Robin was currently very embarrassed.
Why was she embarrassed? Because when she took the two little girls to the lively market in the neighboring town, Robin suddenly realized she didn't have a single Berry on her.
In fact, after boarding the Going Merry, her only assets—a bag of gems—had already been used as the "Ultimate Anti-Nami Countermeasure" to bribe that money-grubbing little "Cat Burglar."
"Wow, I didn't expect it to be so lively here!" Little Nami shouted with joy. At her age, she loved crowds the most. "It's a good thing Big Sister brought us here, otherwise it would have been such a pity to miss this, heehee..."
Nojiko nodded like a little adult. "Yeah, I heard Auntie Bell-mère say that besides trading, the Goldglint Trading Company's merchant ships hire a circus to attract people."
(Goldglint Trading Company? Right, I almost forgot about that.)
Robin's beautiful eyes turned toward the docks. Ships docked at the port were unloading various goods, and flags emblazoned with the Golden Iris emblem fluttered in the sea breeze.
(If I borrow some money from Sherlock's subordinates, he shouldn't mind, right...?)
The corners of her mouth curved up elegantly. Robin's smile held a hint of mischief.
Inside the captain's quarters of the Goldglint Trading Company's flagship.
A beautiful young girl with pale blonde hair and silver-rimmed glasses was carefully reviewing the orders in her hand.
"This island's climate and soil are perfect for growing fruit, so even if we lower the purchase price, the farmers will be happy to sell their stock."
"Although fruit is hard to preserve, the fleet's next stop is the newly completed cannery. Plus, according to intelligence, canned fruit has been very popular within the Goa Kingdom's noble circles recently..."
Softly reading the intelligence the President had given her, Anna's furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
"Even after deducting the cost of cheap daily necessities used to boost the Company's reputation, the profit from this voyage is considerable! I really wonder how Sherlock manages to get this information."
Thinking of the President, who was a year younger than herself, the sixteen-year-old girl's youthful face filled with warmth. There was gratitude for Sherlock saving her life a year ago, but also something else she couldn't quite articulate.
A year ago, a boy and a girl who had both lost their families and homes met on this sea. Since then, Anna had regarded Sherlock as her only kin, and the Goldglint Trading Company as her new home.
Anna was a strong-willed person. She had volunteered to lead this trade fleet to prove her value to Sherlock and the others.
"How could I hide behind you and let you take care of me forever?"
Anna gently touched the pendant Sherlock had given her a while back. While the Iris-shaped metal pendant wasn't anything fancy to speak of, in Anna's eyes, it was more valuable than any precious jewel in the world.
Composing herself, the blonde girl with glasses calmed her emotions and continued reviewing the documents in her hand.
Purupurupuru...
The Den Den Mushi rang suddenly. Anna picked up the receiver in confusion, and her subordinate's voice came through immediately.
"Miss Anna, there is a lady here who claims to be a friend of the President. She wants to see you."
"Sherlock's friend? A lady? Looking for me?" Anna frowned, finding it baffling, but out of caution, she asked, "Did she say what she wants?"
"No, but she insists on meeting you."
The blonde girl pondered for a moment, then lowered her voice: "That woman... is she pretty?"
"Uh..." The person on the other end clearly hadn't expected such a question and froze. The Den Den Mushi faithfully mimicked a stunned expression.
"Pretty. Very pretty. Although she's wearing sunglasses so I can't see her full face, she is definitely a rare beauty."
Anna's expression instantly darkened.
"Is that so... A rare beauty? Sherlock's friend." She mused for a moment, then continued, "Bring her to the reception room. I'll be right there."
When Robin, wearing sunglasses, met Anna for the first time, both were startled, then silently sized each other up.
Why were they surprised? Perhaps because their auras were somewhat similar to a certain glasses-wearing man.
