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Anos clenched his fists quietly, his thoughts whirling. The weight of responsibility, the depth of loss, and the powerlessness he'd felt for so long boiled under his calm exterior.
He had no outlet for these emotions, no visible enemy to fight. The anguish lay heavy in his heart, churning into a dark resolve.
It was a pain that simmered in silence, only visible in the tightness of his knuckles and the subtle tension in his gaze.
He held it close, like an ember he could not let die.
Robin sat across from him, her eyes following his clenched fists, and a faint frown crossed her face.
She knew that In many ways, Anos's pain mirrored her own.
She had seen her home of Ohara destroyed, the ancient scholars and precious knowledge reduced to ashes, just as Baterilla Island had been.
Those memories were etched deeply into her mind, an endless reminder of what she had lost.
Here, in the quiet of the room, she found a kindred spirit, someone else scarred by the dark side of this world.
Curiously, Robin noticed that the fear she had initially felt toward Anos was fading.
She had been wary, expecting hostility from a ruler. Yet, looking at the man before her, she felt an unusual calm.
Perhaps it was his quiet strength, or perhaps it was that he, too, bore a burden few could understand.
She moved slowly to the edge of the bed, her voice soft but filled with the weight of her past.
"Your kingdom may have suffered, but it still stands," she murmured, watching his expression carefully.
"You've rebuilt it, made it stronger than before. But Ohara… it's gone, erased from history. Who remembers it now?" Robin's voice trembled slightly.
The grief of her lost homeland washed over her, pulling her back into memories of the blazing inferno that had swallowed Ohara, leaving only charred ruins and a painful silence.
Anos's gaze sharpened, his resolve hardening further. His answer came with an intensity that echoed through the room. "This is why I pursue power. When I gain enough strength, I will rewrite this world's laws. No longer will the wealthy dominate the weak, nor the powerful oppress the helpless."
"I won't let the strong destroy lives for their gain & If you think that I am some type of hero then no, I am just fulfilling a promise"
As he spoke, a wave of Conqueror's Haki rippled through the air, palpable and fierce. His presence grew heavier, filling the room like a storm on the verge of breaking.
Outside, the ship shuddered slightly. Crew members stumbled, disoriented by the sudden, oppressive force.
Some fell unconscious, overcome by the sheer weight of Anos's will.
Only his loyal guards managed to hold their ground, fighting to stay upright.
The force of his Haki was so intense that it seemed to warp the space around him, reaching beyond the confines of the room.
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On the deck, Daiki had just returned from his patrol when he felt the powerful aura from a distance.
It struck him like a thunderclap, stopping him in his tracks. His eyes widened as he realized the magnitude of what was happening.
"So this is… His Majesty's Conqueror's Haki," Daiki whispered, caught between awe and disbelief.
Though he had known his king was powerful, this display was beyond anything he had imagined.
Regaining his composure, Daiki turned to the guards around him and barked orders. "Seal off the area! No one should approach!"
The guards didn't need further instruction. Understanding the gravity of the situation, they immediately spread out, securing not only the ship but the surrounding perimeter.
Daiki remained outside the room, standing watch, his thoughts a whirlwind.
If word of this got out, it would undoubtedly reach the ears of the World Government and the Marines.
They would never allow such a formidable force to rise uncontested.
As subordinates, it was their duty to shield him, to guard him at all costs even with their lives.
Inside the room, Robin and Anos shared a moment of unspoken understanding.
In each other's eyes, they saw a fierce anger, a longing for justice against the world that had wronged them.
The air between them was thick with the weight of their unspoken pain.
"Would you kill me?" Robin's voice broke the silence, filled with a vulnerability she rarely allowed herself to show.
It was a question that had lingered in her mind, gnawing at her.
Anos's hatred for the Marines was clear, and she wondered if, despite their shared pain, he might one day see her as an enemy.
Anos met her gaze with steady determination. "Don't wander aimlessly anymore. My guards will escort you to the Tru Kingdom. Stay there, live well, and don't think about leaving. For the safety of my people, I will do what's necessary yes, even kill you."
Closing his eyes, Anos released a heavy sigh, his voice soft but unwavering.
He didn't want to harm her, but he would not jeopardize the security of his kingdom, not for anyone.
Robin exhaled slowly, the tension easing from her shoulders.
For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of safety, however fragile.
The fear that had haunted her, the shadow of a constantly uncertain future, faded slightly.
Though she'd never seen the Tru Kingdom, she'd read of its transformation under Anos's rule. Perhaps there, she might finally find a place to belong.
After a moment of silence, she gave a small, tentative smile. "Alright."
"When you arrive in the Tru Kingdom, continue developing your Devil Fruit abilities," Anos suggested. "Learn to wield your power without restraint."
"You're more than capable. You mastered Ohara's knowledge by eight. If you ever grow restless, you could even contribute to the kingdom's education system."
Robin nodded, understanding the unspoken trust he was placing in her.
She had been a prodigy in Ohara, a place revered as a sanctuary of knowledge within the world of pirates.
"Aren't you worried a pirate like me might corrupt your people?" she asked a hint of mischief in her tone.
Anos's gaze was steady. "It's not pirates who threaten this world. Rest well, and don't overthink. While you're here, avoid drawing attention."
There was a pause before Robin spoke again. "May I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"I want to return to Ohara. Is that possible?"
"Why?"
"There are secrets left buried there. I want to retrieve them. I became a pirate to search for knowledge, but maybe that path isn't necessary anymore."
Anos's expression softened, though he gave no clear answer.
Robin sensed his hesitation but felt an odd sense of ease. Her wariness had dissolved in his presence, replaced by a strange, tentative trust.
She wasn't sure if it was his calm demeanour or the sense of shared purpose that had led her to this feeling.
"We'll see," he replied. "Right now, we're headed to Mariejois for the World Government's annual meeting. After that, I have my plans. Once things settle, I'll see about sending someone with you to Ohara."
Anos understood the gravity of her request. Though Ohara had been destroyed over a decade ago, it was still a place of interest for both Marines and pirates.
They searched it constantly, scouring the island for any remnants of its hidden knowledge.
Despite years of exploration, they had yet to uncover anything of value.
He believed in Robin's words. If Ohara's legacy lived on, it was through its knowledge and wisdom.
The Tru Kingdom needed more than just strength it needed a cultural revival. His kingdom had suffered years of deprivation, but he saw the dawn of a brighter future ahead.
Knowledge, he understood, was the foundation on which true power could be built.
As Robin pondered this, a sense of hope bloomed within her. Ohara's memory, though faint, was not entirely lost.
In the Tru Kingdom, perhaps she could preserve it, keep its spirit alive.
For Anos, the path forward was long, but the possibility of a brighter dawn, a world rebuilt on justice and understanding, made every sacrifice worth it.
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