Seeing Aokiji looking somewhat weary, Carl eased his fighting stance and slowly sheathed Obsidian.
Aokiji seemed surprised. "Aren't you going to finish me off?"
Carl shook his head. "Even though I have my reasons to dislike you, you were the one who let Robin escape. If it had been Akainu, she would have died back then. I can't deny that Robin is alive because of your actions."
Aokiji was taken aback, a sigh escaping his lips as he sat down heavily on the ice. It was clear his injuries were more severe than he let on.
He then turned his gaze towards Robin, and after a long pause, he managed to ask, "Nico Robin, is this your choice? Have you finally found true companions?"
Robin wiped away the last of her tears, stood tall, and declared firmly, "Yes! I have found my companions! I want to stay with the Straw Hats!"
"I see... Well then, I have an explanation to give Saul."
With that, Aokiji silently rose, walked towards the island, mounted his bicycle, and rode away into the distance. Robin stared blankly at his retreating figure, her expression a complex mix of emotions.
So, Aokiji had been...
Carl approached Robin with a gentle smile. "Robin, the bad guy is gone!"
"Yeah. Thank you, Carl."
Robin lowered her head slightly, and Carl instinctively reached out and patted her head, the gesture filled with warmth and familiarity.
Just then, Luffy boomed, "Robin! We're your nakama!"
Robin couldn't hold back the tears any longer, and she responded with a choked but joyful voice, "Yes! We are nakama! Thank you, everyone!"
A wave of smiles spread across the faces of the Straw Hats.
Nami and Tashigi wiped their eyes, laughing through their tears, their features blurred with emotion. Chopper rushed to Robin and hugged her leg tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.s!" Bepo, Shakky, and Pekoms simultaneously covered their eyes, overwhelmed by the heartfelt scene.
Law also subtly turned his face away, a hint of discomfort on his features, but the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his true feelings. Perhaps, deep down, he shared the sentiment of Bepo and the others – they were truly a remarkable crew.
"Yosh! It's party time! Party time!" Luffy roared again, his infectious enthusiasm lifting everyone's spirits.
"Another banquet! Well, alright, just this once. Let everyone eat their fill!" Nami conceded, a rare moment of indulgence.
Soon, Sanji was a whirlwind of activity, preparing and serving one delicious dish after another. The others brought out all the wine they had and arranged a colorful array of melons and fruits. When supplies ran low, they ventured into the forest to forage or sent Moo Moo to hunt in the sea.
By the afternoon, everything was set, and the joyous feast began.
Gongs and drums echoed through the air, and lively dances erupted.
Robin even took the initiative to dance with Carl, much to Sanji's envious dismay, who could be seen biting his handkerchief in comical frustration.
However, just as Sanji was about to pluck up the courage to ask Robin for a dance, Luffy and the others swarmed her, grabbing her hands and forming a boisterous circle, jumping and laughing together. Even Moo Moo in the sea seemed to writhe with the infectious energy, the atmosphere brimming with unadulterated joy.
By the time the banquet finally wound down, it was well past midnight.
Carl, a bottle of wine in hand, found a secluded spot on the beach, listening to the soothing rhythm of the waves.
Robin quietly approached and sat behind him, leaning her back against his. They could both feel the steady beat of each other's heart.
"Thank you, Carl," Robin whispered softly.
"You're being too polite again, Robin," Carl replied with a simple smile.
"It's not politeness, it's sincerity. Before I met you all, I wandered the seas alone, all I could do was cry. I just remembered what my mother and Saul told me – if I wanted to survive, I would eventually find my companions.
I met many people, and some were kind to me at first, but I always discovered their hidden motives. It felt like the whole world was filled with malice towards me. I ran and ran, not knowing where to go, and I even started to doubt what my mother and Saul had said. The sea is so vast, where could my companions possibly be?
I couldn't find the Poneglyph I was searching for in Alabasta, and I truly wanted to give up. But then I remembered your words, so I chose to keep living.
It's as if... the moment you first touched my head, everything was destined to be this way."
Carl listened in silence, absorbing her heartfelt words.
After a long while, he heard the soft, even rhythm of her breathing. Robin had fallen asleep, leaning against his back.
The next day, life returned to its usual rhythm. Everyone engaged in their individual training, with Carl offering no specific instructions. In fact, Carl joined in their training, sweating alongside his crew.
After breakfast, the Merry Go and the submarine set sail, leaving the island behind.
Their next destination was a large city, where they planned to exchange their gold for Berry and then embark on a significant shopping spree.
Meanwhile, after riding his bicycle away from the island, Aokiji let out a deep sigh, pulled out his Den Den Mushi, and dialed a number.
"Moshi Moshi! Has Kuzan encountered Straw Hat Luffy?" Vice Admiral Tsuru asked.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I did encounter them. However, the other party refused my offer to become a Shichibukai. Moreover, I was soundly defeated and am about to return to report a work-related injury," Aokiji replied solemnly.
"You were defeated too?!"
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku's eyes widened in disbelief.
Vice Admiral Tsuru and Admiral Kizaru exchanged surprised glances. They hadn't anticipated that Aokiji would be beaten simply for trying to recruit a pirate. The Straw Hats were proving to be far more formidable than they had imagined.
Kizaru silently thanked his lucky stars that he hadn't been sent, as he doubted he could deliver such a report with Aokiji's stoic demeanor.
Admiral Akainu was already in the New World and was unaware of the incident, otherwise, his volcanic temper would likely have erupted. However, Akainu was expected to return soon, as there was a significant matter that required discussion among all Marine executives.
Vice Admiral Garp, who was usually jovial, was uncharacteristically quiet, lost in his own thoughts.
"Kuzan, what exactly happened? They wouldn't attack you without reason," Sengoku asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Nico Robin is with the Straw Hats. They discovered the truth about Ohara and attacked me. Furthermore, I was seriously injured by their lightning swordsman. I didn't expect him to have mastered Conqueror's Haki coating along with Armament Haki at such a young age. His power is considerable."
Aokiji didn't attempt to conceal the truth.
The intelligence network of the World Government and the Marines was too extensive for any secrets to remain hidden for long.
It was likely that the World Government had already known about Robin's presence among the Straw Hats.
Even if Aokiji remained silent, it was only a matter of time before they took action against the Straw Hats.
Moreover, the Straw Hats' potential threat was growing exponentially, making it impossible for the World Government and the Marines to remain idle.
"Nani! They've become that powerful already?!"
Sengoku felt a headache coming on as he recalled Garp's earlier warnings.
Garp had mentioned that a team-up between Carl and Luffy would be a handful, a statement Sengoku had likely dismissed at the time. Now, he was forced to reconsider.
The Straw Hats had been severely underestimated. One Admiral was clearly insufficient to subdue these pirates. But deploying two Admirals would leave other crucial locations unguarded, potentially emboldening other notorious pirates to act.
At that moment, Sengoku felt a growing unease. The Marines' top-tier combat strength was starting to feel stretched thin.
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