(I know he's popular with women, but how come I've never heard of her? Also, why is her calm and composed demeanor so similar to Sherlock's...?) Anna pushed up her glasses. Her gaze lingered on the other woman's ample bosom for a moment, revealing a dangerous glint in her eyes.
(Does that guy just prefer sexy, mature, and charming beauties with figures like that?)
Inexplicably, Anna felt a strong sense of crisis coming from this top-tier beauty in sunglasses.
However, out of politeness, Anna greeted her: "I am the person in charge of this caravan, Anna. Is there something you need from me?"
(Anna?) Robin adjusted the sunglasses she used to conceal her identity, recalling the intelligence she had gathered from Sanji earlier.
(She's the one who betrayed Sherlock, right? How strange. Why would she betray the person she likes?) Even as a woman, Robin—an intellectual beauty who was always rational—could not understand Anna's seemingly brainless actions back then.
"So alike," Robin answered irrelevantly.
Anna frowned slightly. "Alike? Alike to what?"
"I mean..." Robin smiled gracefully. "The way you push up your glasses is very similar to 'him.' Are you imitating him on purpose?"
Poof~ Having her inner thoughts exposed, Anna blushed instantly. The blonde girl, suppressing her embarrassment and indignation, asked again, "Who... who exactly are you?"
At this point, she believed this charming woman across from her was indeed Sherlock's friend.
Robin didn't rush to answer. She maintained a faint smile—elegant and mysterious.
Even though she usually preferred reading quietly, that didn't mean Robin wasn't good at fooling people. Deception, coaxing, and trickery were far too easy for a certain "Devil Child" who had lived in the darkness.
With Robin's abilities, bamboozling a sixteen-year-old girl was a piece of cake, even if that girl was capable enough to lead a merchant fleet alone.
(It's a pity I couldn't get Sherlock on the Den Den Mushi at this time. It seems the key lies with our Navigator, after all.)
Putting away the "borrowed" money, Robin arrived at the merchant ship's restaurant. The two little girls were gorging themselves at a table.
Unknowingly, it was already noon.
"Ah, Big Sister, you're finally back! The chef here is amazing! The food is way better than Bell-mère's!"
"Nami! Auntie Bell-mère would be sad if she heard you say that," Nojiko gently scolded her insensible younger sister.
Little Nami pouted and pointed at the empty plate in front of Nojiko. "But I'm telling the truth! Look, you clearly ate more than I did."
"Idiot!" The blue-haired girl blushed, then exasperatedly delivered a karate chop to Nami's little head.
"Oww~" Little Nami cried out cutely in pain, then turned to Robin to tattle.
"Big Sister, Nojiko is bullying me!"
"Nami!" Nojiko rolled her eyes helplessly.
"Hehe..." Robin reached out to stroke Nami's soft, short orange hair. Her eyes curved into crescents, looking at them dotingly. "You two sisters must get along, okay?"
Robin truly adored cute children—especially cute children.
Just then, a chubby middle-aged woman pushed a cart of food in. She smiled kindly. "Eat up, eat as much as you want. My mission as a chef is to make sure the guests are full."
"Thank you very much for the hospitality," Robin smiled elegantly.
"No problem, no problem, no need to be polite." The chubby woman waved her hand. "Your two daughters are so cute, I couldn't love them more."
(Daughters??!!) All three were startled simultaneously.
Nojiko hurriedly explained, "No, no, no, that's not it. Big Sister isn't our mom."
"You've misunderstood. These two are children from a friend's family." Robin looked slightly awkward. She recalled the "unmarriageable older leftover woman" comment Sherlock had once made about her.
The chubby woman, realizing her massive blunder, looked embarrassed. "Oh my, I am so sorry. You look so graceful, I just subconsciously assumed these cute children were your daughters..."
"..." Little Nami quietly put down her silverware and remained silent.
(If... Big Sister really was my mom...) Thinking this, a faintly imperceptible light sparked in the little orange-haired girl's eyes.
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