Zian had no resistance to the idea of becoming Luffy's crewmate.
Back when he first watched the series, he had already liked this group. Now that he had actually met them, it only felt natural to travel alongside them for a while.
Besides… sticking with the main character usually meant you wouldn't die so easily. At the very least, this world didn't involve sacrificing someone just to awaken something like the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"You agreed just like that?" Paulie said. "Shouldn't you think it through?"
Joining a pirate crew so casually… wasn't that a bit reckless?
"What's there to think about?"
"Do you even know who they are?"
"I do," Zian nodded. "I read the papers."
"The Straw Hat Pirates, right?"
The moment he said that, Zoro's gaze sharpened again.
"So you came here on purpose?"
"Are you serious?" Zian shot back. "Why would I go out of my way to block a train in the middle of the ocean?"
He hadn't even known trains could run on the sea in this world.
Unfortunately, that didn't fully convince Zoro.
Still, since Luffy had already invited Zian to join, Zoro was willing to give him a basic level of trust.
That said, he would keep a close eye on him, just like when Nico Robin first joined.
He had no choice. Their current situation was too unusual.
"It's called a sea train," Kokoro corrected.
"Oh, sea train," Zian nodded. "Makes sense."
A train that runs on the ocean. The name fit perfectly.
"Anyway, from now on, Zian is our crewmate!" Luffy declared. "We can't throw a party now, so we'll celebrate after we rescue Robin!"
Normally, a new crewmate meant a party.
But clearly, this wasn't the time.
"Rescue Robin?" Zian frowned. "What happened?"
Now that he thought about it, Sanji and Usopp weren't here, and instead of the Going Merry, they were riding this strange sea train.
"I'll explain," Nami said.
Since Luffy trusted him, she was willing to do the same. At the same time, she wanted to see whether he would back down after learning who their enemy was.
After all… they were heading to Enies Lobby.
She quickly explained everything that had happened.
"So that's what Nico Robin did…" Zian murmured.
She chose to sacrifice herself for her friends, trading her own freedom for their safety.
No wonder they were willing to storm a place like that to bring her back.
She was worth it.
After thinking for a moment, Zian said, "So we're heading to Enies Lobby to rescue her before the trial?"
"That's right."
"Alright, got it." Zian nodded, a grin forming. "Going up against something like that…"
"Sounds interesting."
"Let's turn the place upside down."
Fear wasn't part of Zian's vocabulary.
Seeing that he wasn't afraid at all, but instead looked excited, Nami blinked in surprise before smiling.
Their new crewmate… might actually fit right in.
Paulie, on the other hand, twitched slightly, not sure what to say.
This group was planning to attack Enies Lobby, and this new guy, after hearing everything, wasn't scared at all. If anything, he looked eager.
Then again, anyone who joined the Straw Hat crew probably wasn't normal.
Still, having a ninja on their side would definitely increase their strength and improve their chances.
"If only we could catch up before they reach Enies Lobby," Nami said.
"That's impossible," Kokoro shook her head. "Rocketman is fast, but it can't catch up to a sea train that left earlier."
She knew that very well.
Which meant they had no choice but to fight head-on at Enies Lobby and take Robin back by force.
"Then we fight," Zian said casually.
"Yeah!" Chopper said firmly. "No matter what, we're bringing Robin back!"
This time, they were ready to risk everything.
There was no hesitation.
"I'll check on Sanji," Nami said, taking out a Den Den Mushi.
They had left earlier, and no one knew their situation now.
"Granny!" Chimney shouted from the window. "Aqua Laguna is coming!"
"So it's finally here," Kokoro said calmly, taking a swig from her bottle as if she had expected it all along.
She knew it would reach them sooner or later.
As for how to deal with it?
That wasn't her concern. She was just the conductor.
Nami leaned out to look.
Her pupils shrank instantly.
"That's… that's a massive tsunami!!"
The towering wave surged closer at terrifying speed, her face turning pale.
Even without knowing the full capabilities of the sea train, she could imagine the outcome.
They would all die.
"Kokoro, do something!" Nami shouted.
"Nothing I can do," Kokoro replied calmly. "I already told you. Once Rocketman is on the tracks, it can't stop. Not even I can change that."
She took another long drink, looking more like a carefree drunk than someone responsible for their lives.
Zian couldn't help but twitch slightly.
Was she really reliable?
"Then what do we do?" Nami asked, panic creeping into her voice.
If they didn't deal with the tsunami, Rocketman would be destroyed on impact.
Paulie and Zambai exchanged a glance.
"We've got this!" Paulie said.
The two of them immediately led their group out.
Zian leaned out the window, looking at the massive wave approaching.
"Not small at all."
"Can you handle it?!" Nami asked, hope in her eyes.
"Let them try first," Zian said, pointing upward.
They had already volunteered. No need to step in yet.
If they failed, he could act. There was still time.
"So you do have a way?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
Nami nodded and calmly continued contacting Sanji, as if she had already placed full trust in him.
That surprised Zian a little.
"Fire! Let this so-called Aqua Laguna see the power of Galley-La Company!" Paulie shouted.
"Yeah!"
They fired cannon after cannon toward the incoming wave.
Boom!
But it was useless.
The shells only splashed against the surface, failing to make any real impact.
"It's not enough," Paulie said grimly.
"Then it's our turn!" Zambai shouted. "Leave it to the Franky Family's special cannon!"
"Target: Aqua Laguna!"
"Fire!"
Boom!!
Zian raised an eyebrow at the massive cannon.
"That's… a serious cannon."
The barrel was large enough for a person to crawl into.
He watched as the shell struck the wave.
Splash.
Still no effect.
"Yeah, that's not working," Zian said, shaking his head. "Guess it's my turn."
He had expected something more creative.
Instead, they were just trying to blast a tsunami apart.
And despite how intimidating that cannon looked, its power was underwhelming.
"Alright, it's up to you, Zian," Luffy said, sitting calmly without even standing up.
It was obvious.
He trusted him completely.
At that moment, Luffy had placed their lives in Zian's hands. If he failed, they would all die together.
That kind of trust made Zian pause for a second.
Then he nodded.
"Don't worry. Leave it to me."
He grabbed the edge of the window and leapt out, landing on top of Rocketman.
"Hey, ninja guy," Paulie called while firing. "Got a way to deal with this?"
"We're out of options," Zambai added.
Inside earlier, Zian had said the space was too cramped to use his techniques.
But out here?
Maybe it was different.
"Yeah," Zian said. "I've got it."
He looked ahead at the towering wave.
"Hey, Luffy! You wanted to see my ninjutsu, right?"
"I'll show you now. Watch closely!"
He brought his hands together.
The sea began to tremble.
Waves surged violently, as if something enormous was about to rise from beneath the surface.
The next moment, two massive water dragons burst from either side of the train, roaring as they surged toward the tsunami.
"Water Release: Twin Water Dragon Tornado!"
The twin dragons spiraled together, merging into a violent rotating force before crashing straight into the wave.
Boom!!
The impact exploded outward, blasting a massive hole straight through the tsunami.
"…He… he actually broke it?!!!"