Chapter 116: Fame Spreads Across the Four Seas [8K]

Dawn's first light broke, and a fish-belly white hue just began to rise on the horizon.

The editors of the World Economic News Agency had pulled an all-nighter, finally finishing their drafts.

The News Cooes shook their wings, carrying the overnight reprints, and cheerfully flew off to every corner of the globe.

They swept over towns, ports, and ship decks, scattering newspapers like snowflakes in all directions.

The headline on the front page was so striking and glaring that—

Across the Four Seas, the first half of the Grand Line, and the New World...

Almost everywhere, the moment the newspapers arrived, they were instantly snapped up.

This series of news, fermenting rapidly with public opinion, swept across the entire ocean like a hurricane, stirring up towering waves!

————

In the New World, aboard the Moby Dick.

"Gurararara—"

A hearty laugh vibrated the deck slightly; Whitebeard tilted his head back to gulp down a large mouthful of sake, then casually tossed the newspaper to Marco. "Look here, Marco, that bunch in the Navy really lost a lot of face this time!"

"The Curtain Fall Pirates, Siano..."

Marco took the newspaper, scanned it, and his eyebrows lifted slightly. "That guy Akainu... actually got injured?"

"Eh?"

"There's such a thing?"

"Let me see too, Pops!"

Several other division commanders, greatly shocked, hurriedly crowded over as well.

"Ho?!!" Diamond Jozu was the first to widen his eyes. "540 million Berries... having this kind of bounty right after entering the Grand Line is even more exaggerated than that guy Shanks' growth rate."

A bounty of this caliber could even rank among their own division commanders!

"And he's a sword master too!"

Izou turned around with interest. "A sword master whom even Akainu personally failed to capture... Hey, Vista, this guy's swordsmanship is probably even better than yours, right?"

"What kind of joke is that, you bastard Izou~!"

Flower Sword Vista flew into a rage. "How could such a thing be possible? Don't compare me with some kid who just stepped foot in Paradise!"

Saying this, however, Vista's gaze kept sweeping back and forth between that delicate face and the long tachi on the other's back.

A pure sword master who hasn't eaten a Devil Fruit?

To reach this height relying solely on swordsmanship.

Indeed... it has been a long time since encountering someone like this!

Vista narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously stroking his sword hilt.

Enter the New World soon, kid! When we meet, let's spar freely with our swords so I can see exactly what you're made of!

"Pops."

Marco closed the newspaper, looking thoughtful. "Should we make contact? We can't let the other families recruit such an incredibly powerful rookie before we do."

"No rush; let's wait until he enters the New World!"

Whitebeard grinned, waving his large hand.

"Things like this depend on fate, you idiot sons, gurararara... Anyway, let the Navy deal with the headache first! This ocean is finally about to get lively again!"

————

Onigashima, Skull Dome.

"Wahahaha, little Perona! Why are you running? I won't eat you!"

"..."

Two figures were dashing back and forth between the corridor pillars.

Meanwhile, at the very top of the hall, candlelight stretched a massive shadow very long.

"Urorororo! Queen, what are you looking at this time?"

Kaido lay drunkenly on his main throne, holding a sake flask in his hand, casting a sidelong glance at Queen, who was holding a newspaper and looking utterly surprised.

"Boss, there's huge news coming from Paradise."

Queen, with a cigar in his mouth, smiled and handed the newspaper over.

"Take a look; an eighteen-year-old kid nearly turned the Navy Headquarters upside down and gave them a massive headache."

"Oh?"

Kaido lazily took the newspaper, squinted as he finished reading the report, and then fixed his gaze on the wanted poster.

"Eighteen; a few years younger than Yamato, huh? Hmph, interesting..."

Kaido's gaze lingered on Siano's face for a moment before he suddenly asked, "To withstand Akainu for that long... is he a Zoan-type user?"

"Uh?"

Queen paused, scratched his head, and said, "According to the intelligence, it seems not... this kid is a pure sword master who hasn't even eaten a Devil Fruit."

"...?"

Kaido suddenly became interested, flipped over, and sat straight up. "He really hasn't eaten one?"

"No, didn't you see what was written in the newspaper? He escaped by jumping into the sea..."

"Urorororo! Who would read that stuff carefully!"

Excitement gleamed in Kaido's drunken eyes. "At this age, to be this powerful relying solely on physical constitution, this is a rare and excellent talent!"

"Hey, Queen!"

