Anyone who had been paying attention to Maude's movements would have been certain that he was still on Sabaody Archipelago.
Robin thought the same.
Yet, the reality was that Maude had arrived in Alabasta.
Lost in thought, Robin instinctively walked towards the door.
At this very moment, Crocodile's Operation Utopia was at its most critical stage.
No matter what happened, until she personally laid eyes on Alabasta's Poneglyph, her role as Crocodile's partner required her to fulfill her duties—delivering this news to Crocodile at the earliest opportunity.
However, in such a sensitive period, the arrival of a fellow Warlord of the Sea in Alabasta...
Was this turn of events good or bad?
Robin, who had once contemplated leaving a way out for herself through Maude, found herself uncertain about the situation.
As she approached the door, Robin remained unaware of the shadow creeping up behind her.
The shadow slithered silently to Robin's heel, then rapidly inflated like a balloon. In the blink of an eye, it took the form of a tall, pitch-black figure.
The moment the dark silhouette emerged, Robin's senses sharpened, her pupils contracting.
"Who…?!"
Her hands crossed instinctively.
"Six Fleur… Mmm—"
Alert and ready to use her Hana Hana no Mi powers, Robin was a step too slow.
The shadow engulfed her like a swamp, sealing her mouth and pinning her against the wall.
Thud—
With a muffled sound, the inky darkness bound Robin tightly to the wall, wrapping around her mouth and limbs.
"!!!"
Paralyzed by the shadow's grip, Robin's heart pounded violently.
The texture of the shadow wrapped around her body sent waves of danger coursing through her mind.
"Who is this…? Wait… a shadow?!"
Panic-stricken, she suddenly realized what had ensnared her.
The moment she identified the substance, the identity of her assailant became clear.
Maude…!
Understanding her captor's identity, Robin ceased struggling.
Her heart, which had been racing, gradually steadied.
Sensing her calmness, the viscous shadow shifted, morphing into Maude's form.
Though he no longer pressed against her, Maude's hand remained firmly over her mouth.
"I don't want anyone to see me here, so I had to be a little rough. I hope you don't mind… Nico Robin."
Listening to the steady rhythm of Robin's heartbeat, Maude withdrew his hand.
"But... not bad texture."
He raised his palm and quipped lightly.
Even someone as composed as Robin couldn't suppress the faint blush rising to her cheeks.
However, she quickly composed herself, locking eyes with Maude at close range.
"What are you doing in Alabasta? What's your purpose here?"
"Purpose?"
Maude took a step back, gazing down at Robin with a smile.
"Why would I come to Alabasta? Shouldn't you know better than anyone?"
"…"
Robin's expression remained unchanged, though her eyes flickered.
"If I knew, I wouldn't have asked."
"Heh."
Maude smirked but chose not to expose Robin's subtle ploys to use Usopp as a bargaining chip to involve him.
Instead, he suddenly bent his knees and leaned back into the empty air behind him.
Just as he was about to lose balance, a shadow emerged from the room's crevice, transforming into a high-backed black chair that perfectly caught him.
Seated comfortably, Maude displayed his seamless mastery of the Kage Kage no Mi (Shadow-Shadow Fruit).
Earlier, when he arrived at the Rain Dinners entrance, Maude had left a shadow behind before rushing to aid the Straw Hats.
Against an opponent like Smoker, Maude could win easily without needing his shadow.
After swiftly dealing with Smoker, Maude's shadow had made its way into Robin's room.
He had then swapped places with it, teleporting into the room while the shadow returned to him from the street.
Such effortless control showcased his advanced proficiency with the shadow-based Devil Fruit powers.
"The reason doesn't matter at all."
Maude sat leisurely on his shadow-crafted chair, gazing at Robin with calm eyes.
"What does matter... is whether you're interested in making a deal with me."
"A deal?"
Robin was momentarily taken aback.
"Yes."
Maude smiled.
"A deal that would only benefit you—without any downside."
Robin hesitated, brushing aside the notion that any deal could be entirely one-sided.
With the Poneglyph so close at hand, any disruption caused by Maude could prove disastrous.
After a brief moment of contemplation, she leaned towards refusal.
However…
Would this man even give her the option to refuse?
Meeting his gaze head-on, Robin asked, "Do I have the option to decline?"
Maude chuckled softly.
"Obviously not."
"…"
A trace of resignation flashed through Robin's eyes as she exhaled deeply.
"What's the deal?"
"I need information on all the senior agents within Baroque Works—abilities, names, photos. It doesn't have to be too detailed, but it must be accurate. For you, that shouldn't be difficult, right?"
Robin silently nodded.
Though she couldn't guess Maude's true intentions, gathering such information posed no challenge for her.
"Good."
Seeing her agreement, Maude smiled.
"In exchange, I'll grant you one lifeline—a chance to call for help. That's what you truly wanted from me, isn't it?"
"No."
Robin shook her head, her unwavering gaze fixed on the extraordinary man before her.
From the depths of her heart, a sudden surge of courage compelled her to speak her true desire.
"What I truly want from you is not a lifeline… but protection."
"Not a bad idea. Unfortunately, the price you're offering doesn't match that request."
Maude's calm expression remained unchanged as he reached out to pluck a spotted gecko from the wall—an intended medium for Robin's lifeline.
"Price…"
Robin barely registered his action, her mind racing.
"Maude… I can offer more than just information."
"Oh?"
Maude's brow arched.
He extended a hand, his shadow surging forward and pulling Robin into his arms.
"Like this?"
Soft warmth filled his embrace, while his predatory gaze pierced into Robin's eyes at a breath's distance.
Thump, thump…
Robin's heart pounded wildly.
For the first time in a long while—she panicked.
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