Chapter 65: Nico Robin (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Monthly Votes)

On the third day at noon, everyone was enjoying the delicious food prepared by Lili. Vivi and Karoo were hiding behind a wooden barrel not far away, staring hungrily at the dishes on the table, their stomachs growling.

For the past few days, everyone on the ship had treated this girl and her duck as if they were invisible, but Lili still left a little food in the kitchen for them to "steal." However, the portions left for them were barely enough for a single meal, so today, the pair came out while Buffon and the others were eating.

Vivi had already prepared her words and was ready to come clean to Buffon. But just then, a small wooden boat silently appeared in front of the Juventus.

A woman sat atop the boat, resting her chin on one hand, dressed in a purple denim outfit that barely restrained her ample chest with two white leather straps on her bustier. Beneath a matching purple cowboy hat, her delicate features, sun-kissed skin, and lustrous black hair reminiscent of black pearls made her look every inch like a pirate queen Cleopatra.

She gazed at the Juventus and offered a faint smile. "Things are getting more and more interesting!"

Just as her boat was about to approach the Juventus, Buffon and Baggio sensed the incoming vessel within seconds of each other. Buffon stood and glanced over, muttering to himself, "Why has she come now? This is hardly a good time for an encounter."

Noticing she had been spotted on deck, the woman tapped the boat with one foot and performed the Flourish of a Hundred Flowers: Phantom Wings. Instantly, countless arms sprouted behind her, forming a pair of magnificent wings. With a gentle flutter, she hovered down and landed gracefully on the stern railing five seconds later.

Resting her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on Vivi hiding behind the barrel, she spoke with a smile, "Should I call you Miss Wednesday, or Princess Vivi?"

Vivi instantly felt the hairs on her body stand up, both because she had been discovered, and because the person who found her was none other than the Vice President and Supreme Commander of Baroque Works, code-named Miss All-Sunday.

This woman was also known as Nico Robin, an expert in archaeology and assassination, with profound knowledge. She was deeply informed about the World Government, pirates, and seafaring, and often used her powers to eavesdrop on islanders' conversations, thus collecting crucial intelligence for her pirate crew. Her goal was to find the true Poneglyphs, motivated in large part by her desire to fulfill her mother's wish.

Knowing she could no longer hide, Vivi emerged from behind the barrel with Karoo. But before she could speak, Buffon was already asking, "Should I call you Miss All-Sunday now, or Nico Robin?"

At these words, Reiju's expression subtly shifted. She was familiar with both the names Miss All-Sunday and Nico Robin, but she had never expected the same person to possess both identities. Even more astonishing was that Buffon knew something even Germa 66 did not.

A flicker of surprise crossed Robin’s eyes, but she continued to smile. "With a zombie in your company, you must be from Moria’s ship. And with a Germa officer at your side, I doubt your purpose here is to protect Princess Vivi."

Reiju stepped forward. "Who would have thought we'd meet you here, Miss Robin? We have our own reasons for heading to Alabasta."

"Oh? Is that so? Then let's make a deal—hand over Vivi to me, and once we reach Alabasta, I’ll be sure to give you all a warm welcome."

Before Reiju could reply, Buffon called out toward the cabin, "Saul! The girl you once protected with your life has appeared!"

Hearing Saul’s name, Robin’s heart tightened instinctively. When she saw the enormous figure charging out of the cabin, her pupils widened and her voice turned fierce, "Impossible!"

Saul’s eyes filled with tears as he saw Robin. "Little Robin, is that you?"

"Saul died at Kuzan’s hands. I don’t know what trick you used, but after I kill you all, I’ll give Saul a proper burial," Robin declared, her tone now cold and unyielding.

As she finished speaking, she crossed her arms over her chest, and two arms sprouted from Buffon’s back, twisting his neck with a spinning force.

"Robin, don’t!" Saul shouted, scrambling toward them and shaking the deck with his massive steps.

But Robin ignored Saul’s pleas. With a grim smile, she uttered, "Twinned Bloom: Grasp!"

Yet, despite his neck seemingly twisted, Buffon was completely unharmed. He calmly looked at Robin and asked, "Are you truly unwilling to hear our explanation?"

"You people from Moria’s crew have no respect for the dead. I won’t let you defile Saul’s body any further!" Robin’s voice left no room for negotiation.

Buffon turned to Saul and said evenly, "I’ll keep the promise I made you."

Then, with both hands, he tore away the arms at his neck and charged straight at Robin, brushing aside all obstacles created by her Hana-Hana Fruit as if they were nothing.

At the stern, Buffon slipped behind Robin in a flash and, before she could react, brought down his hand in a chopping motion, knocking her unconscious.

Staring at the woman now lying on the deck, Buffon shook his head and handed her over to Saul. "When she wakes up, you two can talk."

He then turned to Princess Vivi, "Why did you come onto our ship?"

With her enemy dispatched, Vivi’s worries faded. She steadied herself and confessed to Buffon, "Sanji told me that the Log Pose was taken from Team Unlucky. But after examining it, I realized it wasn’t set for Alabasta. So I suspected the real Log Pose is with you."

Seeing Buffon remain silent, Vivi pressed on, "I don’t know your intentions in Alabasta, but given how you act against Baroque Works, I thought we could become allies!"

Buffon nodded and looked to Reiju.

Reiju understood immediately. "How did you figure it out?" She was curious to know as well.

"All Alabasta’s Log Poses are made by the same craftsmen, and the font on Sanji’s doesn’t match the ones I know," Vivi answered firmly.

Buffon’s expression remained calm, but he thought to himself, "So that’s where the flaw was."

Reiju gave a playful smile. "But what if someone simply made a counterfeit?"

Vivi bit her lip, resolute. "Then I’m willing to take the risk! Captain Buffon, please tell me if my suspicion is correct!"

Reiju also turned to Buffon, waiting for his answer.

But at that moment, a distant green slash fell from the sky over the sea, striking down toward the deck of the Juventus.

Recalling swiftly, Buffon muttered under his breath, "What brings him here?"