Return to Baltigo

The trip back to Baltigo went without any issues. Like before, August used his devil fruit powers to take both him and Robin to Baltigo, making sure he was not followed.

During the trip back, August kept up with the news and got some much needed information on his friend Kuma. With his recent exploits, Kuma's bounty has risen to 250 million and his name was feared and revered in equal amounts across the world.

It put in perspective how strong Kuma was, to gain a 250 million bounty in a short time. August also waged it would be higher if Kuma had a proper pirate crew and did the same to Marines, but that would jeopardise his plan.

Reading the newspaper, August smiled slightly. He only hoped Kuma was doing well away from all his friends and coping with the pirate life. Judging from the news, he was adopting their ways quite easily.

Robin had also been doing well, and in the short amount of time she had spent training with August she had gained some considerable strength. Her physical skills had increased by a good margin, but it was her devil fruit powers that increased the most.

Most devil fruits, especially paramecia were very easy to learn but sometimes impossible to master. Robin had barely tapped into the massive reservoir of power she could achieve with her fruit. August himself was very much the same, as although he had expanded on the applications of his devil fruit, there was still much more he could do before fully mastering his devil fruit.

Now that Robin didn't have to constantly be on the run and look over her back all the time, she could properly train her devil fruit and let her creativity shine. She was slowly getting closer to her strength from canon.

Although, now that Robin was with August, canon would be much different than it previously was. August himself didn't care too much, as if all his future plans came to fruition canon would practically be nonexistent.

August wouldnt sit around and wait for Luffy like many others have. Only he and he himself would control his own actions, and August wouldn't let anyone change that.

Ever since the fight with Crocodile, August's been too busy recovering from his injuries, having meetings, and sorting deals out. He had a newfound respect for Dragon who had to do this stuff everyday.

Anyway, now that he was out of that dreaded cycle, August now finally had the free time to fully explore his new powers and look at them more in depth.

Just as they finally arrived at Baltigo, August warned Robin beforehand that she was practically a living legend at Baltigo, so she should expect a very unusual arrival.

Robin laughed, thinking it was a joke and thought nothing of it, but she quickly regretted her actions.

On arrival she was swarmed with a plethora of bodies that surrounded her while shouting and cheering various things.

"Oh my god!"

"Robin! My Queen!"

"Light of the Revolution!"

The members surrounding her seemed to appear from thin air and multiply. The massive crowd began asking millions of questions and showered her with praises how they had looked up to her ever since they heard her story. The crowd completely overwhelmed her, but instead of feeling fear, she felt happiness.

'Is this what a home feels like?' She laughed as she was tightly hugged by a female member.

Before Oharas fall she was treated as an outcast, as someone different. She only had Saul and her mother by her side. After the fall of Ohara, both of them were gone, and she was alone.

She spent 16 years being treated with scorn, contempt and greed. She travelled crew to crew, betraying all of them just so she could survive. She did anything she could to survive, and that made her feel horrible.

But here, it was the complete opposite. An overwhelming feeling of happiness enveloped her, and Robin felt that she was finally accepted. She hadn't felt this, not since Saul died.

But now that she felt it again, it was the best moment in her life.

Through the thick crowd she managed to spot August to the side, who flashed her a bright grin and a thumbs up before leaving her to the pack of puppies.

"OUTTA THE WAY!!!"

Robin looked towards the source of the booming voice, and saw something she had least expected…a very tall and hairy giant.

Robin believed this figure carried some sort of authority, as despite their excitement the members reluctantly followed the giants order.

With the crowd dispersed, Robin and Morley were finally face to face.

'So this must be Morley.' She recalled August's words, about how a certain giant had been looking for her ever since she was on the run. Although he left out a lot of details, it was clear from his explanation that Morley cared for her.

She opened her mouth to thank Morley, but was stopped when Morley sauntered over and…hugged her.

Despite Morley's massive proportions, the hug was firm yet soft, and filled with lots of love.

