At the highest tower of Enies Lobby, Spandam finally met Rob Lucci and the others who had returned from Water 7, and his face immediately lit up with delight.
"Good work, everyone," Spandam said with a smile.
"It was nothing. Everything was for the mission," Rob Lucci replied flatly.
They had spent five full years infiltrating Water 7, but to intelligence agents like them, that was simply their purpose.
Five years was nothing.
There were people who had remained undercover for ten—sometimes even twenty—years.
"Don't worry, I won't forget your contributions," Spandam said smugly.
This time, to strengthen CP9's combat power, he had even specially obtained two Devil Fruits—though as for what abilities they possessed, he had no idea himself.
CP9 merely looked at him calmly, offering no response.
Spandam didn't mind and continued, "So, where are those two now?"
"They're outside the door. Nico Robin has already been restrained with Seastone cuffs."
"Well done."
Spandam nodded in satisfaction.
Sure enough, letting professionals handle things was always reassuring. With that settled, he wasn't even in a hurry to see the prisoners.
After all, his subordinates had spent five long years completing this mission—he couldn't possibly rush straight to the results. At the very least, he needed to say a few ceremonial words first.
With that in mind, Spandam began chatting idly about other matters.
Outside the door, however—
Franky was carefully scanning his surroundings, searching for any possible escape route.
Beside him, Nico Robin kept her head lowered, as if she had already accepted her fate, showing not the slightest will to survive.
After struggling for a while and realizing he couldn't break free from the chains, Franky finally gave up.
He glanced at the silent woman next to him.
There was no vitality in her at all—she looked almost like a corpse.
"Hey," Franky said, "are you really just going to give up like this?"
"They chased you all the way from Water 7. Even the Sea Train and the Aqua Laguna couldn't stop them."
"Are you really not going to respond to that?"
Unfortunately, Nico Robin had no intention of replying. She kept her head lowered, silent.
"Man, you're really stubborn," Franky muttered irritably.
"What would you even understand?!" Nico Robin suddenly lifted her head and looked at him. "You have no idea what kind of power they're holding over us."
"The Buster Call…?" Franky murmured.
His expression grew heavy.
A force capable of erasing an entire island was indeed terrifying—but that still wasn't a reason to simply surrender.
"Under a Buster Call… no one can resist," Nico Robin said, lowering her head again. The lifeless aura around her only deepened.
"I don't know if the Buster Call can be solved," Franky said, leaning against the wall and looking toward the window, "but this idea of sacrificing yourself to protect them…"
"They'll never accept it."
"No matter what you say, those idiots are definitely coming here to save you."
"That's a fact you can't change!"
Even though he hadn't known them for long, Franky could tell—
They were the kind of people who would give everything for their companions.
They had even dared to charge straight through the terrifying Aqua Laguna.
What was there left that they wouldn't dare to do?
Nico Robin's body trembled slightly, pain slowly surfacing in her eyes.
Of course she wanted to continue adventuring with them.
But if she didn't obey CP9, her companions would be killed.
She couldn't accept that outcome.
And so… she had no choice but to do this.
"Tch. Seriously stubborn," Franky snorted. "Just like that long-nosed guy."
Suddenly, he noticed something strange.
A Marine had climbed in through a distant window.
But that direction should've been a cliff.
Or was there some kind of balcony or passage hidden out there?
With suspicion in his eyes, Franky stared fixedly at the approaching Marine.
That Marine—
Was Jin.
"Whew."
"Looks like I found the right place."
After glancing at the two people chained to the wall, Jin smiled.
The woman in black had to be Nico Robin—she was clearly restrained with Seastone cuffs.
The other one must be Franky.
After briefly checking the tightly shut door nearby, Jin calmly walked toward them.
"Hey, Marine," Franky said coldly. "What are you planning to do?"
If this guy came any closer, he wouldn't hesitate to bite him.
"Shh."
"It's me."
Jin glanced around, and after confirming no one else was nearby, he crouched down and said quietly,
"You're Franky and Nico Robin, right? I'm here to rescue you."
Nico Robin: !!!
Franky: ???
Shock filled Nico Robin's eyes.
Those words… felt strangely familiar.
Not long ago, Usopp had appeared before her in exactly the same way.
And now—someone else had made it here too?!
Franky, on the other hand, looked completely baffled, unable to tell what this "Marine" was up to.
Then it suddenly hit him.
"Wait… you're that ninja?!"
"Yeah," Jin nodded. "My name's Jin."
Franky's face immediately lit up with realization.
No wonder he didn't recognize him—this was the ninja who had just joined the Straw Hat Pirates.
And then, he got excited.
A real ninja!
"Ninja…?" Nico Robin looked at Jin in confusion, not understanding what Franky meant.
She had seen the word in old illustrations before—but wasn't that supposed to be fictional?
"I just joined the Straw Hat Pirates," Jin explained. "On the way to Enies Lobby."
Nico Robin's first reaction was disbelief.
How could something that coincidental possibly happen?
Picking up a ninja as a companion halfway here?
Who would believe that?
In her eyes, this was probably a test arranged by the Marines.
If she showed even the slightest desire to escape, CP9 would immediately move against Luffy and the others.
Seeing her wary expression, Jin could only sigh helplessly.
After all, he really had never met her before.
"It should be him," Franky suddenly said. "When Curly-Brow and Straw Hat were talking over the Den Den Mushi earlier, I heard this guy's voice. He was with them at the time."
That confirmed it.
Nico Robin looked at Jin again.
Could it really be true…?
Had Luffy actually picked up a ninja as a crewmate halfway here?
No—this still felt ridiculous.
"Now do you believe me?" Jin said.
Nico Robin was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
If Franky said so, it was probably true.
She trusted him.
"Then let's hurry and get out of here," Jin said. "If those guys find us, protecting you while fighting will be troublesome."
"Once we regroup with Luffy and the others, we'll settle the score properly."
As he spoke, Jin drew the Kusanagi Sword, preparing to cut the chains binding them.
As for Nico Robin's handcuffs, they'd have to think of another solution later—at the very least, he needed to get them out of here first.
"…No."
Nico Robin shook her head.
"I can't go with you. Please leave."
Jin froze.
"I came all this way, and you're telling me to leave?"
"Yes. Leave," Nico Robin said softly. "Even though I don't know you… since you're a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, I don't want you to get hurt."
She didn't want this newly joined companion to die because of her.
If that happened, the others would only suffer more.
Jin looked at her in silence for a few seconds.
Then he let out a quiet sigh.
"You're really… stubborn, aren't you."
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