Tony opened his eyes to a scene he had dreamed about countless times. Before him stood Nami and Robin in swimsuits, and the sight nearly made his heart explode.
Whoosh!
He almost got a nosebleed on the spot. Robin, with her fiery figure, was stunning in a black lace bikini, paired with large black sunglasses and her usual air of calm sophistication—she wore the title of "queen" effortlessly.
Nami, despite being younger, wasn't one to be outdone and boldly wore a light blue bikini. Thin straps wrapped around her back and neck, with a large bow at her waist. Her orange hair and energetic charm made her look vibrant and full of life. Her slim legs were on full display, and while her figure didn't match Robin's yet, Tony could see she had plenty of potential.
Vivi, still feeling shy, opted for a more modest "skirt-style" one-piece swimsuit. She approached Tony hesitantly.
"Tony… big brother Tony, does this look strange on me?" she asked nervously.
Whoosh!
That "big brother Tony" hit him like a cannonball to the heart. For a moment, Tony felt his whole body heat up, and his Flame-Flame Fruit powers started flaring up on their own from the surge of emotion.
'Whoa! Now this is heaven on earth! Who cares about being a pirate king when I have this?' , thought Tony.
Embarrassed by his own reaction, Tony jumped into the ocean to cool down.
Robin covered her mouth, astonished. "A Devil Fruit user who can actually go into the sea?"
Nami, already familiar with this, wasn't surprised. "Back in Loguetown, during his fight with Smoker, Tony mentioned he's the only one not affected by seawater or Sea-Prism Stone."
"That's why the marines keep chasing him—they're desperate to understand how he's immune to Sea-Prism Stone's effects," she explained.
"Makes sense. That ability could be a real game-changer for the Marines…"
Robin, being sharp-minded, quickly made several connections. She was intrigued, though, wondering why Tony was immune to the sea and Sea-Prism Stone, a power that Devil Fruit users could only dream of.
Tony, after a while, returned to the ship and, shaking his head, chuckled as he answered Robin. "As for this immunity to the sea and Sea-Prism Stone, honestly, I don't know why. I just happen to be… unique in that way."
"Frankly, it's been a headache. The Marines keeps chasing me down, but even if they do catch up, I don't have any answers for them! Sigh…" Tony said with an air of exasperation. It was the first time he'd lied, and he felt a slight tension inside. Of course, he couldn't reveal the existence of his system, so he opted for a small, harmless lie.
Robin watched him closely, feeling a hint of doubt but ultimately choosing to believe Tony. If he really possessed such a power, she was sure he'd share it with her when the time was right.
As night fell, the sea stretched out silently before them, vast and calm. Tony and his crew sailed on, unaware of the impending danger inching closer. The Marines had resolved to capture him.
In the Arabasta Marine outpost, Smoker dialed into Marine Headquarters.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was working through a pile of daily paperwork when he heard the call of a Den Den Mushi on his desk. Picking up, he was met with Smoker's steady voice.
"Reporting in! Smoker, stationed in Arabasta."
"Speak," Sengoku replied, his voice firm. He hadn't circulated details of Tony's peculiar immunity, fearing the secret would leak. Only a few trusted individuals were aware, so he had assigned Smoker to track Tony quietly, with regular updates. But Sengoku also knew that this matter would not stay concealed much longer. Tony's name was already spreading across the first half of the Grand Line.
"According to reliable sources, the 'King of Flames,' Tony, recently defeated Warlord Crocodile in Arabasta and fled, taking the Arabasta princess as a hostage. His crew has also gained a new member—'Devil Child' Nico Robin!"
"However, it was Crocodile who initially attempted to assassinate the king. I request that Headquarters issue a bounty on Crocodile and revoke his Warlord status."
"Understood, Captain Smoker. Continue pursuing Tony's trail. You're authorized to command any Vice Admiral from local branches, and Headquarters will send additional reinforcements. I'll ensure the bounty on Crocodile is posted and inform the departments to strip him of his title," Sengoku replied before hanging up.
After the call ended, Sengoku remained silent, unsettled. It wasn't Crocodile's plot to seize a kingdom that troubled him—it was Tony and Nico Robin together. The thought of this duo sent a shiver down his spine.
"The survivor of Ohara…" Sengoku muttered. Robin was a threat that the World Government feared—she held the potential to uncover the world's dark history, and he knew all too well what lay beneath the Buster Call on Ohara.
As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku was also well acquainted with the power Crocodile possessed as a Warlord. If this young man, Tony, had managed to defeat someone like Crocodile, it meant his strength was at least on par with a Vice Admiral or even one of Headquarters' elite.
Left unchecked, these two would likely become a grave threat to the Marines, far more dangerous than Crocodile had ever been.
~-------------------------
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