Under the dark night sky, Zoro walked alone through the deserted battle area.
Though he was by himself, there was no trace of fear on his face—only a slight sadness.
"Seriously, these guys are really causing me trouble! They managed to get lost as soon as we arrived on the island..."
Zoro sighed helplessly.
"Ah well..."
"Forget it. I should hurry up and find them so we can get to the Grand Line and participate in the qualifying competition!"
With that, Zoro turned around and began walking in the opposite direction.
But just then, Honedge at his waist began to tremble violently.
"!!!"
A sharp sword suddenly flew out, shaking rapidly in front of Zoro.
"Huh?"
Zoro was startled, staring at Honedge in disbelief.
"You're saying I went in the wrong direction?"
He furrowed his brows, carefully examining the path ahead, before a look of realization crossed his face.
"As if! With your terrible sense of direction, Honedge, don't try to lead me astray."
As he spoke, Zoro grabbed the hilt of Honedge, sheathed it back at his waist, and slid it into the scabbard.
Feeling the scabbard still tugging against his waist as if trying to pull him back, Zoro impatiently patted the hilt of the sword, which was the head of the scabbard, and said:
"Alright, alright, stop causing trouble."
"We need to find those lost idiots and head to the Grand Line together!"
In the lonely moonlight, a green figure slowly faded into the distance until it was completely swallowed by the darkness ahead, disappearing from sight.
...
...
A few days later.
In the middle of the Grand Line, right along the line connecting the Upside Down Mountain and the Sabaody Archipelago, there lies a small, mythical island, quietly resting in these tranquil waters.
nuS Island.
This is a small island that was created entirely by Leo. Its overall shape resembles a cartoon sun, with a perfect circle in the center surrounded by jagged mountains and cliffs like petals.
Because Leo covered the island with countless flowers of different colors, when viewed from above, it looks like a flower blooming in a myriad of hues.
Blessed by Leo's original power, the flowers here neither wither nor grow; they remain forever as they are.
At the center of the island stands a massive arena, mirroring the island's shape. The sloping "petals" serve as audience seats with a clear view, while the "stamens" in the center host the contestants competing in the grand contest.
Directly above the arena, there is a large Rotom appliance connected to four screens in the southeast, northwest, and southwest, allowing the audience from all corners to clearly see the images on the screen.
At this time...
The sky was clear and cloudless, with seagulls gathering and the waves sparkling.
Outside nuS Island, a large passenger ship sliced through the sea, slowly docking at the island's port.
Robin slowly stepped out of the cabin.
Today, she wore a casual blue shirt, her long hair—usually cascading behind her—was tied into a playful ponytail, falling gently down her back. A pair of youthful orange sunglasses adorned her face.
The bright sunshine reflected off the smile on her face, creating a beautiful picture that overshadowed everything around her.
As she stepped off the boat with light, carefree steps, Robin resembled a young girl who had just escaped from a wealthy family to experience the joys of ordinary life, brimming with curiosity about everything around her.
"Hey, hey, is that Miss Robin!?"
"No way! It really is here!"
Even though the sunglasses covered a third of Robin's face, her unique aura and graceful figure made it impossible for the surrounding crowd to not recognize her.
Within moments, the deck of the passenger ship became a frenzy!
"Miss Robin! I'm your biggest fan!!!"
"Miss Robin, please look this way!!!"
"..."
"..."
Whether they were passionate fans or entertainment reporters, everyone eagerly raised their cameras, snapping photos of the lively and youthful Robin.
At that moment, a blonde beauty in an OL uniform suddenly rushed out of the cabin.
Her tight pencil skirt hugged her curves, paired with smooth black stockings that accentuated the perfect zone of her legs.
The blonde girl quickly draped a coat over Robin to shield her from the sun and then sternly addressed the noisy crowd around them:
"Hey! This isn't an interview session. No photos allowed here!"
"Please respect the privacy of the celebrities. Thank you for your cooperation!"
After finishing her warning, the blonde beauty continued to shield Robin with the coat, escorting her off the boat.
...
After entering nuS Island and verifying her identity through the Rotom on her phone, Robin was granted VIP Level 3 privileges on the island.
Guided by Rotom, she arrived at the residence she had booked in advance.
Although nuS Island is small, its area is not to be underestimated compared to the pyramid battle zone.
Unlike the apartment-style accommodations in the battle zone, here, as long as you're willing to pay a certain amount of points or Berries, you can own a private villa.
Given Robin's popularity and the constant harassment from paparazzi, it was only natural that she wouldn't hesitate to spend points to secure a secluded place for herself.
Upon reaching the villa, Robin tossed her luggage into a corner, kicked off her sweaty shoes, and sat barefoot on the sofa, knees bent. She pulled out her phone, Rotom.
After confirming her check-in, Robin's Rotom phone connected to the villa's smart system.
She could now control every appliance in the house with her phone.
With practiced ease, she turned on the living room TV, found a series to watch, and settled in.
Although TV audiences aren't large, in the world of pirates, some countries still equip residents with TVs and broadcast shows.
