Vivi finally reacted, she rushed forward a few steps, her voice trembling slightly: "Ms. All Sunday! Where... where did you take Igaram?!"
Robin sat gracefully on the railing, as if she really had only come to the going merry to chat and visit. She smiled lightly, her tone so gentle it was unsettling: "Alabasta, of course~ Isn't that where you all want to go next?"
These words made Vivi stiffen. Not only did the other party know their destination, but even their actions were under her control.
She smiled lightly, her gaze sweeping over everyone on the deck, finally resting on the black-haired swordsman at the bow who had already become vigilant.
Her gaze finally lingered for a moment on Tomioka's unique haori and black uniform, a hint of deep curiosity and scrutiny flashing in her eyes.
"It seems..." Robin's voice was gentle, yet tinged with playfulness, "the intelligence was mistaken~ The lighthouse keeper of Twin Cape doesn't seem to be here~"
"Instead... it's a rather special Mr. Samurai~"
Her red lips parted slightly, her tone filled with pure inquiry, "This attire... it's truly an ancient style."
Before she finished speaking, a fair arm 'grew' out of Tomioka's shoulder without warning, its fingers gently caressing the fabric of his haori.
Tomioka's body instantly tensed. Almost instinctively, his left hand shot out like lightning, grabbing at the strange wrist on his shoulder!
However, the arm scattered and disappeared like flower petals the moment he touched it, leaving only a faint, elusive sensation of skin.
Tomioka's eyes grew cold, his left hand resting firmly on the hilt of his sword. This woman's ability was not to be underestimated.
"Ah ah ah ah~ Beautiful and intelligent big sister! May I ask your esteemed name?!"
Just then, Sanji emerged from the kitchen with after-dinner black tea, and immediately spotted Ms. All Sunday on the railing.
His eyes instantly turned into pulsating hearts, and he spun around and rushed over, "On this lonely night, to encounter a lady like you must be a gift from heaven!~"
Robin responded to Sanji's enthusiastic flattery with only a mysterious smile, her gaze completely shifting from Tomioka to Luffy, who was still baring his teeth. She seemed to find this group of people increasingly interesting.
She flipped her wrist, pulled a Log Pose from her pocket, and lightly tossed it to Luffy.
"Alright, back to business." Her tone was light, as if merely offering a friendly suggestion.
"If you follow the Log Pose you currently have, the next island is Small Garden. That place... if you want to get through there alive, it will probably be very difficult~"
She paused, watching Luffy catch the Log Pose, and added: "And this one I'm giving you now is an Eternal Pose for Alabasta. This is a secret route that even ordinary Baroque Works employees don't know about, so consider it a welcome gift, perhaps~?"
Luffy held the Log Pose, looked down at it, then looked up at Robin, his face expressionless.
The next second, he suddenly clenched his fist!
Crack!
The Log Pose was instantly crushed to smithereens in his hand!
"You idiot!!!" Nami immediately shrieked, rushing over and punching Luffy on the head.
"What if she really was a good person?! What if that route was safer?! What are you doing!!!" She looked at the fragments of the Log Pose on the ground, so heartbroken she almost cried.
Luffy rubbed his head, his expression more serious and resolute than ever before.
He pointed at Robin and declared loudly:
"This ship's course is decided by us! We don't need you to tell us what to do!"
Robin was stunned.
She looked at the serious-faced Straw Hat, then at his crew behind him, all with different expressions but none refuting him. A few seconds later, she suddenly raised her hand to cover her mouth, letting out a pleasant chuckle.
"Pfft... You really are... an interesting group of people~"
The teasing in her smile lessened. As if she had thought of something, she then said with a smile:
"Alright then~ I'll look forward to seeing if I can meet you all again... at the next stop after Small Garden~"
As her words fell, Robin jumped down from the railing onto the back of a large sea turtle with a saddle next to the Going Merry, then slowly departed from the Going Merry, silently merging into the night.
A brief silence fell over the Going Merry.
Zoro scratched his ear, looking in the direction the sea turtle had left, and asked Vivi: "Hey, whose partner is that guy this time?"
"She's... Mr. 0's... that is, Crocodile's partner..."
"Oh, so that's it. She doesn't look that strong, does she? Isn't it just that her ability is a bit strange?" Zoro stroked his chin, seemingly still recalling the arm that had suddenly appeared on Tomioka's body earlier.
As Ms. All Sunday departed, Vivi finally couldn't hold on any longer and sat down, leaning against the railing... Nami also walked forward and gave Vivi a firm hug, comforting her: "It's okay, isn't he the captain of the guard? He'll definitely be fine."
"Mm... mm." Vivi bit her lip and nodded... Meanwhile, on an ancient island somewhere in the Grand Line, which was the next stop for Luffy and Tomioka's group—Small Garden.
In an exquisite little house made of wax, Mr. 3 was elegantly sipping black tea, while Ms. Goldenweek quietly painted nearby.
Suddenly, a cold, powerful aura approached.
Two figures appeared at the doorway. One was a tall, muscular man—Mr. 1. The other was a fiery woman with a hairstyle like thorns—Ms. Doublefinger.
"Why are you two here?"
"It's the boss's order." Mr. 1's voice was devoid of emotion.
"The Straw Hat and that traitor, this is their next island. Intercept them, and eliminate them completely."
Mr. 3 pushed up his glasses, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face: "Hmph, they're just a bunch of rookie pirates who just entered the Grand Line. Why would you two need to bother coming yourselves? My candles will freeze them here forever."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Then stop wasting words." Mr. 1 said coldly, "Let's each do our best and see who takes their heads first."
"Suits me just fine." Mr. 3 smiled confidently.
Just as Mr. 1 and Ms. Doublefinger turned to leave, Ms. Doublefinger seemed to suddenly remember something, stopped, and turned back:
"Oh, right, Mr. 3. Consider this a gift for you. The latest intelligence specifically mentions that there's also an exceptionally powerful sniper on their ship."
"I heard his attacks... can be launched from extreme distances. It's suggested to deal with him first."
Upon hearing this, Mr. 3 merely scoffed disdainfully, waving his hand carelessly.
Ms. Goldenweek, at his side, continued to quietly paint her picture, the surrounding tension seemingly unrelated to her, only adding another dab of red to her palette.