One Piece:Starts by Collecting Nico Robin

Whoosh—

A desolate cold wind swept through the clouds in the sky, and speckled snowflakes drifted down slowly.

It was snowing in Loguetown.

"A year has passed so quickly," Caesar remarked with a sigh, standing by the window in the living room of the villa.

In the yard, Yamato and Bonney were building a snowman, while Bartolomeo tirelessly shoveled snow from the ground using the power of the Barrier Fruit to help them.

On the sofa in the living room, Kuma held a cup of hot tea, a warm smile on his lips. Robin lounged in a recliner by the fireplace, flipping through a fashion magazine from the East Blue. In the kitchen, Baby 5 was preparing dinner.

It had been two days since they returned to the East Blue. During this time, various companies under their umbrella and shareholders had come knocking. Black Maria had also called, asking if Caesar wanted to take control of Caesar Group again, but he had declined.

I started a company to get stronger. Now that I'm stronger, you want me to run a company again? What was the point of getting stronger then?

Currently, Caesar Group was entirely under the control of the Beasts Pirates, or more accurately, under Black Maria's control. The dividends from Caesar's shares were funneled into the development of the Beasts Pirates and the construction of Wano Country.

If Sky Island was the territory Caesar had established in Paradise, then Wano Country was his foundation in the New World. Both places held unique geographical advantages, and at the very least, Wano Country had to survive this year.

Caesar Group's industries were all in resource extraction and home construction materials, mostly mines and factories. Even without him, the group could operate normally; it just wouldn't be able to expand further. Having finally offloaded all his responsibilities, he'd be a fool to want to take them back.

At least until he secured Sky Island, Caesar wouldn't be putting his mind to this.

Hearing Caesar's sigh, Robin closed her magazine and chuckled, "Why are you already sighing about such things at eighteen? You shouldn't be so gloomy."

"It's just that a lot has happened this year," Caesar replied with a smile. "If I had a caring older sister to lean on, I could be as simple-minded as Yamato."

Robin brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "A young, wealthy, and talented man like you must never lack suitors. Why are you so persistent with a wanted criminal like me?"

"Although I prefer stability, I do have a bit of a conquering spirit in my bones," Caesar said with a grin. "A wild rose with a 79 million berry bounty is far more alluring to me than a flower from a greenhouse."

"Sip… ah—"

Kuma took a sip of his hot tea. "You two have been going back and forth for days now. Haven't you settled this yet?"

"Actually, I've already lost," Robin said with a smile. "But a certain mischievous captain seems to want to see me beg on my knees. I do have my pride, you know."

"...I really don't understand young people these days," Kuma scratched his cheek and laughed awkwardly.

He wasn't bothered by their flirting. Yamato and Baby 5 often liked to get close to Caesar, hugging and kissing him. While Caesar might be a bit of a playboy, Kuma felt there was genuine affection in his interactions with them.

However, when Caesar and Robin were together, the atmosphere seemed to change subtly, carrying a hint of flirtation. From time to time, they would exchange bold remarks, leaving him no time to cover Bonney's ears...

Compared to these two, Kuma felt as innocent as a little white flower.

"So that's what you thought, Robin... Actually, I just wanted to be a bit more reserved."

Caesar quietly appeared behind Robin, placing his hands on the recliner and leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"But since you've said it like that... Are you free to sleep together tonight?"

"..."

Robin's face remained expressionless, but the tips of her reddened ears betrayed her.

"I'm going out for some fresh air."

Kuma silently got up and left the room.

As soon as the door closed, Caesar gently nibbled on Robin's earlobe.

"You... Hmm..."

Robin's body softened, and her tone carried a hint of reproach. "You're shameless!"

"If you don't like it, you can say so, right?"

Caesar smirked triumphantly, wrapping his arm around her slender neck and blowing a soft breath into her delicate ear. Robin shivered slightly, a faint floral scent emanating from her. Under the soft blanket, her long, beautiful legs crossed and unconsciously rubbed against each other. (Official setting: Robin's natural scent is floral.)

"Cunning vampire..."

Opening her mouth, Robin found herself unable to say anything truly hateful. She sighed softly, tilting her head slightly to tentatively catch the corner of Caesar's lips.

Caesar's hands wandered restlessly, while the fire in the fireplace crackled and popped.

Ding dong—

Just as those curious hands were about to explore uncharted territory, the doorbell suddenly rang.

