Seven-year agreement, the regent's dream moment

"Here, here, Mr. Directionally Challenged, I'm behind you."

"Who are you calling directionally challenged?"

"With your pace, it should've taken you no more than 20 minutes to get here from where you were yesterday. But instead, you wandered for 15 hours and circled the entire mountain. I honestly can't find another word to describe you."

"Oh, and here's your sword. I repaired it for you while I was waiting."

Robin achieved the result she wanted, realizing that she had overcomplicated the situation; the person in front of her simply just got lost, not someone with strong counter-surveillance skills.

Given the way he went around, her estimated position wouldn't have been able to intercept him.

Based on his behavior, Robin mentally added another label to him behind directionally challenged: "poor self-awareness."

After tossing his sword back to him, Robin lost interest and decided to proceed with her funded trip as originally planned, but Johnny and Yosaku, seeing the woman their big brother had gone through so much trouble to find trying to leave, immediately wanted to stop her.

"Wait a second!"

"Explain yourself!"

"Cuatro Fleur: Trip."

What followed was the sound of someone falling. Both of their ankles were grabbed, causing them to topple straight onto the ground. Even Zoro, who was nearby, once again enjoyed the same treatment.

It was only then that Zoro noticed what had appeared on the ground was not anything else, but a multitude of arms.

"You... Who the hell are you?"

"Just a traveler searching for answers. Now that I've gotten what I wanted, I'm no longer interested in sticking around. As for this..." Robin gestured at the arms. "Haven't you heard of Devil Fruits?"

"So, in your eyes, I'm just a toy, huh?"

Zoro's reputation as a bounty hunter was starting to grow, and with it, a sense of pride and arrogance. He had thought he was making great strides toward fulfilling his promise from years ago. Now, it seemed he had overestimated himself.

"I didn't mean it that way. Don't overthink it. For what it's worth, in the East Blue, you're already one of the stronger ones."

"Where are you from?"

"Me? If you must know, the Grand Line."

"Are the people there all this strong?"

"Very strong. With your current strength, if you went to the Grand Line, you wouldn't even make a ripple. Anyway, consider these answers as compensation for the trouble I've caused you. Until we meet again, Mr. Directionally Challenged."

After answering some of Zoro's questions, Nico Robin turned and left. Zoro, who had gotten back on his feet, didn't act aggressively. Instead, having glimpsed a greater world beforehand, a smile spread across his lips.

"I've decided, Johnny, Yosaku. I'm going to the Grand Line too."

His goal is to become the strongest swordsman in the world, and this was a path he would eventually have to take. The only problem was whether he could find his way there. Given his current situation, just finding Reverse Mountain would be a challenge.

"Wait, Brother Zoro, where are you headed now?"

"Leaving this town, of course. Where else?"

"But… the way out is over there."

They didn't try to stop Zoro. In their eyes, Zoro might truly make a name for himself in the Grand Line. For now, though, it was more important to help him leave this town.

After travelling around East Blue at Crocodile's expense and exploring a few ruins, Robin returned to Alabasta with the excuse that she couldn't find Zoro. This outcome didn't raise any suspicion from Crocodile. After all, apart from Mr. 7, none of the others he sent out had managed to find Zoro either.

Meanwhile, Yamato occasionally tried reasoning with the two dragons, but when the reasoning didn't work and force proved equally ineffective, she always ended up back at square one. As Arceus and Kaido alternated between going out to search, time slowly crept toward the end of the year 1517.

...

Wano Country, Kuri

Meowna and Wolff had been quite happy lately—their seventh birthday was just around the corner.

This means they have grown another year. They want to grow up, they like celebrating birthdays. This is the unique childlike innocence belonging to children. As people age and gain experience, and understand the concept of time better, they don't look forward to birthdays as much.

Meanwhile, Meowna and Wolff weren't the only ones looking forward to this day—so was Hitsugisukan.

"Lord Regent, are you really that happy?"

In the Mokomo Dukedom, a lion-mink looked at the visibly excited Hitsugisukan, unable to comprehend his excitement. It wasn't any particularly special occasion, after all.

"You don't understand, Shishilian. Many years ago, I should've retired. At first, she said she was still young, so I stayed on as Duke for a few more years.

But then, Setsuna… that child forced me into a seven-year agreement. Now her kids have grown, they're strong enough, and the agreed time has come. Let's see what excuse she comes up with now!"

As he spoke, Hitsugisukan touched the top of his head. Ever since stepping down from the position of Duke, he had stopped wearing a crown. His head was now bare, and even his hair had thinned considerably.

Life on Zou Island was moving toward a brighter future. Yet, as its administrator, Hitsugisukan found that the matters he had to deal with were increasing.

At first, he thought Setsuna was just a naïve child. He never imagined she had so many sly tricks up her sleeve. After gaining the authority of the duke, she exploited the loophole that allowed the duke to command all Minks, forcing him—an elder—to work overtime for seven long years.

"Mooo!"

Zunesha let out a cry and then came to a stop. Following Setsuna's earlier instructions, it once again arrived near Wano Country.

Gazing at Wano Country, which towered above the sea, Hitsugisukan left Zou Island and headed straight for Setsuna's home.

He had visited Setsuna and Zeraora's home more than once before and knew the way like the back of his hand. However, this time, he noticed there were far more ducks wandering around the place.

"Setsuna! Setsuna! Come out here! The time has finally come! I've been waiting for this day for so long!"

Before even getting close, he couldn't hold back his excitement and shouted loudly. Yet, after calling several times, only Meowna and Wolff came out to greet him.

"Grandpa Hitsugisukan, do you need something from Mom?"

"Meowna, Wolff, where's your mother? I came to deliver a gift for her—and birthday presents for you, too! You're about to become the prince and princess of the Mokomo Dukedom. Aren't you happy?"

Although the title for the highest leader was "Duke," they were essentially the rulers of Zou Island. So, calling them "prince" and "princess" wasn't really an issue.

In the past, when the dukes of Zou Island stepped down, they didn't necessarily have heirs. So, Setsuna was just setting a precedent in this regard.

"Does it come with any perks?"

"Yeah, can we exchange it for anything?"

"Uh... you'll have to ask your parents about that later. First, tell me, where's your mom?"

"We don't know."

"Yeah, we don't know. Mom said she was going out to play but didn't tell us where she was going."

Hearing the two kids' answers, Hitsugisukan wasn't surprised. He had already anticipated that this wouldn't go smoothly.

He immediately pulled out Setsuna's Vivre Card. With the kids' birthday just around the corner, he didn't believe their mother would leave Wano Country.

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