Robin joins the crew!!
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"Lord Kuro, you're practicing your Devil Fruit ability again, it's impressive," Igaram observed, gazing towards the sea to the left, his face filled with awe. "Lord Kuro is so powerful; I wonder how strong the vice-captain must be."
"It's true what they say: there are no weak soldiers under a strong general. The crew can't be anything less with someone as formidable as Ethan."
Dash covered its ears with its wings, looking visibly frightened. It detested explosions—the noise terrified it.
Princess Vivi brushed her water-blue hair back, her eyebrows arching in a gentle smile. "Everyone is strong, taking cues from Ethan and working hard."
"Igaram, Karoo, I'm heading back to practice. I want to master Observation Haki soon and become stronger." Without hesitation, she gracefully walked towards the training room.
Watching Princess Vivi depart, Igaram sighed with relief, muttering, "The princess is growing up; it's reassuring to see her like this."
"If the king knew, he'd be delighted. She's truly coming into her own."
On the deck,
Burgess glared at Kuro, annoyance clear on his face. "Can you stop making such a racket? You're ruining my mood."
Doc Q's eyes gleamed maliciously. "Burgess, this guy's arrogance needs to be checked."
"With Kuro's Silent Step combined with the Air Pressure Fruit, Burgess wouldn't stand a chance."
Gin brandished his unique weapons, commenting coolly, "In a real fight, Burgess would lose."
Law gripped his demon sword, his voice icy as ever. "Kuro has indeed grown stronger."
"If we fought one-on-one, I'd struggle against him."
Hawkins casually played with his cards, saying, "A powerful Devil Fruit makes all the difference."
Lafitte leaned on his cane, nodding politely. "The captain has a point."
"It's not about the weakest Devil Fruit, but the skill of the user."
Kuro adjusted his glasses and spoke logically, "A Devil Fruit's strength is merely a starting point; it doesn't define everything."
"But in my hands, this Devil Fruit will show its true potential, securing my position as vice-captain."
Kuro fixed his gaze on Lafitte, speaking earnestly, "Vice-captain, you need to elevate your strength. Otherwise, your position is at risk."
Bartolomeo chuckled, touching his nose ring. "I've already discussed it with the captain; he's guiding my development."
"You're all destined to be outmatched by me, hehehaha..."
Van Augur tapped his gun against his shoulder, his face expressionless.
"I may not know much, but if you're looking to spar with me, be prepared to go all out."
"My aim isn't easy to dodge."
Just then, the siren blared from the observation deck.
"..."
"There's a boat ahead—or rather, a person riding a turtle! It's a..."
---
Inside the practice room,
Upon hearing the siren's call, the girls exchanged curious glances, their faces alight with intrigue.
Carina's eyes sparkled mischievously as she said, "A turtle with a rider? That's a first for me."
Perona giggled, her laughter reminiscent of tinkling bells. "Sounds intriguing! Let's go check it out together, Horohorohoro~"
Nami smiled sweetly, commenting, "Things in the Grand Line are truly unique, unlike anything in the world."
Kaya nodded, her smile equally sweet. "Let's see what's happening; I'm curious."
Dezaya swung his wooden sword to limber up. "I'm in. I'll keep getting stronger."
Reiju looked at Baccarat, her eyebrows raised elegantly. "At Germa, we use snails as ships. A turtle is a first."
Baccarat brushed her crimson hair back and stood up decisively. "Let's go find out."
Honey Queen paused her training to join the group. "Whoever appears in our sights has a role to play in our story."
Carrying the banner, Betty remarked calmly, "Thanks to Baccarat, our luck's been good."
The girls then chatted and laughed their way towards the door...
On the deck,
"Look at that turtle!"Apis stood by the railing, her eyes wide with wonder.
Pato nodded in agreement. "Never seen a turtle this big before."
Bepo practiced his kicks, then remarked, "A woman is riding one. Looks like we've got a new face joining our fleet."
Igaram's eyes widened. "It's her, Miss All-Sunday!"
Running quickly tilted its head, puzzled by Igaram's surprise.
"Another woman? Seriously?" Burgess scowled, clearly not pleased.
Doc Q chuckled, "The captain's always had an eye for women."
Gin, practicing Armament Haki, warned Burgess, "Watch what you say."
