Holiday Island; A destination where people from all across Paradise, and even beyond, came to spend some beautiful and warm sunny days relaxing and enjoying the calm waters around it, indulging in various water sports activities.
Other than that, the Island was also a world-famous shopping destination, something the fairer sex was utterly crazy about.
It was the reason why Sin found himself at Holiday Island a few days before their planned Heist, accompanying the girls on his crew to shop around and have fun.
Bepo too wanted to come with them, but they needed him to navigate the Black Pearl, and he had always been poor with his disguises, so, Hancock refused to let him come with them.
All they had to do was steal the first ship they came across, and then with the help of Bonney's Powers, they aged themselves up close to their late thirties, ready to roam around the Island unhindered. However, Bonney decided to publicly appear even younger than Nami, only to have Sin carry her around all the time.
The girls insisted that they wanted to stay at the most expensive Hotel, which happened to be built inside the famous Umbrella Tree on this Island.
To anyone, the prices were simply outrageous, but they did not lack money.
The seven of them were enjoying themselves to their fullest, well, except for Bonney, who had been forbidden by Sin to not eat too much that it would attract unwanted attention to them.
It was cruel to her to keep her from devouring all the delicious food that they served here, but there was no other choice for now.
And on the third day, Bonney had enough.
"If I can't eat then you must give me something to keep me distracted." She marched over to Sin, back into her true form, and glared right into his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Kiss me!" She demanded, and then under Kuina, Nojiko, and Nami's dumbfounded gaze, the pinkette lunged at Sin and kissed him without waiting for an answer.
It was the first time the younger ones were seeing them kiss, and the three girls started blushing and averted their eyes, sneaking glances from time to time as Bonney just did not seem ready to let him go.
When she finally let go of him, both their lips were slightly swollen, but she now had a content smile on her face with all the dissatisfaction having waned.
"Let's go out! I want to buy some new shoes!" She announced before dragging them all out with her and then jumping into Sin's arm, back into an 8-year-old body.
On their way, they noticed an increase in the number of Guards around the Island, both private and the Marines.
It was the eve of the 20th of November, the first evening of year-end Auctions on Holiday Island, and 22nd was the last day of the Auctions.
The presence of more Marines meant that a lot of people affiliated with the Kingdoms under the World Government were here. Perhaps for the Devil Fruit and Slave Auctions that were secretly being held inside the Umbrella Hotel they were staying at.
Holiday Island was one of the few places where people from smaller Kingdoms too had a chance at acquiring some quality goods. They could not go to Sabaody Archipelago and bear the risk of offending some Celestial Dragon by competing with them over a Slave, Treasure, or Devil Fruit. But here, where Celestial Dragons had no interest in coming since everything sold here was "Inferior Goods" in their eyes, they could acquire some useful things.
It was also then that the crew saw the Vice-Admiral who was going to be present on the Island for the next few days.
The man was tall, much taller than Sin, with a dark-red mohawk and a moustache. He was wearing a pinstripe suit and had his Vice-Admiral coat draped over his shoulders. And on his hip was a sword, a Katana, and just a glance at it was enough for Sin and Robin to recognise it.
"Shingi to Giri. One of the Twenty-One Great-Grade Swords." The younger Black lightly said.
"So he must be Momonga." Sin smiled.
"He's strong," Robin whispered lightly as she sensed the man's strength with her Observation Haki, and her brother nodded his head.
"So is he." He lightly smiled as he looked at the Rear-Admiral walking behind the Vice-Admiral. "Shark Cutter Bastille."
The Rear-Admiral was taller than Momonga, much taller, well over nine and a half feet tall. He was wearing a grey metal mask with fourteen eye holes in it and two long-curved bull horns. His face was well-hidden, and his long orange hair fell on his chest and back. He was also wearing a suit with his Rear-Admiral Coat draped over his shoulder, and this coat had chains hanging from the lapels.
Bastille was holding his huge zanbato over his right shoulder as he walked behind Momonga, and just a mere look at him was terrifying the people on the street, who immediately stepped aside, giving the Marines to pass without any hindrance.
He was a famous Marine, well-known for his Pirate kill count, and his zanbato, Same-kiri Bocho, was also quite famous.
Their group passed right by the Marines, and Momonga suddenly stopped and turned to look in their direction.
