Year 1510 of the Sea Calendar, Southwest North Blue, Abbott Island.
Amidst the roar of the storm, turbulent waves mixed with broken wood and rags crashed into the churning sea currents, tumbling endlessly.
The terrible weather prevented the island's fishermen from going out to sea, so a large group of burly men with pent-up energy gathered in the tavern, holding alcohol and cheap tobacco, contentedly enjoying their rare leisure.
"Drink, drink it all, Ussy!"
"Go on, get him, Sata!"
Two strong, dark-skinned fishermen were locked in a contest of strength in the center, while the other fishermen outside cheered them on with shouts.
Outside the crowd, a black-haired girl wearing a cowboy hat and carrying a backpack sat in the corner of the tavern, sipping a cocktail and staring out at the storm, lost in thought.
Sata, who had just forced his opponent to drink himself under the table on the high platform, staggered to his feet, enjoying the crowd's admiring gazes.
His proud gaze swept over his domain, when he suddenly noticed a gaze that dared not to be focused on him.
He pushed through the crowd, stumbling towards the girl, and slammed a glass of fine wine down in front of her. Just as he was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of the intelligent, mature face beneath the brim of her hat.
Instantly, the curse words rising to his lips transformed into a polite greeting: "This beautiful lady, I wonder if I, Sata, might have the honor of sharing a drink with you."
The fishermen burst into laughter, envying Sata's luck with the ladies amongst themselves, jostling and dispersing.
However, the girl didn't spare Sata the slightest bit of attention, causing the man to feel his pride was hurt.
Under the combined influence of alcohol, cheap tobacco, and the oppressive, oxygen-deprived environment, Sata gradually became crude.
"Hey, woman, don't be ungrateful!"
Sata raised his hand, completely unaware of the flower petals floating and coalescing behind him.
Just as a gentle yet murderous hand was about to rise, a vast, flowing, fierce light briefly flashed before Sata's eyes.
"Ah! My eyes, my eyes, aaaah!"
Two heavy thuds sounded as objects hit the floor. Sata's piercing wails woke up many of the drunks, but they looked over in confusion, didn't see Sata on the floor, and soon turned their attention away.
The girl in the cowboy hat who had fallen felt a weight on her and looked down.
Discovering the flash of pink in her arms, her face immediately lit up with joy.
"Mmm, damn system, where did you dump me this time?"
Sakura opened her bleary eyes, greeted by the tavern's dim lighting.
"Still the same as before, Sakura?"
A mix of helplessness and the joy of reunion in her voice, the girl holding a Sakura who was about the same size as before, and wearing a pressed-down cowboy hat, gave her a childlike smile.
Seeing the girl's face clearly, Sakura's eyes widened. "You're, Ro... Mmm!"
"Don't say the full name. I'm being hunted by the World Government. Being too conspicuous will attract pursuers."
After whispering an explanation, Robin finally released Sakura, allowing her to breathe fresh air again, gasping for breath.
"How have you been all these years? How's your mother, Dr. Clover, and the scholars of Ohara? And why are you being hunted?"
The wailing man on the floor had disappeared at some point. The two girls got up from the floor.
Robin raised her hand and called the tavern owner to bring more drinks, and the two sat at a table to chat.
"Mom and Dr. Clover are conducting research at Weatheria. Some scholars went with Saul to Elbaf, and some others joined the Revolutionary Army."
Robin explained to Sakura with a smile, even dotingly wiping the beer foam from the corner of the young girl's mouth.
"That's good, that's good!"
Hearing that her old acquaintances were well from her long-lost friend, Sakura was filled with emotion for a moment.
"As for me~"
Robin interlaced her fingers, resting her chin on them, a hint of cunning shining in her deep blue eyes as she teased Sakura, drawing out the suspense.
"Mhmm! Mhmm!"
Sakura lifted her neck, following Robin's drawn-out tone.
"Hehe, I set out to sea. As an archaeologist, excavating the history of the past all over the world."
The eighteen-year-old, youthful and beautiful Ohara girl took out her glasses, put them on, and pushed them up pretentiously towards Sakura.
Sakura could roughly infer her experiences over the years from what was left unsaid.
Given the World Government's nature, an Ohara archaeologist digging into forbidden history would undoubtedly make them want to kill her as soon as possible.
"Robin..."
Sakura grabbed her hand.
"This is my own choice, and I am prepared for the consequences!"
In Robin's gentle gaze was a firmness that brooked no refusal.
"Also, we should probably run now!"
"Huh?"
A confused Sakura was about to ask for details, but the rainbow light of Observation Haki flashed through her pupils.
Instinct made her grab Robin by the waist and pull her back. Then, several swirling streams of air shot through the storm, shattered the tavern wall, and pulverized the spot where the two had just been standing.
A man dressed in a black suit and a black overcoat, leading a group of subordinates armed with guns and cannons, burst into the tavern.
The surrounding drinkers, seeing the situation turn sour, hurriedly slipped out through the tavern's windows and back door. Within three breaths, the tavern was empty.
"Bounty 60,000,000 Berries, Ohara scholar, Nico Robin!"
Rob Lucci, also eighteen, the CP's strongest genius in 800 years, was brimming with confidence, holding the bounty poster and looking down condescendingly at the woman on the wanted poster before him.
Although the enemy was a troublesome Devil Fruit's User who had repeatedly escaped Marine's pursuit, she was, after all, just a scholar.
The intelligence department at headquarters was also making a fuss over nothing, actually deploying a valuable asset like him to hunt down a weak woman.
"In the name of justice, you will be arrested today! If you dare resist, you will be killed on sight!"
Lowering his center of gravity, Lucci raised his left arm to shield his face, pointing his right index finger at Robin.
"Ara, so dangerous. But I still have dreams to fulfill, so I can't let you arrest me just like that~"
Robin replied to Lucci in her characteristically elegant and composed tone.
But this unhurried manner seemed like a provocation to Lucci.
"Then die!"
Skillfully using the Rokushiki, Soru, Lucci's figure flickered through the air.
His right-hand used Shigan which aimed at the center of Robin's forehead, thrusting out without hesitation.
Slap!
A hand reached up from below, grabbing Lucci's wrist, causing his index finger to gently press against Robin's forehead, unable to advance even a fraction further.
"Hmm?"
Lucci frowned, his gaze shifting downward.
There, he saw a face that made him utterly horrified.
"Hello there, World Government's lapdog!"
Her emerald eyes focused, and violent intent seemed to rise within them.
The savage Haki forged by countless burning wills erupted, swirling around the girl, forming a majestic crown.
Under this boiling aura, numerous CP Agents fainted on the spot, the sounds of their weapons and bodies hitting the floor rising and falling one after another.
His arm released, Lucci's limbs trembled. He took two steps back, his voice hoarse as he murmured:
"Great pirate... Haruno Sakura!"