Hawkins looked at Gin and commented, "You might not be ready to face him yet."
Law, gripping his sword, stated flatly, "Let's pretend we didn't see anything."
Van Augur aimed his gun, stating, "The captain's got a knack for attracting beauties."
Cavendish, waving Durandal, muttered, "Why don't I get such attention?"
Kuro adjusted his glasses, "You lack Conqueror's Haki and the charm for it."
Lafitte, spreading his wings, said, "The captain needs more beauties to match his strength."
Honey Queen interrupted, "What did you say? Want more beauties? Dream on, Lafitte."
Carina grinned, "I like the idea! More players in the card games."
Perona floated happily, "Let's recruit more beauties, maybe some mermaids from Gyojin Island!"
Nami agreed, "That sounds great! Mermaids must be stunning."
Nojiko chimed in, "Big difference between Gyojins and mermaids."
Moodie, stroking her blonde hair, added, "Ethan mentioned the mermaid princess, Shirahoshi, one of the three most beautiful women."
Princess Vivi turned to Moodie, puzzled. "Three most beautiful women? Who are the other two?"
Reiju explained, "Boa Hancock and Kozuki Hiyori of Wanokuni."
Honey Queen mused, "A queen and two princesses—no wonder they're considered the most beautiful."
Nojiko asked, "How does Ethan know all this?"
Makino mused softly, "There's nothing Ethan doesn't know; he's quite mysterious."
Suddenly, Princess Vivi spotted the woman atop the turtle and exclaimed, "Her? Why is she here?"
As the turtle approached, all the women got a clear view of the mysterious woman—dark-skinned, slender, and strikingly beautiful.
---
"It's uncommon to see someone with such dark skin around here," Carina remarked casually, a sly grin playing on her lips. "Though with fairer skin, she might look stunning. Just my two cents."
Kaya, her curiosity piqued, turned to Princess Vivi. "Does she surprise you? Any idea who she is?"
Betty took a drag from her cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Regardless, she's here for a reason. She'll likely end up joining our crew."
Princess Vivi sighed softly, still wearing a puzzled expression. "She's the vice-president of the Baroque Works Club and a top commander. She has direct communication with President Crocodile. It's baffling why she'd come to us."
As the tortoise drew near, Robin gracefully leaped off, landing in front of Ethan. "Hello everyone, I'm here to meet your captain. Can someone show me to him?"
Turning back to the crew, she added, "Oh, Mr. 8, Mrs. Wednesday, good to see you. Since we're already acquainted, could you help me meet Ethan? It should be a simple request."
Burgess, ever blunt, grumbled, "Who does she think she is? Coming in here all high and mighty."
Doc Q chuckled, "Women can be so full of themselves."
Gin, focused on his training, muttered, "Let's leave it to the captain to decide."
Bartolomeo laughed boisterously, "I doubt our captain would take an interest in someone with such a dark complexion, hahaha..."
Lafitte, as serene as ever, offered, "Regardless of skin tone, she's still a lady. We should welcome her."
Perona giggled gleefully as she floated in the air.
Betty, maintaining her composure, remarked, "She's likely here because she foresaw Crocodile's downfall and chose to switch sides early."
Honey Queen, smiling, added, "It seems she's here to join Ethan. There's no doubt about that."
Robin, hands in her pockets, continued, "Indeed, I'm here to join Captain Ethan. I've gathered a lot of information about him and find him both powerful and enigmatic."
She went on, "Crocodile is arrogant. He couldn't see the power gap between us. I've chosen to align myself with strength."
Burgess interrupted, "Let's save the chatter for the practice room, shall we?"
Doc Q grinned mischievously, "Why not just take care of her now?"
Gin clenched his fist, his voice cold, "She's too cocky. Thinks she's above us all."
Lafitte suggested calmly, "Perhaps it's best if we escort her away, Sister Baccarat."
Lafitte's wings fluttered softly as he spoke. "These fellows are a bit repulsive. I worry they might cause trouble later."
Kuro adjusted his glasses thoughtfully. "She's certainly been quite vocal since she arrived. But she's not the main attraction here. If she becomes a nuisance, she'll regret it."
Robin furrowed her brow, feeling increasingly uneasy, but before she could respond, Reiju intervened.
