As Robin noticed Reno suddenly stopping, she tilted her head in confusion. "Why did you stop, stingy ghost?"
"Whack!"
"Ow!"
Reno, still as casual as ever, flicked her forehead lightly, prompting Robin to yelp in pain. With a touch of exasperation, he pointed ahead. "We're just 20 meters away from the library. What do you think we should do? Walk straight in? Barging into the library isn't exactly subtle."
Robin clutched her forehead, her big eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her expression screamed grievance, and it seemed like just one more word from Reno would send those tears streaming down her cheeks.
Reno scratched his nose awkwardly, averting his gaze in an attempt to dodge the overwhelming cuteness of her teary-eyed face. To anyone observing this scene, it would look like the epitome of emotional unawareness. "Textbook case of terminal straight-man syndrome," they'd likely mutter.
Robin, however, wasn't one to back down. Her pout transformed into a sly smile as she realized her little act had unnerved him. If Reno enjoyed teasing her, why couldn't she have some fun teasing him back? Watching Reno stumble to deal with her antics brought her endless amusement.
What made it all the more satisfying was Reno's usual demeanor calculated, composed, and always in control. But whenever she pulled out the waterworks, he'd become flustered, revealing a rare glimpse of vulnerability. For Robin, seeing this side of him was a small victory.
Reno's flustered reactions weren't without reason. Despite his plethora of "theoretical" knowledge about romance, he had no real-world experience. In essence, he was all talk and no game a romantic theorist who fell apart in practice.
While the two continued their playful banter, Bartholomew Kuma finally arrived at the entrance to the Tree of Knowledge. He paused to take in the towering tree that stretched high into the sky before making his way toward the library doors.
"Stop! Who are you?"
"This area is off-limits. Leave immediately!"
Several World Government agents blocked Kuma's path, brandishing weapons and issuing sharp commands.
Kuma remained silent, towering over them with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he spoke in his calm, resonant voice. "If you were to go on a trip… where would you like to go?"
"What nonsense is this?"
"Get out of here already! No one's talking about vacations!"
"If you don't leave now, we'll be forced to take action!"
The agents shouted indignantly, though their wariness was evident. Kuma's imposing physique and the sheer calmness in his demeanor unnerved them, preventing any of them from acting rashly.
Unfazed, Kuma calmly removed his gloves, revealing his massive, paw-shaped hands.
"Whoosh!"
In a flash, Kuma disappeared from sight, his speed akin to teleportation. He reappeared behind one of the agents, delivering a light slap with his paw.
"Pop!"
The agent vanished instantly, leaving the others frozen in shock.
"Enemy attack!"
"Fire! Fire!"
Bullets flew toward Kuma, but before they could reach him, he vanished again. When he reappeared, it was behind another group of agents.
"Pop! Pop! Pop!"
One by one, the agents disappeared as if plucked from existence. Kuma's movements were methodical, his actions smooth and deliberate, as though he were simply swatting flies.
With all the agents dealt with, Kuma resumed his approach toward the library without so much as a backward glance. His expression remained stoic, unbothered by the chaos he'd just caused.
From a distance, Reno observed the entire scene. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he thought, Kuma's power really is something else. If he didn't want to die, it'd be nearly impossible for anyone to catch him alone. Unless someone exhausts his stamina completely, there's no way to stop him.
Kuma's ability made him untouchable. The moment someone entered his range, they were at his mercy, regardless of their strength. Reno admired the practicality of the Paw-Paw Fruit, marveling at its near-invincibility in solo combat scenarios.
Beside him, however, Robin was anything but calm. Her eyes were wide, her mouth hanging open in shock as she tried to process what she'd just witnessed.
Reno noticed her expression and couldn't help himself. Reaching over, he gently pinched her chin and lifted it slightly. "Robin, my little wife, if you keep your mouth open like that, are you telling me you're hungry again?"
Robin's cheeks puffed up indignantly, and her shock turned into a scowl.
As Kuma entered the library to carry out his mission, Reno and Robin remained hidden, observing the situation unfold.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Robin's little chin was being toyed with by Reno, who moved it up and down, causing her teeth to click together with a soft "clack, clack" sound. She seemed utterly unresponsive, lost in her thoughts.
