Chapter 140 - Chapter 142

Name:A New Path Author:Vallori
Inside the run-down old bar, Amell and Minerva were sitting and staring at the old man behind the counter. "So, what is an emperor doing this far away from the New World?" He said while resting his arms on the counter and looking at them both with curiosity, not scared at all.

"Personal business, you understand," Amell said while still leaning back on the chair. His gaze casually resting on the old man's face.

"Not feeling too chatty, are we?" He said in an attempt to source some more information from Amell.

"It would do you good to quit while you're ahead. And while I'm still in a good mood." Amell said and leaned in against the table, and a loud shriek came from the old and broken-down chair that almost gave out from his weight.

"Aah, you ain't scaring me that easily. And if I'm gonna die, what's better then dying in a fight against a real opponent for once." He said and laughed.

Amell stood up slowly, "You're an interesting fellow. But I am not in the mood to kill." Minerva followed Amell as he moved towards the door.

"Now that's power alright. The choice not to kill because you are not in the mood. If I had that power I would sail around the New World with my head held high as well." The old man laughed out loud with his raspy and nasty sounding voice.

"You take care now," Amell said and pulled up his hood and walked outside. Minerva said nothing she simply pulled up her hood and walked out after Amell. The city had still not fallen asleep, there were people everywhere, walking, running, rushing to wherever they were going.

"Minerva, let's go," They started walking towards the casino in the distance. The same one that Crocodile and Robin were in.

The closer they got to the casino, the bigger it became in their eyes. And without any hesitation, Amell walked inside with Minerva following behind him. The inside of the casino was impressive, to say the least. Amell couldn't even begin to imagine how much money this place generated on a daily basis. And he didn't care about that in the least, money meant nothing to him, and he cared only for the well being of the people close to his heart.

They didn't stop to admire the phenomenal golden pillars that stood out even among the very beautiful interior of this building. They had no interest in anything other than Robin and Crocodile. Amell's gaze swept across the room and he spotted the staircase leading down towards where Crocodile was. "Too far, too lazy," Amell said and tapped the ground and both of them got swallowed up by the two new holes in the floor. And the holes closed up and the stone floor returned to normal after they were gone.

Under Raindinner, which was the name of the casino, was a hall with a beautiful design. It was long and wide and the only way into this place was down a staircase from the casino and then through a long straight corridor.

At the back of the hall, Crocodile sat behind his desk, and Robin stood in front of him and reported any news related to his organization, "The last seat for a number agent has been filled."

"That's irrelevant, what's the status of the rebellion?" Crocodile rested his arms on the table and spoke to Robin in an indifferent tone.

"I say you have done quite well in destroying this country." A voice came from the corridor, and from the narrow path came two cloaked individuals. Crocodile upped his alert level when his eyes landed on the tall one out of the two. Robin felt a tingle inside her body because that voice was so familiar she wanted to scream. But it felt distant at the same time, she knew she recognized it she just couldn't place it yet.

"Oh? And who are you?" Crocodile was ready to attack or defend at a moments notice. These two scared him greatly just from their presence, but he wasn't a veteran for nothing, he kept up his calm and collected appearance.

"A guest!" Amell said and removed his hood. And immediately Robin felt her world turn upside down. She was so dizzy that it felt like she had been spinning in place for hours, her body swayed to the left and she had to take a step back to try and stabilise herself, but her legs were weak and they were ready to give in.

"What are you doing here?" The Warlord asked with subtle rage hidden in between each word.

"Watch your tone, Croc, you are speaking to an emperor," Minerva said and glared at Crocodile.

Robin was reaching her limit. She grabbed ahold of the table to try and give herself some extra time before her legs would give out. She couldn't think straight at the moment. Her grandfather, the man she loved and adored in her youth appeared after fourteen years, give or take a few months. Her brain couldn't process the situation she was in.

Crocodile shot her a glance since he obviously noticed her weird behaviour, "What's going on with you?" He asked Robin in an impatient tone.

"N-Nothing!" Robin struggled slightly but she managed to play it off and she pretended to just use Crocodile's desk to lean on casually.

"Crocodile, I am here with an offer for you," Amell said calmly.

"Exciting as it is to have an emperor come to visit, I am not interested in striking any deals with you, Amell." He said with a monotone voice.

"Don't be like that, kid, you haven't even heard my offer yet,"

"Not Interested! Leave my office!" He said while glancing at Robin.

Minerva finally had enough and dashed forward and kicked the desk with her foot. It crashed into the wall and taking Crocodile with it, "I gave you the chance to be more respectful." Minerva said angerly.

Sand particle started to gather some distance away from them and Crocodile now stood there unscathed. "Annoying fly," he said and glared at Minerva.

"Today I'm gonna beat some sense into you finally." She dashed towards Crocodile and this is where he showed that he wasn't a warlord for nothing. Crocodile clashed with Minerva equally even though the former was using armament haki, some Crocodile was also capable of using so their clash caused major damage to the room.

Amell appeared in front of Robin in a moments time, "Let's talk," He said with a smile and placed his hand on her shoulder and they both disappeared. And outside the casino on the rooftop of one of the more luxurious houses, they appeared.

Amell let go of Robin and relaxed his hands by his side, "I am sorry. Even though I don't have the right to say that after all these years, I am so sorry. For centuries, people have called me brilliant, powerful, and dangerous. But fourteen years ago, I did something that put into question if I was ever really as great as people said I was. All those years ago I abandoned you in a world where any random passer-by could have reaped your life. I am sorry, Robin." He finally stopped talking and was now patiently waiting for Robin's response.

Robin had stood with her head down, and the more Amell talked and the more she heard his voice, the more intense her crying became. And when his speech ended, she could feel his gaze on him so she looked up and was met with his soft gaze, and not the usual domineering and cruel he naturally wore as an emperor.

"You're right!" She said finally and caused a shiver to go up Amell's spine. "You don't have the right to say that." Robin started to smile lightly, "But that doesn't mean that I won't let you try to earn it." She let go of the last strength she had in her legs and allowed herself to fall right into his embrace.

"I missed you so much!" Robin whispered while wrapping her arms tightly around his body like she was afraid that he would disappear again. "It hurt so much when you left me!" Like a broken dam, her tears streamed down her face and stained the ground. Amell said nothing, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head and then hugged her even tighter.

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