In just three days, the five girls had moved from Area Four into Area Two of the Sabaody Archipelago.
As usual, they walked side by side, entering and exiting various shops, purchasing specialty goods unique to Sabaody or rare items shipped in from all over the world.
As the center of the world and the largest archipelago on the seas, Sabaody was nothing like how it appeared in manga or anime.In reality, it was vast—far larger than most islands they had encountered—and money flowed everywhere.
Any pirate who passed through one of the Seven Routes and wished to enter the New World had to stop here. Depending on the size of their ship and the time needed for coating, they might stay for a few days—or even an entire month.
During that time, pirates who had the strength to reach Sabaody would not remain cooped up on their ships. Instead, they relaxed throughout the archipelago.
In addition to pirates, there were wealthy locals and nobles from all over the world—people who came either to witness the so-called glory of the Celestial Dragons or to curry favor with them. These people spent lavishly at auction houses, driving prices far above the norm.
Whether pirates or wealthy elites, they were all customers willing to spend money.
Naturally, the major forces of the underground world would never miss such a lucrative opportunity.
As a result, Sabaody offered more goods than any other bustling island. And as long as one entered the illegal zones, even forbidden items could be purchased.
After just a few days, the items bought by the five girls were already enough to fill an entire room.
Walking out of yet another shop, Carina, Nami, and Perona were each holding large bundles of cords in their hands.The cords were tied to floating bubbles like balloons, each filled with neatly packaged purchases.
Walking through the crowded streets, the three girls ignored the gazes around them—some filled with admiration, others with naked malice—and continued discussing what they should buy next.
Robin and Kuina followed slightly behind them, one on each side.
Robin watched the girls chatting with a gentle smile.
Kuina, on the other hand, remained expressionless.
At that moment, a tall figure wearing a white suit and a white mask appeared in the crowd ahead and brushed past Robin.
When the masked man passed her shoulder, his footsteps paused—for less than a second.
Taking advantage of that instant, he spoke in a low voice that only Robin could hear.
The moment the words reached her ears, Robin's pupils shrank to pinpoints, and all color drained from her face.
A powerful surge of fear burst from her body.
The three girls in front didn't notice it at all.
But Kuina did.
With her sharp perception and powerful Observation Haki, Kuina not only sensed Robin's sudden emotional collapse—She also clearly heard the masked man's whisper.
Kuina stopped.
She turned her head toward the man's retreating back and asked calmly:
"Do you know Bonney?"
"Iron Body! (Tekkai!)"
Whether Kuina's words triggered his instincts, or whether he possessed Observation Haki of his own, the masked man reacted instantly.
Without hesitation, he attempted to activate Tekkai.
Unfortunately—
He was too slow.
A sharp, tearing pain exploded from his waist.
In the next instant, dazzling blue-and-white lightning burst forth right in front of his eyes.
The lightning condensed into a blade—Wielded by a blue-haired girl wearing red-and-white shrine maiden robes, holding a famed sword.
The masked man's vision suddenly dropped.
From a god's-eye view, his body had been cleanly severed in half at the waist by an incomparably sharp force.
Blood and intestines spilled across the street.
A public execution—A body cut clean in two—
Instantly threw the entire street into chaos.
Even civilians accustomed to pirates fighting openly couldn't help screaming as they fled, hurriedly distancing themselves from the five girls.
The bustling street emptied in moments.
Looking at the broken corpse on the ground, Carina, Nami, and Perona stopped talking at once, their expressions darkening.
Robin's fear intensified even further.
Kuina, who had killed the CP agent at a speed beyond comprehension, calmly returned her sword to its sheath without bothering to wipe away the blood.
Turning toward Robin, Kuina—whose presence had grown increasingly cold and dignified—showed a faint smile that only her companions would ever see.
"Don't be afraid of trash like this threatening you, Sister Robin."
"We'll protect you."
Seeing Kuina's powerful figure standing before her, the three girls finally understood what had happened and smiled reassuringly.
For some reason, Robin's vision blurred.
Her throat tightened, and her voice caught.
This "Devil Child"—Who had cried less and less over the past fifteen years, hiding her weakness behind a calm mask—
Finally shed tears again.
But this time—
They were not tears of despair or sorrow.
They were tears of happiness.
Saul…It seems I really did find companions who are willing to protect me—just like you said.
El, however, was completely unaware of what had just happened.
If he had known, he would have been shocked.
He had expected someone to recognize him or Kuina, triggering a chain reaction—
But he never imagined that the CP agents would target Robin first, despite her having joined them only recently.
After a short while, Carina used a Den Den Mushi to contact El, intending to inform him of what had happened.
However—
El did not answer.
Because at that very moment—
He had encountered an unexpected situation of his own.
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