The morning sun crept above the horizon, bathing the sea in warm golden hues. Gentle waves lapped against the hull of the Silent Orca as it sailed steadily away from the distant silhouette of Whiskey Peak, charting a new course into the heart of the Grand Line.
On the deck, the crew had begun settling into a calm rhythm after the storm of recent encounters. The tension from their clash with Baroque Works still lingered in the air, but it was giving way to quiet focus.
Captain Zino, however, had one thread left to tug.
He approached Vivi, who stood near the railing, with an oversized duck—Karoo on her side. Her eyes distant as the sea breeze tugged at her sky-blue hair. She looked tired—worn from the weight of secrets.
"Earlier," Zino said, his tone calm but pointed, "you mentioned Crocodile. I want to know—who is he really? And what does he have to do with Alabasta?"
The inquiry was not for him, who already knew the story, but for his crew to understand her situation further.
Vivi didn't answer immediately. Her eyes flicked sideways—not to Zino, but toward Miss Valentine, who was leaning against a crate a few feet away, arms folded, expression unreadable. The former Baroque Works agent didn't speak, but her presence was sharp, like a knife just out of reach.
Zino noticed the hesitation and responded with quiet certainty. "Don't worry about her. She's one of us now."
Miss Valentine raised an eyebrow at that, but she said nothing. It was still difficult to grasp how her world had shifted so fast. One moment, she was carrying out orders for Baroque Works. The next, she was a prisoner—then a crewmate. For now, she chose silence, her eyes flicking between Vivi and Zino.
Vivi sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly, then straightened with quiet resolve. "Mr. 0…" she began. "His true name is *Crocodile*. He's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—the *Shichibukai*."
The name hit like a stone dropped into still water.
Zoro narrowed his eyes.
Alvida muttered under her breath, already recalling what Zino had told them about the Warlords—powerful pirates granted government protection in exchange for loyalty. Dangerous and cunning.
If Crocodile was one of the *Shichibukai*, then this mission wasn't just risky, it was a direct path into the jaws of death.
Usopp blinked in confusion, eyebrows raised. "Wait, wait—what's a Shichi-what now?"
Gin, leaning casually on the railing, arms folded, didn't even turn as he replied. "Shichibukai, the Seven Warlords of the Sea. They're pirates officially sanctioned by the World Government. Each one's a monster in their own right. Strong enough to wipe out entire fleets if they felt like it."
Usopp's face went pale. "Great. So we're going up against one of those?"
Vivi nodded, her expression grim. "Crocodile is dangerous—not just because of his power, but because of his lies. In Alabasta, he plays the role of a hero. The people admire him. They think he's protecting them from danger…"
She took a shaky breath, her hands curling into fists. "But behind that mask, he's been orchestrating the kingdom's collapse. He created Baroque Works and placed its agents everywhere—infiltrating cities, spreading unrest, igniting small conflicts that slowly spiral into something bigger. Disappearances, food shortages, staged riots… all carefully designed to make the people lose faith in the monarchy."
The deck fell silent as the weight of her words sank in.
Zino stood at the center, arms folded, his gaze steady on her. "And what's his goal?"
"To take the throne," Vivi replied firmly. "He's setting himself up as the people's savior. Once the kingdom is drowning in chaos, they'll look to him to save them. And he will—by taking power for himself."
A heavy pause followed.
Nami frowned deeply. "That's twisted. He's turning your country into his own stage."
Gin muttered under his breath, "So that's why the agents were everywhere, even in a place like Whiskey Peak."
Vivi nodded. "Everything is part of his long game."
Alvida grunted. "Sounds like a coward's plan."
Zoro's hand hovered near his sword. "And we're going to stop him, right?"
Zino gave a small nod. "We've already set course. Whether he's a Warlord or a rat, we'll deal with him."
Miss Valentine said nothing, but her jaw tightened, her eyes fixed on the deck. A storm of doubt churned in her chest. Had she chosen the wrong side? Or had she simply chosen the one she feared less?
Before the thought could settle, a smooth, elegant voice cut through the rising tension like a blade.
"Oh? The princess really did her homework after infiltrating our little organization," the voice drawled. "Well done, Princess Vivi."
The temperature on deck seemed to drop instantly.
Every head snapped toward the sound. Hands moved instinctively toward hilts and triggers, hearts pounding. But amid the sudden tension, two figures remained completely still—Zino and Miria.
Miria's eyes narrowed slightly. She had sensed the intruder moments ago with her Observation Haki, but made no move. She was waiting for Zino's reaction.
Zino didn't even blink. He'd known she was there, too. He was just waiting—for her to speak, for her to show herself.
Then, she stepped out.
From the shadows at the edge of the deck emerged a tall, striking woman dressed in flowing black, her figure poised and unhurried. A wide-brimmed hat cast a faint shadow over her sharp, intelligent eyes. She was beautiful, yes—but there was something else. Something colder. Like velvet wrapped around a dagger.
Nico Robin. Known here as Miss All Sunday. Second-in-command of Baroque Works… and Zino knew her by another name: the Demon Child.
Vivi stumbled back in shock. "Miss All Sunday!"
Miss Valentine looked like she'd seen a ghost. Her knees buckled slightly as she paled, eyes wide. "M-Miss All Sunday… I–I didn't mean to—"
Robin's smile didn't waver, but her tone sharpened like a whip. "What is it, Traitor?"
That single word cut deeper than any blade.
Miss Valentine froze. Her mouth moved, struggling for words that wouldn't come. Her hands gripped her coat tightly, as if she could somehow shield herself from the weight of that label.
