Miranda's lips curved into a subtle, almost amused smile. "Whatever those Marines o'side r' up to isn't me concern," she said, her voice smooth and controlled. "Me simply ere t'relay a message from me superiors. They'd like t'have a private word with ye, if ye're willin t'grantt em de courtesy."
Guts narrowed his eyes, assessing the woman before him. He knew the Marines never did anything without a reason, and this offer of a private conversation seemed too good to be true. "I have one condition," Guts said with a firm and uncompromising tone. "We'll talk on my ship."
Miranda's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Yer ship?"
"Yes," Guts replied. "My ship. If your superiors truly wish to speak with me, they'll agree to meet me there. It's the only place I can guarantee a safe and private conversation."
He stared at Miranda, daring her to refuse.
Miranda paused for a moment, considering his offer. "Fine," Miranda said finally. "Me'll relay yer message."
As they prepared to leave, Guts realized they had a more pressing problem.
"Wait here," Guts commanded, turning and heading back up the stairs. He returned to his room on the second floor, his mind racing with plans. He had to ensure that Hachi and the two girls could leave the inn unnoticed.
"We're going to need a little help from a friend," Guts said. "In the meantime, we need to stay quiet and wait for an opportunity." He then walked to a corner of the room, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, with an unreadable expression.
Patience wasn't one of his virtues, but he knew that rushing things would only make the situation worse.
The atmosphere in the room was tense. Robin stood silently near the window, her brown eyes calmly observing the street below.
Hachi stood awkwardly while his tentacles twisted nervously. The black-and-white-haired girl still clung to Hachi's neck, her large crimson eyes following Guts's every move with fear and distrust.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a sharp, angry voice. The orange-haired girl, Nami, raised her head and glared at Hachi with a burning gaze. "I never asked for your help," she said, her voice filled with pent-up resentment. "I don't need you. And I haven't forgiven you for what you did to my village."
Tears began to stream down Nami's cheeks as she continued in a trembling voice full of emotion. "This is all your fault. If Arlong hadn't come to my village, those ruthless men in black wouldn't have come. And Nojiko wouldn't have been forced to go with them..."
Hachi lowered his head in shame, his own tears starting to drip onto the floor. "I know," he mumbled. "I know I made a terrible mistake. I just wanted to help..."
"I don't want your help!" Nami snapped. "All I want is for all of you to get out of my life."
Just as the tension in the room reached a breaking point, a familiar, boisterous voice echoed from the back of the inn. "Yohoho! Guts, my Boss! Buggy has arrived with the goods!"
The door burst open, and Buggy strode in, followed by several of his crew members. They were carrying a comically large barrel and two brightly colored, outrageously frilly clown costumes."Took you long enough," Guts grunted as his gaze fixed on the Marines outside. "Let's get this done."
He quickly laid out his plan. "Hachi, you're going in the barrel. Buggy's men will carry you out. Those costumes are for the girls. Change now."
The black-and-white-haired girl, without a word, slid down from Hachi's back and quietly took one of the costumes, retreating to a corner to change. Nami, however, remained stubbornly planted, her arms crossed. "I'm not going," she stated flatly. "Just leave me alone."
Guts sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Look," he said, his voice losing its edge slightly, "I don't have time for this. We're getting out of here, and you're coming with us. You can either put on the damn costume, or I'll stick you in that barrel with Hachi. Your call."
Nami glared at him, her eyes flashing with anger. She hesitated for a long moment before finally, with a frustrated huff, she snatched the remaining costume and stomped off to join the other girl.
A few minutes later, Guts emerged from the inn, carrying Robin cradled in his arms. Buggy followed close behind with a wide, theatrical grin plastered on his face. Bringing up the rear were Buggy's men, struggling under the weight of the enormous barrel, and the two girls with faces hidden beneath layers of clown makeup and oversized, colorful wigs.
The Marines watched them warily, their eyes narrowed with suspicion.
They clearly wanted to search the barrel and question the strange entourage, but none dared to approach too closely to the Shichibukai, Guts.
Tales of his curse, which supposedly drove people to madness and self-destruction, were widespread among the ranks, and fear of a similar fate kept them at bay. It's almost as if they are afraid that his curse will stick to them like a gum and make them hang themself on a tree.
The Marines reluctantly parted, allowing Guts and his group to pass through.
Guts ignored their hostile stares, his focus solely on reaching the Jumoi, which was anchored a short distance away, guarded by the massive form of Gargar.
As they walked, Guts could hear Buggy's voice, loud and mocking, taunting the surrounding Marines with insults and boasts. "Oi, you lot in the fancy uniforms! What's the matter, afraid of a little clown?" Buggy cackled, striking a ridiculous pose. "You call yourselves the Navy? More like the Gravy! All you do is sit around and get fat!"
Guts paid him no mind. His attention was focused on Miranda, who stood some distance away, still speaking into a Den Den Mushi.
Guts activated his Observation Haki, subtly extending his senses to eavesdrop on the conversation. He caught a murmur of voices, piecing together the gist of the exchange. It seemed Miranda's superiors were content to conduct the conversation via Den Den Mushi, and as long as Miranda's safety was assured, the location was of little consequence.
Once aboard the Jumoi, Buggy and his crew vanished below deck with the barrel and the two girls, the sounds of their chaotic resettlement muffled by the thick wood. Guts remained on the main deck with Robin cradled securely in his arms, his eyes fixed on the shore as he felt Robin's quiet presence against his chest, her unique ability a silent, indispensable weapon in the conversation to come.
