Chapter 157: A Broken Breakfast! The Vanished Archaeologist
The morning sun shone through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows,
generously spilling into the suite of the most luxurious hotel in Water 7.
Outside the window lay the rippling blue waterways and the cheerful cries of the Bulls; the entire city appeared vibrant under the bright sunlight.
However, inside this large suite, the atmosphere was as cold as a freshly opened ice cellar.
The dining table in the center of the room was laid out with a sumptuous breakfast: golden toasted bread, fresh fruit, and sizzling bacon.
Luffy sat at the table, clutching a piece of the local specialty, "Mizu Mizu Meat."
He mechanically stuffed the meat into his mouth, his cheeks bulging as he chewed rhythmically.
"..."
There was no iconic "Delicious!", nor were there Gum-Gum arms stretching out to snatch meat.
His usually upturned lips were now pressed into a tight line, and the brim of his Straw Hat was pulled low, casting a shadow over his face.
Nami sat on the sofa by the window, clutching a checklist.
Normally, this money-grubbing Cat Burglar would have been spinning in circles with joy or even rolling on the bed while holding that list.
But now, her eyes were hollow.
She looked at the long strings of zeros, suddenly feeling that these numbers had become meaningless.
She used to think money could solve everything—that it could buy the Village's freedom or beautiful clothes.
But now, she realized with sorrow—
that no matter how much money she had, the going merry, which carried countless memories, could not be fixed.
No matter how much money she had, that companion who always bragged and, though cowardly, fought a duel for his dignity, could not be bought back.
In the corner of the room,
Zoro sat cross-legged on the floor, back against the wall, cradling his three swords as he rested with closed eyes.
On the other side, Sanji had already piled a small mountain of cigarette butts in the ashtray before him.
"Tch."
Sanji paced irritably back and forth in the room, his leather shoes making a "tap-tap" sound against the floor.
He found everyone annoying, occasionally crushing a half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray with enough force to grind it to dust.
Tatsuya sat by the window.
His gaze frequently drifted to the bustling street scene outside, his expression heavy.
"..."
This suffocating silence lasted for a long time.
Finally,
"I can't take it..."
Chopper stood at the door, wearing his little blue backpack.
His eyes were red and swollen; he had clearly been crying all night without sleep.
"I... I'm going to Scrap Island."
Chopper sniffled, his voice tearful but struggling to speak clearly:
"Usopp is badly hurt... if his bandages aren't changed and the wounds aren't disinfected, he'll definitely get an infection and a fever in this damp season! I'm a doctor... I can't just ignore him!"
In the corner, Zoro slowly opened one eye:
"You're not allowed to go."
Chopper froze, then began to wail loudly:
"Why?! Zoro! Aren't we all nakama? Even if he quit... but... but he'll die!!"
"Shut up."
Zoro's voice was cold and hard, yet carried an unquestionable principle: "This is the path he chose for himself."
"You cold-blooded jerks!!"
Chopper cried out and tried to rush out the door.
Snap!
A hand suddenly grabbed Chopper's collar and lifted him up.
It was Sanji.
"Chopper! Calm down!!" Sanji shouted, a cigarette in his mouth and his brow furrowed.
Though his tone was fierce, if you looked closely, the hand gripping Chopper's collar was trembling slightly.
"Do you think we don't want to go?! Do you think Luffy feels good about this?!"
Sanji bit his teeth, veins popping on his temple:
"But that was a duel that long-nosed idiot initiated by betting his dignity! That was a battle between men!"
"He had already prepared his resolve when he left!"
"Whether he dies on the roadside or dies of pain on the ship, that is the price he pays to maintain his dignity!"
"If you run over there now out of a moment of soft-heartedness to pity him or give him charity..."
"Then you are trampling on the resolve he worked so hard to find! You are insulting Usopp as a man!!"
Sanji's words hit Chopper's heart like a heavy hammer.
"Waaaaah!!!"
Chopper finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears, with tears and snot flowing freely:
"What resolve!! I don't understand! That's something only idiots have!!"
"I just want everyone to be together!! Why does it have to be like this!! Waaaaah..."
Chopper's crying echoed in the room.
Luffy's chewing paused for a moment, then he bit down even harder on the meat in his mouth.
"Alright, Sanji, let go."
Tatsuya put down the knife in his hand and walked over.
He gently pressed Sanji's wrist, signaling him to release Chopper.
Sanji let go, took a deep breath, and turned away, not wanting anyone to see his expression.
Tatsuya knelt down, patted Chopper's hat, and said in a gentle voice:
"Chopper, don't worry."
"Before I left last night, I already healed his body and left your first-aid kit there."
"Usopp might be clumsy sometimes, but he knows basic bandaging. He'll be fine."
"Really? Tatsuya?" Chopper asked between sobs.
"Yeah, I promise."
Having comforted Chopper, everyone's emotions settled slightly.
At that moment, Nami looked around the room and suddenly asked with a frown:
"By the way... where's Robin?"
Only then did everyone realize.
The archaeologist who was usually quietly reading had been missing since everyone went out to find Luffy and Usopp last night.
"Robin-chan?" Sanji looked around.
"Now that you mention it, the breakfast I prepared for her hasn't been touched... Could it be she didn't come back all night?"
An ominous premonition loomed in everyone's hearts.