"What's wrong?" Bastille followed his gaze and looked at the family that had just passed by them.
"Papa, I want Ice-Cream!" Bonney excitedly said when she saw an Ice-Cream Parlour on the street.
"Yes, Love." Sin played along and planted a kiss on her cheek before walking inside the shop.
Seeing the family enter the shop and then sit down to peacefully order Ice-Creams, Momonga frowned and then turned around to continue walking.
"Nothing." He said, catching the Marines' attention, who immediately followed after him.
"Contact Shuzo. Ask him to make the last security check at the Hotel..." Momonga instructed a soldier, who immediately saluted to him before running away to contact the Commodore who was present for the last seven days.
Several minutes after the Marines left, Robin smiled at Sin.
"His instincts are quite sharp."
"Not sharp enough though." He chuckled and then helplessly shook his head as the little Bonney munched on the Ice-Cream, refusing to leave his lap.
"A Vice-Admiral, two Rear-Admirals, and three Commodores." Hancock frowned. "We will go with Plan B. With Momonga here, things could get ugly and we don't want civilian casualties right now."
"Agreed." Robin too nodded her head, and Sin simply shrugged.
To be frank, it did not matter to him whether there were civilian casualties or not. But since his Vice-Captains thought that it would be better to avoid them before the Marine's year-end meeting, where his status as the 8th Warlord of the Sea was going to be discussed, Sin decided to listen to them.
It was going to be less fun, but just as resounding. Maybe even more alarming than their 'fun' Plan A for the people in Power.
He ate his Ice-Cream, lost in his thoughts with his Observation Haki still active, and suddenly, his mind concentrated on the sobs of a young girl.
Now, Sin had heard people cry in pain a lot, and it never really bothered him. Even now, he was not emotional or felt pity as he heard the girl sob, but he did not know why he felt this urge to focus on her.
It was the same as the time he had met Augur all those years ago, the same as the time he met Bepo and Bonney. And this girl too had the will to change her future. However, she found herself helpless and weak.
"Please God. Save me..." She whispered right before someone shouted at her to stop crying and instructed someone to help her clean up and put make-up on her.
"You are my most prized commodity of the night, girl. You better behave or I will kill you." The man threatened her, and the girl stopped sobbing, not because she was scared, but because she had this will to keep living despite all her pain.
Sin only debated for a moment before he made up his mind. Amongst all the voices in his head, hers stood out the most. And it all felt like it was Destiny.
"Why don't you guys shop around and I will go check on some other things?" He suddenly said, catching everyone's attention. "Nothing to worry about. I just want to check out a certain event."
The older girls immediately understood what he was talking about, and they nodded their heads.
He was not openly talking about the Auctions because Nami and Nojiko were there.
"I will come with you!" Bonney announced and finished up the third bowl of Ice-Cream so fast that it amazed the younger girls once again.
"Okay." Sin did not have a problem with it and stood up to leave.
"Something caught your attention?" Bonney curiously asked on their way to the Hotel.
"Yes." He smiled. "A beautiful voice. Let's see if she looks beautiful too." He chuckled as his words made Bonney pout.
Since they were going to attend an Auction, Sin deposited the Cash they had on them and got the Black Card from the bank inside the Hotel.
The card now contained over Two-Hundred and Fifty Million Berries, which were more than enough for what Sin had in mind and for any other surprises at the Auction.
"Your name and ID, Sir." The guard at the lobby desk of the Auction Hall politely asked, and Sin showed him their pass, which was a proof that they were staying at this Hotel, as well as the Black Card that he had just purchased.
"Indra?" The guard curiously read the name on the pass and the Black Card.
"Yes." Sin lightly smiled at him.
"Would you like to sit in the VIP lounge or the General Lounge?"
"Royal."
The guard seemed surprised at his choice, but then glanced at the Black Card and nodded his head.
"Thank you for identifying yourself. Here's your pass."
"You're welcome." Sin grabbed the three cards and then started walking into the Auction Hall.
"Indra, eh?" Bonney giggled. "You love going by the names of the Lightning Deities, don't you?"
"You already know the answer to that." He smiled and felt her plant a kiss on his cheek.
"Yes. I am aware that my Captain has a God-Complex." She teased him, which prompted him to tickle her belly, making her laugh and struggle in his arms.