New L[?][?][?]

The snowy island stretched before them, a stark contrast to the typical tropical settings they were used to. The wind howled through the trees, and the scent of fresh snow mingled with the faint scent of iron and steel. Their ship, small and inconspicuous, was docked in a cove surrounded by jagged rocks, shielding it from view.

"Too cold for my taste," Lili muttered, his fur bristling as he shivered. "But we're here now. What exactly are we looking for, Gaku?"

Gaku adjusted the bandages on his arms, his mind focused. The snowy landscape didn't faze him, though the cold bit at his skin. His new mechanical arm, covered with human skin, felt stiff and cold in the winter air. He was still getting used to its weight, but it had become a necessary tool in his quest for power.

"Something's off here," Gaku said, his red eyes scanning the horizon. The island had a feeling of being abandoned, but something told him there was more to it. "I've got a hunch. Let's look around."

They ventured deeper into the island, trudging through snowdrifts, the silence broken only by the wind and the occasional creak of trees bending under the weight of snow. As they neared a clearing, Gaku's senses tingled, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. It wasn't long before they found what they were looking for: a hidden underground facility, barely visible beneath a blanket of snow. The entrance was camouflaged, but to Gaku, it stood out like a sore thumb.

Lili raised an eyebrow. "A base? A secret one?"

"Exactly," Gaku replied, his tone focused. "And it's not just any base. I can feel the presence of people inside."

They made their way into the facility, moving swiftly and quietly. The inside was stark, illuminated by harsh white lights that reflected off the metallic walls. Gaku's eyes narrowed as they passed a series of high-tech equipment, strange devices humming and flashing. Some of it was unfamiliar to him—sophisticated machines that didn't belong to the normal underworld arsenal.

As they delved deeper into the facility, they stumbled upon a group of soldiers. A small band of them, stationed within the complex. It seemed they hadn't expected anyone to be here. Gaku didn't hesitate. He drew his new mace, its weight settling comfortably in his hand, and swung it with terrifying force, crushing the first soldier's skull with a sickening crack. The others barely had time to react before Gaku was upon them, his blows swift and brutal.

The fighting was over quickly. The last man fell with a weak gurgle, and Gaku stood over him, his mace dripping with blood. Lili hopped onto his shoulder, unbothered by the carnage.

"That was too easy," Lili remarked dryly, his eyes scanning the now-silent room.

"I'm just getting warmed up," Gaku replied, his voice low as he surveyed the facility. Something still didn't feel right. The air in here was thick with tension.

They continued exploring, and soon, they found a series of strange documents scattered across a table in a small office. There were technical blueprints and notes scribbled in what appeared to be code. Some of them had strange symbols, while others detailed machinery that Gaku couldn't quite decipher.

But one particular document caught his eye—a drawing of a cyborg, its design almost identical to the modifications he had made to himself. His gaze lingered on it for a moment, a slow smile crossing his face. This could be useful, he thought. These plans might be exactly what he needed to push his power further.

"That's it," he murmured, before carefully pocketing the papers. "I'll have to study these later."

They continued further into the base, and Gaku felt a shift in the air. He wasn't alone. As they turned a corner, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the cold light of the facility's hallway.

It was Robin.

Her dark eyes locked onto Gaku, and for a split second, there was nothing but silence between them. The tension was palpable, and Gaku's fingers instinctively tightened around the handle of his mace. He could feel the weight of their past encounter hanging in the air—the first time they had crossed paths, when Robin had been with the Straw Hat Pirates, and he had nearly killed them. That battle had been brutal, and though they hadn't had the chance to fully clash, he knew she hadn't forgotten.

"Gaku..." Robin's voice was steady, but there was a trace of caution in it. "You're still alive."

"I could say the same to you," Gaku replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. He studied her briefly, noting how much she had changed.

Robin's fingers twitched, her body already preparing for a potential attack. She didn't fully trust him, and Gaku didn't blame her. Their last encounter had left a bad taste in both their mouths.

"We don't need to fight," Robin said, her voice calm but firm. "But if it comes to it..."

"I don't intend to fight you today," Gaku said, his tone matching her steadiness. He'd learned a lot since then, and he wasn't the same man he once was. "But I'm not here for any trivial reasons. There's something more going on here. This island isn't just some abandoned base."

Robin's expression darkened slightly. She could tell he wasn't lying. "What are you after?"

Gaku paused for a moment, then glanced down at the papers in his pocket. "There are things here—things I can use to make myself even stronger."

Robin studied him for a long moment, then sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I've had my fair share of enemies, and I'm sure you've made many since our last encounter. What happened to you?"

"Long story," Gaku replied with a smirk, his red eyes glinting.

She was still wary, but she could see the shift in Gaku. He wasn't the same person who had tried to kill her before. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a dangerous one.

"So you're working for yourself now?" she asked, her voice quieter.

Gaku nodded, a more serious expression overtaking his features. "I've got my own goals. And if I have to use the resources here to achieve them, I will."

