"Phew... she really is a troublesome little girl."
Robin wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and let out a long sigh.
The Hana Hana no Mi itself is not particularly known for its combat power, and the Arms-Arms Fruit, which can turn any part of the body into a weapon, happens to be a perfect counter to the joint locks Robin excels at.
If she hadn't been training alongside the Felynes since joining the Felyne Investigation Team and awakened her Observation Haki, defeating Baby-5 would not have been so easy.
"Be good now, and just be a quiet captive."
Robin walked up to the upside-down Baby-5 and lightly poked her forehead with her fingertip.
"Wh-wha?!"
Baby-5, who had been glaring at Robin, immediately became bashful.
Her face flushed deep red as she averted her eyes, stammering, "M-marrying a girl... I-I can accept that too!"
As if she had made some sort of grand resolution, Baby-5 closed her eyes and shouted at Robin.
Robin: "..."
"Who wants to marry you?!"
It had to be said that even in the Donquixote Family, where eccentrics were everywhere, Baby-5 train of thought was uniquely bizarre. Even the usually calm Robin couldn't help but shout back in frustration.
"Didn't you say you were going to capture my heart?!"
"How on earth did you hear my words like that?!"
"So women can abandon other women after playing with their feelings too?!"
"When did our relationship ever develop to that point, hey?!"
"You... you heartless woman!"
"..."
Realizing that Baby-5 simply wouldn't listen to her, Robin finally understood how Sherwin felt back then.
That was—pure mental exhaustion.
While it was draining and left her feeling powerless, there was one advantage: a person this eccentric was also incredibly easy to "persuade."
So, Robin simply let her down and, before Baby-5 could cling to her, spoke rapidly: "Sherwin actually loves maids the most. In fact, if it weren't for the need to target Doflamingo, he would have chosen you the very first time he won."
In order to escape the entanglement of this bizarre maid, Robin unhesitatingly followed the glorious tradition of the Felyne Investigation Team—throwing the Hunter under the bus to take the blame.
"Eh? Re-really?!"
Baby-5 held her cheeks, her eyes shining as she asked.
Robin nodded decisively and "told the truth": "After letting you go last time, Sherwin immediately bought maid outfits for me and Klee Meow precisely because he couldn't stop thinking about you!"
"Ooh ooh ooh—!"
"Furthermore, you know Sherwin is skilled with all kinds of weapons, right? And since you can transform into various weapons, you are simply a match made in heaven for him!"
"Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh—!!!"
...
"!!!"
Sherwin subconsciously shuddered.
"Brother Sherwin, what's wrong meow?"
(=ω=)
Klee Meow tugged at his ear with concern.
"Stupid Sherwin! Why did you suddenly shiver meow?! You almost made me fall off meow!"
(=`ω=)ジ
Haibara Meow slapped his head in annoyance.
"Sherwin-chin, you pulled out my fur meow!"
(=`н=)
In his arms, Shermie Meow also puffily bumped his chin with her head.
Sherwin first looked around in confusion, then rubbed his back with lingering fear as he answered, "I don't know why, but I suddenly felt a chill down my spine, as if some knave is out to get me!"
As he spoke, he glanced suspiciously back and forth between the two mischievous Felynes on his shoulders.
"It wasn't Klee!"
(=ω=)
The little Ragdoll immediately waved her paws in denial. "Klee has been very good lately meow."
"Hmph~ I'm the one who had the upper hand lately meow!"
(=`=)
The little kitten raised her small head high with a face full of pride.
While the Hunter was tensely searching for the source of his ominous premonition, Robin was already walking back with a hopeful Baby-5.
However, they had only taken two steps before Robin suddenly turned to face the right. She quickly took out a Cat Paw Can, pressed it against her abdomen, and immediately crossed her arms to activate her fruit ability.
"Twenty-Fold Flower: Marigold!"
A shield composed of twenty "cat paws" blocked the space in front of Robin, and in the next second, a sturdy figure slammed into it.
"G—!"
"Bang!"
Although Robin, who had already put on the Cat Combat Suit, was pushed back a great distance by Lao G "G Seal" technique, she did not suffer any actual damage.
After all, the Cat Combat Suit she wore had undergone several revisions its defensive power was something even the authentic combat suits of Germa 66 could not match. Of course, if one factored in their modified human physiques, it might be a different story.
"Lao G! Your injuries are healed?!"
Baby-5 asked in surprise, and then looked toward Robin—who had transformed into a Calico Felyne Mink—with concern. "Sister Robin, are you okay?"
"Don't worry. An attack of this level is far weaker than Klee Meow bombs."
Robin dusted off her combat uniform and replied nonchalantly.
Having seen so many of Sherwin and the Felyne exaggerated methods, Robin naturally didn't think this G-Sign was particularly impressive.
On the contrary, what Robin cared more about was... how did Lao G recover so quickly?
His own sprained back was one thing, but Sherwin's fire arrows were not easy to endure, yet the opponent showed no traces of burns at this moment.
"Baby-5! Let join forces and take her down... G!"
Just as Robin was wondering, Lao G had already launched another attack and called for Baby-5 help.
However, the previous conversation with Robin had caused Baby-5 to hesitate for a moment.
"But, but..."
"Sorry, old gentleman," Robin said, summoning Felyne arms to tangle with Lao G, "Baby-5 has already decided to join our Felyne Investigation Team."
"Don't even think about it! All of Dressrosa belongs to the Young Master! Everyone in this country is the Young Master slave! Baby-5 is no different!"
The enraged Lao G roared loudly, with absolutely no intention of considering Baby-5 feelings.
"Willing to do anything as long as she needed! Where else in this world do you think you'll find such a convenient woman?!"
Baby-5: "..."
"Four Trees: Felyne Punch!" After swatting Lao G away with a large Felyne paw, Robin looked meaningfully at Baby-5, who was biting her lower lip and silently weeping.
"Now, do you still feel like they treat you as family?"
"Baby-5! Why are you still standing there like an idiot?! I need you to help me kill this woman right now... G!"
Upon hearing the keyword "I need you," Baby-5 reflexively transformed one arm into a gun barrel and aimed it at Robin.
However, she did not fire.
Robin, completely ignoring her, left her back entirely exposed to Baby-5 as she continued her struggle with Lao G.
But her mouth did not stay idle as she continued to say to Baby-5, "Baby-5, you can't refuse the needs of others, right? Then I need you right now... try to refuse someone once. As for whether you refuse me or refuse him... that for you to decide!"
"What nonsense are you talking about! How could that woman ever refuse anyone! Baby-5! Hurry up and attack Nico Robin... G!"
"...Weapon Transformation: Pistol Girl!"
"Bang!"
With the sound of a gunshot, a projectile slammed hard into...
Lao G ribs.
Lao G: "!!!"
Robin, beneath her cat mask, curled her lips into a smile. "Well done."
Immediately following that, she crossed her hands.
"You don't seem to have a Devil Fruit ability... so... Mil Fleur: Gigantesco Mano: Ura: Cat Punch!"
"Boom!"
The giant cat paws slammed fiercely into Lao G, driving his entire body into the ground. Just like the other cat feline punches, she followed up with a flurry of consecutive strikes until Robin Observation Haki could no longer hear Lao G voice before she finally stopped.
"Alright, let go."
Having dealt with Lao G, Robin deactivated her combat suit and beckoned to Baby-5, who had actively attacked Lao G and was currently in a daze.
However, at the very moment her spirit relaxed, a dark green figure charged out from a slant, a dagger only the size of a palm stabbing straight toward Nico Robin neck.