"Please speak," Cobra hurriedly said.
Shano admitted frankly, "Before Crocodile's death, in a plea for his life, he told me many things, including... the historical text your royal family has been guarding all along."
"Aside from wanting to overthrow Alabasta and establish his ideal nation, Crocodile's main focus was actually that stone, since it contains the location of Pluton."
Cobra was slightly startled.
He instinctively looked up, and after meeting the clear gaze of the black-haired boy, he nodded with a bitter smile:
"It's true, it's normal for you to be interested, but I really can't take you to see that legendary ancient weapon because the historical text only records the location. The actual Pluton body is not actually..."
"Not in Alabasta but under Kaido's control in Wano Country, right?"
"Yes..."
Cobra instinctively nodded and then was surprised, "Huh? How do you know?!"
This is a secret our Nephilim Family has guarded for eight hundred years!
Robin, who had been listening quietly, couldn't help but turn her head to glance at Shano at this moment.
"Oh, actually, Pluton was found by Kaido long ago, otherwise he wouldn't keep his headquarters nearby, refusing to leave."
Shano blinked, nonchalantly saying:
"Hanafuda told me this before his death, pleading for his life. After all, he was good brothers with Kaido and had stayed in Wano Country."
This was naturally a lie.
It's true that Pluton lies buried beneath Wano Country, and Kaido must already know about it.
But under no circumstances would he easily tell this outsider Hanafuda, nor would Hanafuda tell him.
However...
Someone has to take the fall, right?
After all, dead men tell no tales, and he had long mastered the art of lying without blushing or heart racing.
"So Kaido already knows?"
Cobra's face turned pale instantly, and he struggled to support himself, his voice trembling, "This... how could this be..."
Now that the actual body of Pluton has been found, what is the significance of the secret they have guarded for so long?
Shano shrugged:
"That's the reality. In the end, no one knows when Pluton's body will surface. How much longer can you guard this secret? Leaving this stone in Alabasta will only constantly attract those coveting it and bring disaster upon the country. How about cutting it off at the source and handing it over to me instead?"
"Hmm?"
Cobra looked confused.
A schemer like Crocodile went to great lengths to find this historical text for the information about Pluton.
But Shano, who already knew all these secrets thoroughly?
Then the historical text itself is just a stone, so what use could it have?
"Because I have no interest in Pluton, what I truly want is the stone itself."
Shano seemed to see his confusion, laughing heartily, "Uncle, don't you think that something that can last for hundreds of years without being destroyed is a great training material?"
"Training material?"
Cobra was bewildered.
It was the first time he heard someone describe the historical text this way.
But thinking it over, it seemed plausible.
For someone nearing the pinnacle of the sea, even hefty steel plates probably wouldn't suffice for training, so no wonder they'd be interested in the historical text stele itself.
He lowered his head and pondered for a moment.
"I understand."
Cobra looked at Shano solemnly, saying:
"If it truly aids your strength progression, then please take it away. This can never adequately repay your kindness, yet it's the only thing I can currently offer. If it genuinely helps improve your strength, it would be wonderful."
Prior to this meeting,
the black-haired youth had already demonstrated his character through his actions.
Now, openly discussing so much with him further confirmed this point.
Otherwise, he could have simply taken it by force, having already personally defeated two terrifying members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. If he truly wished to do anything, who in the Alabasta Royal Capital could stop him?
He was genuinely glad to help such a strong warrior become even stronger.
He even naively hoped that more warriors like Shano would emerge.
It might not bring much change to this era, but for the struggling people in this tumultuous and chaotic time, it would always be a blessing, wouldn't it?
————
Half an hour later.
In the underground palace of the Funeral Hall.
In the dim stone chamber, a large, square stone monument stood silently.
Under the flickering firelight, the ancient writings on the monument's surface glistened with a cold metallic sheen, seeming to narrate eight centuries of vicissitudes.
Robin stood before the stele, her fingertips gently brushing over the familiar characters.
The words she had seen countless times in the O'Hara Document now vividly presented before her, giving her a surreal sense of displacement.
"Historical text..."
She murmured softly, her voice echoing in the vast stone chamber.
Has the pursuit that haunted her for over a decade realized its first step so easily?
Though she already grasped the historical information inscribed on it from Shano and Cobra's earlier conversation, it all mostly matched...