"Little girl, do you need help?"
Though spoken softly, the words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.
A figure approached from the distance. He wore a flamboyant magenta suit, his posture tall and straight, a head of striking blond hair swaying gently in the breeze.
"Insolence! Who are you? How dare you obstruct Marine business!" several Marines demanded, their expressions hostile.
Doflamingo walked forward step by step, completely ignoring the Marines' questions. He strolled nonchalantly until he stood directly in front of Robin, creating a standoff with the naval officers.
"Little girl, do you need help?" Doflamingo repeated gently, looking at the captured Robin with what he likely considered a kind smile.
"I... I... Please, save me!" Robin's plea was born from the depths of her despair. She hadn't truly held out hope, hadn't expected anyone to actually come for her.
To think someone had heard her cries, someone willing to stand up for her… Robin's heart swelled with gratitude towards Doflamingo. Among so many people, he was the only one who dared to step forward. She lifted her bowed head, tears streaming down her face, looking up at the young man before her with fervent emotion, and cried out with all her remaining strength, "Please, save me!"
Doflamingo made to step closer, but, as expected, the Marines blocked him.
"Audacious fool! Get back immediately! This is a criminal remnant of Ohara, bent on destroying the world!" Lieutenant Olivares shouted, berating Doflamingo for attempting to push forward.
Nearby Marines nervously raised their weapons, aiming squarely at Doflamingo. If he made any sudden moves, they were ready to make him regret it.
However, the pirate Martin and the mafia lackey, both recognizing Doflamingo, wore expressions of stunned disbelief. From their perspective, everything Doflamingo had orchestrated seemed designed to ensure Nico Robin's death. Yet here he was, appearing personally to rescue her. They realized they had completely misjudged him. This wasn't about some grudge against Nico Robin; he clearly intended to recruit her! A flicker of envy sparked in both their hearts – following such a powerful figure promised a bright future indeed.
Doflamingo paid no attention to the thoughts of these two insignificant ants, his cold gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd.
Seeing the guns pointed at Doflamingo, Robin snapped back to reality. "I don't need you to save me! Go, quickly! There's no need for you to walk into a death trap because of me!" she urged him frantically.
Her tear-filled eyes watched him anxiously. She was torn – desperately hoping he wouldn't leave, that he could rescue her from the Marines, yet simultaneously wishing he would go, terrified that he might pay with his life for her sake. She couldn't bear the thought of someone else dying because of her. The conflicting emotions tangled within her.
"You truly are kind, Nico Robin," Doflamingo sighed upon hearing her words. He had to admit, even in such dire straits, Robin didn't want to implicate others. A genuinely kind child! But he knew perfectly well that Nico Robin often said the opposite of what she truly felt.
"Ahahaha! What did I just hear? Nico Robin is kind?" "That's hilarious! A demon like her deserves to die!" "Just die already! Stop bringing misfortune upon us!"
Hearing Doflamingo praise Robin's kindness, the nearby residents couldn't contain themselves. Their ugly natures resurfaced instantly as they hurled curses.
"I bet you're another one of those Ohara remnants!" "Why else would you speak up for this demon?" "Exactly! They must be connected! I suggest the Marines arrest him too!"
The scene erupted into noisy chaos, everyone cursing Doflamingo for his statement, even directing their verbal attacks at him. Doflamingo remained unconcerned, calmly watching the crying little Robin. This situation, however, made the Marines' faces darken considerably. Praising Nico Robin's kindness? Wasn't that a slap in their faces, implying the Marines were the villains? And this man stood before them, utterly unafraid, mocking their authority with his very presence.
"Damn you! I order you to get out of here right now, or you'll suffer the consequences!" Lieutenant Olivares's face was livid as he tried to intimidate Doflamingo into retreating.
But Doflamingo wasn't buying it. In an instant, he vanished and reappeared directly in front of Robin. The Marines guarding her yelped in shock and scrambled backward, leaving Robin standing alone. Doflamingo ignored the startled Marines, crouching down instead, deliberately exposing his back to them. In that moment, his entire focus was on the small, frail girl before him, her face streaked with tears, etched with misery.
Doflamingo's sudden movement startled everyone. The residents instantly realized this man was dangerous and abruptly cut off their verbal assault, falling silent. The Marines, however, tensed immediately, surrounding Doflamingo and Robin as if facing a major threat. None of them had seen how he moved. That meant one thing: this man possessed the power to kill them all easily. A sense of dread washed over the Marines. Their anticipated promotions suddenly seemed threatened by this unexpected snag.
"I'll ask you one more time, little girl. Do you need my help?" Doflamingo gazed at Nico Robin, gently reaching out to brush the tears from her face as he asked softly.
Robin watched as the man before her tenderly wiped away her tears, his voice filled with concern. Warmth flooded her despairing heart. At least… finally… someone was willing to help her. Not everyone wanted her dead. Saul was right, Robin thought, stunned.
