The midday sun slanted across the deck, everyone had just finished lunch, and the lingering aroma of food still hung in the air.
Amidst the enthusiastic farewells of Gan Fall and the Sky Island residents, the Infinite Space slowly weighed anchor, its hull cutting through the sky dotted with clouds, heading towards the azure sea below.
The landing tool was still the distinctive octopus-shaped balloon from the original story—Baron.
Perhaps blessed by the sincere wishes of the Sky Island residents, this descent was exceptionally smooth, without a single ripple, and the ship landed steadily in a safe sea area.
While the balloon was still suspended in mid-air, a uniquely shaped island came into view.
It resembled a giant, elongated ring, with ten smaller islands scattered in a circular arrangement, separated by the clear blue water.
From a distance, these islands seemed independent, yet their peculiar circular layout subtly hinted at a mysterious connection—this was Long Ring Long Land.
Stepping onto the island, the view suddenly opened up to a vast, boundless grassland stretching to the horizon, lush and vibrant with greenery.
The trees here were slender and tall, pointing straight to the sky; the animals and plants on the island were even more peculiar, all elongated, as if stretched by an invisible hand.
"Yun Lie, look, isn't this the 'thin dog' you mentioned?" Nami suddenly pointed to a slender white dog not far away, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she asked excitedly.
Seeing this, Yun Lie helplessly raised a hand to his forehead, smiling wryly, "Uh, something like that."
He couldn't help but sigh, each island possessed its own unique and wonderful characteristics; everything before him was like a dream, astonishing.
Looking around, the tall horses had long necks, standing like elegant gentlemen; the massive Kuma were not only burly but could also walk upright, their toes remarkably similar to humans, showing a strange agility; there were also slender foxes, dachshunds, platypuses, and long-necked deer... These peculiar creatures collectively formed the unique landscape of Long Ring Long Land.
"Yun Lie, in this vast grassland, why don't we have a picnic!" Nojiko closed her eyes, quietly feeling the gentle breeze on her face, her hair disheveled but appearing more carefree and unrestrained.
She took a deep breath, the fresh scent of grass and earth filling her lungs, and suggested contentedly.
Yun Lie pondered for a moment, then happily agreed: "Alright, I'll go hunt for some fresh ingredients right away!"
Sensing the presence of prey not far away, he informed everyone and then instantly vanished from the spot.
The preparations for the picnic were not complicated.
Before long, Yun Lie returned with a cow-like prey.
At the same time, the women had already prepared the necessary items, and the charcoal on the grill was already burning red, just waiting for the ingredients to be placed on it.
Nojiko carefully examined the prey, and with a chef's keen intuition, she declared: "This strange cow, just by looking at it, is top-grade ingredient!"
Everyone worked quickly, first giving the prey a "hot bath" with stream water, then scraping off stray hairs with sharp shells, and after cleaning it, they placed it on the grill.
Fat dripped onto the charcoal, sizzling, and the rich aroma of meat permeated the grassland; its unique flavor was mouth-watering.
After all, creatures growing in such a peculiar environment had distinct meat quality.
Just as everyone was immersed in the anticipation of the delicious food, Nami, who had gone to check on the fishing rod, suddenly ran back in a panic, her skirt covered in grass clippings, her hair sticking to her cheeks with sweat, and she gasped, "Yun Lie, Yun Lie, someone is rapidly approaching us from the sea!"
Her chest heaved violently, her eyes filled with panic.
A premonition of ill omen flashed through Yun Lie's mind; he flickered and instantly vanished from the spot: "I'll go check!"
"Nami, is that person riding a bicycle and cycling on the sea?" Robin's face suddenly changed, her slender fingers clutching her skirt tightly, knuckles white, as she asked anxiously.
Nami was full of surprise: "Huh? Robin, how did you know?"
"Oh no, Yun Lie is in danger!" Robin looked terrified and dashed towards the seashore.
Though the women were confused, they quickly extinguished the bonfire and followed closely behind.
By the sea, a figure riding a bicycle and speeding across the water had successfully landed, leaving a path of solid ice behind him.
The person leisurely stretched on the shore, as if ending a pleasant journey.
"Admiral Aokiji." Yun Lie calmly walked to the side, deftly reeled in his fishing rod, his tone flat but laced with vigilance.
As a Shichibukai, in a sense, he had a cooperative relationship with the Marine, but Aokiji's sudden appearance clearly indicated hostile intent.
He knew in his heart that Aokiji's visit was likely related to Robin beside him.
"Shichibukai Yun Lie." Aokiji mimicked Yun Lie's tone, his eyes full of scrutiny.
Yun Lie pulled over a chair, crossed his legs, and sat down, his expression composed: "I haven't received any news from the Marine. An Admiral approaching a Shichibukai without authorization, Fleet Admiral Sengoku probably isn't aware, is he?"
The Shichibukai bear the heavy responsibility of balancing pirates and the Four Emperors. The Marine and World Government strictly prohibit high-ranking officials from private contact, and Aokiji's action had already crossed the line.
"A la la la, it's my day off today, Fleet Admiral Sengoku can't control where I go." Aokiji leaned back, and an ice chair identical to Yun Lie's instantly formed.
The surface of the ice chair glowed with a faint blue light, and wisps of cold air spread outwards, causing the sand where it reached to form a thin layer of ice.
Yun Lie stared at the ice chair, secretly wondering if sitting on it would really make him feel 'chilled' (a pun on 'excited' in Chinese).
"So, what do you want from me?" Yun Lie asked directly.
"Harboring a Marine bounty criminal, Nico Robin. If Fleet Admiral Sengoku or those above found out, you should know the consequences."
Aokiji was expressionless, a faint layer of frost appearing on his face, and the aura around him grew colder, as if he would make a move any second.
"Haha, many other Shichibukai also have bounty criminals under their command. Why don't you go arrest them, instead of coming to trouble me, a newly appointed Shichibukai? Do you think I'm easy to bully?"
Yun Lie was not to be outdone; silver-white spatial power erupted from his body, and the surrounding space visibly distorted.
"Yun Lie, that man is very dangerous, stay away from him!"
Robin's anxious cry came from behind.
Yun Lie turned to look, only to see Robin trembling all over, her eyes full of fear, staring intently at Aokiji.
"Oh, it's Robin. It's been many years, and you've grown into a beautiful woman."
Aokiji looked at Robin, his tone seemingly complimentary but with a hint of ill intent. "I heard some time ago that you betrayed Crocodile and joined Shichibukai Yun Lie. I was quite worried."
His words were full of mockery, seemingly directed at Robin, but in reality, he was planting seeds of suspicion between Yun Lie and Robin—if she could betray Crocodile then, she could naturally betray Yun Lie now.
A tense standoff, on the verge of erupting, began on the beach of Long Ring Long Land...