I collect everything in the One Piece world.

"As for trouble..."

He shrugged, his gaze sweeping over the still bustling streets and the towering rooftops of Yuyan in the distance.

"It's just a seasoning on the journey. A little more or a little less, the road ahead will not be shortened."

Listening to their conversation, which sounded like an encrypted call, Bakala was completely dumbfounded.

She still had half a piece of mutton in her mouth, her eyes darting back and forth between Morsen and Robin, her mind full of questions.

"Wait, wait!" She finally managed to swallow her food, pointed at Robin with her greasy fingers, then at Morsen, and spoke incoherently.

"What...what are you talking about? What joining? What decision? What trouble? What happened to Crocodile? Why...why is he causing us trouble?"

"I only lost to him for 200 million Berries, right? A dignified Shichibukai, a great pirate, wouldn't be so stingy, would he?!"

Mosen couldn't help but laugh when he saw Bakala's shocked, frightened, and aggrieved expression.

He picked up a napkin and handed it to her so she could wipe the grease from the corner of her mouth, then formally introduced her: "Let's get to know each other again. This is Nico Robin, a survivor of Ohara, and one of the world's finest archaeologists."

"The child of a demon?!" Bakara gasped, her gaze towards Robin instantly turning to horror.

Of course she'd heard of that name—the legendary "monster" that destroyed the archaeological holy site of Ohara! She'd just been dining with the legendary "Demon Child"?! She'd thought he was there to collect gambling debts?!

“Those are all malicious smears by the World Government. They are the ones who destroyed Ohara.” Mosen patted Bakara’s stiff shoulder and added in a relaxed tone.

"She's our new partner now. To be precise, our 'Collectors' Adventurers' group now officially has its third member."

"Huh???" Bakara's eyes suddenly widened as if she had heard something out of the blue: "When did we have an adventurer's group?! When did I join?! How come I didn't know?!"

“Don’t get agitated, Bakala,” Mosen tried to calm her, his face still bearing a gentle smile.

"Didn't you just say that? We're 'fighting side by side' partners, how could you forget so quickly?"

"If that's the case, then I'll have to reconsider what I'm storing here with."

"After all, these things are left here by my 'partners,' right..."

Hearing Mosen's words, Bakala instantly realized that she seemed to have been set up.

Enraged, she immediately stood up, grabbed Morsen by the neck, and yelled, "You bastard! Those were all my carefully selected spoils!"

Upon hearing this, Mosen, while letting Baccarat dribble and bump into people, grabbed her arm and reassured her, "I didn't say I wouldn't give it to you."

"Think about it yourself, what's wrong with being my partner? Haven't you been happy these past few days?"

Upon hearing this, Bakala grinned and stammered, "I...I..."

To be honest, these past few days have indeed been the most relaxed, enjoyable, and secure days she has had in recent years.

No need to worry about safety, no need to fret about money, buy whatever you want, and someone will handle all the follow-up issues for you...

"Never mind, maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part." Mo Sen suddenly changed the subject, his voice low and somewhat sad.

"I just feel that we've had a lot of fun together these past few days, and I hope that this happiness can continue forever."

"But if... if you don't want to, then I respect your decision."

As he spoke, Mosen waved his hand and placed several stickers on the table, including various things Bakala had bought in the past few days, as well as the money she had left.

"I..." Faced with Morsen's sudden change, Bakala was even more at a loss.

Weren't they just threatening her with those things to keep her from leaving? Why the sudden change?

Actually, she didn't necessarily want to leave; it's just that there was too much information, and she didn't quite understand the situation.

"I was just joking with you. Don't worry, I've kept all your things safe, including the money we had left over from shopping." Mosen turned to look at Bakala, his eyes full of tenderness and blessings.

"But next time you use your Devil Fruit ability, remember to leave yourself some leeway, so you don't run into any more accidents."

Yes, this guy saved me in the desert before, lent me money, and has been protecting me ever since. How could I do this to him?

He already considered me a partner, but I only said it with words. Oh my god, I think I went a bit too far.

"I'm not leaving, I... I just... I just don't like you!" Bakara quickly tried to cover up, and then tried to rub Mosen's head.

Unexpectedly, Mo Sen grabbed her hand, and the disappointment in his eyes was instantly replaced by excitement.

"Really? I knew you weren't lying to me. We're the best partners, the comrades who fight side by side."

Damn! This guy has such beautiful eyes, and his face is ridiculously handsome!

Seeing the sparkle in Mosen's eyes, Bakala blushed and her heart skipped a beat.

"Of course! I'm Lady Luck! I promised to protect you..."

Robin watched as Morsen gradually ensnared Bakala with his schemes, his eyes filled with surprise at Morsen's various tricks and worry about Bakala's intelligence, along with a hint of hidden envy.

Just then, Mosen, who had been talking to Bakala, suddenly realized something. The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an extreme calmness and sharpness.

"careful!"

With a low growl, he grabbed Bakala with his left hand and scooped Robin up from his seat with his right, launching him onto the street next to him.

And just as he left the spot.

Swish! ! !

A blade of light suddenly slashed diagonally from their side and rear, targeting the spot where Morsen and Bakara had just been sitting!

Chapter 46, Mr. 1, Sowing Discord (Please continue reading)

[A certain sea area in the first half of the Grand Line.]

The Bang Bang Orange, having just weathered a storm, lay moored in a mess on the sea.

Captain Lyle and his crew, along with Riley and Larry, were exhausted and were resting in various positions, either lying down or sitting up.

