Rowan mentally gave Nico Robin's idea a thumbs-up. She really knew what she was doing.
In any fight, you unite every force that can be united—that's how you become unstoppable.
Robin's approach captured that idea perfectly, so Rowan had no intention of stopping her. Why would he? All she wanted was to save her world.
So Robin boldly walked straight up to him and said she wanted to talk.
"And who are you?" Hawk-Eye Mihawk asked. He had clearly never seen Robin before, especially since she was still wearing Tsunade's appearance.
"I'm someone who needs your help," Robin said, "and someone who can help you as well."
Mihawk found that mildly interesting. "You want to help me? I don't believe there's anything I need help with."
"There is," Robin replied. "As the world's greatest swordsman, your progress has slowed ever since you reached the top, hasn't it?"
Mihawk's eyes flickered, but he said nothing.
Robin continued, "Being the greatest swordsman in the world is certainly the highest of honors, but it's also a cage. There's no one ahead of you anymore, so you can no longer see the road forward. You can't even find an opponent worth facing."
"Can you still keep moving forward as a swordsman the way you once did?"
"So right now, what you want more than anything is a true rival. Maybe even a swordsman capable of defeating you."
Mihawk's gaze instantly sharpened, like a blade.
"You know someone like that?"
That question alone was enough to prove Robin had hit the mark. Mihawk really did want a worthy rival.
"Come with me, Hawk-Eye."
And then Rowan watched as Robin led Mihawk straight back to him.
"So you're the one who can defeat me in swordsmanship?"
Mihawk studied Rowan intently, then frowned and shot Robin an annoyed look.
"He's not a swordsman at all."
As the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk could tell at a glance whether someone was a swordsman. There was no way he'd get that wrong.
At the same time, Rowan stared at Robin in confusion. What exactly had she told Mihawk, and why did Mihawk think Rowan was someone who could beat him with a sword?
That was ridiculous. Rowan didn't know swordsmanship at all.
"Easy, Hawk-Eye," Robin said. "This is Rowan, my boss. He may not be a swordsman himself, but he knows many powerful swordsmen. Some of them could absolutely defeat you in battle."
That part, at least, was true.
Rowan really did know of several terrifying swordsmen. Whether those swordsmen knew him back was another question entirely.
"You're sure?"
Mihawk looked at Robin and Rowan suspiciously, clearly wondering whether they were trying to set him up.
Robin said calmly, "Why would we lie to you about something like this, Hawk-Eye?"
Mihawk replied, "If you really can find someone like that for me, I wouldn't mind owing you a favor."
Robin glanced around and said, "This isn't the place for this conversation. Can we talk somewhere else, Hawk-Eye?"
Mihawk nodded.
Rowan casually opened an air door and led Robin, Nami, Hashirama, Minato, Karin, and Kanae out of the Baratie.
Cosette, meanwhile, stayed behind at the restaurant to continue learning.
A moment later, the whole group was back inside the cabin of a large ship.
With no outsiders around, Robin got straight to the point.
"This world is going to be destroyed, Hawk-Eye."
Mihawk paused for a moment. To him, it sounded like alarmist nonsense, and his interest immediately cooled.
Robin dispelled her transformation and returned to her original appearance. Compared to some mysterious blonde beauty with no clear background, Nico Robin—the last survivor of Ohara—was obviously far more convincing.
"I am Nico Robin, the last survivor of Ohara. I assume you've at least heard of me."
Mihawk's eyes lit up slightly. That transformation alone had impressed him.
Then he nodded. He really did know who Nico Robin was. After all, she had been branded the Devil Child and put on a wanted poster when she was just a child.
In a world where wanted posters were everywhere, that one had still stood out.
The destruction of Ohara and the Tree of Knowledge had shocked the entire world back then.
As the sole survivor, Nico Robin had absolutely been a top-level name in that era.
Mihawk had naturally heard of it.
"In a few years, sea levels will rise and swallow the vast majority of the world's islands. Almost the entire world will sink beneath the sea. Only a few places will survive."
"For example, the Holy Land Mary Geoise."
"Many among the Celestial Dragons already know this—people like the Five Elders. In fact, they've known for centuries. But they've kept it hidden."
"They're just standing by and watching the world head toward destruction."
"So I need your help, Hawk-Eye. We have to unite and destroy the World Government. That's the only way to save this world."
Robin's words were passionate, but Mihawk remained unmoved.
He was a swordsman, not a revolutionary or a savior. Saving the world meant nothing to him.
What he cared about was a worthy opponent.
Robin noticed that and immediately changed direction.
"If I can find you a truly powerful opponent, would you be willing to do your part to help save the world?"
"Yes."
Mihawk agreed without hesitation.
A worthy opponent and a chance to make trouble for the World Government at the same time? That was double the fun. Why would he refuse?
Of course, that was assuming Robin could really find such an opponent.
Robin turned to Rowan. Now all hope rested on him.
Rowan looked innocently back at her. In the end, it still all came down to him.
He thought it over. Right now, he had connected to three worlds: Naruto, One Piece, and Frieren.
The Naruto world definitely didn't have a swordsman who could rival Mihawk. That was the world of ninja.
And in the One Piece world, Mihawk was already the world's strongest swordsman.
As for Frieren, that was a classic sword-and-magic fantasy world. Magic was dominant there, but there were still plenty of sword-users.
The hero Himmel was one of them.
He didn't use magic, yet still defeated the Demon King through swordsmanship alone.
In the original story, that monster had once split a forest with a single slash. He probably wouldn't be inferior to Mihawk.
The only question was whether that hero was dead yet.