INIIDF-Chapter 306 Swims

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If there were a breeze at this moment, rustling leaves drifting through the air, willows swaying by the riverbank, it would have made for a perfect farewell scene.

But this is the Calm Belt. The air is utterly still.

A narrow river runs outside the city, yet not a single tree lines its banks.

The group walks along the shore. Sandersonia, ever composed, and Marigold, carefree as always, seem unaffected by the atmosphere, but Hancock is quieter than usual.

Robin carries nothing, no backpack, no suitcase, strolling leisurely beside Liam, who is similarly unburdened.

Glancing back, she sees the grand, circular city gates, left half-open. The emblem of the Kuja, a giant snake-haired skull, looms above them.

Four or five years ago, when she and Liam first arrived here, he had stared at that emblem and remarked in all seriousness that it looked like the pirate flag of a Hana Hana no Mi user. Even now, the memory remains vivid, bringing a smile to Robin's face.

From the watchtowers on either side of the gate, Kuja warriors wave in farewell to their princess.

Robin returns the gesture with a warm smile.

"Hey, Jolyne."

She turns at the sound of Hancock's voice, just in time to see the Empress pull something from her chest, a handkerchief, neatly folded.

Robin blinks. "What's this?"

Before she can react, Hancock presses it into her hands. It carries some weight. Robin carefully unfolds it and finds a finely crafted flintlock pistol inside.

"A gift?" she asks, smiling.

Hancock nods.

Marigold pipes up, "Elder Sister spent all night rummaging through the palace treasury to find this for you!"

The Kuja occasionally raid pirate ships, bringing back supplies, food, wine, swords, metals, and various other goods of little use on their island, such as Belly and firearms.

Belly is unnecessary; the Kuja have their own currency, the snake-haired coins.

Firearms are unnecessary; every warrior on Amazon Lily is skilled in archery, only the weak rely on guns.

As a result, most foreign loot sits untouched in the palace treasury, kept for emergencies.

But Jolyne, though a Kuja princess, isn't exactly a Kuja warrior, so whether she wields a bow or a gun makes little difference.

Hancock huffs, "I don't recall asking for your commentary, Marigold."

Marigold pouts, while Sandersonia chuckles, used to their elder sister's temperament. Though prideful and willful, Hancock has a softer side when it comes to her sisters.

Robin examines the pistol, a flintlock, yet modified for rapid fire.

She expertly inspects its mechanisms. Having read countless books, including those on weaponry, she finds it easy to understand. The internal magazine is cleverly designed, holding an extra three to four bullets.

She smirks. "Let me guess, you picked this gun to complement my Hana Hana no Mi?"

Using her Devil Fruit powers, Robin could conjure a replica of an enemy's vital organ, like their heart, then shoot it. The real heart wouldn't be destroyed, but the pain would be unbearable.

A cruel yet efficient technique.

And considering she could duplicate multiple hearts at once… even the strongest foes would struggle against such an attack.

Hancock nods but says nothing, her mood strangely subdued.

Robin steps forward and embraces the world's most beautiful woman.

She understands that Hancock, so unique, so revered, has never had a true friend. The women of Amazon Lily are her admirers, her subjects, her worshippers… but never her equals.

"Thank you, Hancock," Robin murmurs.

Hancock remains still in her arms, making no effort to return the embrace.

Being allowed to hug her is already a privilege. Expecting Hancock to embrace someone back? Unthinkable.

…Yet Liam, standing off to the side, makes a subtle hand gesture at Hancock, motioning toward Robin.

The Empress glares at him, annoyed, but after a moment of hesitation, she slowly, awkwardly, raises her arms and returns the hug.

"Got it," Hancock mutters, refusing to say "you're welcome." After all, accepting gratitude is only natural.

Robin steps back. "We'll meet again. Definitely."

She then hugs Sandersonia and Marigold lightly. "Sonia, Mari, thank you."

Hancock mutters, "Who even cares about meeting again…"

Sandersonia smiles, embracing Robin in return.

Marigold, after hugging her, tilts her head. "Why are you thanking us?"

Liam chuckles. "Because, just like your sister, she didn't have many friends growing up. These past few years, having you two as friends has made her really happy."

