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The Strongest Frost Loli (188)
🕑 Added 2025-02-03 17:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 188 - Stowaways
While the Straw Hats battled the Marines and made their escape via the eastern port…
“Oh my, where have you been?” Lycoris asked.
“Business. Are the preparations complete?” Junshi replied.
“Not yet. They’re still organizing the cargo and personnel.”
This conversation took place in Nanohana, the port town. Junshi had slipped away earlier, telling Lycoris only that he had “some errands to run,” leaving her and the others waiting. While the ship that had arrived was theirs, it was a merchant vessel, requiring time to unload its cargo. They were also lending a hand in the kingdom's reconstruction efforts, further delaying their departure.
Junshi simply nodded, a noncommittal “I see,” and went to stow his belongings in his assigned quarters. Lycoris then turned her attention to the two figures sitting nearby, restrained with Seastone handcuffs: Mr. 3 (Galdino) and Miss Goldenweek (Marianne). Several of their creations were displayed before them.
“…Hmm… Interesting…”
Lycoris had instructed them to create these pieces, wanting to assess their skills as a sculptor and a painter. She circled the table, carefully examining their work without touching it, mindful of her limited dexterity. After several minutes of careful observation, she finally spoke.
“Yes. These are excellent. I have no complaints.”
“So, does that mean…?!” Galdino was trembling with anticipation.
“Yes, I’ll hire you. You can create pieces at your own pace. True art can’t be rushed.”
“Thank you! Thank you!” Galdino bowed his head repeatedly, relieved. Lycoris, pleased with her acquisitions, considered the practicalities.
“I’ll need to pay you, of course. But this is a personal commission, not a Twilight contract…”
She pondered the appropriate compensation – a monthly salary, plus commission for each piece. She decided to consult with George later. For now, she would purchase these pieces herself.
“That’s… very generous of you, but how much…?” Galdino asked hesitantly.
“Five million berries, I suppose.”
Galdino, who had poured his heart and soul into these creations, was stunned by her offer. He hadn't expected such a substantial sum.
***
The Straw Hats, having escaped the Marine warships, sailed towards their next destination.
“The Marines aren’t following us anymore.”
“Mmm…” Luffy mumbled.
“Mmm…” Usopp echoed.
“We lost them, didn’t we?!” Zoro exclaimed.
“Mmm…” Chopper whimpered.
“Mmm…” Sanji sighed.
“What is wrong with you all?!”
The remaining five crew members responded with listless murmurs. The emotional toll of parting with Vivi, coupled with the adrenaline crash after their narrow escape from the Marines, had taken its toll. They lay sprawled across the deck near the entrance to the cabin, whimpering softly.
“…I miss her…”
“Don’t be such crybabies! If you missed her that much, you should have just dragged her along with us!” Zoro said, exasperated.
The five of them glared at him, as if he had sprouted a second head.
“You barbarian…”
“That’s awful…”
“Marimo…”
“Three-Sword Style…”
“Wait, Luffy, Three-Sword Style isn’t an insult!”
“Four-Sword Style…”
“What good would that even do?!”
“Fine, fine… Cry all you want.”
Zoro, realizing the futility of reasoning with them, simply shook his head and turned away. At least they were heading in the right direction. Perhaps a storm would force them to snap out of it.
“Oh my, you made it off the island,” a voice said from behind him.
“Yeah, we did… Huh?”
Zoro, having responded automatically, realized the voice wasn't familiar. He turned around and, to his astonishment, saw Robin, Pedro, and Zepo emerging from the cabin. They had been stowaways, and no one had noticed. The entire crew stared at them, speechless.
“What are you doing here?!”
They all recognized Robin. She had helped them reach Alubarna from Rainbase, providing them with transportation. While they had initially perceived her as a mysterious figure, a Baroque Works traitor with ties to Twilight, seeing her now, dressed casually in Nami’s clothes, she seemed far less enigmatic. Pedro and Zepo, having travelled with them briefly, were less surprising.
“We were below deck. I informed Gem and Sabo, so I asked them to keep it a secret from you,” Robin explained.
“You know Sabo?”
“No, I just met him.”
However, the Revolutionary Army had been tracking Robin for years. As an Ohara survivor, she was a potential ally. They had even attempted to recruit her, a fact Kanata had kept secret, even from Dragon. Robin’s presence here confirmed her refusal. To Robin, nothing was more important than her pursuit of the Poneglyphs. Revolution held no interest for her.
“The Marines had the island completely surrounded. We couldn’t escape. With over thirty warships patrolling the coast, all because of the Yonko threat, it would have been impossible for us to leave unnoticed,” Pedro explained.
