Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Ikki, do we need to keep this guy alive?" Nojiko asked, holding her Zanpakutō Minazuki in hand as she stood over Foxy, who had fainted after falling to the ground.
"Let's get rid of him," Ikki replied with a slight smile. "We can't let outsiders know that our blades can absorb Devil Fruit Powers."
Ikki turned and began walking toward the interior of Long Ring Long Island.
"Nojiko, welcome the others when they arrive," he called over his shoulder. "Have Vivi take photos of these pirates with bounties on their heads. I'm going to explore the island for a while."
Nojiko turned her head and looked down at Foxy.
"Die without pain," she murmured, raising her blade and stabbing directly into Foxy's heart with Minazuki.
Minazuki sensed Foxy's death and immediately began absorbing the Slow-Slow Fruit. After a few seconds, Nojiko clearly felt a hint of enlightenment in her heart. It was as if the warmth of Minazuki in her hand had established an extra connection with her.
"Can I perform Bankai now?" Nojiko wondered, glancing at the sword in her hand. She thought about the terrifying appearance of Unohana Retsu, whom she had seen using Minazuki to perform all kinds of attacks, and she shuddered involuntarily.
"Better try it in the Training Room later," she decided, shaking her head as she resheathed her blade. She turned to see Nami, Vivi, and the others docking the Explorer on the coast.
"Nojiko, have you freed your Zanpakutō?" Nami called as she trotted up to her. "Also, what's Ikki up to?"
"Minazuki can use its release now, but its ability might not be convenient to demonstrate here," Nojiko replied. "As for Ikki, he's just exploring."
As she spoke, Nojiko glanced at Nico Robin, who had put on a cloak and was eyeing the Marines lying unconscious nearby.
"Robin, there are Marines here. Why don't I go shopping with you?" Nojiko suggested.
Hearing this, Nico Robin smiled at her. "Sure!"
Robin nodded and walked with Nojiko in the opposite direction from where Ikki had gone.
She knew that Nojiko wanted her to avoid running into Marines as much as possible, so she happily accepted the suggestion.
Vivi and Nami also understood this concern, so they stayed behind to clean up the battlefield and take photos of the pirates with bounties on their heads.
After finishing all this, the two leisurely fished from the boat.
Meanwhile, at the other end of Long Ring Long Island, in the direction where Nojiko and Nico Robin were heading, a tall man with an icy aura surrounding his body was quickly approaching the island on a path of ice he'd created over the sea.
If Ikki had been there, he would have immediately recognized this person as one of the Marine Admirals, Aokiji Kuzan.
"This is Kuzan," Aokiji said into a Den Den Mushi as he walked toward the interior of the island.
"Kuzan, have you arrived at Long Ring Long Island?" Vice Admiral Tsuru's slightly anxious voice came through.
"That's right, I just got here. I was planning to find out why the Marine scout's communication was cut off," Aokiji replied. "As for this Ikki they mentioned, I'll find out as soon as possible if he's here. Please rest assured, Vice Admiral Tsuru."
"I'm counting on you, Kuzan," Tsuru said. "Our warships will arrive at Long Ring Long Island soon. We hope to receive good news from you by then."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Den Den Mushi went silent.
"What a pain," Aokiji sighed, putting away the Den Den Mushi. He then spread his Observation Haki around him.
After a moment, he sensed a figure with a powerful aura. Beside this powerful presence was another figure with a slightly weaker aura.
"Could it really be him?" Aokiji looked in the direction of the two auras, stepped forward, and rushed ahead at incredible speed.
Not long after, he saw a blue-haired girl wearing an orange T-shirt, and beside her, a woman in a cloak that covered her entire face.
"That's... Nico Robin?" Aokiji frowned.
Although Robin had covered her face, Aokiji, who had been observing her for years, still recognized her at a glance.
By now, Nojiko had also sensed Aokiji's presence. She turned to look directly at him, her thumb pressing against the handle of her Zanpakutō.
"What's wrong, Nojiko?" Nico Robin asked, glancing at her companion with concern. She followed Nojiko's gaze and froze. 'Marine Admiral Aokiji?!'
Robin's eyes widened slightly, and her right hand instinctively reached for the Zanpakutō Senbonzakura at her waist.
"Well, well, I didn't expect to see you here, Nico Robin," Aokiji said casually. "Care to tell me where you've been all this time?"
Aokiji stopped about three meters away from them, turning to glance at Nojiko standing beside Robin. A flash of recognition crossed his eyes.
"Are you sailing with this woman now?" he asked.
Seeing Aokiji call Robin by name, Nojiko frowned. "You know him?" she asked quietly.
Robin gritted her teeth. Though Nojiko hadn't called her by name, she knew the question was directed at her.
"This man is Aokiji, one of the three Marine Admirals," she replied tensely.
Hearing this, Nojiko's frown deepened. Meeting a Marine Admiral was bad enough, but if he knew about their connection to Nico Robin, that was worse.
"Aokiji, what are you doing here?" Robin asked, taking a deep breath. She stood straight, as if having made some decision, and moved closer to Nojiko.
"That's what I wanted to ask you, Nico Robin," Aokiji replied. "Why are you here? And that person beside you is Ikki's companion, isn't she? Are you actually with Ikki now? Is that man your partner?"
Although Ikki and his group weren't officially pirates, Ikki had defeated Sir Crocodile. Portraits of Ikki and his companions had already appeared on the meeting tables of Marine executives. As a Marine Admiral, Aokiji could naturally recognize Nojiko.
Now Aokiji began to understand why Nico Robin had been able to escape the Marines' search in Alabasta and leave safely. With Ikki's team as cover, the Marines wouldn't have conducted a rigorous search of the Explorer.
"No, you misunderstand. I have no connection to Ikki," Robin insisted. "If you're here to take my life, you can do it now, Aokiji."
Robin pursed her lips and took a step toward Aokiji.
But as soon as she took two steps, Nojiko's hand came to rest on her shoulder.
"Stop it. There's no point," Nojiko said firmly.
"Nojiko, you... let go, this situation..."
"Stop talking, Robin. I won't let you leave without Ikki's permission."
Nojiko's grip on Minazuki tightened, her eyes filled with determination.