Chapter 165: Nico Robin - A Fork in the Road
Rain Dinners Casino
Roy gently pushed the roulette table away from him, a faint smile playing on his lips, his movements unhurried.
"Playing this any longer," he said casually, as if making small talk, "would feel like bullying."
He raised his eyes slowly, his gaze landing on Nico Robin standing opposite him. His eyes were clear but held an elusive depth.
"How about... we play something simpler?"
He picked up a gold chip casually and flicked it onto the table with a crisp clack.
"High card wins. You deal. To keep it fair."
The surroundings instantly fell silent. Every gambler held their breath, fearing even the sound of breathing would disturb this invisible duel.
Robin froze imperceptibly for a second, her fingertips trembling slightly, but she maintained her perfect smile.
"Of course," she replied softly, her voice smooth as water. "My pleasure."
She took a brand-new deck of cards from a drawer. Her silvery fingers danced deftly, shuffling the cards with a flow as smooth as running water, elegant yet precise and steady.
However, Roy keenly caught the faint tremor in her hands.
"Hands shaking that much... am I that scary?"
He didn't call her out, merely watching her with interest, like appreciating an exquisite performance.
Round 1
Robin dealt the cards, her movements clean and smooth.
Roy took his card lazily, barely glancing at it before flipping it over—
"Ace of Spades."
The crowd erupted in excited gasps!
Robin inhaled softly and flipped her card—King of Hearts.
The croupier announced crisply, "Round One, the guest wins."
Roy raised an eyebrow and smiled, casually pushing a stack of chips forward with his finger.
"Continue."
Round 2
While shuffling, Robin's finger movements subtly changed.
With practiced skill, she guided the flow of the cards, precisely sending the lowest card into Roy's hand.
However—
"3 of Diamonds."
Roy flipped the card with the same expressionless face, as if he already knew the result.
Robin flipped hers—2 of Clubs.
Her eyes shook slightly.
"Impossible... I clearly..."
She immediately composed herself, feigning a calm smile. "The guest wins again."
Roy simply leaned back in his chair, staring at her with a faint, enigmatic smile.
Round 3, Round 4...
She lost every single hand.
No matter how Robin secretly manipulated the rhythm, angle, or order of the deal, every time a card was flipped, Roy's was just slightly higher than hers.
9 of Spades against 8 of Spades, Jack of Hearts against 10 of Hearts, 6 of Diamonds against 5 of Diamonds...
A difference of a hair's breadth, yet it felt destined by fate.
Robin's expression finally cracked, cold sweat beading imperceptibly on her forehead.
"He can predict even my dealing techniques... No, he's toying with me..."
Round 7
Roy suddenly spoke up. "All in this round, how about it?"
His tone was casual, as if suggesting adding sugar to coffee.
Robin's gaze tightened, then she chuckled softly. "As you wish."
Cards dealt.
Roy flipped—7 of Diamonds.
Robin flipped—8 of Hearts.
The crowd let out a collective gasp of regret!
"His luck finally broke?!"
"Six wins in a row, and he finally crashed?"
But Robin showed no triumph. Instead, her heart sank.
She remembered clearly—she had dealt him the Queen of Spades.
"How... did it become the 7 of Diamonds?!"
Roy spread his hands, his smile teasing. "Oops, my mistake."
She finally realized—he lost on purpose.
He was "paying her back," or rather, creating an illusion for her.
Her fingers clenched under the table, her heart pounding like a drum.
"He's been controlling the rhythm all along."
"In this duel, I never won from the start."
Roy stretched lazily and stood up. "That's enough playing."
He patted Ace on the shoulder, smiling. "Let's go. Time to do some real business."
Ace grinned, turning his hat around and standing up to follow. "I almost forgot why we came here."
The surrounding gamblers let out disappointed groans—
"It's over already?!"
"I wanted to see more!!!"
However, just as the two were about to turn and leave—
"Wait a moment."
Robin spoke suddenly. Her voice was gentle as ever, yet it carried an invisible strength.
She stepped forward slowly, a complex light flashing in her eyes. "Gentlemen, why not... move to the VIP room for another round?"
She smiled, her posture still elegant.
Roy paused slightly, then laughed. He exchanged a glance with Ace and nodded easily. "Sure."
Ace shrugged. "We've got time to kill anyway."
The next second, the three walked side by side into the VIP passage, their figures gradually disappearing at the end of the long corridor leading deep inside.