These TV series were collected by Leo, who also added some movies and TV works from the Pokémon world, creating the current movie and TV library.
For only 5 points a year, you could watch anything in the library.
The price was fair, and you wouldn't be taken advantage of!
This was the new way Robin found to pass the time after realizing she could no longer shop like before.
As she watched a scene where the male lead and the second male lead eloped, leaving the third male lead heartbroken and in tears, Robin couldn't help but glance at her life assistant, who was busy nearby, and said:
"Kalifa, why don't you take a break for a while? I've already registered for the competition with Rotom. We just have to wait a week for it to start. There's no need to rush."
"What!? How could you say that!?"
Kalifa, who was arranging the room, immediately adjusted her glasses, looking as if she'd just heard something terrifying. With a serious expression, she replied:
"Sister Robin, next is the opening competition of the Grand Contest. This is a historic moment! We must be fully prepared!"
"As your assistant, I have to hold myself to the highest standards. I won't let you fall behind at such a critical time."
Kalifa, hands on her hips and leaning forward, unintentionally revealed a hint of her cleavage, and continued:
"What's more, this competition has been widely promoted, attracting a large number of tourists. But they come from all over the world, and most of them aren't familiar with your title as one of the [Four Emperors] in your region!"
"If they mistake you for an ordinary contestant and compare you equally with the others, we could end up earning much less in rewards!"
Here's a refined version of the translation:
---
As Kalifa spoke, she suddenly pulled out a notebook, pointed to the plan laid out earlier, and presented it to Robin:
"In the plan I devised yesterday, we must take advantage of these seven days to spread your name across the island, with the help of some acquaintances. We need to firmly establish your image in everyone's minds!"
Snap!
Kalifa shut the notebook with a serious expression.
"So..."
"Sister Robin, stop watching TV! Change your clothes quickly, and let's go for a walk on the shopping street of nuS Island to create some buzz that you've already arrived on the island."
"In these seven free days, you must maintain a certain level of visibility to keep up your popularity, Sister Robin."
"Only by doing so will the audience coming to watch the contest have a natural sense of anticipation for you. They might even want to watch the contest just because of you, unconsciously focusing all their attention on you, Sister Robin."
"This...This is the true essence of the Contest Spectacular!"
"Um..."
Robin, overwhelmed by Kalifa's imposing aura, felt a sudden urge to indulge in something more leisurely. Her body froze, unable to respond to the sudden burst of enthusiasm from Kalifa.
Though Robin had her own plans...
Her strategy could never be as detailed as the one Kalifa had laid out.
This reminded her of three days ago.
Back then, she had quietly left the Kingdom of Alabasta and come to nuS Island to participate in the Contest Spectacular.
It was at that moment, Kalifa had tracked her down in the crowd, declaring herself to be a loyal fan who wished to get closer to her idol and become her manager.
To demonstrate her abilities, Kalifa had immediately planned several things for Robin.
Robin, taken aback by Kalifa's assertiveness at the time, had agreed almost involuntarily.
Unexpectedly, Kalifa had put so much thought into her.
Robin found it hard to believe...
The Kalifa before her, younger by several years, had a deeper understanding of the Contest Spectacular than she, a seasoned trainer and contestant.
As a shrewd and intelligent beauty herself, Robin quickly grasped Kalifa's intentions.
In the Contest Spectacular, the real battle isn't confined to the arena.
This is a competition where visibility equals victory!
So from the moment you set foot on this island, the true contest had already begun!
After a moment of contemplation, Robin smiled, having fully understood.
"It seems choosing you as my agent was indeed a wise decision~"
"Of course!"
Kalifa pushed up her glasses proudly, her OL uniform exuding an air of intellectual beauty.
But Robin failed to notice the subtle change in Kalifa's eyes, hidden by the reflected light off her oval lenses...
Kalifa's gaze, predatory and fixated on Robin, was entirely different from her usual respectful demeanor.
As a member of CP9, the World Government's intelligence agency, Kalifa didn't become Robin's manager simply out of admiration.
Her true purpose was to gain access to the dimensional merchants through Robin!
Not long ago, while searching fruitlessly for dimensional merchants across the seas, Kalifa had run into Jabra and his group, who were tailing Robin.
After exchanging information with Jabra, Kalifa discovered something unexpected: she had stumbled upon clues about the dimensional merchant.
From Jabra, she learned that recently...
Robin, who had been restraining Espeon, had unexpectedly revealed her ability to manipulate Pokémon Energy during a battle with Cobra, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
It was said that during the fight, a deflected phantom beam had suddenly rebounded after passing through a hand Robin had created using her Devil Fruit ability, striking Slowpoke from behind!
This sudden turn of events made the sharp-witted CP9 agents realize that Robin must have made a secret deal with the dimensional merchant.
This also led Kalifa to conclude that Robin definitely had a way to contact the dimensional merchants.
After her failed attempts to find them, Kalifa devised a plan to become Robin's agent, staying close to her to find a way or opportunity to contact the dimensional merchants.
