Capítulo 116: Chapter 116
If this were earlier, Smoker would have immediately clashed with Logan. Logan had a history of reducing his subordinates to tears, and this was not the first instance. However, upon hearing Logan's words, Smoker was visibly taken aback.
Tashigi, a marine with a sheltered perspective and idealistic notions, sometimes needed a dose of harsh reality to navigate the challenges of the New World. Though Logan's words might sting, they were intended to awaken her. His remarks shattered Tashigi's fantasy of collecting famed swords and made her recognize the value of the renowned sword Shigure that she already possessed. Why fuss over collecting more swords when you can't maintain the one you have?
Upon this realization, Tashigi's slump vanished. Standing tall, she tightly grasped Shigure, staring at Logan with steely determination. "Thank you," she said before turning and swiftly departing.
Nico Robin, observing from the crowd, smirked slightly to herself, murmuring, "What a playboy…"
Smoker glanced at Logan but refrained from speaking, instead issuing a cold command to the Marines: "Let's go!"
However, Logan intervened, "Don't leave yet! The debt hasn't been settled! How can I let you go?"
Smoker's face paled, retorting, "I have no money! You've squeezed every bit from my warship! How about another IOU?"
There's a saying: when plagued by lice, one becomes unafraid of the itch. When Smoker first wrote an IOU to Logan, he was uncertain. But this time, Smoker took a proactive stance.
"More than 200 million in IOUs? Are you kidding me?" Logan protested.
"What else can I do?" Smoker smirked. "I truly have no money."
"You're quite bold for someone broke," Logan remarked, resolute. "We'll stay in Alabasta until the Log Pose resets. Use that time to gather my money."
"I won't get it," Smoker insisted. He couldn't believe Logan would release Baroque Works members. He knew Logan's intellect and anticipated he wouldn't offend Princess Vivi by releasing them now.
"Hehehehe! Smoker, your audacity has grown!" Logan smirked, deliberately glancing towards Tashigi in the distance.
This glance didn't escape Smoker's notice. Enraged, he confronted Logan, "What are you planning?"
"I'm innocent," Logan feigned innocence, patting Smoker on the shoulder. "Pay up, or let your imagination run wild."
Taking Princess Vivi from Nami, Logan declared, "Let's take Princess Vivi home."
"Finally!" Usopp exclaimed, eager to see the palace.
However, Luffy was confused, "Didn't we agree on dinner?"
Nami chided, "Idiot! What's better than dining at the palace?"
"Ah~?" Luffy understood, excited, "That's awesome! I wanna eat till I'm full!"
Robin hesitated, "Should I join...?"
"Why not?" Logan welcomed her.
For Robin, openly visiting the palace was preferable to lurking in secrecy. She sought the Poneglyphs located in the ancient funeral hall, her primary reason for coming to Alabasta.
Alubarna, the capital, lay near the San Dora River. Logan's group headed back to the Going Merry, crossed the river, and reached the nearest port to Alubarna.
Disembarking, the Straw Hat Pirates spotted a familiar face—Captain Igaram of the Alabasta Guard.
"Princess Vivi is back!" Igaram exclaimed with joy at Vivi's return.
"Igaram, why are you waiting here?" Despite her fatigue, Vivi managed to walk on her own. However, upon finishing her question, she noticed the royal guards behind Igaram all kneeling in unison. Igaram, too, knelt, crying with excitement, "Your Highness! The video Den Den Mushi broadcasted your victory over Crocodile to the capital! Everyone knows it now!"
"Your Highness, you're Alabasta's savior!" Igaram directly addressed Vivi. His guard soldiers bowed excitedly.
"Igaram!" Vivi quickly caught him, "Let's head to the palace to meet the king first. Without the Straw Hat Pirates help this time, Alabasta would have been doomed."
"Yes! Thanks to the benefactor!" Igaram rose, moving towards the Straw Hat Pirates, eager to embrace everyone.
Witnessing this, Zoro recalled the moment Igaram hugged him back at Whiskey Peak, sending a sudden shiver down his spine. Inadvertently, he pushed Sanji, catching Igaram off guard, leading to an unexpected embrace between Sanji and Igaram.
"Hey!?" Sanji, unhappy about being hugged by a man instead of a woman, lunged towards Zoro.
Amidst laughter, the Straw Hat Pirates arrived at Alabasta's palace, where King Cobra hosted a grand celebration dinner.
Luffy devoured food with gusto while Sanji indulged in the attention of several maids.
That night, the Straw Hat Pirates stayed in the palace's most luxurious guest room.
Around 2 AM, Robin awoke and quietly ventured into the palace corridor.
"Stunning..." Standing behind a pillar, Robin crossed her arms.
In the next moment, eyes appeared atop each pillar. Utilizing this ability, Robin stealthily bypassed every guard.
Upon reaching the Royal Hall, Robin took out a blueprint, examining it under the light of her flashlight held in her mouth.
After a while, she turned back, puzzled, "Strange, it should be right here..."
"Why not check over there again?" Suddenly, a rustling voice reached Robin's ears.
"Who!?" Robin swiftly turned, spotting Logan standing not far away, hands in pockets.