“Twilight couldn't intervene directly, and the Revolutionary Army’s connection to us would have made them targets for the Yonko. We didn’t want to cause any trouble,” Zepo added.
Sabo’s desire to protect Luffy had been fortuitous. This was the only way for them to leave the island undetected, while avoiding conflict with the Beasts Pirates, the Big Mom Pirates, and the Marines.
“We had to abandon our ship. Could you let us stay on yours for a while?” Robin asked.
“Well, I guess we have no choice. Fine,” Luffy agreed.
“We owe you one, anyway,” Zoro added.
There were no objections. While they were curious about Robin’s decision not to seek help from Twilight, they figured the lower-ranking members wouldn’t be aware of her connection to Kanata. Unnecessary interference would only jeopardize Twilight’s position. Usopp, wanting to know more about their unexpected passengers, asked them to introduce themselves.
“I’m Nico Robin. I’m an archaeologist.”
“Pedro. Combatant.”
“Zepo. Cook, navigator, doctor, and shipwright.”
“That’s a lot of roles for one person!” Usopp exclaimed, surprised by Zepo’s diverse skillset.
Zepo explained that he was simply handy, so he naturally ended up filling various roles, though he wasn't a master of any.
“An archaeologist, huh?”
“It’s a family tradition. I became an archaeologist at eight, and shortly after, due to certain circumstances, I became a wanted criminal. I’ve been hiding from the government ever since.”
“Wow… That must have been tough.”
“It was a tragedy, but I wasn’t alone.”
If she had been the sole survivor… Robin wouldn’t be who she was today. She smiled wryly, a bittersweet expression. Usopp, sensing a story, continued his questioning.
“Do you have any… special skills?”
“Special skills… I suppose I’m good at working behind the scenes. I could be… useful.”
“Working behind the scenes…?”
“Assassination, kidnapping, that sort of thing.”
“Luffy! I told you she was dangerous!” Usopp yelled, jumping up, knocking over his chair.
He turned to Luffy, who, along with Chopper, was being playfully manhandled by Robin’s sprouted arms. She hadn’t even looked at him.
“What are you doing?!”
“Calm down, Usopp… But you said you weren’t alone. Have you been with these two ever since?” Nami asked.
“No, they… Hmm… Should I tell them? Would that be alright?” Robin glanced at Pedro and Zepo.
“We’ve only known them for a short time, but I trust them,” Nami said.
“My partner agrees. We’re comfortable talking with them. They’re good people,” Pedro added.
“Then I suppose I will.”
“?”
The three of them whispered amongst themselves, then, seemingly having reached a decision, Robin continued her story.
“I was under Twilight’s protection. Pedro and Zepo joined me about eight years ago, introduced by Kanata. We’ve been searching for the Poneglyphs ever since.”
“Don’t tell anyone,” Zepo added quickly.
Revealing that Robin, a wanted criminal pursued by the government, had ties to Twilight, a Warlord crew, would create unnecessary complications. It was best kept secret. Nami, realizing the implications, groaned.
“I wish I hadn’t asked…”
“I brought some jewels, since we’ll be imposing on your hospitality for a while,” Robin said, placing a small pouch on the table.
“Your secret’s safe with us!” Nami declared, snatching the pouch before anyone else could react. It was clear she had no intention of returning it.
Sanji arrived with a tray of snacks, and the crew enjoyed a peaceful moment, munching contentedly as the ship sailed on.
Luffy played with Robin’s Hana Hana no Mi ability, much to Usopp and Chopper’s amusement.
Sanji and Zoro bickered about some trivial matter with their foreheads practically touching.
Nami consulted the Log Pose, charting their course. The ship was filled with a lively energy they hadn’t experienced before.
“…It’s… nice, having some noise around here,” Pedro commented.
“Yes. It was getting a bit lonely, just the three of us,” Zepo agreed.
As they finished their snacks, Luffy, looking ahead, asked, “Hey, what’s the next island like? Does it snow there?”
“You still want to see snow? We won’t know until we get there.”
“Based on the Log Pose from Alabasta… I believe it’s an autumn island.”
“Autumn! I like autumn!”
Luffy’s excitement for their next adventure was already building. The endless expanse of sea could be monotonous. “I can’t wait to reach the next island!” he exclaimed. Just then,
“Hmm? What’s this? Rain?”
A light drizzle began to fall. He looked up at the clear sky, puzzled. The droplets felt strange against his skin. It wasn’t rain.
“It’s not rain. Is it hail?”
“No, it’s not hail either.”
“Something’s falling… Huh?”
They all looked up and saw a ship, falling from the sky, about to crash into the sea.