He grinned. "Keep those few Devil Fruits we talked about earlier unused for now; keep a close watch on this kid, and the moment he enters the New World, report it to me immediately! Laozi will take the fruits and go find him personally!"

"This..."

Queen wiped sweat from his brow; Boss Kaido was great in every way, but... wasn't he just a little too eager to recruit talent?

A mere youngster who had only just entered the Grand Line, and already he was to be granted such treatment? Even allowing him to pick any Devil Fruit he desired?

Though even he had to admit, that Siano truly did possess such qualifications.

Not even having reached the New World yet, and already carrying a bounty of 540 million Berries; that was truly outrageous.

King had long since broken the 1 billion mark; he himself currently held only a 700 million Berry bounty, merely over 100 million higher than the other's!

If he truly intended to defect to the Beasts, fear that upon entry, his status would rank second only to their two All-Stars...

Tsk, what should his new title be then? Drought Siano?

Just at that moment—

Two figures finally rushed into the banquet hall.

"Damn it, Little Page! Why are you hiding from me!"

Ulti chased her brother frantically around the entire hall.

"Sister, calm down!" Page One cried, fleeing in panic with hands clutching his head, "Boss Kaido is discussing important matters!"

"Hey." Veins bulged on Queen's forehead as he gnashed his cigar until it creaked: "You two..."

The first time, he held back.

The second time, his fat face began to twitch.

When Ulti whooshed past him for the third time, clattering and knocking over his treasured wine—

"So noisy!!!"

Queen flew into a rage, his obese body displaying astonishing agility as he grabbed the sibling pair, roaring:

"You two idiot brats, if you want to make noise, go make it outside! You're going to deafen Boss Kaido's eardrums!!!"

"... Wah, wah..." Splattered with saliva, Ulti stared blankly at Queen, her large eyes instantly welling up with aggrieved tears.

"The one deafening Laozi is clearly you, Bai Chi!!!"

Boom! Kaido smashed his spiked club onto Queen's head; the latter immediately toppled backward, his grip on the siblings going limp and dangling down.

"Take your brother and leave." Kaido then looked at Ulti, "This place is small; indeed, it is not suitable."

"Yes! This humble lady thanks Boss Kaido!"

Ulti grinned, bowing to Kaido, then stuck her tongue out mockingly at Queen before dragging her brother out by the ear.

Kaido quietly watched the siblings depart.

Only then did Queen rub his head and sit up: "Hiss... that hurts; was that necessary, Boss? Aren't you spoiling those two brats just a little too much..."

"They haven't reached adulthood yet; let them be in the future, don't act like this again! Laozi promised Boss Hua Zha to raise them both properly!"

Kaido snorted coldly, then suddenly remembered something and frowned:

"By the way, go personally contact Boss Hua Zha and ask him why this quarter's Devil Fruits haven't been delivered yet."

Friendship is friendship, business is business.

That guy promised to deliver three Zoan-type Devil Fruits each time; it has been several days past the deadline, so why is there still no movement?!

"Yes, Boss!" Queen scrambled up hastily, "He must have been delayed by something... Don't worry, I'll go urge him immediately!"

【Image of Boss Hua Zha】

————

Totto Land.

The sea breeze blew as Katakuri sat alone atop the mast, staring at the newspaper in his hand.

The bounty is high, the strength immense; it has been a long time since such a monster-level newcomer appeared on the seas.

However, what he cared about most was inevitably...

Does this guy also have two younger sisters?

Able to ignore everything else, keep his sisters by his side, free and unfettered, roaming the seas everywhere?

"Heh..."

Envy gleamed in Katakuri's eyes; recalling how Mother had recently been forcing his sister into another disastrous political marriage... he tugged his scarf and leaned back against the mast with slight exhaustion.

Truly a lad worthy of envy.

————

On a pitifully small sailboat.

Creak—!

Tashigi shoved the cabin door open violently, clutching the newly delivered newspaper, her cheeks flushed with excitement:

"Mr. Mihawk!"

She rushed to Hawkeye in three long strides, shaking the newspaper open with a rustle: "Ta-da! Look quickly! Lord Siano has new news again!"

Hawkeye's motion of wiping the black blade Yoru paused slightly.

He lifted his head, scanning the report content—Akainu injured, Crocodile killed in battle, the Navy fleet returning empty-handed... each item made those hawk-like pupils gleam with unusual light.

Had he underestimated him after all?

So that guy's swordsmanship was actually this powerful?

