Ron went shopping with the girls without showing any signs of fatigue or complaint. He accompanied them wherever they went and didn't grumble, even when they shopped until nightfall. He was, in many ways, the perfect example of a good man at home.
That night, they found a large hotel to stay in. The next day, the girls dragged Ron out again, continuing their shopping spree. They bought so much that Ron ended up carrying everything. Finally, they returned to the Ark Maxim together to store their purchases.
Of course, the girls didn't just buy things for themselves—they also picked out clothes for Ron and stocked up on supplies to keep aboard the Ark.
"Let's go!" Ron said once the girls had put everything away. "We've bought almost everything. How about we take that ride on the sea train now? After that, we should continue our voyage."
"All right!" Nami and the others nodded in agreement. Kaya and Aisa happily munched on the snacks they'd bought as they prepared to head out again.
"Let's go, let's go!" they cheered, eager to experience the sea train.
With a wave of his hand, Ron led the group toward the sea train station.
In a hidden house near the dock, a figure stood by a window, watching Ron and his crew depart. The person wore a mask and remained cloaked in shadow, focusing intently on Robin at the rear of the group.
"Nico Robin… so you are with the Sword and Rose Pirates," the figure muttered. "I had my doubts when I first received the intel, but now… it seems accurate. Perfect. We've been needing someone with expertise in ancient knowledge. Heh."
The figure retreated further into the room, pulling out a Den Den Mushi to send a message to their comrades.
Meanwhile, Ron and the girls boarded the sea train and enjoyed a tour around the seven islands. They explored each island, gathering a variety of goods, especially food. Even if they didn't eat it all on the spot, they made sure to buy plenty.
After the tour, they returned to the largest island, ready to head back to the Ark Maxim and continue their journey.
As they stepped off the sea train, two people dressed in strange costumes approached. They wore masks with expressionless women's faces, but Ron and the others didn't pay much attention at first. They had seen many people dressed oddly around Water 7.
The two figures passed by Ron's group, but as they reached Robin at the back, one of them whispered something to her. Robin froze in place, staring down in thought.
"Huh?"
Ron, who was walking ahead, frowned and turned around. He noticed Robin had stopped and was staring at the ground.
"Huh? What's up with Sister Robin?" Kaya asked curiously, following Ron's gaze. Robin stood still, her expression tense.
"Could it be that she ran into someone she knows?" Ron smiled slightly and walked toward her.
"Robin, what's wrong?" Ron asked gently. While he spoke to Robin, his eyes shifted coldly toward the two masked figures in the distance.
"No, it's nothing..." Robin forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Nothing?" Ron raised an eyebrow. "Have you forgotten that I can use Observation Haki? I can sense everything happening around me."
"I can, too!" Aisa chimed in cheerfully. "I heard what those people said to Sister Robin just now. I was going to tell Brother Ron, but he already figured it out!"
"You… you heard?" Robin looked at Ron and Aisa, surprised but not shocked. She knew both Ron and Aisa had mastered Observation Haki, so it wasn't difficult for them to pick up on such things.
"You two… are still trying to run?" Ron's gaze shifted back to the two masked figures. They had sensed something was wrong and had begun to back away, clearly hoping to make a quick escape. Unfortunately for them, Ron wasn't about to let that happen.
The two masked individuals glanced at each other but remained silent, continuing to retreat. They were well aware of Ron's identity and didn't want to provoke a confrontation.
Their plan had been to isolate Robin and take her quietly, but Robin had stayed with the group the entire time. Now that Ron and his crew were preparing to leave Water 7, they had made a desperate attempt to threaten Robin into staying behind.
"I said, don't think about running away," Ron growled. "And yet you're still trying? You dare to threaten one of my crew and then think you can just run off? Do you really take me for a fucking fool?" (TN- I'm putting a lil profanity here and there into the story)
Ron moved, and In a flash, he was beside the two masked men, delivering a swift kick to one of them.
"Huh? So fast!" The man's eyes widened in shock beneath his mask. In a panic, he whispered, "Tekkai!" (Iron Body!)
Bang!
Ron's kick landed, but it felt like he had struck a steel plate. The man barely moved, only getting knocked back a few meters without falling. His defense was incredibly strong.