She lowered her head, silent and shaking.
Robin's gaze shifted to Vivi, her smile growing more amused. "And you, Princess Vivi… infiltrating Baroque Works, now sailing with pirates? How delightfully reckless. Are you really so desperate to save your country?"
Vivi clenched her fists. "So what if I am?"
Her voice was low, but firm. There was no fear in her eyes now—only defiance.
Robin gave a light laugh, smooth as silk. "How noble. But it's wasted effort. You'll never reach Alabasta."
That sent a chill through the air.
Zino's gaze shifted to Robin, his voice calm and unreadable. "Why is that?"
Robin met his eyes with a composed smile. "Because you'll need an Eternal Pose."
The words settled over the deck like a cold breeze. "You may have a Log Pose," she continued, "but without an Eternal Pose pointing to Alabasta, you'll be at the mercy of the Grand Line's currents and unpredictable magnetic fields. You'll drift endlessly from island to island."
Vivi's face paled. Robin's words struck hard, because she knew they were true. Even after infiltrating Baroque Works, she had never been given an Eternal Pose. It had always been a tightly guarded resource. And now, her path back home—her one chance to stop Crocodile—seemed to be slipping further away.
Some of the crew frowned, picking up on her unease. Zoro's hand hovered near his sword hilt. Sanji lit a cigarette but said nothing. Gin narrowed his eyes, already calculating the potential threat of this new arrival. Tension thickened.
Robin's eyes scanned the ship, taking in the crew and the vessel itself with curious interest. "Still, this ship… Silent Orca, was it?" Her lips curled slightly. "Interesting name. And your crew—quite the unusual bunch. Especially you, Monkey D. Zino."
She said his name slowly, deliberately, eyes narrowing in quiet intrigue.
Zino didn't respond immediately. He simply studied her, his expression unreadable. Around him, his crewmates shifted, silently awaiting his signal. If he gave the order, they would move without hesitation. Attack, defend, or retreat—they were ready.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Zino smirked. "Miss All Sunday, is it? You seem good at gathering intel."
Robin chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Fufufu. I do what I can."
"Then," Zino said, folding his arms, "are you interested in joining my crew?"
There was a beat of total silence.
"…Huh!?" Vivi gasped.
"Eh?!" Ussop's voice cracked.
"Wha—WHAT?!" Nami and Miss Valentine shouted in unison.
Even Robin—poised, calm, always in control—blinked in momentary surprise at the unexpected offer. "You're inviting me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, as though unsure if she'd heard correctly.
"Of course," Zino said without hesitation. "Leave Crocodile, and join me."
A pause. Then, Robin let out a soft, amused chuckle. "You really are interesting, Captain Zino."
Zino gave a half-smile. "So is that a yes?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before her lips curved into her usual sly smile. "Let's set that aside for now," she said.
From within her coat, she pulled out a special kind of Log Pose—sleek, glassy, and more focused in direction than the standard one. She held it up, then tossed it in a smooth arc toward Zino.
He caught it with one hand, inspecting it curiously.
"It's an Eternal Pose," Robin explained. "At your current heading, your Log Pose will naturally pull you toward Little Garden. That's the next island in the Log's magnetic path. But with this… you can bypass it entirely and head straight to Alabasta."
Nami's eyes widened slightly in recognition. "That'll save us days."
"Probably trouble too," Miria murmured.
Zino raised an eyebrow. "That's… actually generous of you. Thanks."
Robin simply smiled, already walking toward the edge of the deck. "Think of it as a gift from a fan."
"Wait," Zino called out. "What about my invitation? Aren't you going to be my nakama?"
Robin paused at the railing. The wind tugged at her long black coat and hat as she glanced over her shoulder with a look of quiet amusement.
"If you manage to defeat Crocodile…" she said, "then maybe I'll think about it."
Zino grinned. "Then it's a promise."
Robin said nothing more. She gave a faint wave before jumping off the ship. Below, a strange sight greeted the crew—a small, one-person vessel fixed atop the back of a massive sea turtle. As Robin landed gracefully aboard, the turtle began to swim, pulling the vessel smoothly away from the Silent Orca.
"Wow," Zino muttered, watching her departure. "That's convenient. Maybe I should tame a Sea King or two to pull our ship."
He turned to Nami and handed over the Eternal Pose. "Here. This should help us down the line."
Nami nodded, though her brows were still furrowed. "Zino… why did you want to recruit her?"
"She's dangerous," Miss Valentine added sharply, arms gripping her parasol tightly. "And she's not exactly known for loyalty."
"If you knew who she really was, you'd think twice before asking her to join," Miria said quietly, but with weight behind her words.
Zino glanced at her. "You know her?"
Miria nodded solemnly. "Her real name is Nico Robin. The World Government calls her the 'Devil Child.'"
The crew went still.
"She's the sole survivor of Ohara, a destroyed island," Miria continued. "She was given a bounty of 79 million berries… when she was just a child."
"What?!"
Shock rippled through the crew. Ussop nearly dropped his tools. Even Gin's normally stoic expression tightened.
"That's… insane," Sanji muttered.
Zino, however showed a calm smile, gaze turning toward the horizon. "A child with a bounty that high... and the government fears her that much?"
"Because she can read the Poneglyphs," Miria said. "That makes her a threat to the World Government itself."
Zino stayed silent for a beat longer, then smirked. "Now I want her in my crew even more."
"Of course you do," Nami sighed.
And with that, the Silent Orca sailed on, Eternal Pose in hand, heading toward the next storm on the horizon.