"I thought I'd never find you." Morley croaked out.

"Well I'm here now." Robin said with a smile.

Morley pulled back from the hug and looked at Robin.

"Looking at you now, I know I was right about Saul." Morley said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Robin's eyes widened like saucers.

"You knew Saul!?" Robin practically shouted in a mixture of shock and surprise. She never believed she would hear that name again, and it was forgotten in the waves of history like Ohara was…like the World Government wanted…

"Pfft" Morley chuckled at her reaction, "I did. Before his death he was my one and only friend. I wanted to repay him for all those years by rescuing you…but I failed." Morley looked at Robin with roaring fire in her eyes.

"But I promise as long as you are here, you will be safe and happy, it's what Saul would have wanted."

Robin nodded sadly, "The last thing he told me…was to find a home."

"That certainly does sound like him." Morley laughed, "Have you found it?"

Robin looked at Morley, then the spectating crowd, then finally to August who was walking to the headquarters.

"Yes. I believe I have..."

======

August finished his report to Dragon, detailing his trip to Alabasta and how he found Robin. He kept his Hades identity and everything he did in it hidden. This included all his meetings with Cobra, raiding the Casino, and taking control of the Baroque Works.

The past couple of weeks they've known each other, both August and Robin had managed to build a good level of trust between them both, so Robin agreed to keep her mouth zipped about the Casino incident.

"So you coincidently found information about Robin while gambling in Raintown, and when you arrived at her hotel room, you found a note with some coordinates, and when you went there you found Robin and Warlord Crocodile. You then proceeded to beat Crocodile and get Robin to join the Revolutionary Army?" Dragon repeated August's report in condensed words, and the whole time August had a cheeky smile on his face.

"That about sums it up, yeah." August stated with a shrug. Maybe he should go on vacations more?

Dragon let out a heavy sigh, one he did a lot in the presence of Ivankov, "Sometimes, I'm not sure if you're lucky or unlucky. Even on a holiday you manage to find Robin and fight the Warlord Crocodile."

He stared intently at August and spoke: "Do you know what the consequences could have been?"

To his surprise, August didn't cower under the death stare Dragon gave his rebuttal, "I know, if it was found that a Revolutionary fought a Warlord, let alone killed one, then the consequences could have been dire. We aren't strong enough to do something that might provoke global hostilities, and beating a warlord is a very good reason to incite them."

Dragon nodded, "It's why we avoid direct confrontation whenever possible, and always stay under the radar. If the World Government declares global hostilities, then we would be at a huge disadvantage, and both Cipher Pol and the Marines would be breathing down our necks 24/7."

"I know, that's why I made sure Crocodile's body was properly disposed of and all evidence of us was removed. We fought in an open desert in the middle of nowhere, I'm sure nobody saw it." August explained seriously.

Although Dragon was the leader, he hoped Dragon knew he wasnt stupid enough to do something like this, especially if it could jeoprodise the entire operation. He spent many nights in Alabasta weighing the choices and possibilities in his head, and he decided with 100% certainty he had to act.

"I understand that, but it was a very big risk." Dragon reprimanded.

"It was a calculated risk, plus without taking that risk Nico Robin would be gone and in the clutches of Crocodile to do whatever he had planned. You have to trust me more." August explained, and Dragon seemed to have finally seen reason as he let out another sigh.

"Hahhh…You're right, I'm sorry. It was my mistake for not trusting you enough. I've started giving you more responsibilities, so I should start treating you like a high ranking member and put more faith in you." Dragon paused for a moment, before his eyes let off a dangerous glint.

"Which is exactly what I'm going to do." Dragon stood up, looking at August, "I'll place my trust in you, and i'll show it to you 1 week from now."

"Huh? What do you mean?" August asked, confused. Although he had his suspicions, he wasn't entirely sure if they were correct.

"1 week" Dragon pointed his finger up, "Be prepared."