"Really?" Marigold pauses for a moment before breaking into a grin and wrapping Robin in another tight hug. "No need to thank me, Princess Jolyne!"

Robin feels a bit flustered, having her true emotions laid bare so openly.

Liam and B.I.B. stand side by side, sharing a knowing glance. Only they understand that if this were the Nico Robin from the original timeline, the one who lived in the shadows, always guarded and distrusting, she would never have initiated something as openly affectionate as hugging others…

Even in the stories of the Straw Hat Pirates, Robin's role was to sit quietly on the sidelines, sipping tea with a mysterious smile while Nami, Luffy, and Zoro laughed boisterously.

Nothing more intense than that. Twenty years of hardship had shaped her into someone who kept her distance.

But this Robin is different, like the first rays of dawn gently landing on dewdrops, turning them into shimmering jewels of light.

"Giorno?" Marigold turns, spreading her arms wide.

"Me?" Liam raises an eyebrow.

Marigold giggles and gives him a bear hug.

Sandersonia watches for a moment, then follows her sister's lead, smiling as she embraces Liam as well.

Hancock, however, remains motionless.

Liam spreads his arms and smirks. "Come on, don't be so stingy!"

"Hmph." With all eyes on her, Hancock reluctantly steps forward and offers him the lightest of hugs, though for her, this is already a rare gesture.

The time to part has finally come.

"I told you," Hancock says, crossing her arms, "I could take my crew out into the Grand Line and give you both a ride out of the Calm Belt."

Liam waves his hand with a laugh. "Better not! If you take us too far, I might just end up following your ship back, haha."

Sandersonia and Marigold giggle. "That's true! We'd miss you too much!"

"So, how exactly are you planning to leave the Calm Belt?" Hancock asks.

Liam grins. "Isn't it obvious?"

Without hesitation, he starts stripping off his clothes.

He shrugs off his shirt, kicks off his boots, and pulls a small green Den Den Mushi from his pocket. The tiny snail is curled up, half-asleep. Liam taps its head.

"Boru…" The little creature grumbles as a small hatch opens atop its shell. Without a second thought, Liam stuffs his folded clothes inside.

The Devil Fruit abilities he currently carries are the Jiki Jiki no Mi (Magnet-Magnet Fruit), the Gasu Gasu no Mi (Gas-Gas Fruit), and the Shiro Shiro no Mi (Castle-Castle Fruit). He usually keeps the Magnet-Magnet Fruit on himself, leaves the Gas-Gas Fruit in reserve, and stores the Castle-Castle Fruit inside the little Den Den Mushi, using it as a convenient portable storage space.

His and Robin's belongings are already tucked away inside the castle's hidden chambers.

Liam tosses his shoes into the Den Den Mushi's opening and casually flicks the snail to B.I.B., who catches it effortlessly.

The ghostly Stand reaches into its host's chest and retrieves the Magnet-Magnet Fruit's ability chip.

"See you around."

Robin waves one last time before stepping up to the Den Den Mushi in B.I.B.'s grasp. As she draws closer, her body suddenly shrinks, seamlessly vanishing into the tiny castle hidden within the fruit's power.

Sandersonia and Marigold lean in, their wide eyes peering curiously into the Den Den Mushi's entrance, watching as the ghostly figure holding it slowly ascends into the air.

Meanwhile, Liam, now down to just his shorts, stands on the shoreline of Amazon Lily, stretching his arms.

"We're off!" he calls out, flashing a grin.

Then, without another word, he kicks off the ground and flips backward, arcing through the air before plunging into the sea.

A massive splash erupts, sending white foam spraying several meters high.

For a moment, the ocean is still.

Then, BOOM.

Beneath the surface, a deep rumbling surge cuts through the water like a torpedo. In the blink of an eye, a powerful force rockets forward, sending rolling waves crashing outward, carving a path through the Calm Belt straight toward the Grand Line.

Robin, perched inside the Castle-Castle Fruit's hidden chamber within the Den Den Mushi, watches with a smile as she follows closely behind.

Moments later, a shadow looms overhead.

A monstrous figure, wings outstretched, soars through the sky beside them.

(End Of This Chapter)