After successfully handing over the letter and answering various verbal inquiries, my duties for Fleet Admiral Sengoku were complete. Ready to head straight for Faus Island, I arrived at the meeting point to find Robin waiting.
"Oh, you're early, Uncle."
"...Is this the person you were talking about?"
Beside "Nicola Olivier"—Robin in disguise with her long hair dyed white and tied in a ponytail—stood a young woman, or rather, a girl with green hair. She looked to be about the same age as Robin.
"Robi—er, Olivier. Who is she?"
"Let me introduce you. This is Monet. She's the mugger who tried to threaten me for money and food."
"Wait, when you put it like that..."
A short while earlier...
While Robin was exploring the town, she felt a sudden gaze. She casually scanned her surroundings but couldn't spot the source.
Has my identity been compromised? No, a professional wouldn't let their presence be felt so easily... Uncle might scold me later, but I should lure them out and see who they are. If it's a World Government agent, I can at least escape, and if it's just a regular official, I can knock them out.
She ducked into a deserted alleyway. As expected, a voice called out once she was away from the crowds.
"You there, stop."
Robin turned around. Standing there was a girl roughly her own age with shoulder-length green hair, looking quite disheveled and clutching an ice pick.
Oh? Robin felt a wave of relief that it wasn't a Government pursuer, just a common thief.
"Hand over your money and food quietly. I won't take your life."
What should I do? Robin thought. Uncle has trained me; I could suppress her easily...
"I'll give you food and money," Robin said aloud. "But why don't we talk for a bit instead?"
"Put the money and food at your feet and leave. I won't say it twice."
I suppose I'll have to restrain her first to get the story, Robin decided.
"Alright..."
Robin moved as if to place her bag on the ground—only to close the distance to the green-haired girl in a flash. She avoided using her Devil Fruit powers just in case.
She grabbed the girl's right wrist (the one holding the ice pick) with her left hand, gripped the girl's collar with her right, and executed a move.
"Camellia Drop!!"
It was a martial arts technique I had taught her—a throwing move where you keep hold of the wrist and neck, turn your back, and hurl the opponent over your shoulder into the ground. I had called it Ju-Jutsu.
"Gah... huff..."
Impacted heavily against the ground, the girl gasped for air, her grip on the ice pick loosening. Robin didn't miss the opening and transitioned into an armbar—another move I'd taught her—locking the girl's elbow joint.
"Now, if you promise to behave, I'll let go. What do you say?"
"I get it! I get it! Just let go!!" the girl screamed, clearly in pain.
Now then, shall we have a little chat?
Hearing the full story, my first thought was: Monet was reckless to pick a fight with Robin.
In the original story, Robin fought primarily using her Hana-Hana powers.
However, "my" Robin had supplemented that with hand-to-hand combat, specializing in throws and joint locks learned through our training.
It pained my heart to be a bit of a Spartan, but I wanted her to be able to survive alone. She was now more than a match for most adults.
According to what Robin squeezed out of her, Monet's mother had vanished one day, leaving her and her younger sister behind.
Her father was a drunkard who spent what little money they had on cheap booze and occasionally turned violent.
With her sister still young, Monet felt she had no choice but to steal to survive. She targeted Robin because she looked well-dressed, docile, and was a girl alone.
Hmm, what to do? I thought as Robin gave me an "aren't you going to help?" look. I recognized the name Monet... wait, was it Nemo? No, it was Monet. But wasn't she a harpy? She looked like a normal human now—maybe the wings were a later Devil Fruit thing?
"Alright, kid. Do you want to get out of here?" I asked, kneeling to her level.
"I'll go if my sister can come too... but we have nowhere to go," she answered.
"Don't worry. I actually have a job I want you to do..." I whispered to her about heading to the Grand Line, Flevance, and the Amber Lead Syndrome.
"...But I think my father will object. He has debts, and if he finds out I've run away, he'll definitely come after us."
Ugh, a deadbeat dad. I doubted he had the means to follow us to the Grand Line, but I decided to settle things properly.
"Fine. Take me to your father. Robi—er, Olivier, take this and head back to the ship first." I handed her my Marine coat. It wouldn't do for people to know a Marine was doing what I was about to do.
We arrived at a shack that could barely be called a building. Reminds me of where I first woke up in this world, I thought. I wonder how that old man is doing?
I pushed open the creaking door.
"Monet!! Where the hell have you been? You'd better have brought some money!!" A wine bottle came flying toward us. I ducked it easily.
"Nice to meet you. I assume you're Monet's father?"
"Huh? Who the hell are you? Hey, Monet! Who's this? Your man? Hmph, looks like you've been busy..." The man had unkempt hair and a beard, filthy clothes, and bloodshot, drunken eyes.
"I heard from your daughter that you have some debts..."
"You... Hey, Monet! Don't go blabbering about family business! What about my debts? You gonna pay 'em for me?!"
"Shall I?"
"What?"
"How much do you owe?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you serious? You'll really pay? It's four million Belly! Pay up if you're so big!"
"Four million? I have it right here." I pulled four stacks of bills from my shoulder bag.
"Hyahaha! For real?! Hand it over, quick!!"
I held the man back with one hand as he lunged with bloodshot eyes.
"On one condition. I take the children into my care, and you never involve yourself with them again. That's the deal."
"Huh? What, you're buying Monet and the brat?"
"If you agree right now, I'll add another million Belly." I pulled out one more stack.
"Deal! I'll take it! Give it here!"
I handed over the five million Belly and took the sisters into my protection.
"...Was that okay? Spending that much money on people like us?" Monet asked as we left.
"Don't lose sleep over it. You're coming all the way to the Grand Line for me; consider it an advance. Do you really have no luggage? Just you and your sister?"
"Yes... nothing worth keeping. Except maybe this." She pulled the ice pick from her pocket. Scary kid.
"Alright, let's get to the ship. Your sister and Robin should be there. I hated giving money to a piece of trash like that, but if cash settles the matter, it's cheap enough. Besides... the way he lives, that five million won't last him long anyway."
I'd used the extra million as bait to close the deal quickly, but a man like that will blow through five million in a heartbeat. Well, I followed the "proper" procedure, so whatever happens next isn't my problem.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/Master_Studios677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 60 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.