---
Robin continued, "I joined Baroque Works to research history. Thanks to them, I learned many things. I think you'll need me, because the way to the final island is marked with ancient text. In this world, there are no more than three people who can read it, and I'm one of them."
"A bunch of idiots, being spun around by a woman. This guy's been the vice president of Baroque Works all these years. How could such a woman become our nakama? You can fool them, but you can't fool me. I'll be watching you closely. If I find anything amiss, I'll personally kick you off," Nami said, narrowing her eyes at Robin, full of confidence.
"Mmm~ I'll keep that in mind. Oh, right, I brought quite a few gems from Baroque Works." Robin pulled out a pouch of gems from her coat and placed them on the table.
Nami's expression instantly changed: "Oh my~ How could a big sister be a bad person? I agree to you joining us!" She cheerfully grabbed the gems and left.
As soon as Nami left, Sanji, who was preparing afternoon tea, rushed out of the kitchen. "Ah~Robin-chwann, please try the loving afternoon tea I made for you."
Before long, everyone aboard the ship was won over. Well except Shin'ya. Nami with gems, Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy by tickling, Zoro with sake. Sanji was smitten from the start. Shin'ya, knowing how important Robin would be, directly agreed to let her join.
By afternoon, an albatross flew toward the Going Merry.
It landed neatly on the deck table, took a drink of water, and then squawked at Nami.
"Caw~ Caw…"
Nami pulled out a hundred Berries from her chest and placed them into the small pocket under the albatross's neck. Confirming the payment, the bird handed her a rolled-up newspaper, bowed in thanks, and flew away.
Nami opened the paper. The headline screamed:
"Shocking! Yonko Kaido the Beast goes to the Grand Line, Fails to Recruit New Pirates, Gets Beaten Up Instead!"
It detailed a fierce battle between Shin'ya and Kaido in Alabasta yesterday.
On the back page, it reported that a Shichibukai had been arrested and sent to Impel Down for attempting to overthrow a country.
Several wanted posters fell out as she flipped through the paper.
Looking at them, Nami's face turned pale. She shouted, "Luffy, Shin'ya, Zoro — come quick! Our new bounties are here!"
"Where? Let me see!" Everyone rushed from their corners of the ship. They picked up their posters and stared.
Straw Hat Luffy — Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates — Bounty: 300,000,000 Berries
Zen Master of a Thousand Hands Shin'ya Kurozawa — Member of the Straw Hat Pirates — Bounty: 2,000,000,000 Berries
Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro — Member of the Straw Hat Pirates — Bounty: 180,000,000 Berries
Black Leg Sanji — Member of the Straw Hat Pirates — Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries
Cat Burglar Nami — Member of the Straw Hat Pirates — Bounty: 50,000,000 Berries
Usopp — Member of the Straw Hat Pirates — Bounty: 50,000,000 Berries
Tony Tony Chopper — Pet of the Straw Hat Pirates — Bounty: 50 Berries
Luffy looked at his poster and burst out laughing. "My bounty's up to 300,000,000! Hahaha!"
Usopp paled. "It's over~ It's over! I didn't even do anything and I've got 50,000,000! What am I gonna do? Those bounty hunters won't leave me alone!"
"Oh~ Mine's 180,000,000 Berries." Zoro held up his poster, pleased. Then, glancing at Sanji, he smirked. "Tsk tsk~ The pervert cook only managed 100,000,000."
He waved his poster in Sanji's face. "Look at mine, 80,000,000 more than yours. Must be lonely at the bottom, huh?"
"Damn it, who took this photo?! Why does my picture look like that? It's ugly as hell. And only 100,000,000 Berries?" Sanji dropped to his knees on the deck, pounding it in frustration.
"Oh~ Shin'ya, yours is 2,000,000,000 Berries! That's incredible," Robin said, strolling over and peeking at his poster with a faint smile.
"What?!" Everyone rushed over to gawk.
"Hahaha~ As expected of my nakama! To celebrate, let's have a banquet!" Luffy declared.
As the celebration wore on, the next day arrived.
The seas were calm. The Going Merry sailed steadily forward under the morning sun.
Nami, standing on deck, suddenly shouted, "Everyone~ There's an island! I see an island!"
Inside, the room was chaos. Sanji, dreaming of a beautiful woman, nearly kissed Zoro in his sleep. Zoro, half-awake, kicked him away. The two started fighting.
