As Leno and his crew neared Rubeck Island, Nami finally closed the small notebook in her hands.
"The islands around here sit at the intersection of three major ocean currents," she explained. "That's what creates the unique circulation of warm and cold streams—and why Minion Island stays locked in winter all year round."
Standing at the bow, she gazed toward the distant land ahead.
"If my calculations are correct, Rubeck Island should be a dry-climate island."
The moment she finished, Carmen immediately chimed in.
"Then shouldn't we change out of these winter clothes?"
"I can't believe such opposite climates exist side by side in the same sea!"
At her reminder, the girls all hurried below deck to change. When they came back, they were dressed for the heat—light and breezy.
Sure enough, as they stepped onto the island, Nami's prediction proved spot on.
Before anyone could praise her sharp intuition, a long-legged beauty approached from the distance with a bright, teasing smile.
"Ara~ you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for a long time."
Reiju approached the group, looked at Nami and the others one by one, and then fixed her gaze on Leno, greeting him with a smile.
"Waiting for us? Who are you, and what do you want?"
Nami stepped forward, watching the somewhat beautiful woman in front of her warily.
Seeing that her chest was larger than hers and her legs were longer, Nami felt a pang of jealousy, immediately sensing that this woman harbored ill intentions.
"I am Vinsmoke Reiju. I wish to board your ship, and I hope Captain Leno will take me in~"
"Ha? Are you kidding me? We don't even know you, so why should we let you on board?"
Reiju's direct approach immediately made Nami bristle.
'As expected, there's something wrong with this woman, a big problem! We absolutely cannot let her join the crew.'
Nojiko, Robin, and the others behind were also stunned by Reiju's request, finding it unbelievable that she would make such a demand right after meeting them.
"Wait, Vinsmoke? Are you perhaps from the Germa 66 Kingdom?"
Robin only just reacted. Wasn't this the family Leno had told them about on the ship?
The impression was particularly deep; the Vinsmoke Family was very powerful in the North Blue, having quickly overthrown several countries in a short time.
Why would she suddenly appear here and ask to join them?
"That's right, I am the eldest daughter of the Vinsmoke Family."
By this point, Nojiko, Nami, and the others also remembered. The identity of the person opposite them was surprisingly noble.
While shocked by Reiju's request, the women were also full of doubt.
"Eldest daughter? So, a princess then. Why would a princess want to join our crew?"
"Exactly~ A royal shouldn't be traveling with pirates."
"Don't tell me you ran away from home~?"
Watching the women's shocked and incoherent expressions, Reiju sighed internally.
On the surface, she maintained her calm, unperturbed demeanor, smiling at them.
If it were possible, she would have long ago fled that cold hell devoid of any warmth.
"I came under orders. The goal is to get close to Captain Leno and then use his power to help the Germa 66 Kingdom."
"That's fine by me. I accept."
Leno's quick response left everyone dumbfounded.
"Haaa!!!"
Nami, Chopper, and the others turned toward him in disbelief. Even Reiju blinked, surprised.
'Is this man really so obsessed with lust that he forgets everything when he sees a woman?'
Robin and Nojiko exchanged looks, equally puzzled. Reiju had just revealed her intentions, yet Leno still agreed?
"You idiot, have you lost your mind? This is obviously some Germa scheme!"
"Yeah, did you get hypnotized by her legs or something?"
Nami's voice rose in frustration, convinced Leno's brain had completely short-circuited.
"What are you talking about? I'm not that shallow."
Seeing their doubtful stares, Leno quickly clarified, "I'm saving her, that's all. And besides, I want to see what kind of fools Germa think they are to mess with me."
To prove his point, he began explaining everything he knew—how Judge had modified his own children through Lineage Factor experiments, erasing their emotions and turning them into weapons.
Reiju's calm composure cracked as she listened.
The man before her seemed to radiate mystery; the closer she looked, the more unfathomable he became.
When he finished, and Reiju reluctantly confirmed his words, the crew gasped. Pity flickered across their faces.
"That's awful!"
"What a monster!"
"No father should ever do something like that!"
Chopper and Nami couldn't contain their anger. The thought of someone treating their own children that way was sickening.
A man who'd strip his family of humanity for power—Judge of Germa 66 was nothing short of a demon in human skin.
After hearing all that, the crew's hostility toward Reiju softened. In the end, she was welcomed aboard, and together they began exploring the island.
That night, after a full day's adventure, everyone drifted off to sleep early.
Inside his cabin, Hancock fell soundly asleep after "talking" with Leno for more than two hours. (T/N: talking without speaking…)
Watching her peaceful, contented expression, Leno smiled faintly, then slipped out onto the deck.
Moonlight spilled like silver across the ship as he sat cross-legged at the bow, gazing at the rippling sea below. The night was unusually still, the moon bright and clear.
He closed his eyes and emptied his thoughts, letting the silence wash over him.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed when a flicker in his Observation Haki caught his attention.
Something huge was moving beneath the waves.
The sea suddenly bulged upward and burst open—a massive creature emerged, its head crowned by a glowing orb.
"That's…!!!"
Leno sprang to his feet, eyes wide in excitement.
An Anglerfish? How could one be here…
The moment he saw it, the thought of 'Pure Gold' immediately came to Leno's mind. After all, the 'Elixir of Life' in the world of One Piece was far too famous.
Everyone who knew about it longed to possess it, as it represented humanity's ultimate dream: immortality!
Legend says that 'Pure Gold' is inside an Anglerfish. He wondered if this was the one.
Driven by the thought, Leno steered the ship straight toward it.
As they drew closer, he realized just how massive it was—a true "island eater."
The creature's head tilted upward, its mouth opening and closing as the orb on its head shook violently. The sea churned with each motion, waves crashing in all directions.
Seizing his chance, Leno darted forward, heading straight for the creature's enormous mouth.
The commotion woke the rest of the crew. They rushed onto the deck—just in time to see a gaping maw engulf their entire ship in one bite.
"...!!!"
"Help! We've been eaten by a giant monster!"
"It's over! We're done for!"
"Leno, you idiot, do something!"
"Someone save us~~~!"