"I'm going to find her!" Sanji immediately stubbed out his cigarette. "In a place where we're strangers, what if Robin-chan runs into bad people!"
"Chopper, come with me! Stop crying and use your nose to find her!"
"Yeah! I'm going!" Chopper wiped away his tears.
The two of them rushed out of the hotel.
...
On the streets of Water 7, people were still coming and going.
But Sanji and Chopper soon noticed that the atmosphere today was a bit off.
When they first entered the city yesterday, the citizens were hospitable; they would smile and greet them when they saw them riding Bulls.
But today...
"Hey, look, those are pirates..."
"Shh! Be quiet! Don't make eye contact with them!"
"They're the ones who did it, right? How terrifying..."
When pedestrians saw Sanji and Chopper, they avoided them as if they were the plague.
Normally bustling shops even closed their doors as they passed by.
The whispers coming from the corners were filled with hostility and fear.
"What's going on?" Sanji's brow furrowed. "The way these people are looking at us... it's like they're looking at murderers."
Just then.
"Gah !"
A News Coo flew across the sky.
It seemed very flustered as well; it didn't even collect money before dropping an extra edition newspaper.
Smack.
The newspaper hit Sanji right in the face.
"What the hell! You stupid bird!"
Sanji irritably grabbed the newspaper, preparing to crumple it up and throw it away.
However, the massive bold black headline on the front page and the clear photograph instantly froze his movements.
[Extra! Breaking News!]
[Galley-La Company President and Water 7 Mayor Iceburg Shot Last Night! In Critical Condition!]
[Culprit at Large! Witness Claims: Perpetrator Suspected to be the devil child—Nico Robin!]
In the photo, though blurry, the silhouette of the black-haired woman was clearly recognizable as their companion—Robin.
"..."
The cigarette in Sanji's mouth fell to the ground with a soft thud.
His pupils constricted violently, and his hands gripped the newspaper so hard he almost tore it to shreds.
"Are... are you kidding me!!!"
Sanji suddenly rushed toward a passerby who was reading the paper, grabbed the man's collar, and roared with bloodshot eyes:
"Who wrote this crap?! Huh?!"
"How could Robin-chan do something like this!! She's the most gentle lady! How could she kill someone!!"
"Eek!! A pirate is attacking me!!" the passerby shrieked in terror.
"Sanji! Calm down!" Chopper quickly hugged Sanji's leg. "Let go!"
The surrounding murmurs grew louder:
"Mr. Iceburg was shot? By that devil child?"
"I knew pirates were all the same! These people are her accomplices!"
Just as Sanji and Chopper were spiraling into extreme confusion and shock,
BOOM!!!!!
A deafening explosion suddenly echoed from the direction behind them.
Flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed out.
That direction was...
"That direction... is the hotel?!" Sanji's face changed instantly.
"Luffy and the others are still there!" Chopper cried out.
...
A few minutes earlier, inside the hotel suite.
Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Tatsuya were gathered around a newspaper, their expressions grim to the extreme.
"Robin?! That's impossible!"
Nami covered her mouth, looking at the newspaper in disbelief:
"Why would she shoot Mr. Iceburg? There's no reason at all!"
"And she was clearly with us all day yesterday... wait, she did disappear last night..."
"As for a reason, she's a pirate, and the other party is a mayor with immense wealth."
Zoro folded his arms, his gaze solemn and calm:
"And don't forget, she's the 'devil child,' an assassin from an underground organization."
"Who knows what she used to do... maybe she's just going back to her old ways?"
Bang!!
Luffy slammed his hand on the table, causing the solid wood to instantly crack.
"Zoro!!"
Luffy looked up, staring at Zoro with fierce eyes: "Don't talk about Robin like that! She's our nakama!!"
"I'm just stating a possibility." Zoro didn't back down. "Until she explains herself, this is all very suspicious."
"I believe in Robin!" Luffy gritted his teeth. "There must be a misunderstanding!"
Just then.
BOOM—!!!!
It wasn't a knock on the door, nor was it a greeting.
The wall of the suite facing the street was blown to pieces in a massive explosion.
Debris flew everywhere, and dust filled the air.
"Cough, cough! An attack?!" Nami shrieked, hiding behind Tatsuya.
Tatsuya's eyes sharpened, and he instantly drew his sword to stand before everyone, waving away the smoke and dust.
In the large hole that had been blown open stood a group of strange-looking people.
Leading them was a muscular, blue-haired weirdo wearing a floral shirt, sunglasses, and nothing on his lower body but a pair of speedos.
He struck an incredibly embarrassing "Super" pose, with the iconic square-haired sisters standing on either side of him.
Franky.
"SUUUUPER!!!!"
After finishing his pose, Franky pointed at the group in the room and let out a furious roar:
"Where is Straw Hat?!"
"You bastards! You dared to destroy my home! You beat my subordinates into critical condition!!"
"Unforgivable!! I'm going to send you all flying!!!"
Luffy slowly stood up from his chair.
There was no nonsense, and no desire to explain anything.
Luffy lowered his head, his fists turning pitch black like ink in an instant.
He looked up, his eyes filled with rage, staring intently at the blue-haired pervert:
"Right now..."
"I'm in a really bad mood."
"Don't piss me off!!!!"
The killing intent of both sides clashed in the air; a great battle was about to erupt.
Loving Book So Far Check Out 80+ Advanced Chapters At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FicTonic1