Alabasta Kingdom
Nanohana Port
Ships of all sizes were docked along the harbor.
The scorching air pressed down heavily on the port, forcing people to move quickly through the streets. Most of the workers had wrapped white or gray cloth around their heads to shield themselves from the sun.
Nanohana was not the largest port in Alabasta.
Yet as one of the major nations of the first half of the Grand Line, even its secondary ports were bustling centers of commerce.
But today—
A heavy gloom hung over the harbor.
Dockworkers silently unloaded cargo from merchant ships or hauled goods toward the docks. Most people avoided conversation entirely.
For three years, rain had fallen nowhere in the kingdom except the capital, Alubarna.
The Sandora River was nearly dry.
The once-famous Green City of Erumalu had already collapsed into ruin, swallowed by the desert.
Even the busiest port could not escape such despair.
"Out of the way!"
A harsh shout suddenly broke the silence.
Bang!
A cargo wagon was kicked over.
The laborer pulling it was thrown violently to the ground, crying out in pain.
The sudden disturbance drew the attention of several people nearby.
But after a brief glance, they all lowered their heads again and continued working.
No one wanted trouble.
Five men stood beside the overturned wagon.
They held weapons, their faces rough and menacing.
The wagon had simply blocked their path.
"Damn idiot."
One of them—a fat man—spat on the ground in annoyance.
"Don't make too much noise," another warned. "We still need to find someone."
"Tch. You actually think we'll find her?"
"That woman isn't someone we can handle."
"Heh," another man sneered.
"Who said we have to fight her ourselves?"
"As long as we report her location to the organization, we might even get promoted to Officer Agent."
At that, all five men's eyes lit up with greed.
The fat man suddenly stepped forward.
He grabbed the fallen worker by the collar and lifted him up.
From his pocket he pulled out a portrait.
"Have you seen this woman?"
The worker's face turned pale.
He glanced at the picture of the woman and shook his head frantically.
Less than a hundred meters away—
Behind a stack of cargo crates.
A slender figure leaned quietly against the crates.
She wore a dusty cloak that covered most of her body, leaving only half her face visible.
Her sharp gaze scanned the harbor carefully.
…cough.
Robin covered her mouth as she coughed.
A trace of blood stained her lips.
Her face had grown pale.
She was injured.
Right now, she was being hunted by both Baroque Works and the Marines.
Thinking back—
Everything had started a week ago.
After Mr.3 and the others were defeated by the Magic Eye Pirates.
And after she answered that phone call.
When she realized the Magic Eye Pirates' captain—Yuuki—knew her true identity, Robin immediately became cautious.
She understood better than anyone what would happen if her identity was exposed.
Even if Crocodile still needed her to translate the Poneglyphs, the moment the Marines took interest, Crocodile would abandon her without hesitation.
So Robin quietly began preparing an escape route.
In her eyes, both sides were dangerous:
Baroque Works, plotting to seize control of the kingdomThe mysterious Magic Eye Pirates
Leaving Alabasta had been her safest option.
But she had underestimated Crocodile's control over Baroque Works.
Her preparations were discovered.
Under normal circumstances, Robin believed she could calm Crocodile's suspicions.
But then—
The Marines suddenly deployed forces into Alabasta.
Both she and Crocodile had been caught off guard.
Robin had no choice but to flee immediately.
During her escape—
Her identity was exposed.
The Marines contacted Crocodile, the Warlord stationed in Alabasta.
And now both forces were hunting her.
Robin exhaled slowly.
Her dark blue eyes briefly swept over the five Baroque Works agents nearby.
They were insignificant.
The real threat stood elsewhere.
Hidden among the crowd.
A tall, muscular man wearing monk-like clothing, a scar across the left side of his face.
Mr.1.
Baroque Works' top agent.
His real name was Daz Bones.
A famous assassin from the West Blue.
And the user of the Supa Supa no Mi, allowing his body to turn into blades.
Robin's pupils shrank slightly.
"I'm too late…"
She had reached the port.
If she boarded a ship, she could escape.
But Mr.1's presence meant—
Crocodile had already decided.
While publicly cooperating with the Marines to capture her, he had secretly sent Mr.1 to kill her.
No loose ends.
Robin carefully observed the surroundings again.
Then suddenly froze.
Why was Chaka, deputy commander of the royal guard, here?
Only then did she notice the group of men near him.
Though dressed like dockworkers, they were clearly royal soldiers.
Robin frowned.
Why were they here?
Then she saw something even more surprising.
Across from the royal soldiers—
A familiar face stood among the crowd.
Koza.
Leader of the Rebel Army.
As one of the key figures manipulated in Baroque Works' coup plan, Robin could never mistake him.
Now things made sense.
The royal army and rebel army were currently locked in tense confrontation across the kingdom.
Yet their leaders had both appeared here.