"That's quite an intense look," Logan remarked casually, moving closer to Robin.
"It's you..." Robin's icy demeanor softened upon recognizing Logan, though she remained cautious, "Why are you following me?"
"Hey, hey, don't misunderstand!" Logan feigned innocence, then gestured, "I'm here waiting for you... Didn't expect you'd arrive this late."
"Waiting for me? Why?" Robin's wariness heightened.
"Come with me; the secret staircase to the Royal Ancient Tomb is here." Ignoring Robin's question, Logan motioned towards a passage on the right.
After a brief pause, Robin followed him.
Navigating several passages, they reached a seemingly simple staircase entrance.
"Are you sure it's here?" Robin doubted the location as she gazed at the long upward staircase.
Logan tilted his head, meeting Robin's gaze, "Isn't it obvious? With your intelligence, can't you deduce the reason?"
"Well, this staircase is indeed concealed. Who'd expect the entrance to the underground tomb to be an upward staircase?" Robin commented before following Logan up the stairs.
Ascending through several corridors, they encountered a descending staircase.
It grew darker, making visibility challenging.
"Don't you have a flashlight or a lamp?" Robin inquired casually.
Logan gestured towards the flashlight in Robin's hand, "Doesn't this highlight the importance of companionship this time?"
That line again! Robin felt a sense of annoyance toward Logan's words. Irritated, she pressed the flashlight, casting the burial chamber into darkness.
And this happened to be the Funeral Hall, a vast tomb.
Logan sighed, "You're not someone who enjoys such childish pranks."
"I disagree," Robin retorted with a hint of arrogance, pocketing the flashlight.
"Fine, even if I'm mistaken. The problem is, even without light, I can use Observation Haki. Are you deceiving yourself?" Logan's voice echoed in the darkness.
It seemed that way. What was happening? Why did she feel her intelligence waning whenever she conversed with this guy?
Attempting to retrieve the flashlight from her pocket, Robin's attempt was thwarted as Logan intervened.
"Oops!" Robin accidentally dropped the flashlight, instinctively reaching out to grab it, but found nothing but air.
Logan heard the sound of the falling flashlight and immediately discerned what was happening. Activating his Observation Haki, he pinpointed its location.
As he turned, Robin let out an exclamation.
"Ah!" In the dark passage, Robin unexpectedly fell, landing directly on Logan, who had just raised his head.
"That's why..." Before Logan could react, he felt a suffocating sensation and tumbled backward.
"Shield!"
"Cien Fleur: Wisteria Ball!"
In the dark funeral hall, two voices echoed simultaneously.
Had there been light, a spectacular sight would have unfolded. Hundreds of arms would have formed a large flower-like ball, enveloping the two within. An energy shield would have encased them both, and they would have rolled down the stairs together.
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[More Chapter available at p@treon.com/goldengaruda
support me and read up to ch240 ]
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Capítulo 117: Chapter 117
"I must say..." In the dimly lit ground floor of the funeral hall, Logan's voice sounded muffled, "If you're uninjured, could you release me first?"
Though Robin was unharmed, the continuous rolling down the staircase left her feeling dizzy. She slowed down to regain her bearings before finally overcoming the dizziness.
Click!
Logan switched on the flashlight and lifted his head to take in some fresh air.
As Robin looked down at Logan, she realized what had occurred. However, being more mature than Nami and Vivi, she swiftly adjusted her mindset. After straightening her attire, she reached out and took the flashlight from Logan's hand, walking forward without a word.
Robin chose not to acknowledge what happened, and Logan didn't bother to bring it up either. After traversing a long way, the two arrived at an underground chamber where the Poneglyph lay.
Pausing in front of the Poneglyph, Robin turned to face Logan, "You know this is why I came here?"
Logan shrugged, "It's not hard to guess, right? You're the lone survivor from Ohara. How could a young girl of eight survive without some driving reason or ambition?"
"If it were for revenge, you wouldn't have become who you are today."
"So... you're shouldering the lifelong wish of the entire Ohara scholars."
"That is to translate all the historical texts in this world and unveil the true history of the void century from 800 years ago!"
Robin was shocked by his blunt revelation. What kind of man was he? His few words completely unveiled her secret. She felt as though she had nothing to hide in front of him.
"Am I right?" Logan calmly asked.
After a moment of silence, he waved it off, "Never mind, you don't need to confirm. I can't be wrong in my assumption."
Looking at the bewildered Robin, Logan reminded her, "It's a quarter past two in the morning, and you have 45 minutes left to translate this historical text. The guards patrolling the imperial tomb will arrive at three."
Prompted by Logan, Robin swiftly began translating. Over the years, her continued study of archaeological knowledge during her escape made her a rapid translator.
Completing the translation in just twenty minutes, Robin watched Logan yawn, signaling it was time to leave. "Are we done? Let's hurry; if discovered, it won't be good. You were invited to stay in the palace, and yet you've ventured into their forbidden tomb. Reasonable."
However, instead of leaving immediately, Robin curiously asked, "Why don't you ask about the content of this historical text?"
Logan replied casually, "Isn't it about Pluton?"
