Hearing the definite answer, Robin froze in place.
Her thoughts drifted back to that night when Ohara was destroyed—to the years of suffering that followed—and now, the answer to the mission she had carried all her life stood right before her.
Her body moved on its own, taking a step forward. Just as she was about to speak and ask the question she'd yearned to ask all these years, Max's voice pulled her abruptly back to reality.
"But, young lady, there's no need to rush. You should keep sailing on your ship for now."
Robin blinked, momentarily stunned, not understanding what he meant. She looked at him, puzzled.
"Perhaps both we and Ohara were too impatient," Max said. "Even if I were to tell you everything about the true history right now, it wouldn't mean much to you at this stage."
Turning slightly, he swept his gaze over the group, finally stopping on Leno. "Even you, 'Thunder God,' are no exception."
Being called out without warning, Leno's face darkened instantly. "Hey! You picking a fight, old man? Let's go one-on-one if you've got guts!"
Max chuckled. "The answers you find after traveling the world might not be the same as ours. But if you still insist on knowing, I can tell you everything about this world right now."
After saying that, he simply stood there quietly, waiting for Robin's decision.
Sweat rolled down Robin's forehead as her mind churned violently. Images flashed before her—Leno's grin, then Nami's, Kuina's, Carmen's...
After a long silence, a faint smile slowly spread across her lips, and her gentle, relaxed voice followed.
"Forget it. I'll keep sailing. I want to stay with him… with them… and continue circling the world."
At that moment, Leno finally felt at ease. Robin's long-standing obsession had finally been released. All his past efforts to guide her hadn't been in vain.
He stood beside her and gently pulled her into his arms. No words were needed.
Max smiled faintly, his eyes saying I knew it, before he added, "One day, you'll see it all for yourselves. You'll understand everything."
"As for your homeland, Ohara, we truly sympathize with what happened. But Captain Roger… he couldn't read those ancient texts. In the end, we were just pirates. Our knowledge and wisdom could never compare to Ohara's scholars. Roger… he simply could 'hear the Voice of All Things.'"
Robin lifted her head sharply, eyes wide with shock. She hadn't expected that to be the truth.
Beside her, Leno twitched at the corner of his mouth. '"Could hear the Voice of All Things" only? Do you even realize how insane that ability is, old man?!'
As Max disappeared into the kitchen, the rest of the crew slowly calmed down. Yet the awe on their faces remained.
"Man, what a day! I can't believe the Pirate King Roger actually went through all that. It's unreal!" Carmen said, patting her chest in disbelief. She couldn't help but wonder if she should go chat with Max about cooking later.
Once the idea took root, it refused to leave her mind. Before anyone could stop her, she got up and headed straight toward the kitchen.
"Hey! Carmen, where are you going?!" Chopper shouted in alarm.
The others looked equally surprised. What had gotten into her now?
"Oh, nothing," she said casually. "Just want to spar a little in the kitchen."
"Hey, hey! We're here to eat, not to challenge the chef!" Leno sighed helplessly. This girl—every time she met a cook, she wanted to have a cook-off.
To everyone's surprise, Carmen and Max actually got along quite well. Before long, the two came out laughing, carrying dishes from the kitchen.
The way Carmen looked, she was just about to kneel and ask to become his apprentice.
Sure enough, during the meal, Carmen asked to stay behind and learn from Max for a while. Leno had no objection.
The following days felt almost like early retirement.
On that peaceful island, Leno and the others spent their days basking in the sun, fishing, and relaxing without a care in the world.
Perhaps it was the islanders' slow-paced life that influenced them. While Carmen studied under Max, Nami, Robin, and the others also started enjoying the tranquility.
They even tried asking around about Gol D. Roger's wife, Portgas D. Rouge, but too much time had passed. The island had endured terrible events back then, and the topic had become nearly taboo.
In the end, they dropped the matter. As for what role Max had played in it all—Leno didn't bother digging deeper.
It had nothing to do with him anyway.
Time passed quickly.
When the day of departure finally came, Max personally came to see them off. He handed Carmen his treasured cookbook, a sign of true mentorship.
Leaving behind that "retirement island," Leno and his crew once again set sail across the South Blue.
However, due to the Revolutionary Army's recent uprisings, the Navy Headquarters and World Government had tightened their surveillance across the region.
Large numbers of Marines and Cipher Pol agents flooded the South, making the entire area tense and dangerous.
After passing several more islands, they unknowingly completed a full circle around the South Sea. Their journey there had finally come to a successful close.
Staring at the towering Red Line ahead, everyone on deck felt overwhelmed.
"No matter how many times I see it, the Red Line always leaves me speechless," Nami said.
"Yeah," Nojiko agreed. "It makes you feel so small… yet so awed."
As Nami and Nojiko marveled at the massive red continent, Leno clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"We're about to enter the North Blue," he announced. "It'll be our final stop across the Four Seas. But I'll warn you now—things won't be as peaceful there as they were here."
"The situation up north is complicated. The underworld, pirate crews, and even Cipher Pol agents are all tangled together. Stir one thread, and the whole web shakes."
He grinned. "But hey, I'm not saying this to scare you—just to keep you ready. We'll keep sailing as usual. Just remember—anyone who picks a fight with us… gets crushed!"
"Ohhhh!!!"
"Crush them all!!!"
Yamato and Chopper shouted with fiery enthusiasm, their blood boiling from Leno's declaration.
As their battle cries echoed through the air, the Gale soared upward, cutting through the clouds as it flew toward the summit of the Red Line.