After delivering six slaps to Tom, Robin regained her usual unflappable calm expression. Her captivating eyes were peaceful, adding to her serene beauty.
Sitting under the sun umbrella as the sea turtle carried her slowly forward, she took out a wanted poster and gazed at it for a long time. The blue-black pupils of her eyes clearly reflected the image of a certain man on the poster. Perhaps remembering something, her brows gave an involuntary twitch before settling back into their as-if-a-breeze-had-passed composure. She murmured softly, "What a rude man."
After saying this, Robin looked back at the Going Merry growing smaller on the distant sea. A natural, graceful smile touched her lips—one that held a hint of seductiveness, yet fully displayed her mature charm. She laughed softly, "There's a good show coming up... Little Garden."
"Look, his face is swollen."
"But why is his face swollen?"
"Maybe he threw up too much, so his face swelled."
Luffy, Usopp, and Zoro stood side by side, arms crossed, looking down at Tom lying on the deck with a terribly swollen face, chattering among themselves.
"What happened to him?"
Nami had just walked over when she saw Tom's miserable state. She couldn't understand how, after taking her eyes off him for just a moment, he had ended up like this.
Earlier, seeing the morning mist dissipate and the ship about to enter the Grand Line's waters from Whisky Peak's river, Nami had called Luffy and the others to prepare for sailing. She never expected to find Tom in such an unlucky state upon returning.
"Did he do something strange to you, and you beat him up like that?"
Nami asked Vivi, who still hadn't fully recovered, in a low voice tinged with hesitation. If Vivi said yes, Nami was ready to beat Tom on the spot.
"No, I didn't hit him."
Hearing Nami's words, Vivi hurriedly waved her hands, repeatedly denying it. She was still suspicious she might have been seeing things earlier—how could six hands have appeared out of nowhere from Tom's face?
"Where did that beautiful and charming lady go?"
Sanji, who had been unfortunately splattered by Tom, had finally cleaned off the mess. He now wore a brand-new black suit and trousers, with leather shoes so shiny they looked polished. It was clear he had meticulously groomed himself.
But to Sanji's disappointment, when he made his flashy entrance, Robin had already left the ship. He was deeply disappointed.
"Hey, stinky fisherman. Looks like someone hit you."
Sanji walked over to Tom lying on the deck and continued, "I bet you offended some lady and got what you deserved. Serves you right."
"What did you say, you cook with a brain full of lust? I suggest you stop being so hormonal everywhere. It's not even spring."
The slaps from Robin had completely sobered Tom up. After exchanging just a few words with Sanji, a full-on brawl erupted on deck, drawing cheers and shouts from Luffy and Usopp, who eagerly egged the two combatants on.
Zoro glanced at Tom and Sanji fighting, yawned, and sat down by a railing, preparing to sleep.
"Can I really stay on this ship? I'll just cause you all more trouble."
Vivi's face held a hint of confusion and heaviness of heart as she spoke apologetically.
"You're the one who got our faces exposed to Baroque Works!"
Nami pressed a slender jade-like finger against Vivi's smooth forehead. "If you're worried about causing trouble, you shouldn't have boarded our ship in the first place."
"Ah... I'm sorry."
The apology on Vivi's face deepened as she pressed her lips together while speaking to Nami.
"But don't worry about it too much."
Nami then casually pointed elsewhere. "Just look at them."
Vivi followed Nami's finger and saw Tom and Sanji brawling, with Luffy and Usopp watching and cheering nearby. Zoro sat not far away, leaning against the mast.
"Can't you see I'm trying to sleep? Take your fight somewhere else!"
Zoro, unable to bear the noise from Tom and Sanji's scuffle, spoke very rudely to the two.
"The sun's barely up and you're going to sleep? Is that really okay?"
Hearing Zoro, Sanji temporarily stopped fighting Tom, took a drag from his cigarette, and addressed Zoro.
"What do you mean?"
As soon as Zoro asked, Sanji grinned. "The sun just rose. If you fall asleep, the natural green algae on your head might wilt and die."
Tom had heard Zoro several times offering seemingly logical explanations for his vomiting—all complete nonsense. At the time, he'd been busy throwing up and wasn't in great mental shape. Otherwise, seeing Zoro repeatedly twisting the meaning of his simple need to vomit, he would have long since jumped up to fight this nonsense-spouting greenhead.
Plus, Zoro claimed his face swelled because he threw up too much.
Screw that. You greenhead think I'm an idiot?
Tom really wanted to give Zoro a big slap to show him the real reason his face was swollen.
