"What's the wager?"
Robin bit her lip and looked directly at Ryan. She knew he was full of malicious intent, aware that this bet was likely another trap, yet "Luffy's safety" ultimately outweighed all humiliation and resistance.
Even if the price was continued entanglement with this scoundrel.
"Aren't you most concerned about the safety of that Straw Hat Kid and his crew?" Ryan's finger traced a slow circle behind Robin's ear, his smile growing more teasing as he deliberately drew out his words. "Then let's bet that within ten days, the Straw Hat Kid will definitely send word."
"Ten days?" Robin's pupils contracted slightly.
"What, think it's impossible?" Ryan leaned closer, watching her hesitant expression with amusement. "Then take the bet. If you win, the debt of gratitude between us will be wiped clean..."
Ryan paused, his fingers gently caressing Nico Robin's cheek with deliberate intimacy before slowly trailing down her neck. "If I win, then until the Straw Hat Kid comes for you, you'll obediently stay by my side. Quite a fair bet, isn't it?"
Fair? This was nothing but robber's logic. Yet Robin had to admit the bet precisely targeted her weakness. Ryan's confidence made her vaguely suspect he might truly possess information she didn't know.
"What if... there's no news within ten days?" Robin suppressed the turmoil in her heart, confirming each word carefully.
Ryan laughed even more openly, giving her cheek a light pinch. "Then I'll consider myself defeated. But I advise you not to hold such hopes. After all, how could that reckless Straw Hat Kid possibly stay quiet for a full ten days?"
"You're such a bastard!" Robin swatted away his mischievous hand, her face flushing crimson as she bit her lip and cursed.
Her entanglement with Ryan had begun because of that previous debt of gratitude. Now he was using "clearing the debt" as bait - this should have been a perfect opportunity to sever their connection. Yet Robin's heart was in turmoil, secretly hoping she would lose the bet.
Winning would free her from Ryan but force her to confront fears about Luffy's safety. Losing would mean continued entanglement with this scoundrel but confirmation of Luffy's wellbeing. This feeling of being manipulated by his malicious amusement, yet still having her emotions pulled along, left her both furious and helpless.
"So, do we have a bet?" Ryan remained unbothered by Robin's anger, his laughter growing more cheerful as his tone took on a urging quality. "Don't dawdle. I don't have much patience to wait for your hesitation."
Robin took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly as she met Ryan's gaze. "Fine, I'll take your bet."
Even knowing this might be another abyss, even understanding the next ten days would bring continued torment - if it meant learning news of Luffy sooner, she was willing to pay this price.
"Follow me." With the bet settled, Ryan said nothing more, simply turning to walk toward the alley's exit. Waving dismissively without looking back, his tone was casual.
Watching Ryan's decisive retreating figure, Robin hesitated for two seconds before biting her lower lip and finally stepping forward to follow.
For now, staying with Ryan was the only way to quickly learn news of her comrades.
The two walked one after the other through Sabaody Archipelago until they reached the port where the Wave Rider was docked. As soon as they stepped onto the deck, Zala, dressed in a sleek leather outfit, quickly approached, holding a rolled-up newspaper with a serious expression. "Captain, take a look at this. The news is spreading fast."
On the deck, Rob Lucci, Kalifa, Kaku, and the other former CP9 members watched as Nico Robin followed closely behind, their expressions shifting slightly. After all, they had been the ones who arrested Robin in Water 7 and even battled the Straw Hat Kid's crew at Enies Lobby.
Robin also noticed the CP9 members but said nothing, merely thinking to herself how surprising it was that these elite CP9 agents had been subdued by Ryan. She couldn't help but wonder what schemes that bastard Ryan had in mind.
Ryan paid no attention to any of this. He took the newspaper from Zala, casually unrolled it, and skimmed through it without any noticeable change in expression—neither surprise nor anger, as if he were reading some trivial piece of news.
Then, he turned to Robin, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth, and handed her the newspaper. "Take a look too. You might find it interesting."
Puzzled, Robin took the paper, her eyes falling on the front-page headline. Her pupils abruptly contracted, and her breath hitched.
[Fire Fist Ace to Be Publicly Executed at Marineford, Marine Admiral Personally Overseeing!]
"Fire Fist Ace is the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division. For the Marines to publicly execute him is a clear declaration of war against the Whitebeard Pirates. This isn't some minor skirmish—if a fight breaks out, the entire balance of the seas will be thrown into chaos."
Daz Bones' voice was calm and even as his gaze swept over Ryan, a note of warning in his tone. "In a conflict of this scale, the Seven Warlords won't be able to stay out of it. The World Government will definitely issue a mandatory summons."
Upon hearing this, Ryan merely leaned casually against the ship's railing, his tone dripping with indifference. "Let them summon us. The execution isn't for a while yet, so what's the rush?"
Daz Bones seemed about to say more, but Ryan raised a hand to cut him off.
"What we need to do now isn't worry about the grudges between the Marines and Whitebeard." Ryan's gaze swept over the CP9 members on the deck before settling back on Robin, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Let's find a place to rest in Sabaody Archipelago for a few days. We can deal with the World Government's summons when it actually arrives."
To be honest, Ryan was quite satisfied with the title of "Seven Warlords of the Sea." With this status, he could sail the seas openly, avoid plenty of trouble under the guise of the World Government, and occasionally even reap benefits like "intelligence privileges" and "shipping route advantages" from the government. It was incredibly convenient.
This time, the Marines' public execution of Ace was clearly a direct challenge to Whitebeard. In a conflict of this magnitude, the World Government would never allow the Seven Warlords to be absent—a mandatory summons was a certainty.
Ryan had no intention of losing his "Seven Warlords" title. He would definitely attend the Summit War. Since he couldn't avoid it, he might as well take it easy. These few days in Sabaody Archipelago would be a good chance to rest before setting off after the summons arrived.
When the time came, he'd just go through the motions on the battlefield, fulfill the government's demands, and keep his Warlord title.
As for whether the Marines or Whitebeard would win—that had nothing to do with him.
Moreover... I recall back in East Blue, Ryan had told Hawkeye Mihawk that he would seek him out once he found a suitable sword. Now that Ryan possessed the Seven Star Sword, this trip to Marineford presented the perfect opportunity to properly spar with Hawkeye.
At this thought, Ryan's mood lifted even further. Looking at everyone on the deck, he said, "Anyway, there's nothing else to do these next few days. Do whatever you want—you're free to move about."
Daz Bones sat expressionless at the edge of the deck, seemingly lost in thought. The CP9 members dispersed as well—Rob Lucci headed toward the port, while Zala turned and entered the ship's cabin.
The deck gradually grew quiet, leaving only Robin standing where she was, clutching tightly the newspaper bearing the news of "Ace's Execution." The edges of the paper were crumpled in her grip, her gaze fixed intently on the words "Marineford" and "Public Execution."
Ace was Luffy's brother. Given Luffy's personality, once he learned this news, even knowing it was a trap, he would undoubtedly rush recklessly to Marineford!
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "GoddessTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!