The girls collectively held their breath, astonished by the wide range of rewards available, including the ability to stack Devil Fruits and Haki. Even the prospect of resurrection was on the table, and no one could resist such temptation.
Nami's heart skipped a beat, and she glanced back. In the small boat being towed by the other two vessels, Evan had fallen asleep, seemingly oblivious to the perils of the sea. Nami was deeply moved, convinced that meeting this boy and joining this team had been the right decision.
"Can someone truly be brought back to life? Is that even possible?" Nami wondered aloud. The word "Resurrection" triggered thoughts of Bellmere in her mind. "If it's achievable, could Bell-mère also be resurrected?"
Nami held onto a glimmer of hope. Her sole desire now was to bring Bellmere back to life. However, the random nature of the rewards left her feeling uneasy. Would she receive the reward she desired?
Other rewards might be tempting, but Nami's focus remained clear.
...
"Resurrection?" Nico Robin's expression shifted as she contemplated the possibility of obtaining such a reward. Realizing that the chances of obtaining the resurrection item were very low due to its random nature, she thought of her mother and Saul, who had been frozen during her childhood.
Nico Robin suddenly had an idea and got up to leave. As for Crocodile, she didn't want to concern herself with him at the moment. If fate dictated it, they would cross paths. Additionally, defeating Crocodile would provide valuable information for the story's progression. If fate didn't align, Crocodile would come for her.
"Miss, where are you headed?" a man inquired, holding Nico Robin's Turtle Banchi.
"I received news that the king's daughter has appeared," Nico Robin explained. "I'm going to see if I can find the little princess."
She chuckled and mounted Banchi. Nico Robin knew well that Crocodile didn't trust anyone, including her. Despite her important role in the administration and interpretation of historical texts within Baroque Works, she remained under Crocodile's watchful eye.
In Crocodile's eyes, if someone couldn't be used, it was best to eliminate them. Nico Robin had often noticed Crocodile's surveillance through low-ranking subordinates, but she had never voiced her concerns. She understood the importance of Crocodile's plan and couldn't afford any missteps.
"Nico Robin!" At that moment, a figure appeared behind her: a man with a height of 253 cm, pale skin, impeccably styled short black hair, a cigar in his mouth, and a gleaming golden hook in his left hand.
Crocodile's expression was sour, with an odd glint in his eyes. The pointed golden hook sent shivers down one's spine.
"Are you planning to return?" Crocodile asked coldly, his gaze fixed on Nico Robin's face.
Nico Robin stared back silently, and then a smile crept onto her face.
"Of course, I will return," she replied with a smile. Even though she had no intention of going back, she knew that Crocodile would pursue her relentlessly.
When she did return, she would bring her future crew with her, and her first order of business would be to eliminate Crocodile. Every member of her ship had exceptional potential, and the presence of Evan, in particular, was a game-changer.
"Is that so? You better return. No matter where you run, I can find you," Crocodile warned, a cold smile on his face. The chilling aura he exuded was unsettling.
Nico Robin nodded, understanding the validity of Crocodile's words. His offer of protection and a secure refuge was hard to ignore.
However, she had glimpsed her future path and wasn't ready to succumb to it so easily. Nico Robin mounted Banchi and rode off into the distance.
Crocodile was left with an inexplicable sense of unease and continued contemplating Nico Robin's departure. With time, he realized she had no other choice.
In the past few days, Nico Robin had taken out a photo of a pirate hunter they had attempted to recruit, but the mission had failed, and Crocodile had lost interest. Her intentions with the photo puzzled him. Was she planning to recruit the pirate hunter privately and form a group?
Defeating him was a mere illusion. As the Sand Logia user, he was virtually unbeatable without Haki. Furthermore, the notion of a Haki user in the first half of the Grand Line involving themselves with him seemed far-fetched.
"Have Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine tail Nico Robin. Report her whereabouts immediately if you discover anything," Crocodile instructed via Den Den Mushi. His feeling of impending betrayal among his subordinates weighed heavily on him.
Could he trust anyone anymore? It was a troubling question.
...
"Sister Tsuru, I've decided to head to the Four Blues in the first half of the Grand Line," Gion announced to Tsuru.
"The Four Blues?" Tsuru raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled by Gion's choice. After all, Gion held the rank of deputy admiral, and her destination seemed an unlikely one for someone of her stature.
"What can you possibly achieve in the Four Seas? Are there significant pirates in that region?" Tsuru inquired, concerned about potential risks. Established pirates in the Four Seas were usually deeply entrenched, and engaging them without a compelling reason was unwise.
Gion shrugged off Tsuru's concerns, explaining, "I'm feeling a bit burnt out from work recently, and I'd like to take a break. It seems I haven't used my vacation days."
Tsuru considered Gion's words, thinking back to her recent behavior. If it were a mere vacation, Gion would typically take some of her female soldiers to the entertainment city. After all, there weren't many options for relaxation besides the entertainment city for female soldiers. However, Gion's decision to head to the Four Seas was unusual.
"Very well," Tsuru said after contemplating the situation. "Garp plans to head to East Blue to apprehend some criminals. You can accompany him; consider it your vacation."
Gion nodded, acknowledging Tsuru's decision. Nevertheless, Tsuru couldn't help but wonder about Gion's motivations for choosing the Four Seas as her vacation destination.