"Ara... What bad timing."

Robin chuckled softly, seemingly feeling a bit stuffy as she tugged at her collar, revealing a glimpse of her deep cleavage before Caesar's eyes.

Taking advantage of Caesar's momentary distraction, she suddenly slipped out of his embrace and headed toward the door.

"Tsk..."

With a sweep of Observation Haki outside the door, Caesar already knew the identity of the visitor before Robin could open it.

"Terrible timing..."

Click...

The door opened, revealing Kuma's mountain-like figure standing outside, looking apologetically at Robin. "If possible, I wouldn't want to disturb you at this moment, but someone insisted on seeing you... and Caesar."

With that, he stepped aside slightly.

Behind him stood a man three meters tall, with curly hair and dressed in a light blue suit.

The man looked lazy, his hands in his pockets as he gazed down at Robin.

"Yo, it's been a while, Nico Robin."

"Kuzan..."

Recognizing the man's face, Robin's smile froze, and a flicker of fear flashed in her eyes.

Before she could think further, Caesar's large hand suddenly rested on her waist, pulling her into his embrace without hesitation.

"Oh? Isn't this the Marine Admiral?"

Caesar wrapped one arm around Robin's waist, smiling as he looked at Kuzan.

"Jin Caesar..."

Kuzan examined the youthful face before him, a hint of wariness in his eyes. Although he had received intelligence beforehand, seeing such an excessively young face still left him with a sense of awe.

"If it's convenient, could I have a chat with you?"

"About what? Overthrowing the Celestial Dragons?"

"Ara ara... That's not a topic to be discussed so casually."

Kuzan's gaze turned to Robin. "How about we talk about you... and the woman by your side?"

"Robin, huh..."

Caesar smiled slightly, tilting his head toward the room. "Please, come in."

The group entered the living room. Caesar plopped down on the sofa, leaning his elbow on the armrest and casually crossing his legs. Robin silently sat beside him, looking deeply troubled.

Kuzan sat on the sofa opposite them, elbows resting on his knees, leaning slightly forward.

His eyes swept over the hot tea and snacks on the table, as well as the warm glow from the fireplace, and he sighed helplessly.

"The higher-ups at headquarters are having a headache because of your appearance, yet you two seem quite at ease."

Caesar tore open a bag of senbei. "Want some?"

"Ah, thanks."

Kuzan took the senbei and, without hesitation, poured himself a cup of hot tea. "By the way, is drinking tea with senbei a tradition from the East Blue? Mr. Garp is quite fond of it too."

"It's indeed a popular way to eat in the East Blue. The green tea helps balance the saltiness of the senbei, making it even more delicious."

Caesar broke off a piece of senbei and popped it into his mouth. "This stuff is essentially highly puffed rice crackers. In a pinch, you can even boil it into a porridge to stave off hunger."

"You're quite knowledgeable about food, aren't you?"

"Of course. I may not boast about my strength, but when it comes to culinary skills, I'm undoubtedly the most top-notch and authoritative figure on this sea."

Caesar spread his hands, looking rather proud. "Want to learn? I can teach you."

"That's not necessary. I'm not too concerned with indulging in food. Compared to cooking, I'm more interested in your intentions with this woman."

As he spoke, Kuzan raised his index finger and pointed at Robin. "To be honest, your current situation is quite dangerous. When you were on the phone with Vice Admiral Tsuru earlier, I heard everything clearly."

"The World Government won't tolerate your dangerous ideas. However, given your strength, if it's just idle talk, those old men won't easily push you to the opposite side. The fact that you haven't been given a bounty even after being at sea for so long suggests you've noticed this."

"But if you add this woman into the mix, with your dangerous ideas and her ability to decipher the Poneglyphs, you'll immediately become the World Government's top priority for elimination. I'm sure you're aware of that, right?"

"That's true..."

Caesar nodded, somewhat puzzled. "But if I recall correctly, that's exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, isn't it?"

"So you took her in to overthrow the Celestial Dragons?"

"Initially, it was to find the Vampire Fruit."

Caesar shook his head slightly. "The fruit is hidden in the ruins of Sleepy Hollow Town. To ensure success, I chose Robin, a survivor of Ohara, given their expertise, which is even recognized by the World Government."

Kuzan: "..."

Robin: "..."