It wasn't until Reno, fully engrossed in his playful antics, noticed Robin snapping back to reality that her reaction finally came.
Her eyes focused on Reno's mischievous grin as he continued fiddling with her chin. With a sharp glare, Robin slapped his hand away, effectively ending his fun.
Still, she didn't seem angry. Instead, a mix of joy and wonder filled her gaze as she stared at Reno. Moments ago, she had witnessed Bartholomew Kuma's use of his Devil Fruit power. That one glimpse had turned her doubts into belief.
Before this, she had thought Reno's words about others like her were a kind lie meant to comfort her. But Kuma's display of power shattered that notion. For the first time, she felt a profound sense of belonging proof that she wasn't a monster but one of many.
Robin looked at Reno with a radiant smile and asked excitedly, "Stingy ghost, was that guy just now the same as me? A Devil Fruit user?"
Reno immediately understood why she had been so stunned earlier. With a smirk, he feigned annoyance. "Hah! Why ask me? It's not like you believed me in the first place."
Robin secretly rolled her eyes at his exaggerated reaction. Seriously, he's such a stingy guy to hold a grudge over something like this! Still, she adopted a playful tone, leaning closer as she coaxed, "Oh, husband! It's just because I didn't know any better. Don't hold it against me, alright?"
Hearing her syrupy sweet words, Reno sighed, his eyes rolling upward. When she needs something, it's all 'husband this' and 'darling that.' The rest of the time, it's just 'stingy ghost.' This little wife of mine is truly one of a kind.
Finally relenting, Reno began to explain. "That guy is Bartholomew Kuma. He's the user of the Paw-Paw Fruit, which makes him a paw-human. His palms have special paw pads that can repel attacks, as well as send people flying like he just did."
Inwardly, Reno marveled at Kuma's power. This guy's ability is absurd. Later on, he'll even be able to repel injuries and pain. I wonder if he can already do that now? What a broken ability.
Robin listened intently, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "His power is amazing!" she exclaimed, her awe evident.
But just as quickly as her excitement had flared, it dimmed. Her shoulders slumped, and her tone turned despondent. "Unlike me… all I can do is sprout hands. My ability is so weak. If only I could have a power like his…"
Robin's downcast expression didn't escape Reno's notice. Instead of worrying, however, he was secretly pleased. This sense of comparison meant she had started accepting her own ability and was developing the desire to grow stronger.
Reno knew the Hana Hana no Mi wasn't weak. If Robin dedicated herself to developing its potential especially with his help she could become an incredibly formidable force. His only real concern had been whether she might reject her own powers entirely, but her current attitude erased that worry.
Deciding to bolster her confidence, Reno said warmly, "Little wife, your ability isn't weak at all. It just seems that way because you've never tried to develop it seriously. There's an old saying: 'There are no weakest Devil Fruits, only the weakest users.' I firmly believe that. As long as you work at it, you'll be just as strong as anyone else in the future!"
Robin blinked at him, then broke into a bright smile. "I see, stingy ghost. Then one day, I'll become an even stronger Devil Fruit user than you and when that day comes, I'll bully you every single day!"
Reno chuckled, choosing not to argue. He didn't want to dampen her newly found determination. Sure, little wife. You might surpass others, but surpassing me? Not a chance. With my cheats, you'll have to wait until your next life to turn the tables.
Grinning, he added teasingly, "Alright, alright. Just don't be too harsh on me in the future. I'm fragile, after all."
Robin's cheeks flushed at his words. She quickly put on a mock-angry face, shaking a fist at him. "Who said I'm your little wife? Call me that again, and we'll see how I deal with you!"
Reno raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by her mock threats. "Oh, really? Weren't you the one calling me 'husband' so sweetly earlier when you wanted something? Hah, women."
Robin's face turned even redder, and she huffed in indignation. "Go to hell, stingy ghost!"
Their banter filled the air with warmth as Robin's resolve to grow stronger blossomed. Reno, too, silently vowed to help her unlock her full potential, knowing that together, their adventures would only grow more exciting.
Robin's face flushed red at Reno's pointed remarks, and she realized she couldn't win against his sharp tongue. She shot him a glare filled with frustration before choosing to ignore the "stingy ghost" entirely.
Just as their banter reached a pause, a loud boom erupted.
