The gentle sea breeze blew across the deck.
Azure waves rippled beneath the hull.
Seagulls circled the sky above,
and fish leapt joyfully amid the waters.
"Marine hero Major Longinus defeats the Black Hood Pirates!
Captain Felix has been captured and now awaits the judgment of Justice…"
A tall man on the deck read the newspaper aloud with theatrical passion,
earning cheers and applause from all around.
"Major Longinus truly deserves to be called a Marine hero!
Didn't he personally risk his life rescuing hostages just last week?"
"At this rate, the Marines stationed in our kingdom look like complete trash.
Makes me wonder whether they waste all their time and energy on women instead of duty."
"Isn't that the truth?
I wish Major Longinus would visit the West Blue someday!"
"That Marine… his name was Longinus?
Was he the one who saved me back then?"
Among the crowd stood a tiny figure, listening with rapt focus.
Her small face was tense with concentration—almost adorably serious.
"Little Erin, you know that Major too?"
A man beside her found her expression cute and teased with a smile.
"Mhm!
Uncle Isaac, I want to become as strong as Major Longinus someday!"
Her sweet voice melted the hearts of everyone who loved children.
"Hahaha!
Let's hope the West Blue gains a great heroine in the future!"
Everyone laughed with him—
none of them actually believed the little girl could grow into someone like Major Longinus.
The girl scurried to the far side of the deck,
letting out a quiet breath only after confirming no one was looking at her.
She didn't dare stay in the spotlight too long.
"Even a pirate as strong as Felix was defeated…
That Marine is really powerful.
No wonder he gave me the same feeling as that ice-using monster back then!"
Staring at the vast sea, the girl muttered softly.
She was, of course,
Nico Robin—
who had fled Sainting Island some time ago, changed her identity,
and quietly returned to the West Blue.
"They say the most dangerous place is often the safest.
And since I already appeared on the Grand Line before,
those people shouldn't expect me to come back to the West Blue so soon!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Just as Robin was considering where to flee next,
massive waves surged up.
The ship rocked violently,
and the frantic screams of sailors exploded across the deck.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Robin clung to the railing and looked out over the sea.
In the distance, Jolly Rogers fluttered in the wind—
three pirate ships moving in a line,
firing cannons at their passenger vessel.
"It's pirates!"
Robin's heart tightened.
Though the enemy was only a small crew—nothing compared to the large pirate bands of the Grand Line—
the passenger ship she was on was just an ordinary civilian vessel.
Whether it could withstand an attack was anyone's guess.
The cannon fire soon stopped,
but the dread in Robin's chest only grew.
She knew full well this didn't mean the pirates had given up.
Rather—
they had likely already decided that everything aboard this ship belonged to them.
The earlier barrage had merely been a warning.
Perhaps frightened by the bombardment,
the chubby captain of the passenger ship didn't dare flee.
He simply waited meekly as the pirate ships approached.
"You're the most pathetic captain I've ever seen!
You don't even have the courage to resist!"
A red-haired young pirate captain laughed wildly from his ship.
"But your cowardice saved your lives today!
For I—Captain Jack—am destined to be the next Pirate King! Ahahahaha!"
The pirates aboard all three ships burst into arrogant laughter.
Claiming loot without shedding blood was always ideal.
Hearing those grating laughs,
the passengers trembled uncontrollably.
This was why they had envied the heroic news stories—
because the pirate situation in the West Blue was truly outrageous.
Even pirate groups like the Happo Navy could openly operate as official forces here.
That alone showed just how chaotic the region had become.
If not for the Buster Call half a year ago crushing many West Blue pirates,
the current situation would probably be ten times worse.
As for this red-haired pirate captain,
he was obviously newly out at sea—
young, reckless, and totally unfazed by any "Buster Call."
Which was why this poor passenger ship had ended up in their sights.
But unexpectedly,
the short and portly captain smiled mockingly.
"Idiot.
I just didn't want you lot damaging my ship.
She's an old friend—
I can't let scum like you ruin her."
"What?"
Hearing this, the red-haired pirate captain nearly exploded with rage.
"You rotten old man!
I'll rip off your skull and use it as a wine cup!"
"Hahaha!
Captain, I think we've been away from the Grand Line too long.
Even newbie pirates dare yell in your face now!"
the one-armed boatswain laughed until he wheezed.
"Ten years ago, not even Marines dared speak to us like this,"
the burly first mate rumbled with folded arms.
At this point, even the dullest passengers realized something was off.
The old men aboard this ship were… absolutely fearless.
"Captain Jones…
he's actually a legendary pirate who once sailed the Grand Line!"
The passengers were torn between excitement and fear.
"They say nine out of ten ships in the West Blue used to be pirates.
Looks like it's true,"
Robin whispered, eyes shining with interest.
"Grand Line?"
The red-haired pirate captain blinked—
then suddenly burst into hysterical laughter.
"So you're rejects who ran back from the Grand Line?
Perfect.
Hand over your logbooks,
or I'll kill everyone on board!"
"Looks like it's time we teach you rookies
to respect your seniors."
Captain Jones drew a pistol and twirled it clumsily,
speaking in a deep voice.
The battle began quickly—
and ended even faster.
"Ow! Ow!
Mercy, great pirate lord!
Spare me! Spare me!"
Captain Jones crawled on the floor, begging for his life.
His earlier aura of a veteran Grand Line pirate
had vanished completely.
Even the passengers—
and the pirates—
were stunned.
"Huh?
This is the level of pirates who retreated from the Grand Line?"
The red-haired captain stepped on Jones's head with contempt.
"N-no no no!
We've never been to the Grand Line!
We're not pirates at all!"
Jones confessed immediately.
"We were just trying to scare you off with psychological tactics!"
"We pulled this trick many times before…
We just didn't expect your boldness to far surpass those old pirates."
Jones flattered desperately.
The surrounding passengers were dumbfounded.
You guys operate like THIS?!
Robin covered her face in shame.
She had actually been fooled earlier by their convincing performance.
Her embarrassment was matched only by her grudging admiration.
"The West Blue really is full of hidden monsters…"
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