What kind of hellish reasoning is this!

"After obtaining the Vampire Fruit, my abilities improved, and my ambitions grew. This gave me the confidence to reach for the very top of this world. And all of this—has absolutely nothing to do with me taking her in~"

"In my opinion, history is nothing more than a whore dressed up by the victors. Apart from ancient texts, which still hold some value, the so-called truths of history are utterly useless for both the present and the future. People never learn from history."

Caesar idly played with Robin's delicate hand, scoffing lightly. "To be honest with you, I've had my eyes on Robin since the moment I first saw her. Whether or not I end up obtaining the Vampire Fruit, she won't escape my grasp."

"Ara ara, you seem quite fond of this woman, don't you?"

Kuzan looked at Caesar in surprise. "If I recall correctly, aren't you Kaidou's son-in-law? That girl outside building snowmen, she's Kaidou's daughter, right? Wouldn't she mind?"

"Ah, it's fine. Yamato is quite traditional."

"Nani? What an enviable tradition…"

Kuzan turned to Robin. "And you? You don't mind?"

"Caesar doesn't mind my status as a wanted criminal, so why would I mind something like this?"

Robin forced herself to remain calm. Although Caesar had mentioned that Kuzan had been secretly protecting her, the psychological scars from her past experiences were too deep. Whenever she faced Kuzan, she couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sense of fear.

"Well… asking was pointless anyway."

Kuzan scratched his head, his expression slightly heavy. "Betrayal and escape, flattery and exploitation—you've survived in the dark underworld with your sharp mind until now. And this time, you've chosen this group, haven't you? Indeed, they're a formidable force. Even before setting sail, they already possess the strength of an Emperor's crew…"

Robin's pupils contracted, and her body trembled. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back from Caesar's grip, but he pulled her into his embrace instead.

"Right? Our Robin is quite clever, isn't she?"

Caesar wrapped one arm around Robin's shoulder while intertwining his fingers with hers.

"For the weak who lack strength, wisdom is still a valuable tool. Robin meeting me is a union of strength and intellect."

As he spoke, Robin gradually stopped trembling in his arms and tightly gripped Caesar's hand.

"Your attempts to sow discord won't work on me, Mr. Kuzan~"

"Ara ara, you saw through it, huh?"

Kuzan tilted his head in frustration. "Well… that's true. After all, you're a merchant by trade. Such tactics wouldn't fool you. Without sufficient benefits, no one would easily let go of such an important bargaining chip."

Caesar shook his head slightly. "You… really enjoy sowing discord, don't you?"

"If I recall correctly, wasn't it you who first sowed discord within the Navy? Thanks to you, the World Government has been on edge lately, constantly causing trouble for the Navy." Kuzan spread his hands with a troubled expression.

"That's all it takes to put them on edge?"

Caesar feigned surprise. "What if I told you that one of the Ancient Weapons, Poseidon, is this generation's Mermaid Princess? Yes, that innocent and kind-hearted ten-year-old girl. Wouldn't the World Government go completely mad?"

Hearing this, Kuzan's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Caesar. "No, you… I…"

Caesar slammed the table, his expression excited. "And what if I told you that the Ancient Weapon Pluton, which the Celestial Dragons hunt for every three years in their human hunting games against non-affiliated nations, is hidden…"

"OIOIOI! That's enough! Stop right there!"

Kuzan hurriedly raised his hand, loudly interrupting Caesar: "Sorry, my mistake! My deepest apologies! Let's just drop this topic!"

"Then... will you report it to the World Government? About Poseidon?"

Caesar leaned back comfortably on the sofa, raising his hand slightly. Seeing his demeanor, Robin smiled softly and obediently nestled into his arms.

Kuzan: "..."

Damn it!

I shouldn't have come here in the first place!

Would he report it to the World Government?

What a joke?!

Not even the Navy can know about this!

Kuzan had no doubt that if either Poseidon or Pluton fell into the hands of those Celestial Dragons, this world would immediately turn into a living hell!

"Let me make one thing clear, I'm not trying to sow discord here!"

Caesar waved his hand lightly: "After all, the Navy still relies on funding from the World Government. I understand the whole 'biting the hand that feeds you' thing. But if you weren't part of the Navy, could you uphold your own sense of justice? How about considering joining me instead?"

Kuzan: "..."

Why am I even entertaining this nonsense about sowing discord?