Spandam was somewhat surprised.
He had no idea how Leno knew that Robin and Franky were being held here.
He couldn't help but ask.
Leno shot him a disdainful glance.
"Because you just said so."
Combined with a few of his own deductions.
Spandam awkwardly scratched his head and didn't dare ask further.
He obediently led the way.
Still, he couldn't suppress his curiosity.
Carefully, he asked why Leno wanted to see those two.
Leno patted him on the shoulder.
The smile he gave made Spandam feel less reassured—and more like he was attending his own funeral.
"Relax. I'm not here for the Ancient Weapon, Pluton."
He paused, then added casually,
"I just want to take a look at this so-called Devil Child."
The moment he heard the words "Ancient Weapon Pluton,"
Spandam froze in place.
His face turned pale beneath the mask.
The matter of the Ancient Weapons was known only to the World Government and CP9.
How could a prisoner from Impel Down possibly know about it?!
Even as a former Navy Vice Admiral, Leno shouldn't have had access to that information.
This intelligence network—
Was terrifying.
For the first time, Spandam felt that the Navy had made an extremely foolish decision by forcing a man like this into opposition.
He said nothing further and simply lowered his head, leading the way in silence.
—
Soon,
Under Spandam's guidance,
They arrived at the cell where Nico Robin and Franky were being held.
(This was before Robin had eaten a Devil Fruit in this timeline; neither of them had yet been brought upstairs for interrogation.)
Spandam knocked loudly on the iron bars with a stick.
Clang! Clang!
"Hey! You two prisoners, stop sleeping! Someone's here to see you—get up!"
Franky lazily lifted an eyelid, glanced at Spandam, and snorted.
Then closed his eyes again.
Robin opened hers calmly and looked at Spandam.
"What is it? Have you finally decided to execute me?"
"Are you deaf? I said someone's here to see you!"
Spandam had little patience for prisoners.
"Su~per~ curious… who wants to see two unlucky bastards like us?"
Franky asked in his signature flamboyant tone.
"It's me."
Leno stepped out from the shadows.
Domino followed quietly behind him.
The moment Robin and Franky recognized him—
Their pupils contracted sharply.
"Little Iron Fist Leno?!"
They exclaimed almost simultaneously.
At that old title, Leno's expression darkened.
Back then, under Garp's guidance, he had earned fame across the seas.
Now—
That name disgusted him.
"Shut up. Don't let me hear the words 'Little Iron Fist' again."
His icy voice carried immense pressure.
Both Robin and Franky felt their breathing grow heavy.
Though they didn't understand his reaction, they wisely kept silent.
Leno stepped forward, close to the bars.
His gaze swept across them before settling on Nico Robin.
He reached out and forcibly lifted her chin, making her meet his eyes.
"Join my pirate crew."
At the side, Domino saw him touching another woman's chin.
Her lips puffed slightly in jealousy.
But she said nothing.
In her heart, every decision Lord Leno made was correct.
The three others reacted differently.
Spandam nearly jumped in fright but didn't dare speak.
He knew exactly why Leno would say such a thing.
And that was precisely why he didn't want to hear it.
The more you know, the more dangerous it is.
Franky widened his eyes.
Does this guy have a screw loose?
A former Marine asking a pirate to join his pirate crew?
What kind of sentence was that?!
Robin, after a brief flash of surprise, quickly regained her composure.
She studied Leno calmly.
"Why? Aren't you the disciple of a Marine hero? The Navy's rising generation?"
A mocking smile appeared on Leno's face.
"Marine hero? Just a hypocritical, biased old man."
"The achievements I earned for the Navy over the years were more than enough to repay their 'nurturing.'"
"As for Garp… what he taught me—I've already repaid in Impel Down."
Though his tone was flat,
Robin sensed profound disappointment and fury beneath it.
She began to understand why he had defected—
And why he was inviting her.
The Navy must have shattered his faith completely.
Still, she shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I've already joined the Straw Hat Pirates. And…"
A bitter smile curved her lips.
"I'll be dead soon. Inviting me now has no meaning."
Spandam was trembling beside them.
Robin was a criminal personally designated by the World Government.
If she disappeared—
He was finished.
He swallowed hard and stammered,
"Th-that… Lord Leno… Nico Robin absolutely cannot be taken away… If she's gone, I'm dead!"
"Shut up."
Leno merely cast Spandam a cold glance.
Icy killing intent enveloped him instantly.
With a thud, Spandam collapsed to his knees, unable to utter another word.
Leno's gaze returned to Robin.
He let out a low, mocking laugh.
"Don't tell me someone who grew up in the underworld actually believes in 'nakama bonds.'"
His grip on her chin tightened.
"The opportunity for freedom is standing right in front of you. What? Did a few days make you fall in love with the Straw Hat crew?"
Those words struck directly at the deepest part of Robin's heart.
Her expression twisted with conflict.
The few days she had spent with the Straw Hats—
She had truly cherished that warmth.
But deep down, she still believed she didn't deserve it.
She believed she would inevitably bring disaster to them.
And right now—
This was indeed a chance to be saved.
If she followed Leno, she wouldn't have to feel guilty about dragging anyone down.
Because Leno was already a traitor to the Navy.
His future bounty would likely be no lower than hers as the "Devil Child."
While she struggled internally—
Leno's patience was clearly running thin.
"If those old bastards in Eternal Hell hadn't said their treasure maps and secrets require someone who can read the ancient script, I wouldn't have bothered coming to you."
He admitted she was attractive. A member of the so-called protagonist crew.
But he wasn't some love-starved fool.
Nor was she indispensable.
He sneered again.
"Oh, and by the way—"
"The Straw Hat Pirates… should already be on their way to Enies Lobby to rescue you."
The moment those words fell—
Shock rippled across the other four.
Especially Spandam and Robin.
"Nani?! That Straw Hat brat dares to come to Enies Lobby?!"
Spandam nearly screamed.
He inwardly cursed his intelligence division as utterly useless.
How did a man who just escaped Impel Down know more than him?!
Robin's face paled.
"What… do you mean?"
"Nothing complicated. Just leverage."
"If you refuse, I'll kill every single member of the Straw Hat crew."
"You should understand that the current Straw Hats pose no threat to me."
"If I weren't here, he might have succeeded in saving you."
"But I am here."
"No matter what he does, he cannot bypass me."
He looked into her eyes, voice cold and absolute.
"Choose, Nico Robin."
"Join me—and I'll spare the Straw Hats."
"And all you have to offer… is your complete devotion."
Robin was completely stunned.
Not because of the threat—
But because of how utterly blunt he was.
No lies.
No romanticizing.
No false promises of justice.
Just raw, naked terms.
Join him.
Devote herself.
And he would let the Straw Hats live.
For the first time in her life—
Someone was presenting her a choice without pretending it was something else.