Arrival at Whisky Peak
The desert wind hit them long before the island appeared. From a distance, Whisky Peak looked almost festive — a port town tucked against arid hills, flags fluttering in the sun. Laughter and music drifted over the water.
"That's… suspicious," Bell-mère muttered, eyeing the shoreline. "Places that happy either sell you drinks… or your head."
"Both, if they're efficient," Vegito said.
Nami squinted at the harbor. "Too clean. No real trade ships, just local fishing boats. I don't like it."
Kuina rested a hand on her sword. "Then we go in prepared."
Vegito grinned. "Oh, we're going in. But we're going to play along first."
The Grand Welcome
As Heaven's Embrace docked, a small crowd of "locals" gathered. Musicians played lively tunes, and a cheerful woman handed out flower leis. Bounty hunters in plain clothes, every one of them.
"Welcome, welcome!" their leader called. "We love to celebrate newcomers here!"
Vegito accepted his lei with a winning smile. "And I love to be celebrated."
Behind him, Kaya leaned in to Nami. "Are they… actually dangerous?"
"Oh yeah," Nami said softly. "They're probably from Baroque Works."
Kaya blinked. "Baroque…?"
Nami nodded. "Assassins. Bounty hunters. And we're the main course."
Playing the Game
For the first hour, Vegito played tourist. He let the locals wine and dine them, telling exaggerated stories of "other worlds" and "dragon battles" that had his crew barely keeping straight faces.
Reiju sat at his side, sipping wine without drinking much. "They're waiting for nightfall."
"I know," Vegito murmured back. "Easier to humiliate them all at once."
The Trap
Night fell, and with it came the closing of shutters and the fading of music. One by one, the "friendly locals" revealed weapons from under tables. Knives, pistols, chains — all trained on the crew.
A man with a scar over his eye stepped forward. "Vegito, captain of… whatever that flying death machine is. Dead or alive, you're worth more than I've ever seen. And your crew? Bonus."
Vegito set down his drink and stood, stretching like a man waking from a nap.
"That's nice," he said. "But there's a problem."
The man frowned. "What problem?"
Vegito grinned. "You're not nearly scary enough to kill the mood."
The Humiliation
The bounty hunters struck as one. Vegito didn't move at first — Bell-mère and Kuina were already intercepting half the attackers, Nami and Nojiko using precision strikes to disarm the rest. Kaya used her Heal-Heal Fruit to instantly close any small cuts the girls took, turning the "ambush" into a warm-up exercise.
Then Vegito joined in.
He vanished from sight, reappearing behind the scarred leader to flick him in the forehead — sending the man cartwheeling into a rain barrel. He caught knives mid-air, tied the wielders together with their own belts, and rewired pistols to misfire into the dirt.
When it was over, the street was littered with groaning bodies. Not one of them dead — but all thoroughly shamed.
Robin's Entrance
The slow clap came from a shadowed balcony. A tall woman in a cowboy hat stepped into the torchlight, her dark hair brushing her shoulders. Her gaze was calm, calculating — and vaguely amused.
"Nico Robin," Vegito said, smiling up at her.
Her brow lifted. "You know me?"
"Know of you. You're even prettier in person."
That made her pause.
She studied the wreckage of bounty hunters below. "You're… not afraid of me."
"Why would I be? You haven't given me a reason."
Her lips curved faintly. "You're not like other pirates."
"Nope. I'm worse," Vegito said cheerfully. "I'm recruiting you."
The Proposition
Robin descended the stairs slowly, arms crossed. "And why would I join you?"
"Because you're looking for the Rio Poneglyph. I already know where three of them are. And I can read them."
That made her stop cold. "You can…?"
"Mm-hm. And I don't work for Crocodile."
She studied his face for a long moment. "You're telling the truth."
"Always do," Vegito said. "Join us. We'll keep you safe from the marines, and you can read every stone you want."
She smiled — faint but genuine. "You have my attention."
Vivi's Reveal
Before Robin could answer fully, a blue-haired young woman in the livery of Baroque Works stumbled into the square — clutching a small wound on her arm. She froze when she saw the bounty hunters down.
"Princess Vivi," Vegito said, loud enough for only her to hear.
Her eyes widened. "…How—?"
"I'll explain later," he said. "Right now, you're in over your head."
Vivi glanced at Robin, then back to Vegito. "You're not with Baroque Works?"
"Not even slightly."
Vivi exhaled in relief — then her expression hardened. "Then please… help me save Alabasta."
Vegito grinned. "Thought you'd never ask."
Robin Joins
Robin tilted her head. "If I join, we go to Alabasta?"
"First stop after this mess," Vegito confirmed.
"Then I'm in."
He extended his hand. She took it without hesitation.
System Update
[Crew Roster Updated]
Vegito (Captain)
Bell-mère (Crew Mother / Fighter)
Nami (Navigator)
Nojiko (Support Fighter)
Kaya (Doctor – Heal-Heal Fruit User)
Kuina (Swordswoman)
Reiju (Combat Medic / Poison Specialist)
Nico Robin (Archaeologist / Poneglyph Reader)
Next Destination: Drum Kingdom — and a certain talking reindeer.