After the maze incident and that sudden kiss, the relationship between Yami and Robin finally broke through to a new level.
They say when a man pursues a woman it's like a mountain stands between them, but when a woman pursues a man it's only a thin veil.
Robin, who had been far behind Karina and Nami, took one bold step and overtook them on the curve, becoming the woman closest to Yami.
Karina had no idea. Nami fumed in helpless anger.
There was no helping it. Cuteness is worth nothing in the face of sensuality.
After that kiss in the maze, Yami also finally realized where he stood in Robin's heart.
The most difficult-to-win mature beauty had let her heart be pried open.
Having only feasted his eyes until now, Yami began to make regular, proactive moves.
Whenever the four girls weren't together, Yami would quietly appear at Robin's side and either ambush her with a kiss, press her with domineering boldness, or, as a gentle man, ask for all kinds of small favors.
After more than a year in this world, Yami had finally reached the summit of a certain mountain and could feel the climber's triumph.
Whatever Yami asked, Robin seemed not to know the word refuse, meeting everything with a smile.
That smile brimmed with doting warmth.
Robin was always straightforward, as her words made plain.
In Water 7, Robin's feelings for Yami had changed.
After the events on Thriller Bark, she saw her feelings even more clearly.
If she hadn't feared hurting Karina and Nami, Robin would have made her move long ago.
That kiss in the maze was both an irresistible impulse and Robin mustering the courage to confess.
Since Yami responded, Robin would not be timid.
She would give all her goodness to the man who had saved her.
While Yami was lost in the mature one's doting and unable to pull himself free, CP finished its deployment at the Sabaody Archipelago, but they never once spotted the Pegasus.
Shiki the Golden Lion, who had been ranging from island to island in search of beasts, finally piloted the flagship that was both a sailing ship and a floating-island carrier back to his base named STRONG WORLD.
He hadn't been back long before Yami found him with clairvoyance.
At last, Yami's enviable life came to an end.
"The Golden Lion has returned. In a bit, wait for me inside the other space."
Yami and Robin came out of the cabin, and he spoke to the three girls reading and playing cards on deck.
"Understood, Master."
The three answered sweetly. Nami's face flushed, and she kept sneaking looks at Robin full of admiration and envy, as if Robin had done something she herself wanted to do.
Sensing Nami's gaze, Robin reacted almost the same. Her exquisite cheeks reddened at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Then she subconsciously wiped the corner of her mouth and pressed her lips together, afraid a trace might remain.
Hissing as if touching a wound, Robin drew a small breath to ease the sting at her lip, then shot Nami a glare from across the deck.
Hee-hee.
Seeing Robin's reaction, Nami let out a schadenfreude smile.
Yami shifted his gaze to Nami. "Nami, you don't need to stay in the other space. Come up to the sky island with me in a moment and provide cover."
"Yes, Master."
Nami's eyes lit up and she raised her hand excitedly.
The others didn't envy her. With the Golden Lion as the next enemy, anyone but Nami would only be a burden.
After his instructions, Yami first used clairvoyance and x-ray vision to make sure there were no watchers—human or beast—nearby. Then he used the Door-Door Fruit to open a huge door in the air and stash the Pegasus in the pocket space.
Next, he scooped Nami up in a princess carry and launched skyward with Moonwalk.
Nami could also fly using her electric field, but she didn't. She let Yami carry her.
In the air, Nami wrapped her arms around Yami's neck and grinned. "Master, doing that kind of thing with Sister Robin in the library… you're so bad—ah!"
Before she could finish, a cry of pain slipped from her lips.
Yami sealed Nami's element with darkness and gave her cheek a firm pinch.
"How many times have I said not to use Observation Haki and radio waves on the ship."
Yami shot her a look and scolded her. "Just like how I never use x-ray vision on my companions, you have to leave people a little privacy."
"I was wrong. I won't do it again."
Nami reflected first, then pouted. "But Sister Robin started it. Karina and I were clearly first."
Hugging his neck, she pleaded. "Master, can I join in?"
"No."
Yami refused, exasperated, then gave her a sliver of hope. "When you're a few years older, yes. So train hard every day, eat and drink well, rest on time. That way you'll grow up faster."
"I got it. I definitely won't lose to Sister Robin."
Nami glanced down at her own figure and set a goal for herself.
Yami had no doubts.
Only a traveler would know that in time both Nami and Karina would match Robin.
Perona, on the other hand, would be outclassed by them in a few years.
As they chatted, Yami carried Nami up to the White Sea at seven thousand meters.
The Golden Lion hadn't placed his floating islands in the White-White Sea at ten thousand meters, but hid them in the White Sea at seven thousand.
Most sky islands sit in the White-White Sea, where few Upstream currents and people pass through the White Sea.
The White Sea is thinner than the White-White Sea, and the Float-Float Fruit can tear it open with ease.
After entering the White Sea, Yami opened an air door and stepped out of the pocket space with Nami.
"Huh?"
Nami couldn't help voicing her puzzlement. "Master, are we going to hunt the Golden Lion in broad daylight?"
"Yes. Nami, remember this."
Yami nodded, his face grave as he instructed her. "If you meet an enemy who must be killed, or a mortal foe, then by all means—use any method to take them down."
"But if you meet someone on your level, if there's no deep hatred, and you're confident you can beat them, then it's best to win openly."
"Defeating that kind of enemy gives tremendous satisfaction and tempers the will."
"You felt that when you defeated Gecko Moria."
"Haki turns will into a weapon. The stronger your will, the greater the volume and quality of your Haki."
"Conversely, if your will falters or you sink into discouragement, your Haki will grow weaker and in the end you may not be able to use it at all."
"Crocodile and Gecko Moria, both Warlords, stood at the same level as me on the Grand Line when the Great Pirate Era began. Even in the New World, they were among the brightest rising stars."
"To make a name in the New World, you must first master Haki."
"Now Crocodile and Gecko Moria can't use Haki at all, because they're losers."
"But it isn't losing that's frightening. What's frightening is that their will collapsed. After failing, they didn't build themselves back up—they relied on outside crutches to claw toward the New World again."
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