Robin studied both sides.
"…They haven't noticed each other yet."
Both groups were focused on something else.
And the only thing that could draw the attention of the royal army, rebel army, and even the Marines…
Robin's eyes flashed.
"Princess Vivi."
So that was it.
The Marines' sudden appearance wasn't because of her.
They were here for Vivi, who had been taken by pirates.
Robin gave a bitter smile.
Regret came too late now.
"If the royal army and rebels are here…"
"Then the Magic Eye Pirates must be close."
A glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes.
"…Maybe I can escape during the chaos."
"Pirates!!"
"A pirate ship!"
"The pirates are here!"
Shouts suddenly erupted across the harbor.
In the distance—
A ship bearing a Magic Eye flag sailed directly toward the port.
Alabasta was a powerful nation.
Not only did it possess a large army, but Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords, resided here.
Most pirate crews lowered their flags before entering port.
Or docked somewhere secluded nearby.
Of course, some arrogant pirates sailed in openly.
Their fate rarely ended well.
The crowd buzzed with noise, but panic was limited.
Pirate ships arriving here was not unusual.
But hidden forces immediately reacted.
Both the Royal Army and the Rebel Army tensed.
Chaka and Koza almost simultaneously issued quiet orders.
"When the ship docks, ensure the princess's safety," Chaka instructed his soldiers sternly.
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
Princess Vivi's kidnapping had not been publicly announced.
For the sake of the royal family's reputation, the fewer people who knew, the better.
To avoid alerting the pirates, Chaka had not evacuated the port either.
But just as tension built—
A sharp whistle sounded outside the harbor.
Peeeep!
A Marine unit of about one hundred soldiers stormed into the port with rifles.
"Everyone clear the area!"
"The Marines are here to capture the Magic Eye Pirates!"
Leading them was a large man nearly two meters tall wearing a white Justice cloak.
His build was powerful.
His expression cold.
His presence carried a heavy pressure.
For a moment the harbor fell silent.
Then—
Panic erupted.
Workers fled in every direction.
No one wanted to be caught between pirates and Marines.
Chaka's face darkened.
"Marine Headquarters Colonel Adette…"
Everything had been planned perfectly.
And yet the Marines had interfered.
He had already told them not to intervene.
Thud!
Chaka leapt from hiding and landed in front of the Marine officer.
"Adette."
"We already told the Marines not to interfere."
His voice was cold.
Adette looked at him calmly.
"Capturing pirates is the Marines' duty."
"Relax."
"We'll rescue your princess as well."
Chaka's expression turned grim.
If the Marines attacked the pirates directly, Vivi's safety would be impossible to guarantee.
Not far away—
Koza watched the situation with surprise.
He had not expected the Marines to appear.
Nor had he realized the royal army had been hiding nearby.
"Koza, that's Chaka from the royal guard."
"And the Marines are here too."
"What should we do?"
One of his companions asked cautiously.
Koza exhaled slowly.
Strangely, he felt relieved.
He and Vivi had been childhood friends.
After hearing she had been captured by pirates, he rushed here with his men.
But if both the Marines and the royal army were here—
Then the pirates should be handled.
"Withdraw."
Koza ordered.
"All of you leave while things are chaotic."
"What about you, Koza?"
"I'll stay."
"It's easier for one person to move."
He patted the man's shoulder reassuringly.
Soon the rebels slipped into the fleeing crowd and disappeared.
Robin tightened her cloak.
She glanced once more at the tense standoff between Colonel Adette and Chaka.
Then she quietly blended into the crowd and moved toward the port exit.
But suddenly—
Adette's ears twitched.
His gaze snapped toward a slender cloaked figure moving with the crowd.
A grin spread across his face.
"Well well."
"You were hiding here."
"What an unexpected surprise."
Shave.
Adette vanished from his position.
In an instant he appeared beside Robin.
The wind of his movement brushed her ear.
Robin's face changed.
She immediately dodged sideways—
But she was too slow.
Adette's hand had already grabbed the cloth covering her head.
The hood tore away.
Her face was exposed.
"Just as I thought."
"Nico Robin."
Adette's eyes gleamed with excitement.
He had searched for weeks without success.
He had assumed she had already fled Alabasta.
Yet here she was.
"And to think I almost missed you."
If he hadn't come here to intercept the Magic Eye Pirates, Robin might truly have escaped.
Robin's body tensed.
Her face grew pale.
Because she knew—
Mr.1 was still hidden nearby.
Facing Adette and Mr.1 together…
Escape was impossible.
Meanwhile—
Waves crashed against the hull of a ship.
On the deck of the Magic Eye Pirates' ship, Yuuki stood at the bow.
He looked toward the chaotic harbor in the distance.
A faint smile curved his lips.
"Your kingdom's port…"
He said lightly to Vivi beside him,
"…is quite lively."
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