This statement startled Robin, "You know!?"
Logan confirmed, "Yes, is that surprising?"
"Can... can't you...," Robin was momentarily at a loss, then composed herself, "Don't you want to acquire Pluton?"
"Ah, come on! You're peering through the door, aren't you? Don't liken me to shortsighted folks like Crocodile!" Logan's words hinted at annoyance.
This... left Robin even more astonished. A pirate uninterested in Pluton?
"I mean, why are you still standing there in a daze? I think your flashlight is dimming. If you don't hurry, we might end up rolling down again later!" Logan emphasized the last two words.
Robin felt a bit embarrassed by the flashlight's weakening light but didn't leave immediately. Instead, she inquired, "Why don't you ask about the contents of the text?"
Logan teased, "Are you blind, Robin?"
Robin, apologetic, replied quickly, "I can't see."
"Don't fret over what just happened," Logan reminded her. "Time's ticking; let's go."
"Wait, I can't see the way!" Robin was also flustered.
Logan teased, "Do you want me to guide you?"
Using his Observation Haki, Logan found Robin and took her hand.
"Don't act so casually! Besides my parents, you're the first person to hold my hand! Don't pretend to be a gentleman!"
Despite Logan's indifferent tone, Robin's pride resurfaced. Although her Devil Fruit ability created numerous arms to attack, this was the first time someone other than her parents held her hand. That much was true.
"I said, Robin big sister, you're giving me your 28-year-old virgin hand; don't expect me to be responsible, alright?" Logan joked while leading Robin out.
"Haha!" Logan laughed, nonchalant as he guided Robin out of the tomb.
Time flew, and several days passed. The nearby Marine Base supported Smoker and allocated a sum of money.
130 million Belly was the maximum amount the Marine Base chief could mobilize without authorization. After paying the Straw Hat Pirates, the parties renewed the IOU.
"It's a struggle to even allocate money for these scoundrels!" Smoker lamented on the warship's deck. While he didn't oppose issuing IOUs now, he didn't relish being in debt.
For the past few days, Smoker had been petitioning his superiors for funds, but it seemed they were using every excuse in the book. In his view, he met all the requirements for his applications; they had indeed captured those pirates and were genuinely struggling with funds. Consequently, he found himself still indebted to the pirates. It was an unpleasant feeling.
Puff, puff, puff... His Den Den Mushi suddenly rang. The bald-faced Den Den Mushi attendant appeared on the screen.
"What is it?" Smoker asked, feeling irked.
The official tone came from the other end: "In the battle against Crocodile, you and Chief Petty Officer Tashigi displayed great prowess! The higher-ups have decided to award you both medals."
"The battle against...?" Smoker was taken aback. "Wait! We weren't the ones who captured Crocodile. Are you blind or deaf? Didn't you read the report I submitted?"
But the person on the Den Den Mushi seemed indifferent to Smoker's protests, continuing, "Additionally, both your ranks will be increase."
"Hey, hold on!" Smoker's frustration mounted. "It was the Straw Hat Pirates who defeated Crocodile and Baroque Works, not me!"
Not far from him, Marine Headquarters Captain Hina interjected coldly, "Stop wasting your efforts, Smoker! Do you really think the world will acknowledge that pirates were the ones who resolved the Alabasta crisis?"
The voice on the Den Den Mushi persisted, "Therefore, please attend the medal awarding ceremony..."
"Are you kidding me?" Smoker felt his face burn with embarrassment. A medal was an honor, but at this moment, hearing the word 'medal' made him feel ashamed. He erupted, "Hey!! Can you convey this to the higher-ups for me?"
Hina was shocked, hurriedly interjecting, "What good will it do to quarrel with superiors, Smoker? Just accept it! Accept the accolade for those pirates!!"
While Hina tried to reason with Smoker, she knew his temperament well. If she guessed right, his next words to the Den Den Mushi would probably be "Go to hell!"
The next moment, to everyone's astonishment, Smoker spoke to the Den Den Mushi, "Please convey my gratitude to the government for the promotion!"
Hina's mouth fell agape, her slender cigarette dropping to the ground. She looked at Smoker in disbelief, stuttering, "You... are you really Smoker?"
"Of course, I am!" After disconnecting the Den Den Mushi, Smoker suddenly flashed a smile.
Just as he was about to exclaim, "Go to hell," he remembered Logan's advice...
Yes! Without enough authority and status, he couldn't implement his own justice! In this situation, Smoker wanted the truth to prevail. He wanted to distinguish right from wrong, acknowledge who deserved credit, and who was at fault. This was his sense of justice. But due to his low status, he couldn't influence such matters at all. If only he were a Marine Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, or even an Admiral...
Hina remarked with doubt, "You seem different."
Smoker chuckled, "What are you thinking? Do you think I've changed?"
Hina nodded without speaking, her gaze contemplative.
But Smoker shook his head, "I haven't changed. I'm still the same. It's just... I suddenly found some sense in what a certain pirate said."
"Pirates...?" Hina squinted slightly, a particular face appearing in her mind: Logan's face.
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[More Chapter available at p@treon.com/goldengaruda
support me and read up to ch240 ]
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