"Mr. Crocodile?"
"What happened? Why is Mr. Crocodile lying there?"
"Was that big explosion because of Mr. Crocodile?"
The massive explosion earlier had drawn many people closer. People are naturally curious about such things, so they approached and saw Crocodile lying in a deep crater.
Crocodile's gaze was unfocused.
Failed again?
After his defeat by Whitebeard in the New World, Crocodile retreated to the first half of the Grand Line, intending to seize the legendary Ancient Weapon, build a military power, and then advance into the New World once more.
And yet...
He was defeated by a rookie pirate?
No, it's not over yet!
Crocodile suddenly pushed himself up from the ground. He still had a chance!
The Straw Hat brat was poisoned by his scorpion venom. He should be dying right now.
Find Pluton!
He still had a chance!
Right now, the Revolutionary Army was still fighting the Royal Army as he had planned.
Crocodile emerged from the deep crater, glanced from afar towards Luffy's direction, coughing up blood, and turned to leave.
He didn't even dare to go confirm whether the Straw Hat brat was alive or dead.
Fortunately, he didn't go.
In front of Princess Vivi...
The torment wasn't over.
She watched the intimate scene between the two before her, yet didn't dare to step forward and push Robin away.
She knew Robin was administering the antidote to save Luffy's life. It was the only effective method right now.
But her heart felt unbearably stifled!
That feeling... it was like being the rightful wife, forced to watch helplessly as another woman saved her husband in such an intimate way, while she herself could do nothing but stand by in anxious helplessness!
A powerful sense of inadequacy and the frustration of having her move stolen filled her heart.
I thought of it first!
On Princess Vivi's delicate face, her expression shifted unpredictably—worry for Luffy, annoyance at Robin, resentment towards her own hesitation. A myriad of emotions intertwined, creating a spectacularly complex look.
As for little tears? That was just sand in her eyes.
As for Robin, her heart wasn't entirely calm either.
Initially, she truly only intended to administer the antidote, without any ulterior thoughts.
However, when her lips touched Luffy's, which were slightly chapped from thirst yet still carried a scorching heat, an unfamiliar sensation made her heart tremble slightly.
In her twenty years of turbulent life, filled with betrayal and darkness since the Buster Call on Ohara, her world's creed had been self-preservation first.
Any stranger who came within two meters of her would trigger instinctive vigilance, even readiness to use her ability to snap their neck.
Intimate contact?
That word hardly existed in her dictionary.
But now, she had acted this way without hesitation towards this Straw Hat brat she hadn't known for long, who, in a sense, held her as a captive.
Though it was to save him... why him?
Why did she make this choice so naturally?
Was it merely to repay his inexplicable trust on the ship, or was it something else?
Had she truly become a captive in more ways than one?
Robin's mind wandered for a fleeting moment. She tried to rationally analyze her actions, but found her thoughts somewhat jumbled.
[Warning...]
The warning sound vanished. The administered antidote was like a life-giving rain after a long drought for Luffy!
Anything—food, drink—would do.
His body desperately craved energy replenishment.
First came the slightly bitter liquid, but it was too little.
The slight restoration of strength instantly activated his survival instincts.
Almost subconsciously, in his semi-conscious state, Luffy, as if finding the source of life itself, began to instinctively pursue the target.
Sure enough, after sucking in the bitter medicine, the taste became somewhat sweet.
Not only that, his rubber-man traits also manifested now.
His previously limp arm suddenly gained strength, wrapping around like a living thing, tightly encircling Robin's waist and neck.
He'd learned this move from Nami.
He clung like a giant octopus.
Robin stiffened from the sudden, tight embrace.
Luffy's strength was astonishing, squeezing her so she could barely breathe. The closeness of their bodies reached an unprecedented degree.
She could clearly feel the intense heartbeat and scorching body heat emanating from his chest.
A strange, unfamiliar sensation, like an electric current, shot through her entire body. On her perpetually calm, masked face, a faint, rare blush appeared, and her heart skipped several beats involuntarily.
She tried to push away slightly, but to little effect.
Hey, haven't you two had enough?
Standing beside them, the light in Vivi's eyes gradually dimmed.
She watched helplessly as Luffy went from passively receiving the medicine to actively clinging to Robin.
How much antidote was there?
Vivi's mind immediately performed a rapid calculation.
That little bottle held less than 200 grams. Even sipping it slowly, it should've been finished in ten seconds.
Had they been drinking for a minute now? Was it still the antidote?
Her eyes devoid of light, Vivi knelt numbly on the sand, staring at the tightly embraced pair.
The whole world had turned gray.
[Warning, meal plan period has ended. Next is learning noble etiquette with Vivi...]
Alive... I'm alive.
When Luffy opened his eyes, his mind was still fuzzy.
What happened just now?
To be honest, Luffy didn't remember. He only felt he'd been saved, though his stomach was still incredibly empty.
He must have been eating just now? What did he eat?
He licked his lips. They tasted sweet.
Looking beside him, Vivi appeared lifeless, her eyes dull. Luffy urgently shook her shoulders. "Vivi! Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!"
"Hurt? I'm fine..."
At that moment, Nami and the others, having finished their own battles, rushed over.
"What happened? Where's Crocodile?"
"I punched him flying! Hey, Sanji, do you have any food on you? I'm starving!"
"Haven't you... eaten your fill already?" Vivi pouted her little mouth.
Luffy looked completely clueless. But Sanji did indeed always carry a large amount of food. Luffy immediately inhaled it like a whirlwind, finally feeling alive again. He looked around; everyone was back.
"Where's Robin?" Luffy didn't see Robin.
"She said she has something she needs to do." Vivi didn't even know what to say. Did Luffy have no memory of what just happened at all?
As for Robin... did she really have something to do, or was she just trying to escape?
Right then, a red glint flashed in Luffy's eyes. He suddenly looked back and saw a freckled man walking towards them.
"Ace?"
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!