This won't do!
If you want to reach Laugh Tale, you have to interpret the Poneglyphs, which means Nico Robin is essential.
Carl knew he needed to come up with a plan regarding this. He could either approach Nico Robin himself or find another way to make a good impression. In any case, once Crocodile was defeated, Nico Robin would likely seek out the Straw Hats.
Besides, Carl had his own reasons for caring.
Among the Straw Hats, Nico Robin had the most tragic past—far worse than Nami's.
Nami lost her adoptive mother when she was young, but at least her village remained. Nojiko and Genzo were still there for her.
But Nico Robin? She lost her mother at the age of eight, lost the only scholars who truly cared for her, lost her giant friend Saul, and even lost her entire homeland.
For twenty years, she had been alone, constantly on the run, enduring endless suffering.
She had no one she could trust and survived only by clinging to Saul's final words and her obsession with the Poneglyphs.
How could someone not feel sympathy for her?
Carl felt that the sea should be kinder to those who had suffered so much.
With that thought, he couldn't sit still any longer. He left the banquet, stepped onto his massive sword, and floated above the coast near Whiskey Peak, stretching his Observation Haki to its limit.
His efforts paid off.
He spotted a large turtle hiding behind a rock by the shore, puffing on a cigarette.
On the turtle's back was a chair, and sitting there with her legs crossed, dressed in revealing attire, was a graceful dark-haired woman—Nico Robin.
Nico Robin had willingly exposed her identity as the vice president of Baroque Works to Vivi and even revealed Vivi's undercover role to Crocodile. It was clear she wanted to push Vivi into returning to Alabasta, even going so far as to give her a Log Pose leading straight there.
Despite having her own motives for working with Crocodile, she still had a soft side—helping when she could.
As for the pursuit ordered by Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, that was Crocodile's command. Nico Robin probably had little say in the matter.
Yes, Carl was defending Nico Robin. So what?
"Sitting here alone, drinking tea at night... how peaceful." Carl spoke in a casual tone.
Startled, Nico Robin instinctively threw her teacup into the sea. Even her cowboy hat nearly fell off as she quickly crossed her arms in front of her chest, ready to defend herself.
"Relax, I mean no harm, Nico Robin," Carl said as he stepped off his giant sword and onto the turtle's back.
"You… you're Carl! The great lightning swordsman with a bounty of 300 million!"
Nico Robin slumped back in her seat, her pupils contracting in shock. She had been recognized.
At this moment, fear gripped her.
"I told you, I mean no harm. There's no need to be afraid."
Carl spoke gently as he bent down to pick up her fallen cowboy hat. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he sighed and slowly reached out his right hand.
Robin flinched, squeezing her eyes shut as her body trembled.
To her, Carl was an overwhelming force—resisting would be pointless. Was this the end for her?
But instead of an attack, his hand landed softly on her head, gently stroking her hair.
Then, in a soothing voice, Carl said, "Don't be scared. It's okay. I know what you've been through… Twenty years of running, surviving… It hasn't been easy, has it?"
Robin's eyes snapped open. She stared at Carl in a daze, her eyes misty with confusion.
This warmth… other than Saul, had anyone ever shown her such kindness?
Carl placed the cowboy hat back on Robin's head before settling onto the turtle's back, his posture relaxed and harmless.
Seeing this, Robin slowly lowered her guard.
Not that it would make a difference—even if she remained cautious, what could she do? She knew Carl was strong enough to fight Kizaru.
"What… do you want?" she asked softly.
"I understand why you're working with Crocodile," Carl said bluntly. "But that man is too ambitious. In the end, he'll betray you and have you killed."
Robin pursed her lips but didn't respond.
Carl continued, "If one day you feel like you've reached a dead end… if you feel like life has no meaning… then come find the Straw Hats.
There, you'll find real companions.
I can introduce you to my captain—he's someone who truly cares about his crew. He'd fight with everything he has to protect them.
And the same goes for the rest of us."
Robin's breath hitched. Her fingers curled into fists as a memory surfaced—Saul's final words before his death.
One day, you'll find friends. One day, you'll meet people who will protect you with their lives. You won't be alone forever.
Before she realized it, tears welled up in her eyes.
Carl let out a quiet sigh, gave her hat another gentle pat, then stepped onto his giant sword and flew off into the night.
Robin watched him go, her gaze fixed on his disappearing figure until he was completely out of sight.
Carl had no intention of using the Poneglyphs as bait.
That wouldn't be right.
Robin always remembered Saul and her mother's wish—for her to live. The Poneglyphs were just an obsession stemming from her identity as a historian, but survival and finding true companions were far more important.
Using the Poneglyphs as leverage would be nothing more than exploitation.
Robin had already been used too many times. Her heart had long since turned cold. If she ever felt Carl was trying to manipulate her like everyone else, she would never be able to trust in companionship again.
Carl wasn't an idiot—he wouldn't make a choice that brought no real benefit.
The giant sword soared back toward the island.
By now, the entire island was shrouded in darkness, with only scattered flames barely providing any light.
Luffy and the others had likely eaten their fill and gone to sleep. The Baroque Works agents didn't seem to have the courage to act against the Straw Hats yet, which meant Zoro hadn't ended up cutting down a hundred men.
Just then, a sudden explosion echoed through the night.
Carl turned his gaze and spotted Igaram lying on the ground, while Vivi desperately fled on the back of a duck. A man and a woman trailed behind her at a steady pace—Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.
The story was finally beginning.
Vivi ran for her life as booger bombs exploded all around her. Above her, Miss Valentine floated effortlessly in the air.
Her hair was disheveled, and despair filled her eyes.
Just as a booger bomb was about to hit her—
Zoro came crashing down from above.
His sword, Wado Ichimonji, accidentally sliced through the snot bomb, splitting it in two. The explosion blasted outwards on both sides, narrowly missing him.
Zoro froze, his mouth hanging open in shock.
"Booger! My sword just cut a booger!"
Carl, still hovering in midair, nearly burst out laughing. Zoro was way too funny.
Without thinking, Carl grabbed his camera and snapped a photo of Zoro's ridiculous expression. It was just a shame he had missed capturing the moment when Wado Ichimonji actually cut through the snot. What a wasted opportunity.
Still, Zoro's involvement was likely Nami's doing.
Tempted by Igaram's offer of a reward, she had willingly dragged them into this mess. And now, whether they liked it or not, they wouldn't be leaving until Crocodile was defeated.
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