"Interesting."

He murmured softly, long-dormant fighting spirit igniting within his pupils.

Since that undecided duel with Red Hair, no one on these seas had made him so eager to draw his sword.

The black blade Yoru trembled slightly within its sheath, as if sensing its master's thoughts; Hawkeye suddenly raised his gaze toward the depths of the Grand Line and spoke:

"After tonight, we shall part ways."

"Eh?!!"

Tashigi, who had been happily holding the newspaper, immediately widened her eyes upon hearing this. "Why, Mr. Mihawk? Isn't our goal to find Lord Siano?"

"Your ship, in the end, is simply too slow."

Hawkeye shook his head slightly. "Continuing like this, you will never catch up to that fellow."

"Your ship is fast, true, but it sinks just as quickly," Tashigi muttered aggrievedly. "It's not that the ship is slow; you clearly just find me noisy!"

"..." Hawkeye rubbed his brows with a headache. "As long as you know that."

These past days, Tashigi had pestered him daily, wishing to become his disciple to learn swordsmanship, truly making him feel greatly troubled.

As for why he ended up on the same ship as Tashigi...

That story begins from the day they left Loguetown.

At that time, he had set out for Reverse Mountain to continue chasing Siano's ship.

However, while sprinting down the mountain, that whale Laboon had inexplicably vanished from sight, causing him to become distracted focusing on the matter; in a moment of carelessness, he capsized his boat.

He fell into the sea, becoming a drowned rat, while his ship smashed against the coast of Twin Cape, shattering into pieces.

Coincidentally, Tashigi, who had departed before him, was resting and sunbathing on the grasslands of Twin Cape at that very moment, so this embarrassing scene was witnessed wide-eyed by this sword-obsessed girl right before her eyes.

His first reaction at the time had been to knock the girl unconscious and then simply depart on her ship.

But recalling the words this little girl had spoken previously at the Loguetown harbor...

In the end, he could not bring himself to do it.

Thus, matters turned out this way.

He had become a temporary passenger hitching a ride.

And that clumsy girl, Tashigi, after recognizing his identity, had been overjoyed, pestering him daily to instruct her in swordsmanship, even squatting outside the cabin door in the middle of the night while clutching her blade.

The result was that she could not hold out and fell asleep, still muttering hazily in her mouth:

"Mr. Mihawk... please accept me as your disciple... Only by becoming stronger can I be qualified... to catch up to Lord Siano's footsteps..."

—Simply annoying to death.

He was accustomed to acting alone, always detesting being disturbed, let alone the troublesome matter of taking a disciple.

But strangely, he had never truly chosen to leave.

He did not know why.

Perhaps... it was because this sword-obsessed girl's pure obsession with the Way of the Sword resembled his own self from years past?

"..."

Hawkeye remained silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke:

"How about this."

Tashigi suddenly lifted her head, her eyes wide and round, even holding her breath.

"Before catching up to Siano," he said lightly, "I will teach you a few moves each day, and then check your progress the next day."

Tashigi's pupils instantly lit up.

"If I am satisfied, accepting you as my disciple in the future is not impossible."

"But..." Hawkeye looked down at her calmly, "if your progress is too slow, making me feel you possess no talent whatsoever and are wasting my time—"

"I guarantee it won't be!" Tashigi shot to her feet with a swish, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "I will definitely practice desperately! I absolutely will not disappoint you! I-I'll go get my sword right now!!"

She dropped the newspaper and turned to rush out, only to trip over the cabin door threshold, stumbling and falling flat on her face.

"..."

Hawkeye watched this reckless fellow frantically searching everywhere for her glasses, and could not help but close his eyes, doubting whether he had made an extremely mistaken decision.

Siano, oh Siano.

Where exactly are you? Perhaps you could stop for a while, allowing me to catch up as soon as possible...

————

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"What did you say?!!! Garp!!"

Sengoku slammed the newspaper heavily onto the desk, his roar of disbelief nearly lifting the roof off the entire Fleet Admiral's office.

"Did I say something wrong again?"

Garp paused, then continued picking his nose with complete indifference. "But that is indeed the fact; I have known this kid for a long time, and I even taught him Armament Haki."

"That is exactly what concerns me!"

Sengoku gritted his teeth, wishing he could punch this old rogue right before his eyes:

"For such a huge matter, you only mention it after seeing the bounty poster? That good disciple you taught has now become a major trouble for Headquarters, killing two Vice Admirals and even taking out a Warlord of the Sea!"

