Luffy lay sprawled across a large deck chair, wearing nothing but a pair of sky-blue boxers. His streamlined muscles and six-pack abs glistened in the sunlight as he basked in the warmth, sipping iced lemonade and gently swaying with the ship.
Two months had passed since they'd left Apocide Island, sailing across the calm seas.
Without the threat of storms, life on the ocean had become so relaxing that Luffy was beginning to question if he ever wanted to set foot on land again.
Robin, however, didn't share the sentiment.
For the past two months, she'd been cooking and doing laundry, tasks completely unbecoming of her usual cunning and dark allure. The once-formidable queen of manipulation was starting to feel more like a housewife.
As she sliced vegetables in the ship's galley, she actually found herself missing the twisted scheming of her old life.
Brrr… Brrr… Brrr… Brrr…
A Den Den Mushi began ringing.
Robin quickly wiped her hands and took off her apron. Asking Luffy to answer the phone? Yeah, maybe in the next life.
But as she approached the Den Den Mushi, her steps froze.
There were three Den Den Mushi aboard the ship. One was used to contact Godia, the girl from Apocide Island. Another was reserved for Trebol. The last one, the most dangerous, was linked to none other than the Warlord of the Sea, Donquixote Doflamingo.
Robin didn't answer it. Instead, she brought the creature straight to Luffy, who was still lounging under the sun.
"What's the meaning of this?" the Den Den Mushi grumbled in a low, threatening voice behind pink-tinted glasses.
Luffy grinned, unfazed, and replied cheerfully, "Hahaha! Well, if it isn't Lord Doffy himself. What brings you to call little ol' me?"
On the other end, Doflamingo's expression darkened. He didn't bother hiding the rage in his voice. "Don't get clever with me. This sea doesn't run by the rules of nobodies like you."
"Hahaha, don't be like that," Luffy said with a sudden seriousness. He sat up, resting his elbows on his knees, staring out at the horizon. "A 'nobody,' huh?"
He stood, his tone dropping, deeper and more ominous. "Doffy… I'd advise you not to underestimate the power of nobodies.
"Chasing dragons for too long wears you out. Sometimes, it's the ant that trips the giant."
He turned his gaze back to the sea. "As for Apocide Island, don't worry about it. The place will be yours within five years. I won't be returning to the auction house."
For a long time, there was silence on Doflamingo's end. Whether he was fuming or pondering Luffy's words, it was impossible to tell.
But Luffy didn't care what he thought.
"I'm sure you feel it too… the sea is on the verge of a new calm.
"The Red Hair Pirates have entered the New World like emperors, shattering the delicate balance of power.
"You think someone like you, a so-called 'nobody', will still have the chance to rule in that peace?
"You're not seriously planning to rot in your corner of the world as some second-rate king, are you?
"The title 'Warlord of the Sea' sure sounds impressive… but in the end, it's still just a 'Warlord under the sea.'"
Luffy's voice swelled with intensity before lowering to a biting tone. The way he emphasized the word under sent chills through the air. His sneer stretched across his face like he was mocking the world itself.
Robin, watching from the side, found herself shivering, not from the breeze, but from a creeping realization. For a moment, she truly believed that the entire world was no bigger than this one man.
Even Doflamingo, far away in the royal palace of Dressrosa, felt a cold sweat form on his brow.
For the first time, the great manipulator himself felt like he was being played.
After a pause, Doflamingo took a slow breath and asked in a cold voice, "So… what exactly are you planning?"
Luffy gave a sly smirk. "What's this? The mighty Warlord of the Sea asking me for advice?"
"Enough games," Doflamingo growled. "I suggest you stop pushing your luck."
"Heh…"
The wind tousled Luffy's hair as he squinted at the sun behind his shades.
"Planning? Not really.
"But if peace leaves no room for change… then maybe it's time to break the peace."
"What do you mean by that?!"
"You'll find out soon enough," Luffy said with a cryptic smile, then casually hung up.
The Den Den Mushi's eyes drooped as it fell into sleep mode.
Robin was still frozen, trying to process what had just happened. She had no idea what world-shaking event this man was planning next.
After all, last year's "Celestial Dragon Assault Incident" had already thrown the world into chaos.
But then Luffy turned to her with a mischievous grin.
"So? So? How was it? That performance was pretty great, right?!"
"What…?" Robin blinked, stunned by the sudden shift.
Luffy burst into laughter. "I mean just now! I nailed it, didn't I? I think I totally sold it.
"Doffy totally bought it, too! We'll be able to move freely now!
"Only an idiot would stick around guarding his business.
"This is the ocean! Freedom is the most important thing!"
He flung his arms open and leaned back, perfectly landing in his chair again. Without missing a beat, he reached for his unfinished lemonade and took a long sip through the straw.
It was as if the serious, threatening man from moments ago had vanished.
Robin took a deep breath, clearly trying to suppress something, then asked calmly, "So… everything you just said was an act?"
Luffy, still sipping, replied, "Of course not. Doffy isn't that stupid.
"But y'know, sometimes, a good mix of truth and lies is enough to throw off even the smartest guy."
"A mix?" Robin frowned. "What kind of mix?"
Luffy lifted his sunglasses, locking eyes with her.
"Remember this, Robin.
"There's no conspiracy in this world that can't be crushed by strength.
"What is chaos? What is peace?
"The only reason you're treated like a pawn… is because you're weak.
"But when you have enough power to shake the world, none of that matters anymore. Because you're the one making the rules."
A cool breeze swept across the sea, and over the small ship, and over the even smaller figure of Robin.
Luffy's words rippled through her like a stone cast into a calm lake.
She thought: If only I'd been stronger back then… maybe my mother wouldn't have died. Maybe Saul… maybe Ohara…
Her eyes welled up with tears.
Then Luffy spoke again.
"But Robin, one person's strength is limited.
"We all need someone beside us. Just like I need you, you need me too.
"As my crewmate, my power… is your power.
"If you ever need it, use it. All of it."
His voice was firm. His gaze, unwavering.
In that frozen moment, Robin engraved his smile into her heart.
A second gust of wind blew, but this time, it was stopped by a solid, immovable presence.
[Ding! Host has acquired a third crewmate. Please enter the Partner System to draw an exclusive item for the new partner.]
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A/N:If any locations seem unfamiliar or confusing, don't worry—some of them aren't canon and only exist in this fanfic. Thanks for reading!!
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