Chapter 82: Resolution: Assurance

Chapter 82: Resolution: Assurance

With Robin agreeing to show them the way, Thomas installed the EMIYA card and entered the underground waterway alongside Caenis, Astolfo, and Vivi. Benienma sank into the shadows to scout ahead, so the group proceeded in relative silence until Robin remarked, "I see you've acquired an Install Card of your own..."

Feeling a mixture of confidence and apathy as a result of equipping the EMIYA card, Thomas calmly replied, "After learning about the existence of Install Cards, I immediately set out to acquire one. Not just to counteract Crocodile's, but to uncover the truth behind their origin."

Raising her brows, Robin asked, "And did you? Uncover the truth, I mean."

Nodding his head, Thomas offered a curt, "Indeed," without going into further detail. He believed he could trust Robin, but she had yet to join him or the Straw Hats. Until they were 'officially' allied, he had no plans of disclosing even more information to her.

Seeing through Thomas's thoughts, Robin narrowed her eyes slightly, her perennial smile becoming marginally more prominent as she remarked, "It appears you've wisened up since our previous encounter..."

"Not really," replied Thomas, adding, "I've just figured out the path I want to walk. Once this is over, I'll tell you the specifics."

With an expression that looked as though she was restraining a chuckle, Robin asked, "Does it have anything to do with the Prism Pirates? It was quite a surprise to learn such big-name Pirates were traveling with you...."

Shaking his head, Thomas answered, "I won't deny there is a connection, but my aspirations are my own. I'm even considering pawning them off on the Straw Hats for a while..."

Since Crocodile and Baroque Works had already cleared out most of the dangerous animals occupying the waterway, Caenis had little to do. As a result, she decided to insert herself into the conversation, grinning as she remarked, "I guess they would get in the way of you collecting women for your little imperial suite, huh?"

"Imperial suite...?" parroted Robin, unaware of the existence of the Enma-tei.

Narrowing his eyes, Thomas stated, "As I said before, we'll discuss the specifics once we've wrapped things up with Crocodile. But, to make a very long story short, I'm planning to conduct business and expand an information network throughout the Grand Line."

"I see..." muttered Robin. Then, after several seconds of contemplative silence, she postulated, "I take it this is your effort to ensure the events you are familiar with transpire as intended?"

Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "I've already given up on that. Now, I just want to experience a journey of my own. One that doesn't interfere with the growth of Lucy and the Straw Hats..."

Adopting a teasing expression and tone, Robin asked, "By 'collecting' women...?"

Exhaling through his nose, Thomas retorted, "By doing as I please and helping those in need..."

Nodding her head in approval, Vivi asserted, "Thomas may not be perfect, but he is a very considerate person. He didn't force me into a relationship. Rather, he tried talking me out of offering myself as a reward. I'm certain that any women who join him in the future will do so of their own volition."

Maintaining her usual smile, Robin asked, "Does that include me...?" while staring up at Thomas.

Though he felt somewhat exasperated, Thomas's expression and tone were calm as he replied, "That's up to you. I may be an opportunistic pervert, but I'm fairly content with the company I keep. I'm not going to force anyone to sleep with me."

With the corners of her smile curling up slightly, Robin mused, "I'll keep that in mind." She truthfully had no desire to sleep with 'anyone,' but she wasn't against skinship and using her feminine wiles to get her way. Not if it meant realizing the dream she had nearly given up on...

Suppressing her anger, Datsue-ba's expression and tone softened as she said, "You've passed my test. Continue to serve your Master, and be sure to send funds and resources back to Hell. Your Ou-sama and I have high expectations for you..."

Though she knew her mother was lying about her presence being some kind of test, Benienma cupped her hands together and bowed her as a sign of deference. By the time she straightened her back, Datsue-ba was already gone, leaving behind a single black feather that slowly dissolved as the flow of time returned to normal...

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After descending several levels, Thomas and co found themselves on a stone bridge in a vast circular chamber. Several other bridges connected to a massive pillar more than a hundred meters in diameter, rising from a pool of surprisingly luminescent water to support the ceiling far overhead. It was a remarkable feat of engineering, but what caught Thomas's attention were the dozens of TNT-like explosives encircling the towering support structure.

"I was wondering how they planned to destroy the city by setting bombs this far underground..." remarked Thomas. "They're going to collapse the pillars supporting the artificial plateau..."

Nodding her head, Robin revealed, "There are a total of sixty-three pillars similar to this one. By collapsing just a few of them, the entire city would capsize, sinking into the massive reservoir atop which Alubarna was built."

"We must remove them!" exclaimed Vivi.

Crossing her arms, Robin retorted, "You're free to try, but disconnecting any of the bombs would cause the others to explode. It would also cause the timers for the others to trigger, an action that could only be stopped if you had access to the primary control switch..."

Hearing Robin's retort, Vivi once again felt helpless. Before she could succumb to it, however, Thomas confidently stated, "That might have been the case in any other circumstance, but you forgot one thing..."

Adopting a smile, Thomas briefly met Robin's gaze before looking down at Vivi as he said, "I'm here."

Though it wasn't his own power, Thomas didn't hesitate to use the EMIYA card's unique Trace ability to analyze the structure of the bombs before converting the explosive material within to inert sand. Then, as an added precaution, he drained nearly his entire reserves to use Reinforcement on the pillar itself, strengthening it to the point normal explosives wouldn't be able to scratch it.

After explaining what he had done, Vivi leaped into Thomas's embrace, linking her arms around his neck to give him a deep and passionate kiss. This particular pillar supported the palace, so even if the rest of the city were destroyed, the castle would remain intact. If they reinforced the pillar supporting the central square, they could evacuate all the people in Alubarna to safety.

As it was a fairly good idea, Thomas permitted Astolfo to escort Vivi back to the castle so they could begin organizing the evacuation. There was a chance that Crocodile might set off the explosives in retaliation, but Robin had made it clear that destroying Alubarna was a last resort. Unless they went around trying to disable 'all' the explosives, he wouldn't go out of his way to set them off early. After all, his penultimate goal was to rule over Alabasta as its King, not destroy it outright...

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(A/N: EMIYA Card OP...)