The Gale anchored near a small island. A modest town stood there—and to the crew's surprise, even such a place had a Marine base. After some discussion, everyone agreed to let Aokiji disembark here.
"Didn't think this little town would be so pretty. The Flower Country must be close by, right?" Carmen leaned lazily on the rail.
"A stationed base here means hope for many lives," Robin said quietly, noting the fear in the townsfolk's eyes as they glanced their way.
When Aokiji finally disembarked, he paused. Turning back, his face calm, he looked first at Leno, then at Robin. "Adventurer Leno… Nico Robin, from now on… ah, forget it." Scratching his head awkwardly, he turned away.
"You lunatic!" Leno snapped, cursing angrily.
"Hey, Aokiji! Robin's fate is ours to share from here on out. Don't you dare trouble her again."
Robin swept her gaze around, meeting the firm eyes of her comrades. Her vision blurred. For a moment, Saul's words echoed in her mind: "I've found comrades who cherish me. I'll sail with them across this vast sea."
With that, the ship departed. Next stop: the Flower Country.
On deck, Chopper noticed Nami leaning heavily against the rail, her expression clouded as she watched the island fade.
"Nami, are you still worried about Aokiji? Relax—Leno already warned him. He shouldn't cause us trouble again."
A sharp reply came instead from Kuina. "Aokiji may be strong, but next time, I won't lose."
Nojiko approached gently. "Nami, what's wrong?"
The others turned, their faces filled with concern.
"Five billion Berries… just slipped away… my poor heart!" Nami wailed, clutching her chest.
"Huh?!"
"You were worried about the money?!"
"Seriously, how much do you love money?!"
Suddenly, Carmen gasped. "Not good! Chopper fell overboard!"
Thankfully, Robin reacted instantly, pulling him back before he hit the water.
"Hey, Nami! Don't say things that stir up chaos like that!" Nojiko scolded.
"Huh? What's with you guys?"
"Eh? What's wrong with you guys?" Nami asked, confused. "Worrying about Aokiji won't help anything, right? How could Chopper fall off the ship? That was careless."
"It's your fault, idiot!" x6
They all wanted to thump her, but seeing her baffled expression, they were left speechless.
Flower Country — Headquarters of the Chinjao Family, outside the Happo Tower.
The Chinjao clan gathered in a noisy circle, watching as their 13th pillar, Chinjao's successor Sai, was beaten black and blue by his fiancée, Uholisia. Neither his deputy Boo nor anyone else dared step in.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"You have a fiancée, yet you flirt outside? Do you think the Happo Navy is a joke? Or that I, Uholisia, am a joke?!"
Smack! Bang!
"Our marriage isn't just a bond between us—it's an alliance! Do you even get that?!" The towering "Iron Barbie" Uholisia snarled between blows.
Sai, battered but stubborn, spat blood and barked back, "I didn't break our engagement! Even if I did, what could you do about it?"
Seeing her glare sharpen, Boo threw himself between them in panic. "It's all a misunderstanding! Our pillar did nothing wrong! You've hit and scolded enough—any more and this will spiral out of control."
"Hmph!"
Casting one last glare at the crowd and the Second Treasure Navy behind her, Uholisia stormed off with her people.
"Are you alright, Don Sai?"
"Damn it! If she weren't a woman, I'd have taught her a lesson. She dares wrong me, accuse me, and hit me? I won't stand for it!"
"Hush! You can't talk like that. Our alliance with the Second Treasure Navy is fragile—we can't risk it now," Boo whispered anxiously, scanning the area.
He quickly helped Sai up, and the clan escorted him back inside the Happo Tower.
The Royal Palace.
King Ramen sat on his throne, facing Chinjao. "Our failures in recent wars prove it. Our outdated weapons are crippling us."
"The enemy somehow acquired firearms and superior blades in bulk. For us, this is disastrous."
"Chinjao, find out where these weapons are coming from. Get us some too, or we'll remain at a terrible disadvantage."
Chinjao rubbed his cone-shaped head and sighed. "Your Majesty, I already ordered my men to investigate and informed the Second Treasure Navy's pillar. No results yet."
"In that case, we must push our craftsmen. Forge better weapons—fast. Cold steel, if nothing else." Ramen groaned. The losing battles had even robbed him of sleep.
"Meanwhile, have the Happo Navy increase its raids at sea. Weakening enemy shipping might buy us some results."
While the king brooded over military woes, Leno and his crew finally sailed the Gale into one of the Flower Country's ports.
"We've made it! Seems the country isn't in chaos after all," Nojiko observed.
The others nodded. Once Leno had stored the ship, they walked into town together.
"These buildings really are unique," someone murmured.
"Look at the clothes, too—so different!"
"What a fascinating country," Robin added.
"Hmph. It's all imitation—aping a certain great Eastern nation. But without cultural roots, it's just a pale copy," Leno scoffed. "Like an ape trying to play human."
The women exchanged curious looks. It was the first time they'd heard Leno speak so scornfully of an entire country. What was this "great Eastern nation" he spoke of?
T/n:
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