The Going Merry slowly sailed away from the waters of Alabasta, heading toward an unknown horizon.
Though the sky was a brilliant azure and the sea breeze was gentle, the atmosphere on deck was... peculiar.
"Sss—ha—"
In a corner of the deck, Zoro sat cross-legged, holding his maintenance tools as he obsessively polished the Wado Ichimonji.
His sharp eyes occasionally darted through the cold reflection of the blade, fixed dead on the woman sitting on the upper deck reading a book.
Behind the main mast, a different kind of tension brewed.
"Hey, Chopper, you go say hello to her." "No... you go, Usopp. You're the brave warrior of the sea..."
Usopp and Chopper, the two cowards, were stacked on top of each other, whispering frantically about the woman named Nico Robin.
They were busy trying to egg each other into testing the waters with this "former Vice-President of Baroque Works."
While the humans were on edge, a serious "transfer of power" was occurring in the animal kingdom.
"Caw!"
Klay the Crow stood on the gunwale, staring down Lassoo the dachshund. Despite being a weapon that had eaten the "Gun-Gun Fruit," Lassoo was currently terrified by the crow's aura. His front paws were tucked in, and his body trembled.
"Caw! Caw-caw... Coo-ga! (Listen up, rookie! On this ship, I'm the animal boss! Even if you can turn into a gun, you listen to me!)"
As Klay squawked, he pointed a wing toward the kitchen, then toward Viktor's cabin. He seemed to be reciting a complex set of "Merry Survival Laws."
To everyone's shock, Lassoo actually seemed to understand! The dog's eyes widened in disbelief at this "multilingual" crow before he nodded his head like a drum, signaling absolute submission.
The crew, not speaking "Bird" or "Dog," had no idea what ridiculous rules Klay was imposing. Seeing Lassoo yield, Klay let out a triumphant, arrogant laugh, fully embracing his role as the "Overlord of the Skies."
Just then...
"Yawn—"
Viktor stretched his arms, yawning as he walked out of the cabin. The "strenuous exercise" with Nami the previous night had drained quite a bit of his stamina; now, he just wanted to soak up some sun.
He habitually walked toward his favorite spot—the corner with the best view, the most sunlight, and the best wind protection—where his custom "Vice-Captain's Throne" (a specialized lounge chair) was located.
However, as he reached the spot, his steps faltered.
There, sitting in his "throne," was the woman in purple. Robin sat elegantly with her legs crossed, holding a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a thick ancient tome spread across her lap.
The sunlight caught her intellectual profile, creating a scene of absolute serenity.
"Hey, that's... my seat, right?"
Viktor raised an eyebrow, attempting to summon a bit of "Vice-Captain's Authority" to reclaim his territory. "Ahem. Rookie. I know Luffy said you could stay, but there's a pecking order here..."
"Ara."
Robin closed her book and looked up. She made no move to get up; instead, a mischievous, "black-bellied" smile played on her lips.
"The scenery here is lovely, and the sunlight is perfect." She looked at Viktor, her eyes dancing with playfulness. "I imagine a magnanimous Vice-Captain wouldn't mind sharing a small bit of comfort with a lady who has nowhere else to go?"
Before he could respond—
"Thirty Fleur."
Petals swirled. Before Viktor could refuse, several slender white arms sprouted from his shoulders and the deck behind him.
"Eh?"
Immediately, the hands began to expertly massage Viktor's shoulders and back. One hand even manifested to hold a chilled drink up to his lips.
"Is the pressure alright?" Robin asked with a smile.
"Mmh... a bit firmer on the left... wait! What am I saying!"
Viktor nearly surrendered to the bliss right then and there. This "Hana Hana" massage service was cheating!
"Shishishishi! This is great!"
Luffy sat on the railing, laughing hysterically at the sight of Viktor being "serviced" into submission by Robin's fruit powers, and the funny gestures Robin's extra hands were making behind Viktor's head.
"Nami! This woman hasn't paid her food expenses yet, has she?" Viktor tried to find an ally.
However...
"A small greeting gift, Miss Navigator."
Robin, like a magician, pulled a small pouch of exquisite, crystal-clear rubies from her coat—private loot from Crocodile's vault.
"WAAA!!!"
Nami's eyes instantly transformed into Berry symbols as she snatched the pouch. A split second later, the Navigator defected completely.
"Viktor! You're being way too petty!" Nami pointed an accusatory finger. "Robin just joined the ship; what's wrong with her sitting in a chair? You're a man, be generous!"
She gave Viktor a subtle wink. In truth, the gems were just an excuse. The real source of her confidence was the intimacy they had shared the night before; it had confirmed Viktor's feelings for her beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Since her position as "First Lady" was secure, she had dropped most of her hostility toward this mature big sister. Plus... she really did give a lot.
"I think Robin-chan is perfect too!" Sanji was already hopelessly lost in Robin's beauty. He didn't just abandon Viktor; he spun toward Robin with a tray of exquisite snacks. "Robin-chan a special afternoon tea just for you Please enjoy~"
"Thank you, Mr. Cook," Robin smiled politely.
"Ah I'm melting" Sanji's nose erupted in a fountain of blood.
Behind the mast, Usopp finally shoved Chopper out. "Go, Chopper!"
Chopper nervously shuffled toward Robin, hiding half his face behind a doorframe. "H-hello... I'm Chopper, the ship's doctor..."
Robin set down her coffee and looked at the fluffy little creature, her smile deepening. "The Doctor? How adorable you are, Doctor Chopper."
"!!!"
Hearing "adorable" and "Doctor," Chopper's defenses crumbled instantly. His face turned tomato-red, and his body twisted like a pretzel as he shouted the opposite of what he felt: "You... you bastard! Calling me adorable won't make me happy, you jerk~~!"
Seeing the total collapse of the crew's discipline, Viktor's face was covered in dark lines. He turned his last hope toward the only rational person left.
"Zoro! Say something! This rookie's tyrannical behavior is intolerable!"
Zoro merely spared a cold glance toward the commotion and went back to polishing his blade. "Boring. I only care if she's a traitor. As for who gets the chair... don't bother me with such nonsense."
"..."
Viktor was officially isolated.
"Fine, fine. You're all just bullying an honest man." Viktor sighed helplessly and beckoned over Klay, who was still busy tormenting the dog.
The sun began to set, casting golden ripples across the sea. Viktor gave up on reclaiming his throne and sat casually on the ship's railing, letting the wind toss his dark hair.
He watched Robin, who was now surrounded by the crew, smiling as she answered questions from Luffy and Chopper.
Looking into her eyes—eyes that used to be filled with wariness and detachment—he noticed a flicker of genuine warmth.
"This is the magic of the Straw Hat Pirates," Viktor murmured. He tossed a piece of candy into his mouth, his gaze softening as he looked out at the vast ocean.