"The taste of this wine is quite something," Borsalino murmured after taking a sip, the faintly sweet aroma lingering on his tongue.
Anna smiled proudly. "Of course. It's one of our island's special blends—you won't find this anywhere else in the world."
To outsiders, though, the scene looked tense. The infamous admiral of the Navy chatting casually with a local barmaid? It was a sight so strange that most of the pirates in the tavern had already fled, terrified he might arrest them all on a whim.
Borsalino swirled the glass lazily. "So, you came all this way just to check out this wine, huh?"
Who could possibly believe that? Anna certainly didn't. A Marine Admiral traveling all the way to this tiny island just for a drink? Not a chance. Still, she played along with a polite smile.
"It's truly an honor that even the Navy's Admiral Kizaru appreciates our humble brew. Since you like it so much, how about I prepare a box for you to take back? The other marines deserve a taste too. That way your visit won't be wasted."
"Hmm~ such a clever girl," Borsalino chuckled, his tone playful. "How about we celebrate with a date? Just the two of us?"
Anna's smile stiffened. "General, you must be joking. I could never be worthy of a date with someone like you."
"Now, now~ I don't think you're unworthy at all."
"Really? That's quite an honor," she said, keeping her tone light as she began cleaning up the empty bottles. "But I still have work to finish. Maybe another time?"
"That's a shame~" Borsalino sighed as he downed the rest of his wine and rose from his seat. "By the way, is there a hotel nearby?"
"Turn left outside the tavern," Anna replied, pointing toward the window. "It's the only hotel on the island. Thank you for visiting, Admiral Kizaru."
"Hmm~ so the little lady's trying to send me away already?" His eyes glimmered with amusement.
Anna quickly turned back, forcing a bright smile. "Of course not! Your presence brings glory to our humble tavern. But it's getting late, and you must be tired after such a long journey. I wish you a pleasant night's rest."
"Heh~ since you put it that way, I'll take my leave," Borsalino said, smiling faintly as he stepped out into the night.
When the tavern finally fell silent, Anna looked around the empty bar with a sigh."Well… guess I get off early today."
After tidying up, she headed home. But even after crawling into bed, her mind was racing.Why had Kizaru come to such an obscure island?Was it really just for the wine?There was only one way to find out—through the Dream World.
In the Dream World
"Alright… Kizaru's staying at the hotel to the left of my tavern. His dream should be somewhere nearby," Anna murmured, floating through the hazy mist of the dream realm.
But after searching for a while, she frowned. "Weird… I can't find his dream anywhere. Guess he's not asleep yet. Hmm, maybe I'll explore a bit first."
As she drifted through the dream-scape, something caught her attention."Wait… why is the Red-Haired Pirates' dream zone so close this time?"
Normally, their territory in the dream world was far away—accessible only through teleportation. Yet tonight, it hovered right within reach.
"Could it be connected to Kizaru's arrival?" she wondered. "Did the Red Hair Pirates come here too? But why?"
Anna groaned, clutching her head dramatically. "Ugh! My brain's going to explode! We're just a tiny island—why do so many big names keep showing up?!"
She snorted at her own thought. "Don't tell me Red Hair heard about our special wine and came all this way for a drink. No way… right? He can't be that ridiculous. Then again, knowing them…"
Sighing, she floated closer. "Might as well check it out."
Inside the Red Hair Pirates' Dreams
"This should be Shanks' dream," Anna murmured. "His dreams usually aren't that useful—just endless parties. I've visited Doflamingo's dreams so often I've barely had time for Shanks'. But if I want information, I'll have better luck with Beckman."
Scanning the dream bubbles, she soon found one labeled Beckman—and blinked in disbelief.
"He really is a ladies' man. There are women everywhere! …Well, that actually makes it easier for me to blend in. Still, how am I supposed to get any intel? Beckman's way too sharp."
She flopped down beside his dream sphere with a sigh. "If I disguise myself as Doffy again, he'll spot me instantly…"
Finally, she shook her head. "Forget it. Let's peek into Shanks' dream instead—he's more easygoing."
Inside, the air was filled with laughter, music, and the clinking of mugs.
"Let's drink! Three days and three nights! No one's going home till we're drunk out of our minds!" Shanks bellowed, his arm around a crewmate.
A loud cheer erupted in response.
Anna watched from the sidelines, sweatdropping. "Figures… even in his dreams, he's throwing a party."
Trying to steer the dream, she said, "Captain, there's a massive wave ahead—it might affect our route!"
She wanted to see where Shanks' subconscious would take them. Sometimes, dreams revealed secrets through instinct.
But instead of reacting with concern, Shanks just laughed. "Waves, huh? Hah! Then let's have some fun!"
Rising from his seat, he drew Gryphon, his blade flashing with energy as he slashed through the air.
A gaping hole split the enormous wave, light spilling through the churning sea. The pirate ship sailed smoothly through the gap as though the ocean itself bowed before him.
Anna froze, eyes wide. Seeing it in person—seeing that level of strength—was far more awe-inspiring than any anime scene she'd ever watched.
Shanks sat back down as if nothing had happened. "Alright! Keep the drinks flowing!"
Anna sighed. "No destination, no clues… fine. I'll let it flow naturally."
She left the dream, floating back out into the silvery expanse of the dream world.
Just as she turned to leave, a flicker of light caught her eye.
"Kizaru's dream…" she whispered. "Finally. Let's see what the Admiral's dreaming about."