"News Coo, over here~"
A cheerful voice echoed through the sky.
The newspaper-carrying News Coo flapped its wings nervously. This was the open air — how could a human voice reach it from here?
It twisted its head, scanning the surroundings until its sharp eyes spotted a peculiar sight — a Den Den Mushi soaring through the sky!
Den Den Mushi could mimic human voices, sure, but since when did they fly?
"Gah?" The News Coo cawed in confusion.
Suspended in the air by B.I.B., the Little Green Den Den Mushi was dozing contentedly, relishing the breeze. Suddenly, the approaching News Coo startled it awake. In an instant, Little Green shifted, its body shimmering as it blended with the sky and sea, becoming nearly invisible.
"Gah!" The News Coo squawked, flapping wildly. Its feathers ruffled further when it noticed something even stranger. Though the Den Den Mushi had camouflaged itself, the small, circular entrance on its forehead remained visible — like a floating portal.
Through the hole, a smiling woman waved.
"News Coo, I want to buy a newspaper."
"Gah?"
The News Coo blinked, utterly bewildered. No one had ever prepared it for a situation like this.
"Come on in," Robin gestured invitingly.
The News Coo hesitated, its instincts screaming to fly away. But before it could react, an unseen force swiftly plucked it from the air. B.I.B., evidently impatient, had lent a hand — quite literally. The Coo found itself stuffed through the opening, tumbling into the Den Den Mushi's interior.
"Gah…?"
Shrunken slightly to fit inside, the News Coo flapped its wings anxiously, landing before Robin. The woman smiled calmly, though the poor bird's head spun from the bizarre surroundings.
Where was this place? And why did the human suddenly seem so much larger?
Despite its confusion, business was business. The News Coo shook its feathers, plucked a newspaper from its bag, and held it out.
"Thank you," Robin said graciously, brushing her hands against her hips. "Ah, let me get some change."
When she and Liam left Amazon Lily, they hadn't brought much money.
Sure, Boa Hancock and her sisters would have gladly gifted them countless treasures, but neither Liam nor Robin had any intention of accepting such extravagant offerings.
Robin, having spent her time on Amazon Lily feeling more like a guest than a contributor, preferred not to take advantage of the Empress's generosity. Liam, on the other hand, treated the parting gifts as a symbolic 'rent' for their extended stay.
And the Kuja Pirates? With their skills, earning money was never an issue. A single pirate ship on the Grand Line could yield untold riches. Plundering was simply part of life.
Meanwhile, the News Coo nervously followed Robin deeper into the peculiar fortress within the Den Den Mushi.
The walls were twisted, pulsing with patterns that resembled writhing tentacles. The floor sloped unevenly, while shadows danced along the bizarre contours. It was as if the entire space was alive.
Domesticated and used to the predictable confines of human civilization, the News Coo could barely suppress its trembling. The place reminded it of whispered nightmares — like something from the depths of the Florian Triangle.
Its feathers fluffed nervously. Would this strange woman suddenly grow monstrous and toss it into a cauldron for stew?
But before its imagination could spiral further, the path opened into a spacious chamber. Backpacks leaned casually against the twisted walls, and Robin knelt to rummage through one.
Soon, she pulled out a 100 Belly coin and offered it to the bird.
"Here you go."
The News Coo snatched the coin, its relief palpable. The transaction was complete. Wasting no time, it flapped its wings and shot out through the Den Den Mushi's opening, soaring back into the vast sky.
"Gah?"
It glanced back, but the camouflaged fortress had already vanished into the blue expanse. Against the endless horizon, the entryway blended perfectly with the Den Den Mushi's green hue. If not for the newspaper missing from its bag and the reassuring weight of the coin, the News Coo might've thought it imagined the whole ordeal.
"Gah!"
With one final cry, it flapped away, climbing higher and higher until the sea breeze carried it far from the bizarre encounter.
Below, on the surface of the Calm Belt sea, Sea Kings thrashed and twisted, sending massive waves crashing around them, as though engaged in a fierce battle with some unseen force.
Robin sat calmly at the entrance of the City fortress, letting the strong wind blow past her. She unfolded the freshly printed newspaper in her hands, the ink's sharp scent mingling with the salty air. Her eyes scanned the pages, searching for updates on the Marines.
Unfortunately, the headlines were predictable — Marine branches launching expeditions to hunt down pirate crews, officers making bold statements, and political posturing.
Yet, none of it was what Robin truly wanted to see. Nearly a year had passed since Hancock had turned a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral to stone, but the Marines had shown no significant response. It was suspiciously quiet.
The Kuja Pirates hadn't sailed in all that time, and Hancock remained on Amazon Lily. Still, Robin found it hard to believe the Marines hadn't sent an envoy to negotiate. Someone like Kuzan, the man Liam called "Ice Bird," seemed the logical choice.
The Marine Vice Admiral had left a lasting impression on Kuja Island. Then there was that relentless Vice Admiral who once pursued Robin and Liam across the skies of Dr. Vegapunk's birthplace, Karakuri Island.
But no, the Marines remained unnervingly silent.
Was it a strategic move to avoid seeming too eager? Were they waiting for Kuja to make the first move? Robin pondered as she flipped the page. A large headline caught her eye.
The famous "Resort Island" on the Grand Line was hosting the "World's Greatest Sword Hero Tournament," open to all who dared enter.
The competition welcomed participants of any background, with no strict requirement of being a swordsman. The prize? The prestigious title of "World's First Great Sword Hero," was accompanied by a hefty cash reward that would undoubtedly draw a massive crowd.
Robin noticed the unusually long registration period — nearly half a year. Clearly, the organizers intended to attract contenders from across the seas, giving ample time for voyages to the island.
I wonder if Liam would be interested in something like this...
"World's Greatest Sword Hero Tournament?"
Liam shot through the waves with a splash, a wriggling white-bellied fish still in his mouth. He launched into the air, sending droplets of seawater flying as he chewed thoughtfully.
With a quick puff, he spat out the fish and stepped lightly on the air using Geppo. It almost seemed as if he were leisurely strolling through the sky.
Could it be that Hawk Eyes Mihawk had earned the title of "World's First Great Sword Hero" through a tournament like this?
...
Liam's silhouette moved effortlessly with the rolling air currents, the black armor carrying the green Den Den Mushi bobbing alongside him, matching his rhythm as they traveled forward.
He rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
It was odd, now that he considered it. How exactly had the title of "World's First Great Sword Hero" come to be?
The debates in his past life's forums came to mind — endless arguments about who truly deserved the title. Names like Red-Haired Shanks, Flower Sword Vista, and even the retired Rayleigh were constantly thrown around.
Some even suggested Yonko Big Mom, who wielded a sword-like weapon, or Whitebeard with his Qinglong Yanyue Blade (which many conveniently labeled a sword). After all, in the world of pirates, it wasn't uncommon to hear someone claim that a sword was a knife, and a knife was a sword.
And then there was that enigmatic Gorōsei member, the one often seen holding what appeared to be the legendary First Generation Kitetsu...
The thought lingered as Liam soared through the skies, the salty breeze whipping past him, pushing him closer to whatever adventure lay ahead.
With so many incredible swordsmen around, why would Hawk Eyes, with no significant battle achievements, be called the "World's First Great Sword Hero"?
But if it were a title earned in a global competition, that would make sense...
It's no secret that fighting tournaments are common in the world of pirates!
…
(To Be Continued…)
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