The next morning, Andy woke up on the sofa as if from a deep slumber, with a splitting headache.
"My head hurts so much," he muttered, but then a realization hit him like a lightning bolt. "No!"
His eyes immediately focused on the unfinished Sea King meat on the dining cart. The memories of the previous night came rushing back, and he understood with a sinking heart—the food had been drugged.
"Robin!" he shouted, rushing into her room, but it was empty. She was gone.
A deep wave of distress washed over him. He couldn't comprehend why Robin would drug him and then leave without a word. His mood turned as dark and gloomy as a storm cloud, as if a light rain were falling outside. Dejected, he returned to the living room and collapsed on the sofa.
Though they hadn't known each other long, Robin had become a kind of family to him. Her abrupt and strange departure made him feel lost and empty.
Could she have been threatened?
Andy racked his brain, but that was the only explanation that made sense. But by whom? Aokiji? Did that Marine Admiral come to the West Blue? If it was Aokiji, then Robin was likely safe, but he couldn't be sure. He shook his head, trying to clear the chaotic thoughts, and walked into the bathroom.
Two hours later, a freshly showered and changed Andy emerged, looking like a new man. He appeared cheerful and bright once more, but anyone who knew him well would have sensed the turmoil beneath the surface.
He walked back to the living room, sat on the sofa, and pulled his sniper rifle from his system space. With meticulous care, he disassembled the rifle and began to wipe each part. This sniper rifle was like an old friend; although it wasn't the best on the market, it felt like an extension of his own hands. He'd carefully honed his skills with this particular weapon for years, and he wouldn't trade it for anything.
His eyes were calm and focused as he worked, and it wasn't until the clock on the wall neared noon that he unhurriedly reassembled the rifle and put it away. He then gathered all his belongings, stored them in his system space, and headed for the door.
Even though a heavy rain was falling, the area outside the hotel was packed with people eagerly waiting for Andy. The moment he appeared, the noise died down, and all eyes turned to him.
A woman holding an umbrella stepped forward gracefully. "Daru asked me to tell you he's letting you enter 'Garbage Mountain' first. He hopes you won't disappoint him." Her voice was solemn, a testament to her unwavering faith in Daru.
Andy simply gave her a strange look, said nothing, and strode into the dense forest of Garbage Mountain, letting the rain lash against him.
Once Andy had disappeared from view, the crowd surged forward, eager to get a closer look.
"Let's go, let's go!" someone shouted.
"It's finally time to decide the number one Gun King of the West Blue!" another exclaimed.
The crowd was split. One faction supported Andy, praising his youth and his 30 million Berry bounty.
"Pfft," someone scoffed, "He's just a brat. That bounty's just for show! Daru will crush him!"
"I'm betting on Andy," another person shot back. "He's way younger than Daru!"
In a secluded corner, a man in sunglasses and a gray overcoat watched with hawkish eyes. "Nico Robin," he muttered to himself, "it seems you've truly grown attached to this man."
The onlookers stopped at the edge of the forest, not daring to venture into its depths. Andy was already deep inside. Just as the crowd was wondering when Daru would appear, they were suddenly pushed aside by an unseen force, creating a wide path through their middle. The noise instantly ceased.
All eyes focused on the end of the newly formed path. A figure was walking slowly toward them. Dressed in a black combat suit with a powerful-looking sniper rifle slung on his back, the man was tall and straight like a pine tree. It was Daru, the man everyone had been waiting for.
"Daru! He's in the forest! Take him down and reclaim your title!" the woman from earlier cried out, her voice a thunderclap that ignited the crowd's passion. "I believe in you!"
"That's right!" the shouts rang out.
"Daru, go! Win for us!"
The cheers echoed through the forest's edge. Daru's supporters, from all walks of life, had united to cheer him on.
"He'll fall by my gun," Daru said in a deep voice. Then, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, he stepped into the forest to face his rival.
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