Chapter 13 - Devil child 'Nico Robin'

Ian mostly wanted to go to Alabasta so that he can see Robin. You can't blame the guy, as he was always one of her fans and admirers.

But also to find out if there was any strong beasts in here unlike shown in the anime or manga. It was possible as the manga could not cover every inch of this world.

Take the Bananawani for example. Who are giant crocodiles with banana-shaped growths on their heads. They are so fierce that they even prey on Sea Kings and are to date the Sea Kings only known natural predator. But Sanji easily beat them. And their size as shown so far would not let them be able to compete with even the smallest of sea kings. But they are named as such, therefore he guessed that there must some of them that are big enough to prey on the sea kings.

Which is why his next destination was, after meeting robin, to explore the Sandora River. The most likely place for the bigger beasts to be.

Since a week had past, and Ian was already adapted to his new strength, he could already undergo the process once again. However, he will wait before going through the process again using the island eater's bloodline.

Not until he set sail at the least. At any rate his stay in Alabasta would not even be for more than a day. There was literally nothing for him to do in a dying country. Even finding a companion here would be just a dream due to the country's state.

.....

Ian has been flying for a while now, and he finally could see the city due to how high he was in the sky.

He stopped a bit away from it, then came walking, while wearing his cloak.

When he entered he went to a restaurant to eat something. Since this was the most prosperous city in here, it had things in stock even if the rest of the country is in a crisis.

After eating he went to the casino that crocodile runs. It was after all the only place he could see Robin in.

He played there, won some, lost some, until he was able to see her. Robin before the time skip was already 28, therefore certain assets of her were already at their peak. Unlike Nami who could still grow at this time.

'Nico Robin, also known by her epithet 'Devil Child" and the 'Light of the Revolution", hmm even if the chance for her to join me on my journey is low, I could still ask.' Ian mused to himself.

Robin was one of the few characters he knew a lot about. But now that he could see her face to face he was absolutely amazed by her beauty. She is a tall and slender young woman with shoulder-length black hair and eyes that has dark, wide pupils and she also has a long, thin and defined nose. In the anime, Robin's skin tone is a slightly darker tan unlike in reality where he could see now that it is lighter.

She wore a revealing cowgirl outfit consisting of a purple cleavage-exposing corset and matching miniskirt, both with white ornaments hanging from them, and a white fur-lined coat paired with a white cowboy hat and white high-heeled boots. Ian thought that she must be fond of wearing revealing clothes just like a certain thief.

Since he was staring at her for a very long while Robin took notice of him and came to sit beside him.

"What is a handsome man like you doing in here, and also do you not know that staring at people is rude?" Robin said with a smile.

And Ian who got out of his dazed state when she spoke could tell her smile was fake.

Smiling in return he said.

"What do you expect me to do when I see such a beautiful girl like you in front of me? And I'm here just passing by waiting for my log pose to reset." Ian said with a smile that was genuine.

"Hoh what a charmer you are" she said while inside she was trying to figure out what a young man like him is doing here. After all she felt a different air about him then the rest of the people she has met so far. Like he was brimming with confidence.

Which was something Ian did without knowing.

"So tell me can we go to someplace more quite to talk more?" Ian said.

Robin gained a cautious look in her eyes but still nodded yes, and got up with Ian following her.

She took him to small dinning place she usually comes to.

It was almost empty except a few people here and there.

"So what did you want to talk about Mr.?" Robin said.

Ian who had finished looking around the place, using his observation Haki of course, turned to look at her and replied.

"My name is Ian Louis. You can call me Ian. I wanted to ask you if you wanted to join me on my trip" Ian said. And didn't bother asking her name as she will just say something fake.

"Mr. Louis I'm sorry to say but I can't join you as I have a prior commitment. Not to mention we have only just met you know" Robin said still with a smile on her face. But the cautious look in her eyes was still there.

"Call me Ian. And I would go straight to the point. I know who you are, and I want you to join me. I can protect you and even train you if you like." Ian said with as honest of a tone as he could manage.

'This guy… he is serious, but I don't sense anything from him…'Robin thought to herself, but then she felt an absolute sense of being powerless when she met Ian's eyes but she still replied in a shaky voice.

"I-I don't know what you mean by that Mr. Louis" Robin said.

"Alright, suit yourself, but just to say my offer still stands in the future. And sorry for scaring you. It was just to prove that I can protect you and myself." Ian was truly sorry as he had released a bit of his conqueror's Haki on her to prove his power.

He then got up after leaving some money on the table and leaned to whisper to her.

"It was nice seeing you in person, Nico Robin. Also don't think too much I just wanted to ask for you to be my companion on my journey" Ian said in a voice only she would hear.

Then he went on his way to finish his business in Alabasta.

The reason he didn't try to convince Robin more was because he already expected it. After all she was here putting herself in danger all so that she can read the Poneglyph that is here in Alabasta.

Meanwhile robin inside was entering into a panicked mode.

'H-he knows me… maybe he'll give my location to the marines… but I can't leave now especially since I'm already close…'

But she then calmed down due to how experienced and mature she had become.

'If he wanted to do anything like that he would have already done so… not to mention that the power I felt from him is even more then my current 'boss'… I couldn't even move… well I'll just wait and see what happens…' she then got up and left to return to her 'duties'.