"The trip was a bit troublesome, but compared to what I gained... it was absolutely worth it."
Although transporting everything back had been exhausting, Kaito didn't mind in the slightest. Instead, he was in exceptionally high spirits.
Relying on his overwhelming strength and astonishing stamina, he had continued launching himself forward across the desert for nearly two full days.
Finally...
The sea came into view.
So did the fleet anchored along the shoreline.
"What's going on?!"
"That giant stone... is jumping!"
"Wait... there's someone underneath it!"
"It's the Captain!"
"The Captain's back!"
The resting members of the War Pirates immediately noticed the strange scene unfolding in the distance.
At first, everyone stared in disbelief as the enormous stone repeatedly leaped across the desert.
Only after looking more closely did they realize someone was actually carrying it.
The moment they recognized Kaito beneath the massive stone, everyone abandoned what they were doing and hurried toward the shore.
Robin had been standing on the deck of the No. 1 flagship, practicing the abilities of the Flower-Flower Fruit.
She was the first to notice Kaito.
Without a second thought, she spread her Phantom Wings and flew into the sky.
As she rapidly approached...
Her eyes suddenly widened.
The giant stone Kaito was carrying wasn't an ordinary boulder.
Its surface was covered in rows of mysterious ancient characters.
An expression of complete disbelief appeared on her face.
"Robin."
"We'll talk after we get back aboard."
Kaito had already noticed her reaction.
Seeing the astonishment frozen on her face, he naturally understood what had caught her attention.
He called out to her while continuing toward the coastline with the enormous stone balanced above his shoulders.
"O-Okay!"
Robin hurriedly regained her composure.
Instead of asking questions, she flew alongside him, silently escorting him the rest of the way.
Boom!
A short time later...
Kaito reached the coast.
Without slowing down, he jumped directly onto the deck of the No. 1 flagship, carefully lowering both the enormous square stone and the silver-white coffin that rested upon it.
The incredible weight caused the ship itself to sink noticeably lower into the water.
"Captain..."
"Why did you bring back a giant rock... and a coffin, meow?"
Neferpitou walked over curiously.
After Kaito untied the ropes securing the silver-white coffin and carefully lifted it down from the stone, she pointed innocently toward it with one finger.
Nearby...
Law and Smoker had also arrived after finishing their training.
Both stared curiously at the stone and the coffin.
"Kitten, don't touch it."
Kaito smiled helplessly.
"I went through a great deal of trouble to obtain these treasures."
"Treasures?"
Neferpitou blinked in surprise before immediately pulling her hand back.
"Captain..."
Robin couldn't take her eyes off the ancient writing.
After studying it for a long moment, she finally turned toward Kaito.
"Did you find this Poneglyph in Alabasta?"
"Poneglyph?"
Law and Smoker exchanged puzzled looks.
Neither of them knew what that term meant.
Kaito looked at Robin and smiled.
"So..."
"You like it?"
Robin nodded repeatedly.
"I do."
"I really do."
A bright smile spread across her face.
Of course she loved it.
This was exactly what she had been searching for her entire life.
"Captain..."
Law couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer.
"What exactly is a Poneglyph?"
Kaito pointed toward Robin.
"Let Robin explain."
"As for me..."
"I need a proper bath."
"And something to eat."
"I'm starving."
After speaking, he stretched lazily before turning toward the cabin.
Although his stamina remained abundant...
After working continuously for several days, hunger was something even he couldn't ignore.
"Hm?"
Just before reaching the bathroom, Kaito suddenly felt something pressing awkwardly against his lower back.
He stopped abruptly.
"...I almost forgot."
Slapping his forehead, he immediately turned around and headed back toward his captain's quarters.
Inside his room...
Kaito walked over to the safe tucked into the corner.
After entering the combination...
He opened it.
Then he untied the gray cloth pouch fastened around his waist.
Inside...
Lay two Devil Fruits.
Without hesitation, he placed both fruits into the safe before locking it once again.
Only then did he finally leave for the bath.
More than an hour later...
Freshly bathed and finally full after eating, Kaito stepped back onto the deck.
Robin immediately walked over.
"Captain."
"I've already deciphered the contents of the Poneglyph."
"Would you like me to explain it now?"
Several crew members were carefully cleaning the surface of the ancient stone behind her.
Robin herself looked noticeably happier than usual.
Obtaining another Poneglyph had clearly lifted her spirits.
"Go ahead."
Kaito nodded.
As he walked toward the silver-white coffin beside the Poneglyph, he listened quietly.
Robin began her explanation.
"This Poneglyph mainly records information regarding the Ancient Weapon..."
"Pluton."
Unlike what had happened in the original story—where Crocodile had been deceived—Robin had no reason to hide anything from Kaito.
She translated every line exactly as it was written.
"...According to the text..."
"...although Pluton is hidden within Wano Country..."
"...it is currently in a damaged state."
After Robin finished speaking...
Kaito rested one hand thoughtfully on the silver-white coffin.
"So that's how it is..."
He fell silent in thought.
Robin nodded.
"That's what the Poneglyph says."
"If you truly intend to obtain Pluton..."
"Then not only will you have to travel to Wano..."
"...you'll also need a way to repair it."
"I'm definitely interested in Pluton."
Kaito nodded slowly.
"I'll find a solution to the repair problem."
He had always known Pluton was hidden in Wano.
What he hadn't expected...
Was that it had already been damaged.
Fortunately...
He also knew something few others did.
Franky possessed the blueprints for Pluton.
If those blueprints could be obtained...
Repairing the ancient battleship would become vastly easier.
Thinking about it carefully...
Perhaps this was exactly why Franky had been entrusted with Pluton's blueprints in the original story.
The Celestial Dragons were strongly suspected of controlling Uranus, the most mysterious and possibly most powerful of the Three Ancient Weapons.
If the Straw Hat Pirates were destined to challenge the World Government...
Then obtaining the remaining Ancient Weapons would inevitably become essential.
Poseidon had already been revealed to be the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, placing that weapon firmly on the Straw Hats' side.
As for Pluton...
The story had only ever stated that it lay buried within Wano.
Its actual condition had never been revealed.
After remaining buried for over eight hundred years...
Unlike Poseidon—which was a living being—it was entirely reasonable that a mechanical weapon such as Pluton would have suffered severe damage over time.
Its damaged condition also fit perfectly with Franky's role.
With the only known blueprints in his possession...
It was almost as though fate itself had already decided that, just like Poseidon, Pluton would eventually fall into the hands of the Straw Hat Pirates.
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