I collect everything in the One Piece world.

Upon hearing this, Morsen's brows furrowed involuntarily. How did Robin know that he had collected this stone tablet?

Seeing the fleeting surprise in Mosen's eyes, Robin smiled and explained, "Don't be surprised. About half a year ago, I also visited the Sabaody Archipelago to look up some scattered information."

"I happened to pass by that shop and saw the stone slab. However, at the time I only noticed that its texture was special, but I didn't look into it further or buy it."

"However, after leaving Chambord, I saw a document about a 'wordless monument' whose features matched those of that stone slab."

"So when I went to Chambord again, I was ready to buy it, but the shopkeeper said that the stone slab had already been bought by me."

"It's quite a coincidence, though. I couldn't find you when I looked for you in Sabaody, but when I returned to Alabasta, I found out that you already had the title of 'Collector' and that you would be coming to Alabasta."

Robin's explanation was reasonable, which made Morsen less wary. He hadn't expected such a coincidence.

He didn't answer Robin's question about the stone tablet transaction immediately, but remained silent for a moment before looking at Robin and speaking softly.

"We can talk about that stone slab later. If all goes well, it wouldn't hurt to just give it to you."

"To be honest, before I met you, I really didn't expect to run into you here in this way."

Nico Robin.

Chapter 40, Morsen's Invitation

[On the deck of the Grand Line, on the Bang Bang Orange.]

Captain Lyle was chatting with Rayleigh and Larry, holding the page of the pirate hunter encyclopedia with Morsen in his hand.

Hearing Lyle praise Morsen, Lali proudly held her head high, like a little swan.

Nico Robin.

When that name came out of Mosen's mouth, an invisible thunderbolt exploded in Robin's heart.

Nico Robin's composed and elegant smile, as if she had everything under control, froze completely in an instant.

Her pupils contracted sharply, like a startled feline, and her previously languid body suddenly tensed.

His deep eyes were fixed on Morsen's face, trying to find any trace of the World Government, the Navy, or the CP intelligence agency.

Years of living on the run have given her an almost instinctive reaction to the crisis of her identity being exposed.

However, the anticipated attack and arrest, or the announcement of the "son of the devil," did not occur.

Mosen remained seated calmly opposite him, even appearing more relaxed than before.

He met Robin's scrutinizing, wary, and slightly incredulous gaze, and continued in a steady voice:

"Don't be nervous, relax. I'm not a Marine, much less one of those persistent CP lackeys of the World Government."

"I'm just a collector and adventurer who likes to travel around and collect interesting things."

He paused, then looked back at Robin with an honest gaze: "As for your identity, that's a little secret of mine. I have no ill intentions towards you, and I have no interest in using your information to exchange for that pitiful bounty."

Mosen's words explained his purpose, but the turmoil in Robin's heart was far from over.

Who exactly is he? What is his purpose? How does he know so much?

Just as Robin's mind was racing, her vigilance unwavering, pondering the other party's true intentions and how to respond, Morsen's next words struck her like a sudden, unexpected punch, leaving her completely stunned.

Mosen leaned forward slightly, looked into her eyes, and said in an extremely serious tone, even with a hint of casual invitation as if inviting a friend:

"On the contrary, I would actually like to invite you to join my team, become my partner, and go on an adventure at sea together."

"........."

Robin was stunned.

She had encountered and imagined countless possibilities after her identity was exposed, including but not limited to threats, blackmail, and exploitation... but she never imagined that it would be an invitation.

Invite her, the calamity known as the "Child of the Devil," who has a bounty of nearly 80 million on her head from the World Government, to join a team that sounds like a hastily assembled crew of pirate hunters or adventurers.

This turn of events was so abrupt and absurd.

“…What?” Robin repeated instinctively, his voice carrying a rare hint of bewilderment.

Mosen seemed to understand her reaction and patiently waited for her to recover.

A few seconds later, Robin shook his head vigorously, trying to make sense of the completely out-of-control situation, his face a mixture of absurdity, vigilance, and deep confusion.

"Sorry... I might... not quite understand. You... are inviting me? To join your team?"

“That’s right.” Mosen nodded firmly, as if he were stating something perfectly natural.

"This..." Robin opened her mouth, feeling that things were going completely off track. What was she supposed to be here for?

She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and re-examined the mysterious man in front of her.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Mosen also raised his hand, a faint light shimmering between his index and middle fingers, and pinched a small square "sticker".

The sticker clearly showed the pattern of the gray-white stone slab, the very one Robin had seen in Sabaody and longed to study.

“Look, this is the slate you were talking about.” Mosen showed the sticker to Robin. “But I’m sorry, you can’t study it right now.”

Robin glanced at the slate sticker, but his gaze didn't linger before falling back on Morsen.

"Why?" she asked, her voice soft yet unusually clear.

This question seems to be asking why we can't study the stone slab, but it also seems to be asking why we invited her in the first place?

"Why?" Mosen repeated the question, then said naturally, "I just feel that if you become my partner, the journey ahead will be very interesting. I tend to trust my intuition and feelings."