---
"It's best not to provoke them; who knows what they might do," Reiju cautioned, her eyes soft yet commanding. "They're ruthless killers; they won't hesitate to act."
Baccarat waved cheerfully, her smile warm. "Alright, if you're keen on meeting Ethan, let's head there."
With that, she led the way toward the training room.
Honey Queen walked beside Robin, speaking softly. "They're loyal to Ethan. If you had continued speaking earlier and upset them, you might not have lived to tell the tale."
Carina chuckled lightly, covering her mouth. "You talk too much; that's what irked them. Hehehehe~~"
Princess Vivi studied Robin with a puzzled expression. "You seem to know a lot about Ethan from just gathering information. I suspect you're not here merely seeking refuge, Miss All-Sunday."
Betty took another drag from her cigarette, unfazed. "No one dares to harbor ulterior motives in front of Ethan; they're irrelevant."
"Plus, Sister Baccarat's Devil Fruit ability brings good luck. It wouldn't be surprising if she approached you for that reason," Makino added, nodding gently.
Kaya chimed in, her smile was sweet and innocent. "I agree with Sister Makino. A person's scholarly demeanor often comes from reading extensively. You must be well-read to carry such elegance."
Robin smiled warmly at the group. "Rest assured, I'm here with genuine intentions—to join your crew."
"As for my scholarly demeanor, it's rooted in my upbringing in Ohara, West Blue, known as the holy land of archaeology. My name is Nico Robin; perhaps you've heard of me?"
Reiju paused, scrutinizing Robin with narrowed eyes. "Are you the Nico Robin who, at the age of eight, was wanted for tens of millions of Berries?"
Nami looked at Reiju, her grin wide and playful. "Sister Reiju, did I hear that right? A bounty of 10 million Berries at age eight? How does one even live with that?"
Honey Queen sighed lightly, her smile wistful. "Such is the life we lead."
---
"It's hard to believe, but it's true," Reiju murmured.
"I've heard of it before. The Marines launched the Buster Call and obliterated Ohara," Honey Queen added.
"The sole survivor was Nico Robin."
Reiju glanced at Robin, sighing softly. "What I didn't expect was for her to side with Crocodile and become his so-called vice president."
As they reached the entrance of the training room, the wooden door creaked open, revealing a spacious area. The girls entered one by one, taking in the sight of women practicing martial arts. At the front stood a man with his back to them, swinging a large blade.
Upon seeing him, Robin's eyes widened in awe. "His presence is formidable. Seeing his back, I'm reminded of legendary warriors who could subdue heroes and conquer worlds."
"I made the right choice. Crocodile doesn't stand a chance against Mr. Ethan."
Hearing this, the practicing girls turned their attention towards Robin.
Desire, seated on the deck, chimed in with a charming smile. "Very perceptive; your insights are commendable. It seems you're well-read—a true scholar."
Alvida leaned her iron rod against her, wiping her brow gracefully. "Her complexion is dark; I initially mistook her for a man. Yet, her features are delicate, her figure slender. With fairer skin, she'd be quite stunning."
Carmen paused her training, nodding in agreement. "She exudes a refined aura— a true intellectual beauty. She'll make a fine addition."
Carina cast a sly glance at Robin, grinning. "No wonder you're from Ohara; you sensed Mr. Ethan's strength from just his back. Your intuition is unparalleled."
Perona, floating above, laughed heartily. "Ethan's back is remarkable! How did I miss it? Horohorohoro~~"
Honey Queen shot her a bemused look. "You've been around Ethan too long; you're desensitized. If you had encountered him freshly, his aura would've overwhelmed you."
Moodie adjusted her blonde locks, speaking elegantly. "It's a matter of acclimation. I've grown accustomed to Ethan's presence, which might explain my lack of reaction."
Princess Vivi nodded, her eyes gleaming. "I was taken aback by Ethan's aura when I first boarded. It felt stifling, like confronting a natural disaster. But soon, I grew used to it, and now, I hardly notice it."
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Titles of the next chapters. (Spoilers)
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104-105: Set up, a Branch in Arabasta, Robin is in charge of management.
106-107: Ethan: I'm Not A Child, If You Have Anything To Say, Just Tell Me, Sengoku!
108-109: Gorosei: Let Ethan be a Shichibukai!