In the grand hall, the air was lively with celebration. Ministers and nobles toasted and laughed, their plates filled with delicacies prepared for the victory feast.More and more of them came forward to express their gratitude to Akira, their expressions full of reverence. To them, Akira was the true savior of Alabasta.
After the long meal and endless praise, Akira finally leaned back in his seat, feeling an unfamiliar sense of comfort and fatigue.
"Ah… this feels too good," he muttered with a lazy smile, laying his head down on the table. Within moments, he had drifted off to sleep.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but when Akira opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on soft grass.The sky above was pitch black, yet eerily quiet. Before him stood a familiar figure—Nicole Robin.
"You?" Akira's voice carried surprise and a hint of wariness.
"I didn't expect you to actually defeat Crocodile," Robin said calmly. "But as I mentioned before, I was never truly on his side. My real purpose in coming to Alabasta was to locate a long-lost treasure."
"Treasure?" Akira frowned slightly, intrigued despite himself.
"I figured you might not care much about money," Robin said, "but as a pirate, you're going to need it. Even if the king wants to reward you, it's nothing compared to the ancient treasure buried beneath this land."
That caught Akira's attention. He stood up, brushing grass from his coat.
"Why tell me this?" he asked, voice suddenly cold. "You could've just gone after it yourself."
"I can't," Robin admitted. "Even though I've narrowed down the location, I'm a foreigner. If I make a move on anything here, I'll be labeled a thief."
Her logic wasn't wrong. Still, Akira didn't trust her intentions.
"That treasure likely belongs to Alabasta," Akira said firmly. "Even if I saved the country, that doesn't give me the right to steal from it. If you want it, go ahead and take your chances. But don't expect me to be your cover."
Robin's smile disappeared, and for the first time, frustration flickered in her eyes.
"You're the most foolish man I've ever met," she said. "You're passing up an opportunity no one else would hesitate to seize."
Akira raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "Call it principle."
Robin clenched her fists. "You think someone else won't claim it eventually? Why not take it before the wrong hands get it?"
"I said no," Akira replied flatly. "And don't forget—I already knew you were aligned with Crocodile. You might not have shared his goals, but you were never innocent."
A shadow passed over Robin's face. Her breath hitched before she regained composure. "Now I understand why the World Government put a 100 million bounty on your head. You're dangerous in ways they can't control."
Just as Akira was about to walk away, a deep voice echoed behind him.
"That's right."
Akira turned—the King of Alabasta stood behind him.
"I see you've guessed the truth," the king said with a solemn expression. "Robin was acting on my request."
Akira narrowed his eyes.
"The treasure buried beneath Alabasta is real," the king admitted. "But it's guarded by a beast—ancient, powerful, and nearly immortal. For centuries, no one has dared to approach it."
So that was the real reason behind Robin's proposal.
The king's voice dropped low. "Master Crocodile's rampage left our kingdom in ruins. We need that treasure now more than ever—to rebuild, to survive."
He looked Akira straight in the eyes.
"I know no one else has the strength to face what lies below. You don't owe us anything… but if you choose to help, Alabasta will never forget."
The king, though weighed down by the pressures of his kingdom, felt there was no one else he could turn to. In desperation, he found Nicole Robin.
"As long as you can help retrieve the treasure, I'll give you half as a reward," the king proposed, his voice heavy with the weight of his decision.
Akira, still processing the situation, was stunned. The king's offer seemed like a last-ditch effort, and although it was not the most honorable, it was the only path left to them.
"Okay," Akira said, breaking his silence. "If you're fine with that, then I have no problem. Nicole Robin, I'll cooperate with you. But don't expect me to take any more than my fair share. I don't need a third."
The king's eyes widened in disbelief. As a pirate, Akira's willingness to sacrifice so much for the kingdom was unexpected. It was rare to see such selflessness, especially from someone like him.
"That's your choice," the king said, his tone mixed with admiration and skepticism. "But I have to say, you're different from the usual pirates. Why are you willing to make such a sacrifice?"
Nicole Robin, standing off to the side, couldn't help but laugh. "He's not doing this for the kingdom. I think he's just… more pragmatic than most. After all, if he helps me, he'll get something much more valuable than gold."
Akira nodded, his eyes meeting Robin's. "I don't need treasure. But there's one thing I do care about—finding the truth. The treasure may lead us to answers that are more valuable than any riches."
Nicole Robin was quick to confirm. "I can read the ancient texts on the stone tablets. I know where the treasure is hidden. But I warn you, the path to it isn't simple."
Akira's words were firm, his mind already made up. "We'll do whatever it takes to find it. But I want no part of the treasure—just the knowledge that comes with it."
The king, moved by Akira's response, sighed in relief. "I trust you, Akira. The treasure is crucial for Alabasta's future, but the knowledge you seek might be even more valuable. I know you're the only one who can help us now."
Akira nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Then we have a deal. But we need to keep this between us. The fewer people know about this treasure, the better."
Nicole Robin smirked. "I've been called a witch and worse. What's one more secret between me and the world?"
Akira turned toward Robin, a flicker of wariness in his eyes. "But you should know something: If you ever double-cross me, I won't hesitate to make you regret it."
Robin's smile faded, and she gave him a curt nod. "I don't plan to. The treasure's valuable enough that I won't risk losing my chance at it."
The king, now more relieved than he had been in days, turned to both of them. "Then let us move quickly. There's no time to waste."
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