"How do you feel?"
In the bathroom, watching Robin soaking in the bathtub, Malverick couldn't help asking.
"It was really hot just now, but it's much better now. My whole body feels warm!
And that pain has lessened a lot! It's just…"
Robin suddenly looked puzzled.
"What's wrong? Something feels off?"
Seeing Robin's expression, Malverick couldn't help asking.
He didn't know too much about it either, but one thing was certain: the Phoenix Blood had no negative effect on her.
Robin beckoned him with her hand, telling him to come closer.
When the distance was just right—splash!
Robin suddenly scooped up some water and dumped it over Malverick's head!
"Hahaha!"
Seeing her plan succeed, she burst into laughter.
"Is it fun, Mr. Lewd Captain?"
Malverick wiped the water from his face, then looked at Robin with dangerous eyes.
Being stared at like that, Robin instantly stopped laughing.
"Very fun? Good. Let's keep playing."
"No— don't— don't come in! I'm still taking a bath!"
"It's fine. I'll help you."
After finding resistance useless, Robin could only submit honestly.
Nobody knew how long it took, but eventually Malverick carried Robin to the bed and lay down.
"Let me ask you something."
"That woman named Hancock— between her and me, who's better?"
This was a very difficult question.
If Malverick said Robin was better, then once the two women met, Robin would definitely use that line to poke at Hancock.
If he said Hancock was better… the situation right now would be hard to deal with.
"Who's better? Hard to say.
Why don't we wait until you two meet and discuss it together?"
Hearing that, Robin shoved him.
"You're dreaming!"
Then she stopped talking. Malverick thought she had fallen asleep.
Just as he was about to nap a little himself, Robin suddenly spoke again.
"Then is there any part of me that's better than her?"
"I don't think so.
Figure, looks, strength, status— Hancock beats you in all of them."
World's most beautiful woman, Pirate Empress— those titles aren't for nothing.
"I don't care!
You must find something I'm better at!"
"You're making things difficult for me."
"I am making things difficult for you!
Who told you to have two women?"
As she said that, Robin's hand suddenly slid downward.
Rip—
The next moment, Malverick felt Robin's fingernails.
Everyone knows— women's nails are usually longer than men's (except a few).
"Robin, don't do anything crazy."
"If you don't want me to, then hurry and answer!
Otherwise… Why is it— why is it like this—?!"
"You didn't know? There's a thing called Armament Haki."
Robin hadn't begun learning Haki yet, so she didn't understand.
When she finally let go, Malverick wrapped his arms around her.
"You do have something better than Hancock."
"What is it?!"
Robin immediately asked.
She really wanted to know where she surpassed Hancock.
"Hancock is just Hancock.
But you're different.
You're not just Robin—
You're Robin Robin Robin…"
"YOU!"
Hearing his answer, Robin pinched him hard and turned her head away, refusing to talk to him anymore.
Not long after, her breathing became steady— she was asleep.
The next day, Malverick got up early.
Shanks was already outside.
He was staring in amazement at Susanoo and Kobi. Not just him— all the Red Hair Pirates wore expressions of shock and curiosity.
"Malverick, you really got these in the slave prison?"
"Yeah. I only obtained them after destroying the slave prison."
Same explanation— he wasn't lying.
"The World Government people must be regretting to death.
These two monster-like beings ended up cheap for you!"
Malverick just smiled and didn't explain further.
After eating another meal, the Red Hair Pirates were preparing to leave.
"Rest assured.
We'll handle Sengoku."
"Mm. Thanks, Shanks."
"Oh, and— be careful in East Blue.
Don't get taken out by something stupid."
Malverick offered kind advice.
He didn't want Shanks to become disabled.
But even if Shanks really did lose his arm to a sea king, Malverick still had a way to reattach it.
Just like that, the Red Hair Pirates departed.
When the Navy learned this, they immediately launched new operations.
Garp once again set out with Aokiji!
To capture Malverick, the Navy postponed the Fleet Admiral succession ceremony.
Not long after Garp departed, Kong received a call from the Five Elders.
"Fleet Admiral Kong,
if you cannot rescue the Celestial Dragons before the Reverie begins,
we will take matters into our own hands."
"What do you intend to do?"
Kong asked.
The Five Elders already had a plan.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea—
currently we only have Jinbe and Boa Hancock.
We are missing one more."
Boom—
Hearing their plan, Kong nearly exploded in anger.
But he held it in.
He understood all too well— once the Five Elders made a decision, not even the Fleet Admiral could overturn it.
"I understand. The Navy will do its best."
After hanging up, Kong immediately contacted Sengoku at G1 Base.
After discussion, they deployed:
Garp + Aokiji
Sengoku + five Vice Admirals (a full Buster Call force)
Their shared target:
The Dark Night Pirates!
No matter how you look at it—
the Navy was going all-out this time.
When Malverick received this information, he spent a long time thinking.
The Navy's mobilization this time definitely exceeded his expectations.
But— it still hadn't reached the point of being unbearable.
Shanks had already gone ahead to block Sengoku.
With him there, the Buster Call force Sengoku brought would at most be half effective.
And Sengoku himself wouldn't be able to show up.
So Malverick's main pressure came from:
Garp, Aokiji, and half a Buster Call.
Still a hard bone to chew.
"Hm? Someone's down there?!"
As Malverick was thinking, he suddenly sensed something.
Someone was beneath the snail ship!
He immediately rushed out, controlling the seawater below with the power of Black Marine!
In the next moment, a water dragon surged downward.
Boom!
To his surprise—
from beneath the surface, a pillar of water shot up and smashed his attack apart!
Then, a figure burst out from the sea, throwing a punch straight at Malverick!
Malverick clenched his fist and struck back!
Boom!!
Their fists collided, shaking the entire surface of the sea.
"Such great strength!"
"You too.
Being able to compete with us fish-men in raw power… as expected of you."
"It's you—but weren't you—?!"
Seeing the person's face clearly, Malverick's eyes widened!
—------------------------------
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