Remembering this "new grudge and old hatred," Tom now joined Sanji in giving the sleepy-looking Zoro a simultaneous thumbs-down gesture.
"I'll cut you both to pieces!"
Provoked by Sanji and Tom, Zoro couldn't take it. He immediately jumped up, drew two swords, and joined the fray.
Thus, what began as a two-man brawl between Tom and Sanji escalated into a three-man melee with Zoro's addition.
Luffy and Usopp, those trouble-loving guys, seeing the three fight even more fiercely than before, cheered even louder.
Vivi watched as the three traded punches, kicks, sword swings, and fishing pole strikes, fighting from bow to stern and back again, while the Captain and the long-nosed guy shouted encouragement with no intention of stopping them. Her jaw nearly dropped.
Looking at the sky—the early sun had just risen, and dawn wasn't even fully upon them—yet these five were already energetically fooling around. A dark cloud formed over Vivi's head. "Do they just not care at all about being hunted by Baroque Works?"
"They're just a bunch of idiots. You'll get used to it."
Nami watched Tom and the others, her pretty brows twitching as she spoke to the utterly bewildered Vivi.
"The sun's up, Sanji! Breakfast!"
Luffy, seeing the sun had risen and the sky brightened, felt his stomach rumble immediately.
"You heard him. I need to prepare breakfast. If you've got time, go catch some fish."
"For breakfast, I want fish porridge. Don't just toss me a whole big fish like you do for Luffy."
Sanji and Tom stopped fighting, having settled their differences for now.
"What? You're done already?"
Usopp, seeing the fun was over, suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked Zoro, who was about to go sleep somewhere. "You still haven't properly explained why Miss Wednesday was on our ship!"
"Miss Wednesday?"
Sanji, about to return to the kitchen, heard Usopp. His nostrils flared with hot air, and his eyes instantly turned to hearts as he scanned the ship. Soon he spotted Vivi standing with Nami.
In a flash, Sanji zoomed over to Vivi's side. "My beautiful and charming Miss Wednesday! What would you like for breakfast?"
"And Miss Nami, what kind of breakfast would you prefer?"
While speaking to Vivi, Sanji didn't forget to ask Nami.
This lecherous cook, upon seeing a beauty, doesn't even question why Vivi is on the ship. Tom snorted with disdain. Just as he was jumping off the ship to fish, he heard Sanji say to Nami and Vivi, "How about I specially prepare some delicious fish porridge for you two?"
"That's supposed to be my breakfast!"
Hearing Sanji, Tom nearly fell headfirst into the sea. As he was about to hit the water, he used the net launcher on his left arm to fire a line, sticking it to a railing. Grabbing the railing, he hauled himself back onto the ship. Still holding on, he shouted dissatisfiedly at Sanji. His sudden voice from behind Nami and Vivi startled them both.
Some time later, after everyone finished the breakfast Sanji carefully prepared, Usopp and Sanji finally learned why Vivi was on board.
"Ah, what a shame! But I still have chances to shine. Don't worry, now that this sleeping knight has awakened, your safety is guaranteed."
"Phew, good thing I was asleep that time."
Sanji and Usopp, learning about the events in Whisky Peak town, had completely opposite attitudes and reactions. One regretted not having a chance to perform that night and promised Vivi he'd protect her from now on. The other was just relieved he was asleep and knew nothing.
Furthermore, Sanji asked Nami if she was jealous of what he'd just said to Vivi.
Then Tom patted Sanji's shoulder and said he'd try to find a female seaweed princess someday to pair with Sanji the prince, so Sanji's spring fever wouldn't overflow and affect him.
Hearing that, Sanji's face instantly darkened, and he faintly looked ready to fight Tom again.
Usopp, however, had thick skin. He took out Luffy's wanted poster again, pointed at the back of his own head in the corner of the poster, and boasted proudly to Vivi, "Actually, people are saying this 30 million bounty on the poster is for the back of my head!"
Vivi saw that Usopp actually carried Luffy's wanted poster with him. Clearly, this wasn't the first time he'd taken it out to brag about the back of his head.
Back in Whisky Peak, Usopp had been mistaken for the 30 million Berry Tom because of his boasting. Now he was using Luffy to boast about himself again. For a moment, Vivi was at a loss for what to say about this boastful guy.
Zoro finished breakfast and went to sleep in a corner. Luffy sat on the sheep's head figurehead, excitedly shouting, "Alright! Onward to Little Garden, Going Merry!"
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T/N :
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