"Can that even be considered my disciple? Back then, it was merely to settle a debt that I taught him some basic fundamentals."

Garp shrugged, then glanced again at the close-up of Sakazuki injured on the newspaper, suddenly chuckling with a grin:

"However... forcing that kid Sakazuki into such a state is indeed somewhat impressive, pu-hahaha!"

"Garp!!"

Sengoku's furious roar shook the windows until they buzzed: "You still have the mood to laugh?!"

"Why so fierce?"

After finishing picking his nose, Garp casually stuck the booger onto the nearby goat. "Onigumo's death was self-inflicted, wasn't it? You know the details clearer than anyone, and that Blythe is undoubtedly a complete madman, isn't she?"

"With those two dead, should I feel sad? On the contrary, I feel the air here in Marineford tastes much fresher when breathing..."

As for that Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile.

Garp clicked his tongue; he had seen the fellow several times in recent years, and his intuition told him that guy had never truly reformed from evil.

Clearly once an ambitious great pirate, yet after going to Alabasta, he put on an appearance of righteousness, catching pirates with more enthusiasm than even the Marines...

Only heaven knows what mischief he is plotting behind the scenes!

As for that Siano.

Since setting sail, he has never harassed towns, never robbed merchant ships; even the very title of "pirate crew" is a smear forcibly pinned on them by the Headquarters.

"Anyway, I have no ill feelings toward that guy. Of course, if we happen to cross paths, I'll still step in and drag him back!"

Garp grinned, "Speaking of which, since you're so eager to resolve this trouble, I have an idea. That Seven Warlords of the Sea spot is vacant, so why not recruit him as a new Warlord?"

Killing two birds with one stone!

It would stop that brat Siano from clashing with the Marines, and the Seven Warlords would gain one more member who wouldn't abuse his legal right to plunder to bully the common folk.

It sounds like a good thing no matter how you think about it.

"The Seven Warlords..."

Sengoku's face darkened.

He had to admit, this was indeed a feasible plan.

In fact, he had already considered it even before Garp suggested it; back when Crocodile had just died, he had even treated him as a preliminary candidate.

But that won't work now!

At least not in the short term!

Sengoku stared at the World Economic News newspaper on the table, his temples throbbing.

That bastard Morgans... this time he even published a special overnight edition, scattering newspapers all over the world before Headquarters could apply any pressure!

"Marines Defeated! Two Vice Admirals, One Dead and One Injured; Fleet Admiral Akainu Also Seriously Wounded!"

"Seven Warlord Crocodile Confirmed Dead; The Mastermind Behind It Turns Out to Be the Same Person!"

"Highest Bounty in History for the First Half of the Grand Line! 540,000,000 Berries!"

Adding oil to the fire, fanning the flames.

Every headline was like a slap, brutally striking the face of Marine Headquarters.

Sengoku could even imagine the smug, triumphant grins of the pirates in the New World once they saw the newspaper.

In the midst of such a public opinion storm, if the Marines turned around and extended an olive branch, recruiting the other party as a Seven Warlord?

Where would the Marines' dignity be left?

Where would his own old face go!

"Let's wait and see..."

Sengoku took a deep breath, his gaze returning to the bounty poster on the table.

The black-haired boy in the photo stood with a sword on his back, a reckless smile on his lips; those sharp black eyes seemed to pierce through the paper, stabbing straight into the depths of his eyes—

Mockery.

Naked, blatant mockery!

As if mocking the fact that the Marines' grand-scale encirclement campaign ended in a humiliating defeat with a Fleet Admiral wounded and the fleet returning with nothing accomplished.

Sengoku's fingers involuntarily tightened, crumpling the edges of the bounty poster into folds...

————

Grand Line, a certain sea area.

On the deck of the Curtain Call, everyone had their heads huddled together, carefully reading the newspaper they had just bought, occasionally whispering excitedly.

"Ha, I knew it!"

Nami finished reading first, hands on her hips, laughing triumphantly, "What a Fleet Admiral? Just so-so; they couldn't do a thing to my big brother!"

Originally, when they couldn't reach anyone via Den Den Mushi, everyone was quite anxious.

Fortunately, the World Economic News moved fast this time, bringing them the good news of Siano's safety early in the morning.

"Is that so?"

Sister Sister Guyina looked up expressionlessly, "How do I remember that if I hadn't knocked you out with a knife-hand, you would have rushed back long ago, unable to let go of your worry?"