A moment later, a figure landed on the deck with a soft thud, moving with a fluid grace that defied her size. It was Miranda.
Gargar, whose colossal form shadowed the entire ship, let out a low, guttural rumble from deep within his chest—a clear sound of displeasure. Miranda paid the Sea King no mind, her confident smile never easing as she approached Guts, her pristine Marine coat a stark white against the dark coloured deck.
She offered him a high-security Den Den Mushi. "Me superiors wish t'speak with ye," she said with a voice as smooth as silk. She also held out a rolled document, sealed with the official wax of Marine Headquarters. "And tis is for yer review."
Guts took the snail. As it came to life, its face contorted into the stern, bespectacled features of Fleet Admiral Sengoku. His authoritative voice boomed from the device, seeming to fill the air.
"Guts. Per my authority, I am ordering you to bring Lieutenant Hellblade along on your journey."
Guts's brow furrowed. He glanced at Miranda, who simply watched him with an unwavering smile.
Sengoku continued, his tone leaving no room for debate. "I've already provided Lieutenant Hellblade with the official orders. By bringing her along as a liaison, we can avoid any... unfortunate incidents like the one that occurred in Loguetown. Consider it a safeguard for both sides."
Guts's grip tightened on the Den Den Mushi, the snail letting out a small squeak of protest. "What makes you think I'll agree to have a Marine watchdog on my ship?"
"Consider it a favor, then," Sengoku replied, his tone softening a fraction. "And a path to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Guts fell silent, his gaze shifting down to Robin. He didn't need to speak the question. She understood, placing a small, reassuring hand on his arm before whispering, "He's telling the truth, Father. He believes this will prevent a fight."
With her confirmation, Guts turned his attention back to Miranda, his expression hardening into granite. "She can come," he said into the Den Den Mushi, "after I confirm something myself."
He fixed Miranda with a piercing stare that even made a sea king tremble. "Do you have any ill intentions toward Robin?"
Miranda met his gaze without flinching, her smile as pleasant and easy as ever. "Ney," she said. "In factt, me like children."
Robin tilted her head, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. She leaned in again as she whispered in secret. "He's telling the truth about not having ill intentions towards me, Father... but her claim about liking children is a lie."
Guts nodded slowly, then a wave of his dreadful killing intent rolled off him, a physical pressure that made the air grow cold and heavy, the planks of the Jumoi groaned, and even Gargar fell silent. "Do you," he asked with a low and dangerous growl, "have any ill intentions towards anyone else on my ship?"
Miranda's smile remained perfectly fixed. But for a single, fleeting moment, her eyes flickered, and she did not answer.
That was enough.
Guts raised the Den Den Mushi, his voice now cold and devoid of all emotion. "Sengoku. Miranda can come along." He paused, letting the weight of his next words sink in. "But if she harms anyone under my protection, or if I find she has acted with malice, I will personally send her head back to Marine Headquarters in a box. Understand?"
The Den Den Mushi's face went from stern to shocked. "Don't!" Sengoku's voice was suddenly frantic as he lost his composure. "Just report to me! You already killed Sakazuki over a misunderstanding! We cannot have another incident like that!"
He then bellowed, his voice booming loud enough for the entire ship to hear, "MIRANDA! You will follow Guts's orders to the letter! Do not act recklessly! Is that clear?!"
Miranda gave a slight, almost mocking incline of her head, her playful smile never easing. "Crystal clear, Fleett Admiral."
Just as Sengoku finished his order, the door to the ship's interior flew open with a resounding crash.
Buggy, his face a mask of theatrical outrage, stormed onto the deck. A few of his crew members peeked nervously from behind him, clearly regretting his impulsive decision. "I don't agree with this!" Buggy bellowed, "Anyone with red hair is nothing but trouble, Guts! Bringing one along is practically begging for disaster!"
Guts slowly turned his head, fixing Buggy with a stare so cold it seemed to suck the warmth from the air. Buggy visibly gulped, the bluster draining from his face like air from a punctured balloon. He shrank back slightly, fiddling with his comically large red nose.
Guts refocused his gaze on Miranda and spoke in a low, dangerous voice, each word carefully measured. "If she so much as breathes the wrong way, I'll ship her back to Marine Headquarters…one piece at a time." He let the threat hang in the air.
Instead of cowering, Miranda tilted her head, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. She let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "Ye have a dark sense of humor, bub," she said with a sly smile. "Me appreciate a man with good taste."
Robin, however, remained silent, her brow furrowed in concentration. After a moment, she tugged lightly on Guts's sleeve. "What's disturbing is...what she said about your taste, it is the truth," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
The revelation seemed to unsettle her more than the threat itself.
Guts said curtly into the Den Den Mushi. "Just make sure she understands the consequences." He ended the call with a sharp click, severing the connection.
He turned to Miranda, his expression unreadable. "Be ready to sail this afternoon," he said, his voice devoid of warmth. "And don't expect any special treatment." He knew he would have to keep a close eye on her, but for now, he had other priorities.
Guts turned to one of the nearest Buggy Pirates, a scruffy-looking fellow with a patched-up hat. "Oi, you," he barked. "Go to that clothing store down the street and pick up the clothes I commissioned for Robin. Tell them Guts sent you."
He tossed the pirate a handful of Berries. "And be quick about it."
With that matter settled, Guts turned his attention to the real reason he had agreed to help Hachi: the two girls. He gestured towards the ship's interior. "Buggy," he said with commanding voice, "bring Hachi and those girls up on deck. It's time we had a little chat."