One Piece: Scientist Simulator

As Edie and Robin conversed, an unsettling tension brewed among the bounty hunters. Moments ago, they had plotted to apprehend Robin, yet now, the situation had reversed dramatically. The arrival of Edie—a man whose presence alone felt suffocating—signaled their doom.

Panic crept in, gnawing at their resolve. Those nearest to the tavern door exchanged nervous glances and, without a word, began inching toward an escape.

Their movements were subtle, their steps light, hoping against hope to avoid notice. The moment they slipped outside, fear took hold, and they bolted into the night.

"Run! We're dead if we stay!" one shouted, his voice quivering.

"That's Edie! The scientist with a bounty of 5.8 billion! Why is he here?!"

Their cries of desperation filled the air as they fled toward the port, determined to leave the island behind. Yet even the vast sea seemed an inadequate sanctuary from the terror they faced.

One of them glanced back toward the tavern, dread clawing at his heart. His breath caught as his pupils shrank in horror.

"Get out of the way!" he wanted to scream, but it was already too late.

A jet-black flash tore through the night, consuming the fleeing hunters in an instant. The blast swept across the ground like a tidal wave, flattening everything in its path. The town trembled as buildings crumbled under the sheer force. When the dark energy dissipated, nothing remained of the hunters but silence.

Inside the tavern, the remaining bounty hunters stared at the gaping hole in the wall, their bodies frozen and drenched in cold sweat. They suppressed even the faintest whisper, terrified that Edie might notice their presence.

Standing amidst the destruction, Edie's fingertips crackled with black lightning. His gaze was cold and dispassionate as he addressed the trembling group.

"Are you with Baroque Works?" His voice was steady, yet it carried an ominous weight. "Who among you are members?"

A man stepped forward, his face plastered with a nervous, ingratiating smile. "D-Doctor! I'm with Baroque Works! A 'Billionaire' rank, sir!" he stammered, pointing to a lifeless body on the floor. "H-he was one of us too… but Nico Robin—uh, this beautiful lady—killed him!"

Edie's eyes narrowed. "Contact your superiors. Tell whoever's in charge to meet me personally."

With a flick of his wrist, Edie embraced Robin's slender waist. As they ascended into the air, Robin instinctively clung to his arm, her eyes widening in surprise.

He can fly?

The bounty hunters gawked at the hole in the ceiling as the two disappeared into the night. A scrap of paper fluttered down, landing in the trembling hands of one of the men.

It was a phone number.

"What do we do now?" one whispered, his voice barely audible. "We don't even know who the president is!"

The organizational structure of Baroque Works was a tightly guarded secret. The president, codenamed Mr. 0, was a shadowy figure whose true identity remained unknown. The hierarchy beneath him consisted of agents ranked from Mr. 1 to Mr. 13 and their partners, with lower ranks like the Billionaires and Millionaires serving as expendable pawns.

"Just call our superiors," the self-proclaimed Billionaire snapped. "They'll handle it!" He fumbled with his Den Den Mushi, his hands shaking as he dialed.

High above Whiskey Peak, Edie and Robin soared through the cold night air. Robin shivered, glancing back at the town shrinking below them. A rare feeling of calm washed over her, but uncertainty lingered.

She stole a glance at Edie. Hesitating for a moment, she finally broke the silence. "Doctor… aren't you curious why the World Government is after me?"

Her voice was soft, yet tinged with unease. She had revealed her identity earlier, but doubt gnawed at her. Would he abandon her if he learned the full extent of her past?

Edie's voice was even. "It's about the Void Century, isn't it? I'm not interested in that."

Robin blinked, startled by his indifference.

"I'm willing to do anything to stay by your side," she said earnestly, clutching his arm tighter. "I've only ever wanted two things. First, a place where I'm accepted—a safe haven. That's why I've come all this way to find you. Second, I want to uncover the true history of this world. I carry the weight of Ohara's legacy, and I won't rest until I fulfill that goal."

As she spoke, the floodgates opened, and her past came pouring out.

Edie listened in silence, his expression unreadable. He had known of Robin's history but had never heard it in such vivid detail. Her words painted a picture of a childhood marked by loneliness, rejection, and loss.

"I met Dr. Clover," she said with a faint smile, "and he taught me everything I know about archaeology."

Her voice wavered as she recounted the Buster Call that annihilated Ohara. The day she lost her mother, the day Vice Admiral Saul gave his life to save her.

"Before Saul died, he told me… I'd find companions someday. People who would accept me." Her dark eyes locked onto Edie's, filled with a mix of hope and vulnerability. "Doctor… can I trust you?"