You would have probably had a huge hole blasted in your chest by Akainu the moment you showed up; what difference would that make from pure suicide?

"I..."

Nami was momentarily speechless, but quickly retorted stubbornly, "Well, well, I was just too worried! And you have the nerve to talk about me? Who was it last night, hugging a sword on the deck, staring north for the whole night? Your neck must be about to snap!"

"..." Sister Sister Guyina's ears instantly turned red.

Damn it, why did you have to say it in front of everyone!

"Hey, hey, you two."

Nojiko interjected helplessly, but was interrupted by the commotion across the table—

"Woof, woof... arf arf!"

Silver suddenly stood on his hind legs, excitedly pawing at the newspaper with his front paws. Everyone followed his gaze and saw a huge stack of bounty posters fall out from the newspaper's inner layer.

The first one was Silver's, and the bounty figure was so shocking—

"150,000,000 Berries?" Sister Sister Guyina turned in surprise, "Impressive, Silver; you've jumped up quite a bit all at once."

"You're not bad either." Nojiko cheerfully handed over the next bounty poster, "140,000,000."

Sister Sister Guyina raised an eyebrow, then compared it with the few posters behind.

Second place, excluding my lord Siano?

The Marines really have high regard for me; I've already pulled a significant distance from Uncle Zeff and Smoker.

As for being inferior to Silver... she actually thought it was normal, because right now her strength was indeed just a bit lower than Silver's, and in that battle at the dock, Silver was the most outstanding figure.

"What about me, what about me!!!"

Nami raised her hand high, eyes full of expectation, "I made a huge contribution this time too; the Marines must know I'm a Logia-type user, right? How much did my bounty increase?"

If not 100,000,000, then 90,000,000... no, if it really can't be helped, even 80,000,000 Berries would be fine!

"Let me help you look... Whoa, the Captain has actually risen to over 500,000,000 Berries? But with such battle achievements, giving that much is only natural... Oh, found it; right below the Captain is yours."

The rest immediately leaned in to take a look.

Then, in unison, they turned their heads and cast looks of pity and sympathy toward Nami.

"Hey..."

Nami narrowed her eyes, an ominous premonition flashing through her mind. "Why? Why are you all looking at me with those eyes..."

"80,000 Berries!" Nojiko, barely suppressing her laughter, slapped the wanted poster in front of Nami. "Congratulations, it's increased a full tenfold from before!"

Nami's expression instantly froze.

One, two, three, four... She counted again and again. After confirming that there were indeed only four zeros on the wanted poster, her vision went dark and her whole body trembled. "Wh-why?!!"

"Is the Navy's strategy department just a bunch of good-for-nothings who only know how to hold meetings?!!" she screamed in despair. "Didn't you see the wall of fire I released? What about the fire snakes? The fire phoenix? I even defeated a Navy Colonel who tried to block me in a one-on-one fight!"

"Uh, well, according to the battle description in the report, and A-Gin's new nickname..."

Smoker flipped through the newspaper. "Probably, perhaps, should be... the Navy mistook your Mera Mera no Mi abilities as being released by A-Gin."

A-Gin?

Nami whipped her head around, staring fixedly at A-Gin.

What's wrong?

A-Gin was lying on the ground, stretching in a blissful yawn. Seeing Nami approaching step by step with a darkening face... he instantly wore a look of utter bewilderment...

Two minutes later.

"A-Gin, A-Gin, A-Gin... A-Gin!!!"

Bruised and battered, Nami knelt on the ground, gritting her teeth and tearfully pounding her left arm, where the A-Gin sticker had been stuck on not long ago.

Nojiko stood nearby and sighed.

This little sister was truly a complete and utter idiot.

Her current state wasn't caused by A-Gin.

A-Gin simply couldn't bear to lay a hand on his master's little sister, so he kept dodging. As a result, during the chase, Nami crashed into corners several times, bruising herself black and blue...

"Boohoo..."

Nami suddenly looked up, speaking with a pitiful expression: "Nojiko, help me! Help me beat up A-Gin to vent my anger!"

"Logically speaking, as an older sister, I should pat your head right now and then raise my fist shouting, 'Of course!'"

"But I can't."

Nojiko sighed. "Because even if you add me in, the two of us together still can't defeat A-Gin."

Damn it!!!

