came together, right in the sensitive center of her chest, there was a tattoo.
Because the mark was positioned so deep, and its edges had already spread and distorted severely as her body developed and its curves became fuller, an ordinary person wouldn't have been able to tell what kind of pattern it was.
But Kuro was different.
In order to climb toward the one above in the heavens, he had stopped at nothing.
Every piece of information he could gather was burned into his mind.
Even though Robin had probably still been a little girl when this mark was originally imprinted, and the pattern had become distorted over the years, that brief glimpse was enough for Kuro to recognize what it was.
It was actually... the hoofprint of a Celestial Dragon.
[🙇🏻 You Can Support the Story Through P@tr3on—AmbitiousTranslator. It also has 40+ Chapters of all the novels and fanfics. Thanks for reading~]