234 Chapter 234

234

As she made her way to the city of Tamarisk, trying to find Mr. 2. She had finally spotted him. And he wasn't alone either, there was also Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek, along with the Straw Hat pirates.

This complicated things. It seemed Mr. 2 was captured, and maybe the same could be said for Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek. Even though they didn't have cuffs, the crew seemed a bit wary of them. She also was quite surprised as to how the Straw Hats got to the island so fast, before remembering that they had a sea-king to pull the ship.

If this was any other time, she would have called Crocodile to give him the update. But she held off.

With the Straw Hats having Mr. 2 captured, almost eighty percent of Crocodile's plan was foiled.

And that wasn't all either. The newspaper this morning showed how Straw Hat Luffy was seen working alongside a Vice Admiral. Both of them working together to take out a Commander of the Beast Pirates.

And with how casually the crew was here in Alabasta, it seemed that maybe Luffy had some favors in with the Marines. Well, it was speculated that Luffy was the grandson of the Marine Hero Garp.

If that was the case, Robin wondered if the marines already knew about Crocodile, and his plans to take over Alabasta. Well, if that was the case, then letting Vivi in on Mr Zero's little secret was a good idea after all.

Robin had spotted Vivi along with the Straw Hats, laughing and smiling as they made their way to where their Captain might be. If that was the case, then it complicated things.

Even more so when she spotted Masked Deuce, famously known as Ace's right-hand man, being friendly with them.

Robin shook her head, as she continued to follow the Straw Hat pirates. Keeping a very long distance between them. She didn't know much about Observation Haki, but she knew that if she kept a long distance and used her powers she might be able to follow them without getting caught.

'It seems they are going towards where Luffy and Ace are fighting… strange… why is the right-hand man of 'Fire Storm' Ace with them? And why was he on friendly terms with the crew? Weren't both of their captains fighting?'

She also wondered why they fought in the first place? Last night she saw 'White Lady' Kuina fighting against Ace. Kuina being the obvious aggressor, trying to pick a fight against a big shot for some odd reason.

And it seemed the captain of the Straw Hat pirates took over the fight… maybe to save his crewmates.

Robin sighed, she had seen a lot of pirates over the years. Most of them were cruel and bloodthirsty, without any loyalty. And yet there were some that valued the lives of crewmates more than anything.

But more often than not, those types of pirate crews made it big time. 'Maybe there is something called a bond between friends and crewmates.' She sadly chuckled to herself, she didn't have the privilege to have something like that. And yet deep down Robin wanted to be part of something bigger.

But then again with so many previous crews she crossed over the years, she doubted any crew would take her in. Mainly when the World Government was constantly looking for her.

Even with so many years working under Crocodile, the Warlord barely trusted her. Holding off key information from her, even though she was technically the second in command.

But she knew why Crocodile kept her in the crew. She was one of the few that knew how to read the ancient language. A threat to the World Government. And the Warlord wanted to use that. She was just another tool in his arsenal so to speak.

Well, the feeling was mutual. He only saw her as a tool, nothing else. So if that was the case she would return the favor.

'Crocodile is already on the losing side…' Robin thought. 'It's better to switch sides now, rather than later.'

It seemed Crocodile was fighting a losing battle now. And even though she wanted to read the Poneglyph that was located in Alabasta, with Crocodile it wouldn't be possible.

But if she played her cards right, maybe with the Straw Hats, she could do something.

Crocodile wanted the location of one of the ancient weapons. But even if she found it after reading the Poneglyph, she would keep it to herself.

Mr. 1 was sent to Katorea city to stir up some trouble between the Rebel Army and the Royal Knights. Yes, she could use that. Or she could also take the Straw Hat Pirates directly to Crocodile. Crocodile was powerful, but she knew his weakness, maybe she could use that as well.

Information was power. She could use that to her advantage and switch sides.

'But let's not be hasty. I have to see what they are up to first.'

That was why Nico Robin started to follow the Straw Hats as they went out of the city towards the probable location of Straw Hat Luffy and Fire Storm Ace.

And when she got there, she was quite shocked. The whole rocky terrain was messed up, scorched, and broken with multiple craters. A good part of the desert had turned into glass. Smoke was still coming out of them.

And in the middle of it was Luffy and Ace.

The rest of the Straw Hats and the others in the group finally found them. And all of them seemed to be on friendly terms, then why were they fighting just a few hours ago? She needed to find out.

Even though it was a risk, —as she was found out previously by one of Ace's crewmates— she wanted to know what the Straw Hat Pirates were talking about. So she used her powers within a safe distance.

Using her powers to bloom an eye and an ear somewhere nearby, close enough to gather Intel, far enough to not get noticed.

And what she found out really surprised her. It seemed Straw Hat Luffy and 'Fire Storm Ace were actually brothers. But that's not all… Sabo, the one usually wearing the plague mask on his face, was also their brother.

From what she could gather, it seemed that all three of them were very close. And Sabo, when younger. got separated from them. Due to an incident with a Celestial Dragon.

'Ah, World Nobles, the root of all problems.' She mused, 'It seems I'm not the only one that lost her family to those bastards… no wonder he's not a marine. He really is the grandson of the Marine Hero, huh?'

But then again Luffy hadn't lost his brother or any of his friends or family to the World Government. She did. In a way she felt glad for Luffy but at the same time she also felt a bit of jealousy towards the Straw Hat boy.

Other than that, Robin found the whole thing quite wholesome in a way. A family reuniting. Even though based on how the three brothers talked, they might not be blood-related. But some bonds were just thicker than blood.

Thinking of blood, the face of her late mother came to mind. And thinking of bond, the picture of a friendly giant came to her mind.

'And alas, Robin, you have no one in the world like that. Not in blood nor in bond.' She said to herself. Thinking over the last known family that died on that island… she was always alone in the world it seemed.

She looked at Luffy using his powers, at least someone found his lost family in this cruel world. Any sense of jealousy she had vanished when she saw the boy smile.

There was something in that smile that made her feel happy.

A lone tear ran down her cheek, she wiped it using her hand, luckily a tissue was handed over to her.

"Thank you," Robin said, taking the tissue and wiping her tears.

"You're welcome, Mademoiselle."

But then Robin blinked and quickly looked to her side where the cook of the Straw Hat pirates was standing there with a red rose in his hands. "I usually hand over the flower first… but I didn't think it would have been appropriate. Still, I hope you accept my flower."

Robin was too surprised to say anything as Sanji handed over the flower, "Captain also wanted to meet you… but if you aren't feeling it you can talk later. As a gentleman, I can't force you." He said, before promptly disappearing from his spot.

Robin blinked several times… did that actually happen? Or was she just imagining things? The flower in her hand said otherwise.

[A/N: Sanji with Observation Haki is OP, especially when it comes to women. XD]