novelnext Chapter 141 The Fear of the Buster Call
Chapter 141 The Fear of the Buster Call
After leaving Dock One, the aroma of food lingering around Artoria instantly overshadowed the faint hint of cold hostility she had felt earlier. She tugged at Nico Robin's sleeve, her eyes gleaming with undisguised anticipation. Her hand, which had been resting on the sword hilt, had long since loosened, replaced by a deep longing for the street food.
Looking at the innocent and unguarded appearance of the blond knight king beside her, Robin's tense nerves relaxed slightly, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips. She nodded and agreed to let him continue his shopping and eating.
Retsu Unohana and Shiraha stayed by the dock to discuss the details of the renovation, while Rangiku Matsumoto took Kanna to the amusement park. Thus, in the vast streets of Water Seven, only Robin and Artoria were left walking side by side.
The food stalls along the waterway stand one after another, their aromas of fried food, roasted food, and sweet desserts mingling together to create the most heartwarming atmosphere of everyday life.
Artoria seemed to have been set free, her gaze wandering back and forth between the various stalls. Every time she saw a new and interesting food, her eyes would light up, and she would unconsciously move towards the place with the strongest aroma.
The two stopped at a stall specializing in fried seafood. Artoria was holding a large plate full of freshly fried shrimp, squid, and scallops. The golden and crispy skin was still steaming and glistening with oil, making it look incredibly appetizing.
This situation is actually very common in the world of One Piece; the goods from the sea are indeed more delicious than those from the mountains.
Artoria showed no restraint whatsoever as a knight king. With her left hand holding a skewer of fried shrimp and her right hand grabbing a fried squid ring, she chewed quickly with small bites. The crisp sound of the outer skin crackling between her teeth was clearly audible, and the tender shrimp juices burst on her tongue. The sweet taste made her squint her eyes. Her cheeks were bulging from being stuffed with food, making her look like a little squirrel with a treasure trove. She was completely unaware of the bits of food stuck to the corners of her mouth, as she was solely immersed in the happiness brought by the food.
Oh, poor fellow from Little Britain...
After finishing her fried food, she was drawn to a taiyaki stall not far away, where the hot taiyaki had a soft and fluffy outer layer.
Artoria held the taiyaki in both hands, took a small bite, and felt the warm food slide down her tongue and down her throat. The warmth spread from her stomach to her whole body. She sighed contentedly and walked briskly forward with Robin in her hand. She also bought a skewer of caramelized fruit and ate it as she walked. Her golden hair swayed slightly in the sunlight, and she looked completely carefree.
This King Arthur is completely different from the one Bai Yu remembers.
Robin quietly followed beside her, occasionally wiping away crumbs from the corners of her mouth. Watching her eat without any ulterior motives, the unease in his heart was somewhat diluted by this pure joy.
She cherished these peaceful moments, far from the shadow of being wanted and the fear of being hunted, simply enjoying a moment of tranquility with her companions on the bustling streets.
But this peace was eventually shattered by cruelty.
Three men dressed in black suits, exuding a cold and sinister aura, slowly walked out from the alleyway beside the waterway and blocked the two men's way.
Their attire clashed with the warm and welcoming atmosphere of Water Seven. Their faces were devoid of smiles, their eyes sharp as hawks, fixed intently on Nico Robin. The oppressive aura of World Government agents instantly enveloped the entire street.
After the group entered the dark alley...
The lead agent adjusted his glasses: "Nicole Robin, the orphan of Ohara, a wanted criminal for years by the World Government. Come with us and cooperate, and we can apply to our superiors for a temporary halt to the pursuit of your companions. Otherwise, we can request a Buster Call!"
Robin's body stiffened abruptly. The familiar oppressive feeling from the World Government, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed her, burying the deepest fear in her heart.
She wasn't afraid of the World Government's agents, but Buster Call was different.
The flames of the Buster Call, the destruction of Ohara, and the cries of her loved ones and scholars flashed rapidly through her mind, turning her originally calm face pale and revealing a fleeting look of confusion and fear in her eyes.
This is a nightmare etched into her very bones, a shadow that she can never easily erase, no matter how many companions she has.
Artoria noticed Robin's unusual behavior. This was the first time she had seen Robin so vulnerable. Her usually calm and gentle eyes were filled with a fear she had never seen before, as if something extremely terrifying was choking her.
Artoria's taiyaki stopped abruptly at her lips, her azure eyes narrowed slightly, and her aura instantly shifted from soft and cheerful to the sharp and cold aura of a knight king.
She put down the food in her hand, stepped forward, and silently shielded Robin behind her. One hand rested firmly on the hilt of the holy sword at her waist, her fingertips already touching the cool patterns on the hilt. A faint but powerful aura emanated from her, enough to intimidate ordinary people. This was the majesty of a queen, the majesty of the queen of Great Britain.
"Robin, what are you afraid of?"
Artoria's voice was deep and serious, without a trace of mockery, only pure doubt and protectiveness.
"These guys are brimming with undisguised malice; they're clearly enemies. Since they're enemies, there's no need to tolerate them. Should we just take care of these annoying guys right here? With my strength, dealing with them will be a matter of moments, without causing us any unnecessary trouble."
At this moment, Artoria is not the rule-abiding and somewhat rigid knight king that people imagine. She upholds the spirit of chivalry and protects her companions, but she never shows any mercy when faced with enemies who come to her door or villains who threaten her companions.
In her mind, enemies should be defeated, and anything that threatens the existence of her comrades should be completely eliminated without any room for compromise.
At this moment, Artoria's eyes were firm and sharp. If Robin nodded, she would not hesitate to draw her holy sword and make these agents disappear forever from the streets of Water Seven.
Robin snapped out of her daze, quickly suppressing the fear and confusion in her heart. She gently tugged at Artoria's sleeve, shook her head, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Don't make a move, Artoria. They are CP5 agents directly under the World Government, backed by the entire World Government. This is Water Seven, a public district. If we make a move, it will only attract more agents and might even expose our whereabouts, causing trouble for Shiraha and Rangiku. We can't afford to cause trouble right now."