The three of them sat together, slurping on soba noodles.
Will took the opportunity to briefly introduce Issho and Robin to each other.
After some casual conversation, Robin turned to Will, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she asked, "Will-san, has Crocodile already been…?"
"Yep." Will set down his bowl, a carefree smile spreading across his face as he replied, "Taken care of. Right out there in the desert outside the city."
"Is that so…" Robin's expression turned pensive, a hint in her eyes. Then, she proactively added, "By the way, that task you asked me to handle—it's done. The chief conductors from the agency will all be back and assembled by tomorrow."
"Good. That'll save us a lot of time." Will nodded in satisfaction before asking, "Oh, and what about Nami and the others? Have you contacted them?"
"Of course." Robin rested her hands on her lap, sitting primly as she smiled. "I reached out to them via Den Den Mushi. Nami and Princess Vivi just arrived at the capital, Alubarna, not too long ago. They've probably already met with the king by now."
She paused briefly before adding, "Though, at the time, I wasn't entirely sure about your situation with Crocodile outside the city, so they're still waiting for our latest update."
"Got it. Make sure to contact Nami and the others again when you get the chance," Will said casually, continuing to eat.
"Understood, Boss," Robin replied with a slight nod.
Once the three of them finished their meal, Will stood up first, pulling a coin pouch from his pocket and tossing it to the shopkeeper without a second glance. Turning to Robin, he asked, "Robin, how much treasure do we have stored at the Rain Dinners casino?"
At his question, Robin, who had stood up alongside him, couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. With a meaningful glint in her eyes, she replied, "Don't worry, Boss. The amount of treasure there is beyond anything you could imagine."
"Perfect." Will nodded, satisfied, then turned to Issho, who was walking beside him, with a grin. "It's getting dark. How about I treat you to a night at Rain Dinners? You can relax and have some fun. I'll cover all the expenses—go wild and enjoy yourself. Then, first thing tomorrow morning, we'll head to the capital, Alubarna, together!"
"This…" Issho's expression shifted, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Truthfully, he wanted to decline—Will had already paid for the meal, after all. But the offer was too tempting, especially since it tied directly to his greatest passion.
Rain Dinners. The casino.
He'd wanted to visit it ever since arriving in Rainbase, but his pockets had been too light to afford it. After a few seconds of internal debate, he couldn't resist breaking into a smile. "Since it's the captain's invitation, this old man won't refuse."
Robin, observing Will's enthusiasm toward Issho, cast a thoughtful glance their way.
The next morning, Will emerged from his room, refreshed and invigorated.
He'd barely taken a few steps when he ran into Robin, who was approaching from the opposite direction. Seeing him, she offered a gentle smile and said, "That friend of yours who came with us? He didn't sleep a wink last night. He's been gambling in the main hall this whole time."
"Oh?" Will raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How much has he lost so far?"
Robin stifled a laugh. "He was losing quite a bit at first. But after I told the casino staff not to… 'make things difficult' for him, he not only won back everything he lost but even made a bit extra."
Will grinned at the news, his tone light. "Win or lose, it doesn't really matter. He's one of us."
"One of us…" Robin's expression flickered, as if something had crossed her mind.
Will didn't dwell on it, instead asking as they walked, "By the way, Robin, are we ready to head to the capital?"
Snapping back to attention, Robin quickened her pace to keep up. "The moving crabs for crossing the desert and the ship to the other side are all prepared. We can leave for Alubarna anytime."
"Excellent." Will nodded, pleased. "Then let's head out now, straight to the capital."
He wasn't much for gambling, so lingering in this casino city held little appeal for him.
"But…" Robin hesitated slightly before asking, "What about that uncle named Issho? He hasn't slept all night. Shouldn't we let him rest a bit?"
"Him?" Will's eyes glinted with a knowing smile. "No need to worry about that. Guys like us, with our strength, have stamina and energy far beyond normal people. One sleepless night won't faze him in the slightest."
Robin's gaze sharpened, catching the key detail in his words. That blind uncle… he actually has strength on par with Will? Will's phrasing clearly placed Issho on the same level of power as himself. She couldn't help but wonder where he'd met such a formidable figure.
The two descended the stairs and immediately spotted Issho among the crowd of gamblers, his distinctive figure and attire standing out.
"How was it? Did you have fun last night?" Will asked, clapping a hand on Issho's shoulder with a grin.
Hearing the familiar voice, Issho turned, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Quite enjoyable. This old man hasn't gambled so freely in ages."
As if recalling something, he added, "By the way, Captain, are we preparing to set out?"
"Yep." Will nodded. "Robin's got everything arranged. We're just waiting on you."
Without hesitation, Issho tossed aside the chips in his hand, picked up his staff-sword, and stood slowly. "Then let's get going."
"Eh?" Robin blinked, quickly interjecting, "Issho-san, you haven't cashed in your winnings yet."
"Heh." Issho chuckled, his tone sincere. "Truth be told, I don't care much about the money. It's the thrill of the gamble—the dance between winning and losing—that I enjoy."
"I see," Robin said, her eyes flickering with understanding. She didn't press further.
Will, seeing no need for further delay, said simply, "Alright, let's move."
Robin nodded and took the lead, guiding them forward.
They crossed the desert on moving crabs, then transferred to a ship at the shore.
During the journey, the three sat on deck chairs, enjoying a spread of delicious food Robin had prepared in advance.
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