Not far away, a huge red warship was rapidly approaching.

Snap! Crash!

The blade sliced ​​through the chair back and tabletop without hindrance, even cleaving Morsen's half-finished juice in two, before slamming it down onto the stone floor with undiminished force.

boom!

With a dull thud, gravel flew everywhere, and a deep, gruesome knife mark appeared on the smooth ground.

The sun was still shining brightly, and the breeze was still gentle. But this corner of the restaurant was a complete mess.

Panicked guests screamed and scattered, clearing the bustling street in seconds, leaving only a messy scene and the two sides in a standoff.

On the street, Mosen steadied himself and quickly stood up, shielding the pale-faced, still-shaken Bakala and the grave-faced Robin behind him. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, instantly locking onto the source of the attack.

Not far from their seats, a tall, wiry, expressionless bald man slowly stood up.

He wore a simple sleeveless leather jacket, revealing his arms with muscles as strong as steel. Below his right forearm was not flesh and blood, but a wide-bladed longsword with a cold gleam and a ferocious shape!

The man's cold gaze was fixed on Morsen below, as if he were looking at an inanimate object, while he only gave Robin and Bakala a disregard.

“Mr. 1!” Robin’s expression changed drastically the moment he saw who it was, and he called out the man’s name in a low voice.

She knew this man's strength all too well: one of Baroque Works' top agents, Dazbonis, the user of the Quick-Cut Fruit.

This is a killing machine that turns every part of its body into blades, possessing terrifying offensive and defensive capabilities.

Crocodile actually sent him out directly, which is no longer a simple "test" or "warning", but represents a determination to kill!

“Miss All Sunday.” Dazbonis’s voice, like his personality, was cold, stiff, and devoid of any inflection.

He turned to Robin and said in a statement of fact, "Your task is complete. Now, just leave it to me."

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Robin's ears! Her face instantly turned ashen, and she bit her lip so hard it almost bled.

In an instant, countless thoughts raced through her mind.

Crocodile not only noticed her subtle movements and her desire to escape, but also ruthlessly turned the tables on her, using this "recruitment" contact to frame her for "luring the target and cooperating with the ambush"!

This is not just about eliminating traitors, but also about planting seeds of doubt between her, Mosen, and Bakala that can never be eradicated, causing the trust and companionship she has just gained to vanish in an instant!

Crocodile, what ruthless methods you've employed!

As his thoughts raced, Robin, with a hint of panic, abruptly turned his head to look at Bakala beside him.

Sure enough, Bakara's gaze was fixed on her with a hint of surprise and detachment.

Seeing this, Robin's heart sank, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Is the warmth and hope I just felt from Mo Sen about to be destroyed in an instant by this clumsy yet deadly slander?

She knew all too well how terrible the consequences could be once the seeds of doubt were sown.

Over the past decade, she has experienced many such things and has been feared and rejected countless times because of her identity and abilities. This feeling of being doubted and treated as an outsider has accompanied her for almost the entire first half of her life.

Is it going to be the same thing again? A complex mix of emotions welled up inside her.

Just then, Mosen's voice suddenly rang out, filled with obvious sarcasm and disdain, breaking the suffocating silence.

“What a clumsy trick.” Morsen shook his head. “Does Crocodile think we’re stupid, or is he just too naive?”

Upon hearing this, Robin suddenly looked up at Mosen.

The sunlight was a bit dazzling, but she could clearly see the nonchalant expression on Mosen's profile, and the clear, unwavering look in his eyes when he looked at her—there was no doubt or hesitation in them.

Seeing Robin staring blankly at him, Mosen even had the leisure to raise an eyebrow at her and say in a slightly reproachful tone, "What are you still standing there for? Curse him! You're not angry at being slandered like this to your face and falsely accused of being a traitor? You can tolerate this?"

"I..." Robin opened his mouth, a thousand words stuck in his throat, finally turning into a trembling question filled with disbelief: "You...you don't doubt me?"

This question was extremely difficult, yet incredibly important. She needed to confirm whether this brief and fragile trust could truly survive such a deadly act of sowing discord.

Mosen smiled upon hearing this, and before Robin could react, he reached out and pressed his hand onto her smooth black hair, ruffling it vigorously, just like he would treat a sulking companion.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a resolute force: “We’re partners. If you believe such petty tricks to sow discord, then I might as well quit being a captain.”

Putting aside his knowledge of Robin based on information asymmetry, judging from the current situation, it's impossible for Robin to do that.

She already knew Crocodile's true purpose and her ultimate fate as a tool. Morsen's invitation meant not only the history and truth she had been pursuing, but also the opportunity to escape this place smoothly. So how could she possibly cut off her own escape route and do something like this?

“Partner…” Robin murmured, repeating the word over and over. The heavy weight in his heart seemed to be shattered instantly by these simple, direct, yet incredibly sincere words and actions.

An indescribable surge of emotion welled up in her eyes, but she held it back tightly. She had thought she had long since grown accustomed to coldness and scheming, and to not having any expectations in order to avoid disappointment.

But at this moment, this unreserved trust made her realize instantly that she wasn't just used to it, but had buried this longing deep in her heart.

Bakara, standing next to her, was also stunned. She looked at Mosen, then at Robin, whose eyes were slightly red and seemed about to cry, and then at the bald, murderous-looking man with a knife opposite her. She seemed to understand something as well.

In addition, Mosen's matter-of-fact declaration of "partnership" and his action of protecting both of them behind him at this moment also dispelled most of Bakara's doubts.