DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

Robin stood motionless, her thoughts a whirlwind as she watched Riser walk away. The facade of security she had always pretended to have was slowly crumbling, leaving her exposed and vulnerable for the first time in a long while.

She clenched her fists, feeling her nails dig into her palms. 'He knows too much... more than he should. But why didn't he say anything to them? Why didn't he reveal everything? What does he really want?'

Riser stopped, still with his back to her, and spoke without turning around.

"You think you're alone, but you're not. Not entirely."

Robin swallowed hard, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. She took a hesitant step forward.

"Why are you saying this? What do you gain from it?"

"I gain nothing. But perhaps you will, if you listen."

Robin narrowed her eyes, suspicious. Luffy, who had approached with clumsy steps, scratched his head, confused.

"Hey, Riser, what are you guys talking about? She doesn't seem too happy with you."

Riser cast a casual glance at Luffy, as if looking at an ally who didn't need to understand everything to move forward.

"It's not something you need to worry about right now, Captain. It's just a conversation between people who know more than they'd like."

Luffy crossed his arms, frowning.

"If it's something important, you should just say it. I don't like secrets on my ship."

Robin lifted her head, trying to regain her composure.

"You talk as if you know everything, but you're just speculating. Aren't you?"

Riser took a step forward, closing the distance between them again. He tilted his head slightly, the enigmatic smile never leaving his lips.

"Pluton."

Robin froze, her eyes widening for a fraction of a second. She tried to hide her reaction, but it was too late.

Luffy tilted his head to the side, even more confused.

"Plu... what? What's that? Is it something to eat?"

Igaram, who was standing near Vivi, stepped forward, clearing his throat.

"Straw Hat Captain, you should know that Miss Nico Robin is wanted by the World Government. And it's not just because of her talent, but because of what she represents."

Vivi's eyes widened, surprised by Igaram's casual tone.

"Wanted? Why? Is she... dangerous?"

Sanji lit a cigarette, leaning against the railing with a mischievous smile.

"Beautiful and dangerous, seems like the perfect combination. But don't worry, Vivi. I'll take care of you and anything that threatens our mission."

Robin ignored the comments, focusing all her attention on Riser.

"Pluton... How do you know about that?"

Riser tilted his head, the enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

"You seem surprised, Robin. I thought someone like you would be used to secrets being revealed."

Robin narrowed her eyes, her heart racing. 'This is impossible. He's bluffing. He has to be bluffing.'

"Don't play games with me, Riser. Pluton is just a legend to most. You can't know more than that."

"Do you think so?" He took a step forward, the proximity making Robin instinctively step back. "I know more than I'd like. And I know you do too."

Robin tried to stand firm, but her voice wavered. "If you really knew, you would have already handed that information over to the government. You wouldn't have kept it to yourself."

Riser chuckled softly, but there was a sharp edge to his voice.

"You still don't get it. The World Government doesn't deserve the power it seeks. You know that better than anyone."

Robin averted her gaze for a brief moment, but quickly looked back at him.

"And do you deserve it? What would you do with that information, Riser? Sell it? Use it for yourself?"

"I'd do what you want to do, Robin." He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. "Ensure that Pluton never falls into the wrong hands."

She froze, feeling the ground disappear beneath her feet. 'He's playing with me. He's testing me.'

"Why are you telling me this? What's your game?"

"Simple." He shrugged, his eyes locked on hers. "I need you. And, in return, I can give you something you've been searching for a long time."

Robin laughed bitterly, crossing her arms.

"It can't be that easy. No one just hands over something so valuable."

"Not to just anyone," he admitted, his voice calm. "But you're not just anyone, Robin. You're the only person in the world capable of translating what I need."

She raised an eyebrow, trying to hide her growing curiosity.

"Translate what?"

Riser smiled again, but this time there was something darker in it.

"A Poneglyph. A particular one. Something you'll want to see too."

Robin blinked, disbelief taking over her face.

"You expect me to believe that? That you know where a Poneglyph is? And that you'd just give it to me?"

"I don't expect you to believe it right away. I just expect you to be interested enough to find out for yourself."

She hesitated, her mind racing with possibilities. 'This is a trap. It has to be. But... what if it's true? I can't just ignore this.'

"What's the price, Riser? No one makes that kind of offer without expecting something in return."

"You're right," he said without hesitation. "I want something from you. A simple favor. Something that won't cost you anything but a few words."

