One Piece: From Ninja To Pirates

In the corridor, Meiser led Nico Robin from room to room, searching for traces of Cipher Pol 9. Unfortunately, it seemed the enemy was avoiding him entirely, which left Meiser somewhat frustrated.

"They all seem terrified of you," Nico Robin chuckled.

"Still laughing?"

Meiser shot her a glance. "The sooner we catch them, the sooner you'll be free."

This mature woman was far too calm, acting as if she wasn't the one restrained by Sea-stone Handcuffs.

"But rushing won't help," Nico Robin replied. "They won't just walk into your hands."

"You're really composed when you're in danger, huh?"

"Well, I have a Ninja protecting me~" Nico Robin blinked playfully. "You won't let me get hurt, right~?"

The fear she had shown earlier toward the Buster Call was nowhere to be seen—now she looked as relaxed as if she were strolling through a garden.

"That's true," Meiser mused, stroking his chin. "But if this drags on, you might miss seeing how I stop the Buster Call."

"Then let's catch them sooner," Nico Robin said, her expression turning serious.

Now that she had decided to trust Meiser, she wanted to witness firsthand how he would halt the Buster Call.

And... she also wanted to help.

She wasn't some helpless damsel in distress—once freed from the Sea-stone Handcuffs, she could fight too!

What kind of ally would just stand by and watch her comrades risk their lives for her without doing anything?

"You..." Meiser sighed with a wry smile, pushing open another door. "Let's hope we run into them soon, then."

Creak—

The room beyond was empty, save for a few wooden furnishings.

"No luck," Nico Robin remarked.

"Right. I need to think of a way..." Meiser pondered.

BOOM!!

A deafening explosion suddenly rocked the tower from above, shaking the entire structure violently, as though something massive had struck it.

"That's quite the commotion," Meiser noted.

"Seems like everyone's fighting hard..." Nico Robin clenched her fists.

She wanted so badly to join the battle, but she was helpless, shackled by the Sea-stone Handcuffs.

Without Meiser guarding her, she could be snatched away at any moment by that Door-Door Fruit user.

Not only would that fail to help her friends, but it would also undo all the effort Meiser had spent rescuing her in the first place!

Meiser glanced at her, sensing the conflict between her words and her emotions.

Meiser pondered that Nico Robin must be feeling quite anxious inside, but she didn't want her own impatience to affect him, which was why she deliberately spoke in such a lighthearted tone.

In that case... let's give it a try!

"Robin, do you trust me?"

"What kind of question is that, Mr. Ninja..." Nico Robin chuckled, then said with utmost seriousness, "Meiser, I trust you—one hundred percent!"

"Do whatever you need to do. Don't worry about me."

Even though Meiser was just a newcomer who had recently joined the Straw Hat Pirates, and this was her first time meeting him...

But... his actions had already earned her complete trust!

Not to mention, this man was willing to face the Buster Call for her... What reason did she have not to trust Meiser?

At this point, even if Meiser pointed a gun at Nico Robin, she would assume there was an enemy behind her!

That was the level of trust Meiser had earned through his actions during this time.

Seeing Nico Robin's earnest expression, Meiser smiled and said, "Alright, I understand."

"What do you plan to do?" Nico Robin asked curiously. "How should I assist you?"

"Wait a moment."

Meiser first stepped into a nearby room and emerged a few seconds later, holding something out. "Here, keep this on you."

Looking at the object resembling a Scroll in Meiser's hand, Nico Robin asked curiously, "What is this?"

"Just a Scroll."

"Oh."

Nico Robin nodded and didn't press further.

"Where should I put it?" Meiser studied Nico Robin.

"Inside my dress," Nico Robin replied. "This outfit doesn't have any other place to hold it."

"Inside your dress..."

Seeing Nico Robin lean closer, Meiser hesitated—she was wearing a dress, wasn't she?

Noticing his reaction, Nico Robin rolled her eyes. "You carried me all the way here earlier, and now you're getting shy?"

"But this side of you is quite amusing, Mr. Ninja~"

"Giggle giggle~"

Nico Robin laughed heartily. She never expected the man who dared to challenge the Buster Call to act like this.

Meiser: "..."

Was he just being teased by an older sister?

"Alright, do what you need to do," Nico Robin said. "My hands are tied, so I can't help you. You'll have to do it yourself."

"Don't phrase it so weirdly!!"

After quickly tucking the Scroll into Nico Robin's dress, Meiser said, "There, don't lose it."

"You stuffed it so tightly, it's not going anywhere..."

Meiser averted his gaze. Mature older sisters were truly hard to handle.

"What's your plan?" Nico Robin asked curiously.

Instead of answering, Meiser first scanned their surroundings. Seeing nothing unusual, he 'whispered' to Nico Robin, "I'll take you into a room first. After I deal with the enemies, I'll come back for you."

Though puzzled, Nico Robin nodded. "Understood."

Meiser likely had some battle plan, and with CP9 members possibly nearby, Nico Robin didn't intend to ask outright.

Once the fight was over, she would naturally understand everything.

Arriving in front of a room, Meiser repeated his trick and opened it—this time revealing an empty space.

Pushing Nico Robin inside, he said, "Wait here."

"Before the Buster Call arrives, I'll at least take down one CP9 agent."

"Remember, don't wander off, got it?!"

"Alright, I understand. I'll wait here obediently," Nico Robin replied cooperatively.

Meiser nodded, then shut the door behind him.

After scanning the surroundings and finding no trace of enemies, he dashed toward a distant staircase.

...

Moments later, in Nico Robin's room.

A peculiar door gradually materialized in the air, and a hand reached out from within, followed by a head resembling that of a bull.

"To do something like this… how foolish," Blueno remarked.

Hearing his voice, Nico Robin's pupils instantly contracted. Turning around, she saw a towering figure standing in the air door, staring at her expressionlessly.

"It's you..."

"Did you not tell him… that I'm a Door-Door Fruit user?"

"Nico Robin."