Chapter 89 89 Really? I Don't Believe It!
'Next, I might need to look for Chopper more often to see if I can use the fusion and shaping abilities of the Munch-Munch Fruit to develop medical innovations.'
Zane thought to himself as he watched Manlong receiving treatment.
The fusion and shaping abilities of the Munch-Munch Fruit weren't just limited to inanimate objects like metal; they were equally effective on living organisms.
Recalling that the physical attributes his Nen ability could plunder also possessed healing properties, Zane couldn't help but feel a spark of inspiration.
'Oh? I almost forgot about you.'
Suddenly, a movement captured by his Observation Haki caught Zane's attention.
With a light chuckle, Zane immediately transformed into a bolt of lightning and vanished.
On the coast on the other side of Whiskey Peak.
A large turtle was docked at the shore.
The turtle's back was fully equipped with chairs and a parasol.
Sitting in one of those chairs was Nico Robin.
"I didn't expect Crocodile to actually be defeated. As the books say, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit truly is a super-powered fruit with a reputation for being invincible."
"A member of the Three-Eye Tribe... I don't know if he can actually decipher Poneglyphs, but he'll definitely be hunted by the World Government from now on. It's better to avoid contact with someone like that." Lowering her crossed arms, Nico Robin sighed, preparing to leave.
The Flower-Flower Fruit ability allowed her to sprout limbs from a distance, and she could even project organs like eyes onto her palms.
From the start of the battle, she had used the chaos to keep her distance and had been monitoring the situation using her fruit powers.
Until now.
Once she confirmed Crocodile's defeat, Nico Robin hesitated before deciding to leave on her own.
If the Three-Eye Pirates were just a normally powerful pirate crew, she wouldn't have minded relying on them as she had done with others in the past.
But the problem was that their leader was of the Three-Eye Tribe.
In Nico Robin's mind, the Three-Eye Tribe wasn't just a rare race; they were tied to the Poneglyphs.
She knew very well how much the World Government guarded against the Poneglyphs.
Therefore, she could infer that the Three-Eye Pirates would inevitably face extremely intense pursuit from the World Government in the future.
Though she harbored hatred for the World Government, her fear of them was greater, so she naturally didn't dare approach the Three-Eye Pirates.
"Leaving just like that?"
Nico Robin was about to depart when a calm voice suddenly drifted from behind her.
Her body stiffened for a moment, but in the next second, she relaxed completely.
"I surrender. If you don't mind, I'm willing to serve you."
Without the slightest hesitation, Nico Robin resorted to her most practiced routine.
She raised her hands without looking back to show she had no intention of resisting, her voice quickly stating her position.
As the saying goes, a wise person knows when to yield to the inevitable.
If she hadn't been discovered, Nico Robin certainly wouldn't have wanted any contact with the Three-Eye Pirates.
But now that she had been caught, and understanding perfectly that she couldn't escape, she decisively made the best choice to preserve her life.
"You're quite sensible."
Standing behind the chair and looking at the remarkably compliant Nico Robin, a hint of a smile appeared in Zane's eyes.
With his Observation Haki, he had already mapped out everyone's location as soon as they landed on Whiskey Peak.
He had been fully aware of Nico Robin trying to sneak away the entire time.
"No need to be so nervous. I'm not some born killer. Even the title of 'pirate' was just something the Marines unilaterally slapped on me."
"In reality, I'm just a Hunter."
"Like this clash with Crocodile—it only happened because he came looking for trouble with me first."
"As for you, Nico Robin, I'm well aware of your background, so don't worry about what I'll do to you."
"I've come now just to give you two choices: one is to join me, and the other is that you can continue wandering."
Zane walked past and naturally sat down beside Nico Robin, crossing his legs.
He turned to look at her, smiling as he explained his intention.
Zane's words were clearly not what Nico Robin had expected.
Initially, she had been a bit tense because Zane sat down so close that their legs were touching.
But as Zane spoke, her attention was immediately shifted to his words.
"Can you decipher the Poneglyphs?"
Also turning to look at Zane, Nico Robin's mind raced as various thoughts flashed through her head, but in the end, she only asked that one question.
"Not yet," Zane shook his head.
Nico Robin's eyes flickered as she said, "So you want to recruit me because you want me to decipher the Poneglyphs for you?"
Zane laughed. "That depends on you. Whether you're willing to decipher them or not, it doesn't matter to me."
Really?
I don't believe it!
Having witnessed countless darknesses, Nico Robin naturally couldn't believe Zane's words just like that.
But that didn't stop her from making a choice.
"Alright then. I'll be in your care from now on." Nico Robin gave him a crisp, elegant smile.
It was the same old story.
Facing the man before her, she had no other choice.
As for the so-called 'freedom to leave,' who knew if it was true?
Since she still had dreams to fulfill, she wouldn't take risks lightly.
'What a performance. With a smile like that, anyone who didn't know the truth would easily be fooled.'
Zane looked at her elegant smile, feeling amused.
Based on what he knew of her.
He was well aware that his words wouldn't let her truly drop her guard.
However, there was plenty of time ahead.
As long as she didn't do anything that crossed his bottom line, he didn't mind truly protecting her.
*
*
*
Because Manlong's injuries were quite serious.
Zane wasn't in a hurry to set sail again. Instead, he stayed on Whiskey Peak for three days until Manlong's condition stabilized.
"So, have you made up your minds? Do you want to go to hell with Crocodile, or become my subordinates?"
On the deck, Baby 5 and Nico Robin attended to him on either side.
Zane sat on a golden throne, looking lazily at the shackled Baroque Works officers before him.
Everything should be put to good use.
Aside from a few who died in battle, Zane hadn't executed the remaining Baroque Works officers; instead, he had them imprisoned.
Now that they were preparing to set sail, Zane brought these people out.
After all, they were officers chosen by Crocodile.
Even the weaker ones among them had their own unique specialties.
Therefore, Zane was willing to give them a choice.
"This humble one is willing to become your subordinate, milord!"
As soon as Zane finished speaking, someone immediately leapt forward and threw himself onto the ground in a heavy prostration before Zane.
His face was full of flattery.
The one who performed such a natural, sliding prostration was, of course, our very own Mr. 3, Galdino.
This performance even made Zane stare blankly for a moment.
But then he laughed. "Very well. Since you're so sensible, this is your reward."
Although the man showed no spine, as the first to surrender, he still had to be given a reward.
A gold bar flew out of a portal opened in his palm and was tossed directly to Galdino.
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