"Then I'll help you," Robin said, surprising him. "I'm no ally of the World Government. If you're after something that can help take them down..."

Gaku raised an eyebrow, surprised by her words. "You'd help me?"

"I'd help anyone who's trying to bring down the World Government," she said, her voice cold and resolute.

There was a moment of silence between them as they both understood the unspoken alliance that had just formed. Robin's eyes narrowed slightly, her calculating nature still in control. But there was a flicker of respect in her gaze.

"Then let's get what we came for," Gaku said, offering her a smirk. He turned his back to her, beginning to walk toward the deeper parts of the facility, leaving Robin to follow.

Behind them, the faintest sound echoed in the distance—a reminder that the World Government's influence could never truly be escaped, not even on a forgotten island like this one. But for now, they were allies with a common purpose: to get stronger, to survive, and maybe, just maybe, to bring down the very system that sought to control them all.

Gaku and Robin walked side by side, the steel corridors of the Revolutionary base casting long, cold shadows around them. The occasional hum of distant machinery was the only sound that accompanied them. Outside, the icy winds of the snowy island howled, but the facility itself was eerily silent.

Robin finally broke the silence, her voice calm and thoughtful. "You've come a long way since the last time I saw you, Gaku. But you've changed, haven't you?"

Gaku glanced at her, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "You could say that. But you and your crew aren't exactly the same either."

Robin smiled faintly, tilting her head. "Time tends to do that. The crew has grown stronger, but we had a struggle. Speaking of which, when we first met you, it was all of us . You must have realized I'm not with them right now.

Gaku stopped walking and turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. "I did notice, but it didn't matter to me then. I had other things on my mind. Still..." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "You were separated from them, weren't you?"

Robin's eyes softened, though her expression remained composed. "Yes. The crew was scattered. But I didn't expect you to survive that encounter with Kizaru , let alone see you help him in Marineford. What drove you to step in like that? And before that, why did you even bother helping us on that island?"

Gaku's gaze flickered, his expression hard to read. He looked down briefly at his hands—his left wrapped in bandages for style, his new right arm, covered in realistic synthetic skin, flexed instinctively. "I... I don't know," he admitted, his voice unusually soft. "At the time, I just felt like it. Something about... about all of you... it felt right to help. Doesn't make much sense, does it?"

Robin studied him for a moment, her perceptive gaze picking up on his conflicted demeanor. She then smiled, though it was tinged with curiosity. "For someone who claims to be detached, you certainly make some interesting choices. Luffy has that effect on people."

"I noticed," Gaku replied dryly, shaking his head as if trying to dismiss the thought. His tone shifted as he added, "Speaking of surprises, you must known what I did those days. I didn't expect anyone to be here, let alone you. And judging by the way you're looking at my arm..."

"I saw what you sacrificed in Marineford," Robin said, her eyes lingering briefly on his right arm. "To see it restored... that's remarkable. Did you rebuild yourself? Or was that someone else's work?"

Gaku smirked, lifting his arm slightly. "My work, mostly. I had... inspiration from someone of your crew . The process wasn't pretty, but it's mine now."

Robin nodded thoughtfully but said nothing more, sensing the subject was not one Gaku enjoyed discussing in depth. After a moment, she decided to change the topic.

"What do you intend to do now, Gaku? You don't strike me as someone content with aimlessness."

Before he could answer, Lili's voice cut through the stillness, perched on Gaku's shoulder with an unmistakable grin. "Don't ask him that, lady. Gaku never has a clue what he's doing, but somehow, it works out for him."

Robin chuckled softly, amused by the cat's bluntness. "I see you've found yourself an honest companion."

"Too honest," Gaku muttered, shooting Lili a look. "But he's not wrong. I've been taking it one step at a time. And now..." He glanced at Robin, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm curious about you and this Revolution. I've heard whispers of Dragon and his war against the World Government. What's his angle, and why does it matter to you?"

Robin's expression grew serious, the weight of her knowledge evident in her demeanor. "The Revolution fights for freedom—not just from the Marines or the World Government but from the chains that bind entire nations. It's a cause that resonates with many, including me. They even helped me by freeing me from a cell, so I figured I could help them in my own way."

Gaku nodded slowly. "Freedom, huh? I can respect that. I've been searching for my own version of it. Maybe..." He trailed off, his expression contemplative.

Lili, sensing the shift in the mood, decided to lighten it. "Look at you two, all serious and broody. You'd almost think you like each other or something."

Both Gaku and Robin gave Lili a sharp look, though Gaku's smirk betrayed his amusement. "Watch your mouth, Lili, or I'll drop you in the snow."

Robin smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're an interesting man, Gaku. Perhaps our paths crossing wasn't such a coincidence after all."

"Maybe not," Gaku replied, his tone softening. "But don't think this means I'm getting involved in some grand war. I've got my own battles to fight."

Robin nodded, the two of them sharing a moment of mutual understanding before continuing down the corridor. Lili, still grinning, muttered under her breath, "Sure, sure. Keep denying it."