As for the World Government's orders to arrest Robin, Jabra and his team, after a brief analysis of priorities, decided to delay their mission and instead assist Kalifa.
"By the way, Sister Robin."
Kalifa suddenly recalled something and said to Robin:
"Since we're building a star image for you, I can't do it alone..."
"We need a team to provide support."
"Well..."
Robin muttered, approval in her eyes, but also a hint of concern:
"But on nuS Island, aside from tourists, everyone here is either a contestant or here for the contest. Finding people now seems too late."
At this moment, Robin began to regret not meeting Kalifa as her agent sooner.
Indeed, since she had decided to participate in the Contest Spectacular as an idol or star, she really needed a team to help manage her image.
However...
Being accustomed to living independently, Robin had never thought to seek help from others.
This had led her to realize the importance of these things only after Kalifa's reminder.
But now, with the world changing rapidly, if she wanted to stand out and fulfill her unfulfilled wish, she had to choose a path that would make her stronger, faster.
She had to change.
But...
Realizing this now, it seemed a bit too late, no matter how you looked at it.
Just as Robin felt a pang of regret, Kalifa's face lit up with a mysterious smile.
Stepping forward, Kalifa pulled out three resumes from her book, saying,
"Sister Robin, don't worry."
"Actually, there are three suitable candidates right here on nuS Island."
"Huh?"
Robin hummed in confusion, her gaze immediately drawn to the resumes.
Kalifa then added:
"To be honest, Sister Robin, the three of them are like me – they're all your fans."
"A while back, we agreed to help you become a brighter star!"
"But the three of them are a bit eccentric, and I wasn't sure if you would really need them, so they've been quietly following you here as fans."
"My fans?"
Robin looked at the names and photos on the resumes...
Jabra, Kumadori, and Fukurou.
Right!
Three familiar faces immediately came to Robin's mind.
These three had indeed been observing her battles from the very beginning, never missing a match!
Robin had found it odd at first.
After hearing Kalifa's explanation, Robin realized that these three oddballs were actually her loyal fans!?
No wonder they were so invested in her matches.
Robin mused to herself.
Kalifa stepped forward and began introducing them to Robin:
"Sister Robin, take a look..."
"This Jabra is a powerful martial arts expert. Once he joins the team, he can serve as your combat instructor, helping you perform more spectacular and professional fighting moves in battles."
"The second one, Kumadori, may look strange, but he's a seasoned opera lover! He has a unique understanding of stage performances. Although you are knowledgeable and specialized in your field, with Kumadori's professional guidance, your dialogue delivery and stage presence will greatly improve."
"No matter how beautiful a performance is, the audience will eventually grow tired of it. We must constantly innovate to bring fresh experiences to the audience."
"With Kumadori on board, we could design some magnificent performances with historical or theatrical themes in the future, offering the audience a feast for the eyes and ears during the battles."
"And lastly..."
Kalifa pointed to Fukurou's resume:
"This is a master of comedy! Mr. Fukurou has the ability to deliver humorous lines in the most serious of situations..."
"What's even more remarkable is that he can make others believe he's serious, not realizing it's a joke..."
"This is a very advanced skill! If you, Sister Robin, can master this high-level sense of humor, you can use it to create an endearing character or connect more with the audience. The impact would be explosive!"
"I'm..." Kalifa looked up at Robin, asking, "What do you think of these three?"
"..."
Robin fell silent, her thoughts racing.
At this moment, she was already envisioning the scenarios Kalifa had just described!
Martial arts, Opera, sense of humor...
I have found all the people I need most right now!
At this moment, Robin had no doubt in her mind, and she recalled a scene from deep in her memories.
What Saul said to her came out of her memory at this moment, echoing in Robin's ears:
"You are indeed alone now, but sooner or later you will definitely find a companion. The sea is very broad, and sooner or later you will find someone willing to protect you. Companions... Find your partners and live with them!!!"
Although Robin's mentality has changed greatly after the arrival of the dimensional merchant, at this moment, she seems to have become the lonely and helpless person again little girl.
Robin slowly raised her head, looked at Kalifa with moist eyes shining with starlight, and suddenly laughed and said:
"Kalifa, you are really amazing!"
"With such a logistics team, I suddenly felt that it's not difficult to win this year's Contest Spectacular!"
As she spoke, Robin stood up from the sofa, quickly approached Kalifa, and hugged Kalifa suddenly, her tone slightly choked.
"Thank you, Kalifa! It turns out that this world is really vast, so vast that a good partner like you will appear."
"Partner? I..."
Kalifa, who was hugged tightly by Robin, felt silent. The warmth she has never experienced before.
Robin was alone, so why wasn't she?
She has been an orphan even more miserable than Robin since she was a child.
In the secret training camp, she could only keep pushing herself to exceed her limits.
Everyone around her is her competition.
parents? Relatives? partner?
It was a luxury she had never expected.
But today, she suddenly wanted to look forward to it...
An inexplicable flash of light flashed in Kalifa's eyes.
After hesitating for a moment, she slowly raised her hand and hugged Robin gently, but said nothing.
(End of this chapter)