He leaned back slightly, his posture becoming more casual, but his eyes becoming more serious: "You are knowledgeable, calm, intelligent, and your survival and adaptability are first-rate. Your strength and intellect are both remarkable."

"Moreover, you possess a kind of... unwavering dedication to the truth that has never been extinguished despite hardships. This quality is rare, and I admire it."

Mosen's words were beautifully spoken, and coupled with his unwavering gaze, they seemed incredibly sincere, causing Robin to momentarily lose her composure.

Me... this is me?

“Besides,” Mosen lowered his voice, with a strange certainty, “I believe that by going on an adventure at sea with me, you will eventually get what you truly want.”

"For example... other historical texts. For example... that blank century."

Robin's eyes widened, feeling as if his brain had been struck by an invisible hammer, leaving a deafening roar! How did this man know everything?

He knew what she was searching for! He knew the historical text! He knew about the Void Century! This was not speculation, not a test, but a statement of absolute certainty!

Mosen took in her reaction and continued in a steady and powerful voice: "Although I am not particularly interested in ancient history itself, I prefer to live in the present and appreciate and cherish everything that is happening 'now'."

"However, I am very interested in the 'vessels' that carry the lost truths themselves."

“The stone tablets containing historical inscriptions themselves embody a long period of time and have a unique ‘state,’ so they were part of my planned collection.”

After speaking, he leaned forward again, closing the distance between himself and Robin, his voice low and sincere:

"What Crocodile promises you, he may not actually be able to give you, nor may he be willing to give you."

"He's just using you to find the ancient weapon 'Pluto.' Once he finds it, your value will be gone. Even worse..."

“But I can.” Morsen’s eyes were full of composure and confidence. “I know that the Poneglyphs are scattered in more than one place.”

“I can take you to find them piece by piece, to witness and touch the buried truth with your own eyes and hands.”

"Not as tools to be used, but as partners to explore the unknown and share secrets together."

"This is my invitation, Nico Robin. It's not for exploitation, not for a bounty, but simply because I feel we can go further together, see more interesting scenery, and solve more fascinating mysteries."

"Incidentally, let's achieve each other's goals."

Chapter 41, Nico Robin's Thoughts

The moonlight, like water, flowed silently between the two. A long silence fell on the terrace. Only the faint sound of the wind could be heard in the distance.

Robin sat there, like a statue deep in thought. Her mind was experiencing the most turbulent storm in twenty years.

Shock, doubt, longing, fear, a sliver of hope... countless emotions intertwined and clashed.

Crocodile's shadow, the struggle for survival, the obsession with history, the fear of betrayal, and the curiosity about the vast amount of information revealed by the mysterious man before him, as well as his strange yet sincere attitude...

Everything made it impossible for her to give an immediate answer.

On the terrace, the moonlight remained cold and clear. Robin's silence lasted for a long time.

Her eyes were lowered, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her pale cheeks, and her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the rim of the already cold teacup.

Mosen didn't urge him, but waited quietly, as if he were simply admiring the desert night view.

He even naturally picked up the small teapot next to him and poured her another half cup of hot tea.

“I can’t sleep anyway,” he said softly, his tone as flat as if he were describing the weather. “I might as well think it over while I’m still awake. You can’t rush these things.”

After a moment, Robin raised his eyes. His usually deep and unfathomable eyes now clearly reflected the moonlight and the calm face of Morsen across from him.

She neither immediately agreed nor outright refused, but simply gave Mosen a deep look before saying in a low voice, "...I need time to consider."

This answer was exactly what Mosen had expected; it would have been strange if Robin had agreed immediately.

After all, she is Nico Robin, a woman who has struggled with betrayal and escape for over a decade and has long since learned to bury trust deep in her heart.

“I understand.” Morsen nodded, his tone calm. “I will wait for your reply before leaving Alabasta. You can come to me anytime, or contact me in any way you feel safe.”

He paused for a moment, looked at Robin, and added seriously, "Also, watch out for Crocodile."

This reminder, rather than a warning, confirms some of Robin's deep-seated anxieties and hints at the extent of Morson's understanding of Crocodile and his plans.

Robin's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and his lips moved slightly: "...Thank you."

After saying that, she didn't linger any longer. She stood up and, with a few graceful leaps, disappeared into the intricate shadows of the buildings behind the hotel, leaving only the almost-cold cup of black tea on the terrace and a faint, lingering fragrance in the air.

Mosen slowly got up, stretched out his arms and legs, and his bones cracked slightly.

A night wind blew by, carrying the chill of a desert dawn. He turned around, opened the glass door, and returned to the warm and quiet interior.

On the bed, Bakala was still fast asleep, completely unaware of everything happening outside the window. She even unconsciously smacked her lips, turned over, and rolled herself up in the blankets even tighter.

……

Meanwhile, in the office of "Miss All Sunday," Yu Yan was present.

Robin stood alone in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window without turning on the lights, his figure appearing particularly lonely in the fading night.

My gaze drifted aimlessly to the gradually awakening city skyline below the window.

On the distant horizon, darkness is being slowly eroded by a stubborn gray-white.