Nami sniffed hard, feeling even more aggrieved. Her pet had stolen her battle achievements and become the second-highest bounty on the ship, while she herself was mistaken by the Navy Headquarters for a pet...

Is there any justice left?!

When Big Brother returns, I must definitely complain to him severely!

"Want to complain to Big Brother?"

Nojiko saw through it at a glance. "We still can't contact him right now. We've agreed to continue drifting aimlessly like this; once we encounter an island, we'll stop, accumulate magnetic force, and wait for Big Brother's call."

"As for when that call will come."

Nojiko gazed out at the distant sea:

"Just wait. It's only the second day. Knowing Big Brother, he's probably exhausted by now, drifting somewhere on the sea and fast asleep..."

————

"Huff, huff..."

Siano was indeed still fast asleep at this moment.

But he wasn't drifting on the sea; instead, he was lying on soft thighs.

Robin, resting her chin on one hand, leaned against the sofa. Her legs were covered with thick clothing, and Siano was lying horizontally atop them.

There was no helping it; the seating space on the turtle's back was just this limited. While this posture wasn't elegant, it at least allowed both of them to be more comfortable.

As for tossing Siano onto the hard, digging turtle shell nearby...

Robin shook her head slightly, the corners of her lips curving upward.

—She simply couldn't bring herself to do such a thing.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze soft as she regarded the clear, handsome sleeping face before her.

For some reason, the bluish-purple toxin on the youth's body surged up one moment, then vanished without a trace the next.

Was this perhaps his body's internal resistance fighting against the deadly poison?

Robin guessed as much. Anyway, his breathing had remained steady throughout, and they were getting closer to that great medical nation, so there was no need to worry excessively.

And right now, he belonged to the state of having returned to normal.

The youth's black hair was messily scattered across his forehead, his eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath his eyes, and a hint of a smile lingered on the corner of his mouth, as if he were experiencing something interesting in his dreams.

"Truly..."

Robin couldn't help but reach out, her fingertips gently brushing away the stray hair from his forehead, whispering softly: "Having just gone through a fierce battle, yet sleeping so peacefully."

—Clearly a "most heinous criminal" who gave the Navy Headquarters a headache, a terrifying powerhouse who easily slew his former boss, Crocodile.

Yet at this moment, in her arms, he was like a completely defenseless child.

"Heh." Robin chuckled lightly.

Such a contrast truly made one inexplicably feel...

... an overwhelming desire to protect him.

She suddenly recalled the events of last night.

Just after she had carried him onto the turtle's back and hadn't traveled far, he had suddenly opened his eyes, glanced drowsily at her appearance, and said one sentence: "So it's you."

The moment the words left her lips, she pitched forward headfirst and fell straight back into unconscious slumber.

It was too strange.

Wasn't this far too much trust in her?

Was he not afraid she might be an enemy with malicious intent, who would turn around and drag him to the Marines to claim the bounty?

And what did that sentence even mean? Did it imply he had known her for a long time?

It made no sense...

Conversely, however, there was no problem; she had indeed known the other party for a very long time.

Ever since that phone call with Crocodile, she had been unable to resist gathering and investigating information on this black-haired youth.

When Crocodile went to Whiskey Shanfeng to set an ambush, she, having already completed her mission, grew even more interested and quietly set out to follow him from a distance.

Then, immediately after.

She witnessed one event after another: him killing Crocodile, sparring with giants on Little Garden, then holding the rear alone on Tor Island to let his companions escape first while he stayed behind to clash with Akainu, finally achieving shocking feats that shook the world...

If at the very beginning.

She had continued following only out of curiosity, and because the Baroque Works had collapsed leaving her with nowhere to go, hoping to seek the protection of a new boss.

Then now, the point she cared about more was no longer just the formidable strength displayed by this Loomer Pirates crew, but the atmosphere of camaraderie aboard the ship that made her envious.

Freedom, trust, bonds.

These were things she had never truly possessed in her twenty-plus years of life, yet on this ship, they seemed so perfectly natural.

If she could gain his acceptance and become a member of the crew...

A sea breeze gently brushed past; she suddenly jolted back to her senses, smiled self-mockingly, and thought, "Someone like me... how could I start fantasizing about such things?"

But why did the other party know her?

Robin lowered her eyelashes, her fingertips unconsciously stroking Siano's forehead hair.

He was probably just too exhausted, his mind blurred and unclear, mistaking her for some acquaintance with a similar appearance.

That was the only explanation she could conjure.

(End of Chapter)