"Damn you! Attack!" Enraged at being so blatantly ignored, Lieutenant Olivares gave the order.
"Look out! No!" Robin cried out in alarm as she saw the Marines behind Doflamingo thrusting swords and aiming rifles at his exposed back, intending to eliminate him swiftly.
The Marines' faces lit up with vicious anticipation. Even the residents looked pleased; anyone associated with Nico Robin couldn't be good, in their eyes. Only those few who knew Doflamingo's true power remained impassive.
Robin instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch. The only person willing to help her was about to die right before her eyes. Her heart ached terribly. Though they had only just met, tears flowed anew for Doflamingo.
"Hey now, little girls shouldn't always be crying. It'll make you ugly, you know," Doflamingo's gentle voice reached Robin's ears.
Robin's eyes flew open, overjoyed, desperate to see the man who had brought warmth back into her world.
"How is this possible? Is he a monster?" The Marines stared in disbelief as their swords and bullets seemed to pass through Doflamingo's body. The uninformed residents gasped in terror, fearing his retribution.
Robin, however, blinked her large eyes, relief washing over her. As a Devil Fruit user herself, and possessing vast knowledge, she understood Doflamingo's current state quite well. Only Logia-type fruit users could remain unharmed by ordinary physical attacks.
"I said," Doflamingo began, turning back to Robin with a gentle smile, "you still haven't answered my question."
"I... I... I want to live! Please, help me, Big Brother!" Robin hesitated for only a moment before making her decision, her voice firming.
"Good," Doflamingo nodded, pleased with her answer. "If you want to live, then you need to shout it out loud! Everyone has the right to be free, Robin! Tell them your resolve!"
Perhaps spurred by Doflamingo's encouraging words and gentle smile, courage surged through Robin. She cried out with all the breath in her lungs, tears streaming freely, "I want to live! I want to live!"
"Damn it!" Lieutenant Olivares's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected to run into a Devil Fruit user. But he wasn't about to let Doflamingo and Nico Robin go. They were sacrifices for his glorious future; he wouldn't relinquish them under any circumstances.
Robin screamed her desire – "I want to live!" – venting all her pent-up emotions. After everything she had endured, the tightly wound spring of her spirit finally snapped. Unable to support herself any longer, she collapsed, fainting into darkness. But this time, she fell with a peaceful smile gracing her lips.
Doflamingo caught her unconscious form, holding her protectively in his arms, ensuring she wouldn't suffer any further harm.
"Sorry… forgive me," Doflamingo murmured softly, looking down at the Nico Robin in his embrace. She couldn't hear him, and the Marines, watching him like hawks, certainly paid no mind to his quiet words.
"Alright, it's time to end this farce," Doflamingo said, his expression turning serious as he faced the surrounding Marines.
"Damn you! Put Nico Robin down, and we can forget this ever happened!" Lieutenant Olivares blustered, trying to sound forceful.
"Apologies, but Nico Robin is someone I acknowledge," Doflamingo replied with impeccable, almost mocking politeness. "So, what will you do now, Marines?" he continued arrogantly.
"Don't get too cocky!" Olivares snarled, his face contorted with fury.
"Lieutenant Olivares! He might be the pirate Doflamingo! His bounty is 160 million!" a sharp-eyed Marine suddenly shouted, finally recognizing the infamous pirate.
Hearing the report, Olivares's complexion shifted rapidly through several shades of pale. He couldn't fathom why a notorious pirate from the Grand Line would be here in the West Blue. Were the higher-ups at Marine HQ sleeping on the job?! Why was his luck so terrible? To encounter such a deadly star right when a huge commendation like Nico Robin was within his grasp, only to have it snatched away! Who could understand his bitterness?
"Doflamingo! Don't think we're afraid of you!" Olivares bluffed, though his voice lacked conviction.
"Then, may I leave?" Doflamingo had no interest in dealing with these small fry any longer and asked Olivares directly.
"You... you... How dare you!" Olivares sputtered, utterly incensed, yet the fear in his heart grew stronger. The other Marines showed their fear even more plainly, hesitating, unwilling to step forward.
"Attack!" Olivares knew he couldn't show fear before a pirate, not if he wanted to keep his career. It wasn't the outcome he wanted, but he had no choice.
"Finally showing a little courage," Doflamingo remarked, acknowledging their futile gesture with mild approval. "Very well. I accept your provocation."
The Marines charging forward were actually terrified, but they couldn't back down now, not with so many civilians watching. Personal shame was one thing; disgracing the Marines was another.
"100 Million Volt Thunder Dragon!" Doflamingo's tone was flat, emotionless. Since he had chosen to act, there was no need to hold back.
"AAAAHHHH!"
The scene turned brutally violent. In an instant, the Marines were utterly annihilated.
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