Whoosh!
Oguro used shunpo, his figure instantly vanishing from where he stood.
Ahead, Spandam held a pistol in his hand, constantly shouting at Robin to move faster.
"Hurry up!"
He struck the small of her back with the butt of his gun again.
In truth, Robin wasn't walking slowly at all, but Spandam was too nervous—and too eager to vent his frustration—so he kept hitting and cursing her along the way.
Finally, the two arrived at the second pillar of the Bridge of Hesitation.
"Quick! Open the Gates of Justice for me!" Spandam barked at the guards stationed there.
As the mechanism was activated, the massive Gates of Justice trembled slightly and began to open, revealing a narrow gap.
The gates were always kept shut, and even when used, only a small opening was ever needed.
"Heh… once I leave here and meet up with Father, no one will be able to take Pluton from me!" Spandam thought proudly.
So what if Oguro had subordinates strong enough to rival the Marine Admirals? Did he really dare charge into the World Government's headquarters?
Because of his "credit" from the Ohara Incident, Spandam's father had been promoted to a senior position within the World Government. Without that connection, there was no way someone as useless as Spandam would've become the chief of CP9.
Once he reached his father's turf, even a Marine Admiral would have to kneel before him!
Just as Spandam was fantasizing about his glorious future, a cold, sharp voice echoed from behind.
"Spandam… where do you think you're running off to?"
The familiar voice made Robin's heart tighten painfully. An indescribable surge of emotion welled up inside her.
Spandam froze, his body trembling as he slowly turned around.
There—standing atop the first pillar—was a figure watching him with eyes as cold as ice.
The sea breeze swept past, making Oguro's Soul King's mantle flutter wildly around him, accentuating his commanding and noble aura.
His gaze shifted toward Robin, and his expression instantly softened.
"Robin… leaving without saying goodbye isn't a good habit, you know? I came to bring you home."
Robin felt her throat tighten.
How many years had it been… since someone had spoken the word "home" to her?
Even in her loneliest dreams, she hadn't dared to imagine such a thing.
"Damn it! Stay where you are!"
Panicked by Oguro's sudden appearance, Spandam pressed his gun against Robin's head.
With a hostage in hand, he finally managed to calm down a little.
"Oguro! I know your goal is Pluton too! Don't move, or I'll blow her brains out! None of us will get anything then!" he shouted hysterically.
My goal is Pluton?
Even Oguro blinked in confusion.
If he'd wanted Pluton, he would've taken it back in Alabasta—why wait until now?
This idiot clearly just wanted Pluton for himself, yet he assumed everyone else thought the same way.
As expected, a man with no vision or depth.
"Only someone like you would think Pluton's a treasure worth fighting over," Oguro sneered coldly.
"If a single warship like that could decide everything, then the World Government wouldn't have survived for eight hundred years."
The only thing that could truly threaten the hidden hand behind the world—Imu—was the Sea Kings' sovereign, the one who could command every Sea King across the ocean.
That was the power capable of overturning the entire world.
Having his ambition dismissed to nothing, Spandam's eyes turned bloodshot.
"Bastard! Don't look down on me!"
Bang!
He vented all his anger on Robin, smashing the gun butt into her forehead.
Robin stumbled, blood instantly streaming down her face.
Oguro's look turned icy cold. "Spandam… you're courting death."
In a flash, Soifon and the others landed on the platform, their killing intent crashing down on Spandam like a tidal wave.
Unable to withstand the pressure, Spandam's legs nearly gave out beneath him.
Forcing himself upright, he pulled something from his coat and screamed, "Don't move! Look what I have here!"
A golden Den Den Mushi gleamed in his trembling hand.
Robin's pupils constricted to needlepoints.
"That's… a Buster Call!"
Spandam burst into laughter. "Hahaha! That's right! Admiral Aokiji himself gave me this Buster Call!"
"If you move even an inch, I'll activate it! Oguro, I heard you recently turned down the offer to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"Now you've caused chaos on Enies Lobby and might trigger a Buster Call… with all that stacked together, how do you think the Marines and World Government will deal with you?"
"I bet Aokiji will personally lead a fleet here to 'restore order'! Wouldn't that be something?"
The more he spoke, the more pleased he became.
With a Buster Call in hand, he felt like he commanded the world's greatest power.
No one would dare make a move against him!
Aokiji…
The light in Robin's eyes dimmed again.
She knew better than anyone how terrifying the Buster Call was. If an Admiral personally led the attack, there would be no surviving it.
Yet as Spandam's triumphant laughter echoed, Oguro's face remained calm.
He spoke slowly, every word like a blade.
"Spandam… release Robin now, and I'll leave you a whole corpse."
Spandam's laughter froze. Rage twisted his features, his body trembling violently.
This bastard still dared to threaten him? Did Oguro think he wouldn't actually use the Buster Call?
Just as he was about to lash out, Robin suddenly shouted, "Enough!"
The entire scene went silent—even Spandam hesitated.
Robin lifted her gaze, looking across the gap at Oguro.
This was a man who could change the world.
She, too, wanted to see the peaceful and just world he spoke of… but she couldn't let him die because of her.
Softly, she said, "Mr. Oguro, I'm truly grateful that you came to save me."
"But everything you've done… it's all a waste. I was never meant to be saved—"
"Nico Robin!"
Before she could finish, Oguro cut her off, his tone calm yet carrying unshakable weight.
"Before you decide, think carefully. Everyone must take responsibility for their own choices, no matter the result."
"My path was already set—I can't coexist with the World Government, and I won't change that because of anyone."
"I save people because I choose to… because I can bear the consequences."
"No one's life is worthless enough to be thrown away—not even for someone else's sake."
"Sometimes, self-sacrifice disguised as kindness only betrays the hearts of those who care about you."
"So decide—will you throw away all hope and face everything alone, or trust someone else and stand together?"
"In the end, just make sure you don't regret it."
The scene mirrored what once happened in the original timeline…
but Oguro was different.
He wanted to save Robin—yes.
But more importantly, he would respect her choice.
Because an adult must always bear the weight of their own decisions.
***
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