"Bang... Bang! Bang!"
The massive library doors, standing about ten meters high and six meters wide, suddenly collapsed with a deafening crash. Large holes were punched into them, one after another, until the entire structure crumbled in a heap.
Robin stared at the wreckage, her face full of shock. Turning to Reno, she stammered, "S-Stingy ghost... what just happened? How did the library doors suddenly fall apart without warning?"
Reno, who had been keeping his Observation Haki active the entire time, knew exactly what had caused the destruction. It was one of the World Government agents who had been sent flying by Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit. The agent's high-speed impact against the door was too fast for normal eyes to catch, making the event appear eerie and unexplainable.
Glancing at Robin, Reno explained, "That was just Kuma sending someone flying. The guy hit the door too fast for you to see. Nothing mysterious about it."
With that, Reno began walking toward the library. Over his shoulder, he added casually, "The enemies inside have all been dealt with. Let's go meet your irresponsible mother."
Reno's tone was calm, but his words carried a sharp edge. In his eyes, any woman who abandoned her two-year-old daughter to sail the seas for years without returning no matter the reason was an unfit mother.
Robin flinched at his blunt remark, wanting to defend her mother. But as much as she tried, she couldn't find a solid argument. Lowering her head, she quietly followed Reno.
Inside the library, flames raged.
The fire had been started by the World Government agents, who had been interrogating the scholars. Frustrated by their lack of progress, they had resorted to using the precious historical texts as leverage, threatening to burn them unless the scholars divulged their secrets.
The scholars, however, refused to yield, choosing silence over betrayal. Angered by their defiance, the agents began burning the books before the scholars' eyes while continuing their brutal interrogation.
It was during this chaos that Kuma had entered, swiftly putting an end to the agents' actions.
"Quickly! Save the books! These are irreplaceable historical records we can't afford to lose them!"
Professor Clover's voice rang out as he directed the now-liberated scholars to prioritize saving the burning texts. His own bindings had yet to be removed, but when the scholars approached to untie him, he waved them off, urging them to rescue the books first.
Reno stepped into the scene, observing the frantic efforts of the elderly scholars. Despite his disdain for their stubbornness and lack of awareness, he couldn't help but respect their courage and dedication. These people were willing to risk their lives for the sake of history.
Still, Reno didn't fully agree with their actions. To him, no historical record could be more valuable than a human life. Without people, what use was history?
"Quickly, quickly! Save as many as you can! Each book represents a fragment of our past. To lose even one is a tragedy!"
The sight of elderly scholars scrambling to douse flames while shouting fervently made Reno's thoughts grow heavy. Even with his intervention, the library's fate seemed no different from what he remembered from the original story.
As he stood lost in thought, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning his head, he found Robin looking up at him, her face pleading.
"Darling… can you help them?"
Her soft voice, combined with her hand clutching his sleeve, carried an undeniable appeal. Reno immediately knew she wanted something. After all, she only called him "darling" when she needed his help. Any other time, it was just "stingy ghost."
With a knowing look, Reno sighed dramatically. "You're such a good little wife, aren't you? Only calling me 'darling' when you need something. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if you ran off with someone else someday."
Robin pouted at his teasing but didn't give up. She began shaking his arm gently, her voice turning even sweeter as she pleaded, "Please, darling? I promise to be good from now on! I'll call you 'darling' all the time, okay?"
Reno, who had already been considering helping, chuckled at her persistence. Her adorable antics only made him want to tease her more. Still, he had already made up his mind. The books weren't at fault, and it wouldn't cost him much to lend a hand.
Smirking, he finally relented. "Alright, alright. Stop shaking me. I'll help. But remember this, little wife if you ever stop calling me 'darling,' I might just change my mind next time!"
Robin's face lit up with a victorious smile, though she quickly masked it with a mock glare. "Stingy ghost!" she muttered under her breath, earning another amused chuckle from Reno.
With a wave of his hand, Reno summoned a controlled gust of wind to snuff out the flames, ensuring the precious books were saved. As the fires died down, the relief on the scholars' faces was palpable, and Robin's admiration for Reno grew even stronger.
In that moment, she silently vowed to work hard on her abilities so that one day, she could stand beside him as an equal and maybe even surpass him.
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