For her, this was a leap of faith—a gamble with everything she had left.

Edie met her gaze and smiled, a gesture both reassuring and enigmatic.

"You'll see," he said simply.

As the night stretched on, their conversation continued, the winds carrying them toward the next island. For the first time in years, Robin felt a glimmer of hope.

The Next Day: Little Garden

The prehistoric island of Little Garden stood as a living remnant of an ancient world, a massive, lush terrain teeming with dinosaurs and long-extinct creatures. It was a place where the primordial past had refused to fade, its dense forests and towering beasts evoking awe and danger in equal measure.

Edie and Robin soared above the island, the wind rushing past them as they surveyed the prehistoric expanse below.

"Doctor, why have we come here?" Robin asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Charlotte Linlin—BIG MOM—wants to complete her experiment on human gigantification. For that, I need giant blood factors. Luckily, there are two giants on this island," Edie replied nonchalantly.

Robin's eyes widened. "BIG MOM? One of the Four Emperors?"

"Yes. The woman's request is... complicated, but the money makes it worth my while," Edie said, beginning their descent near a stream.

Robin followed him with a faint smile, brushing her face in the stream to remove her disguise. When the water cleared away the smudged makeup, her youthful beauty stood out. Her skin glowed in the soft sunlight, and droplets traced gentle paths down her delicate cheeks. The 17-year-old bore a quiet, bookish charm that Edie couldn't help but notice.

"Ready?" Edie asked, turning away with a shrug. "And don't be so formal—just call me Edie."

"Yes, Mr. Edie," Robin replied, unable to shake her polite demeanor.

The pair wandered deeper into the ancient forest, the roars of distant beasts echoing around them. Strangely, none of the creatures dared approach.

"Is it you scaring them away, Mr. Edie?" Robin asked, wide-eyed.

Edie chuckled. "It's not deliberate. They sense my Conqueror's Haki and instinctively retreat. Beasts have a sharp intuition for danger."

Robin marveled at his explanation, her curiosity growing. "Haki? I've only heard vague stories about it back in West Blue. Is that what you used against the bounty hunters last night?"

Edie nodded. "Exactly. The attack wasn't a Devil Fruit ability—it was Haki. You're intelligent, Robin. I could teach you the basics. With your knack for learning, you might even grasp some advanced techniques."

Intrigued, Robin listened intently as Edie explained the theoretical foundations of Haki and its applications. His words painted a picture of macroscopic forces, microscopic phenomena, and even the ethereal Sea of Souls. Though she didn't fully grasp the concepts, Robin committed every word to memory.

The forest finally gave way to a clearing where one of the island's giants, Dorry, lay fast asleep. His enormous form stretched across the ground, each breath like a low rumble.

"Mr. Edie, the giant is sleeping…" Robin whispered, her voice barely audible.

Edie smiled. "Perfect for a demonstration. Watch closely."

He extended his index finger, and black lightning crackled to life at his fingertip. Energy swirled and condensed into a vortex of darkness.

"This technique is called Black Flash. It's an advanced application of Armament Haki. Watch."

With a sharp movement, Edie released a concentrated beam of dark energy that shot straight at Dorry's head.

The blast landed with an ear-splitting boom.

"Who dares disturb my slumber!?" Dorry roared, awakening in a rage. Grabbing his massive sword, the giant swung it down toward the intruders.

Robin gasped and clutched Edie's arm in fear.

Edie, however, stood unfazed. Raising a single hand, he intercepted the sword mid-swing.

The enormous blade stopped mere inches from his palm, unable to advance.

"This is Overlord's Territory, an automatic defense that stems from my Conqueror's Haki," Edie explained casually. "But don't worry about learning this—it's far too advanced for now. Start with Black Flash."

Dorry's eyes widened in disbelief as his powerful strike was effortlessly blocked. "What... what are you!?" he bellowed.

"Just someone passing through," Edie replied calmly. "I don't intend to kill you, giant, but I do need a favor."

With a flick of his finger, crimson energy began to swirl at his fingertips, forming into a crackling sphere of power.

"This is Red Flash, another advanced Haki technique. It's slower than Black Flash, but its destructive potential is unparalleled."

The energy ball flew from Edie's hand and struck Dorry square in the chest.

A deafening explosion rocked the clearing, the red light momentarily blinding Robin. When the dust settled, Dorry was on one knee, blood dripping from his mouth as he clutched his chest.

Edie stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. "Kneel, giant. It's easier to talk when you're on my level."

Robin stood silently, her admiration for Edie growing. She had never encountered someone so powerful, so calculated. For the first time in years, she felt truly safe.