After waiting a while, with no one coming out and the ruckus still going, Nami lost patience and stormed in, punching them both.
Soon everyone gathered on deck to look at the distant island.
"Yo~ It really looks like a giant pineapple," Shin'ya was the first to speak.
"Let's go adventuring!" Luffy yelled excitedly.
The crew quickly sailed to shore.
Drawing straws to decide who would watch the ship, it ended with only Chopper and Shin'ya remaining aboard. Robin was still asleep.
As the others left, Shin'ya stretched out at the bow and fell asleep, having already sensed with his Observation Haki that the island held only monkeys and no real threat.
Seeing Shin'ya doze off, Chopper's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Hehehe~ Today it's just me! From now on, I'm Captain Chopper! Hahaha! Luffy, you're banned from eating…"
Chopper played captain alone for a while, until a voice interrupted him.
"Uh~ Chopper, I'm still here," Robin smiled.
"Hehe~ How long have you been standing there, you sneaky woman?" Chopper panicked.
"Mmm~ From the moment you spoke your first sentence. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
"Hmph! I'm not talking to you. I've got things to do, busy busy~ kachi kachi~~" Chopper huffed, heading for the infirmary.
Inside, ten blue pills sat neatly on the table.
Chopper picked one up. "Only made ten Rumble Balls yesterday. No one to bother me today — I'll make forty more. It's been a while since we've fought someone tough… I miss the first time I ate one."
He trailed off, lost in thought.
"Wonder if Doctor Kureha misses me… I should write her a letter."
Just as he reached for paper and pen, his nose twitched, catching a human scent. He spun around.
Chopper yelped. "You bad woman! Walking without a sound! You want to kill me and steal my Rumble Ball secrets?! Not a chance! I won't lose to you!"
Robin calmly stood up. Chopper instantly popped a Rumble Ball in his mouth.
"Rumble Ball — Fur Reinforcement — Hoo-hoo-ha-hey!" He jabbed and kicked the air.
"Gravity Reinforcement — Da-da-da!" Fists flying.
"Jump Reinforcement — Hoo-hoo-hoo!" He hopped around, kicking furiously.
"Horn Reinforcement!"
With his antlers enormous, he pointed a hoof at Robin. "The Rumble Ball's power doesn't stop here! Better behave yourself — when I get serious, even I scare myself!"
"Hahaha~ You're adorable, Chopper. I like you." Robin chuckled, watching him flail at nothing.
Chopper melted into embarrassment. "Even if you say that… I'm not happy about it."
Shin'ya, snoozing on deck, sensed the ruckus below, shifted slightly, and continued sleeping.
Night fell. The crew returned. They ate, joked, and rested.
The next day, midway through sailing, Nami spoke up.
"That's strange… why is the Log Pose pointing straight up?"
"What?!" Luffy, Zoro, Sanji (who was fawning over Robin), Shin'ya, Usopp, Chopper (who were fishing), and Robin (on a beach chair) all crowded around.
Nami held up the Log Pose.
"Really? Are there islands in the sky? Won't they fall down?" Sanji asked doubtfully.
"Oh~ I know a little about that. Heard of Skypiea, Navigator-san?" Robin asked.
"Skypiea?" Everyone looked puzzled.
"It's just what it sounds like — an island floating in the sky."
"An island… in the sky? Really?" Even Nami was skeptical.
"Impossible! How could an island float in the sky?" Usopp scoffed.
"Historical records mention people who reached Skypiea, but no one believed them. Almost no one's seen it. Over time, it became legend," Robin explained, sipping coffee.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, as if a giant cloth was thrown over the ship.
They looked up to see a massive pirate ship wreckage falling directly toward the Merry.
Nami, Usopp, and Chopper hugged each other. "We're gonna die!"
As Shin'ya was about to act, a voice beat him to it.
Zoro drew his sword, and with a clean slash, split the wreckage in half, sending it crashing into the sea on both sides of the Merry. A chunk of gold clattered onto the deck.
Shin'ya picked up the heavy piece and smirked. "Looks like the legend might be true. A shame about that ship… probably had a ton of treasure."
Nami's eyes filled with murder as she grabbed Zoro by the collar. "Why didn't you get the treasure first before cutting the ship?! Why?!"
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