Robin frowned, suspicious.

"And what exactly do you want me to say?"

"Miss Valentine," he replied, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You're going to tell her... 'I Know What You Did Last Summer.'"

Robin blinked, confused.

"Is this a joke? That's exactly what you said your infiltrator was supposed to say to her."

"Exactly."

"You think I'm going to pose as your infiltrator? That's ridiculous."

"Ridiculous would be ignoring the opportunity to survive another day, Robin."

Robin took a step back, trying to create distance between them.

"And if she just reports this to the boss? You know what's going to happen to me, don't you? Crocodile will kill me without a second thought."

"He will. But not because of this."

Robin narrowed her eyes, her lips trembling slightly.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Crocodile has already decided what to do with you. As soon as he gets what he wants, you'll be discarded. Dead. Like all the others who dared to cross his path."

Robin fell silent, his words cutting deep.

'He's playing with me. He has to be playing with me. But... what if it's true?'

"You don't know that."

"I know you have a habit of betraying allies, Robin. Crocodile knows that too. He doesn't trust you. He never has."

"You're bluffing."

"Am I?"

Riser leaned in, his intense gaze piercing through Robin's facade of calm.

"You're ready to kill Crocodile, aren't you? Because you know he'll do the same to you. That's how you survive. Betrayal for betrayal. How long will that work, Robin?"

Robin clenched her fists, looking away.

'He knows. He knows it's true. But how? How can he know so much about me?'

"I... I won't subject myself to your games."

"It's not a game, Robin. It's survival. You need me, just as much as I need you."

"I don't need anyone."

"Of course you do. And you know it. Otherwise, you wouldn't be considering the offer."

Robin crossed her arms, looking away. 'He's right, but he can't know that. He can't know what I'm thinking.'

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because, so far, I haven't done anything to put you in danger. Unlike Crocodile."

"That doesn't convince me. You have your own motives. Everyone does."

"True, but my motives don't involve betraying you. That's already more than you can say about Crocodile."

Robin narrowed her eyes. "And what guarantees that you won't discard me when I'm no longer useful?"

"Nothing. But if I wanted to discard you, I would have done it already."

She took a deep breath, trying to hide the tension in her shoulders. 'He's not lying. But that doesn't mean I can trust him.'

"So, what's your guarantee that I won't just disappear?"

"If you were going to disappear, you would have done it already. But you're still here, thinking, considering. That means you have doubts about where to go."

Robin bit her lip, avoiding direct eye contact. "And if I accept, can I leave afterward?"

"Of course. I have no intention of keeping you here. But, deep down, you know that's not the real issue."

She furrowed her brow, her gaze fixed on the ground. "And what would that be?"

"How much longer will you survive alone, Robin? How many more times will you look over your shoulder, waiting for someone to find you?"

Robin was silent for a long moment, Riser's words echoing in her mind. 'He's right. I can't keep going like this forever. But trusting him is another level of risk.'

"I accept. For now."

"For now?"

"That's right. Don't expect eternal loyalty. This is just a temporary agreement."

Riser smiled slightly, satisfied with the answer. "Temporary or not, it's a start."

"Don't be mistaken. As soon as this is over, I'm out. I don't want anything more to do with you or your group."

"Of course. And I hope you keep your word. But, until then, we're allies."

Robin narrowed her eyes, still suspicious, but gave a slight nod. She turned slowly, her footsteps echoing on the deck as she walked toward the edge of the ship.

"I'm leaving now. I have things to take care of."

Riser crossed his arms, watching as she approached a giant turtle that had emerged from the water. "Make sure you're alive when I need you again."

Robin paused for a moment, looking at him over her shoulder. "Make sure it's worth it, Riser."

She climbed onto the turtle with agile movements, sitting down as the creature began to swim away from the Going Merry. Silence reigned for a few moments, broken only by the sound of the waves.

Alvida, leaning against the railing, watched with interest. "She's tough. But I don't trust her."

Riser shrugged, his gaze still fixed on Robin's silhouette disappearing into the distance. "No one trusts her. Not even herself. And that's what makes her useful."

Nami approached, crossing her arms as she gave Riser a suspicious look. "You're playing a dangerous game."

"I always play. And, usually, I win."

Nami shook her head, frustrated, but said nothing more. The group returned to their tasks as the Going Merry continued its journey through the Grand Line.

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