In the gambling hall, discussions boiled over like a tide—
"VIP room? They're playing big?"
"That guy is no ordinary person. She actually invited him for another round?"
"Who on earth are they..."
No one knew that behind this gamble, dark currents were already surging. Life and death hung by a thread.
Rain Dinners Casino - VIP Room
The heavy carved wooden door slammed shut with a thud, instantly cutting off the noise from outside. The room fell silent.
Dim wall lamps cast a soft glow, illuminating two figures on the leather sofa.
Roy and Ace sat casually, looking relaxed, as if they had just come in for some peace and quiet.
But Nico Robin stood by the door, unmoving. Her slender fingers clenched slightly, knuckles white.
Her gaze was deep and complex, like a traveler at the edge of a cliff, afraid to take the next step.
Roy leaned against the sofa back, a faint smile on his lips. His voice was lazy but impossible to ignore. "What's wrong? Am I that scary?"
Ace also turned curiously to look at Robin, tilting his head and muttering, "Who is she... the atmosphere suddenly got weird."
Robin took a deep breath and walked slowly to the table. She looked straight at Roy, her voice lowered but carrying a barely perceptible tremor. "Vice Admiral Roy... are you here to arrest me?"
The air froze instantly.
Ace froze, instinctively looking at Roy. "Arrest her? Vice Admiral? Wait—who is she?"
Roy didn't answer Ace. He just looked at Robin, his tone calm, even gentle. "Relax. I have no intention of arresting you, Nico Robin."
"BOOM!"
That familiar name hit Robin's heart like a heavy hammer.
Her breath hitched, pupils constricting violently, fingers trembling uncontrollably.
"He... knows. He knows everything."
Her expression shifted rapidly: shock, wariness, wavering, struggle—all intertwining on her face in an instant.
Roy simply beckoned gently, signaling her to sit.
"Come on, sit down and talk."
Robin was silent for a few seconds before slowly pulling out a chair and sitting opposite him. Her movements were light, as if afraid to break the balance of the moment.
Ace was still confused, the corner of his mouth twitching as he muttered to himself, "Robin? ...The Demon of Ohara? Seriously?"
Roy turned his gaze back to Robin, his expression serious, his voice low. "I came to find you because I hope you won't continue making mistakes."
"There is no future for you with Crocodile."
"Crocodile," he paused, a hint of irony in his eyes, "is nothing but a loser whose spirit was crushed by Whitebeard."
Robin looked up sharply, surprise in her eyes.
"He even knows that?!"
Roy continued, his tone unhurried but cutting like a knife. "His ambition is just a false reconstruction of his self-esteem. He uses you as a tool for the Ancient Weapons, for his ethereal 'Kingdom Dream'."
"But you, Nico Robin, are the last spark of Ohara."
"Your knowledge, your talent, should not be wasted on such a dirty game."
When he said this, there was no frivolity or pity in his eyes, only a heavy respect.
The room fell into a brief silence.
Robin lowered her eyes, fingers slowly tightening.
"Hunted, used, betrayed... I've seen too many promises and heard too many sweet words."
She murmured, her voice hoarse. "...Why me?"
Roy watched her quietly, then smiled. It was gentle, yet felt separated by an abyss.
"Because you are the only person in the world still willing to protect the truth."
"You know too much, but... you still chose to live."
"The world is big. There is always a place that needs you, and always a place that can protect you."
The light in Robin's eyes wavered slightly, like ripples on a lake.
Beside them, Ace had given up trying to understand and just watched silently. The more he listened, the more he felt this woman was not simple.
Robin took a deep breath, forcing herself to stabilize her emotions. She suddenly looked up, her gaze no longer dodging. Her tone was calm but probing. "And if... I refuse?"
Roy's smile didn't change, but his eyes were sharp as blades.
"The choice is always yours."
Silence.
Only the faint hum of the wall lamps and their breathing remained in the room.
Robin could clearly hear her own rapid heartbeat. It felt like standing at a fork in the road of destiny, with no retreat on either side.
She closed her eyes. Scenes flashed through her mind: burning Ohara, her mother's parting gaze, Saul's smile, twenty years of exile, Crocodile's disgusting ambition...
When she opened her eyes again, her expression had changed.
It was a rekindled hope.
"I need to know..."
Her voice was low but firm. "Where is this place you speak of?"
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