The Going Merry sat quietly in the rocky cove hidden behind the majestic facade of Water 7. The sound of the city—a constant, rhythmic rushing of water and distant chatter—drifted down the cliffs.
"Alright, everyone," Ben said as he stood on the deck, adjusting his coat. "We're docked. We have objectives. This city is a maze of canals, so try not to fall in."
"I can swim now!" Mini Merry chirped, wearing a new blue dress Ben had fabricated for her. "I float!"
"You're made of alloy and devil fruit magic, you definitely sink," Ben corrected gently. "Stay close to me."
The crew began to disembark, splitting into their designated teams.
"Gold Team!" Nami shouted, hoisting a massive sack over her shoulder. "Luffy! Usopp! Grab the other bags! We're going to the bank!"
"Aye aye!" Luffy saluted, grabbing a sack that weighed as much as a cannon. "After that, we buy meat!"
"After that, we go to meet Iceberg," Nami corrected. "Move it!"
"Food Team!" Sanji lit a cigarette, offering his arm to Vivi. "Vivi-chwan, shall we procure the finest ingredients this water metropolis has to offer?"
"Lead the way, Sanji-kun," Vivi smiled, linking her arm with his. Caroo quacked happily, adjusting his backpack.(Vivi is wearing an enchanted ring. She now looks like Princess Ariel.
"Exploration Team!" Chopper raised a hoof. "Robin and I are going to find a bookstore! And cotton candy!"
"Sounds lovely, Doctor," Robin smiled, her bag slung over her shoulder.
"Warrior Team!" Dory laughed, stepping onto the rocks. "Brogy and I shall inspect the local taverns! I hear their 'Water Meat' is legendary!"
"Gebababa! Let us see if their ale holds up to Elbaf standards!" Brogy agreed.
Zoro yawned, finding a comfortable spot of shade under the mast. "Nap Team. I'm staying here. Wake me up when required."
"Don't get lost in your dreams, moss-head," Sanji sneered as he walked away.
"What did you say?!"
Leaving Zoro to his nap, Ben took Mini Merry's hand. "Alright, Merry. We're going on a special mission. We're looking for a specific group of ruffians."
"Ruffians?" Merry tilted her head. "Bad guys?"
"Sort of," Ben grinned. "More like... family."
---
The sheer scale of Water 7 was overwhelming. The canals were the streets, and Yagara Bulls—seahorses with boat-saddles—were the taxis.
Nami, Luffy, and Usopp rented a large Yagara Bull to carry their massive haul of Skypiea gold. They navigated the waterways until they reached the massive, imposing building of the Water 7 Bank.
Inside, it was cool and quiet. The clerk's eyes almost popped out of his head when Luffy dumped the contents of the sacks onto the counter.
Golden chalices. Ancient coins. Solid gold idols. It was a dragon's hoard.
"Please wait a moment!" the clerk stammered. "I must call the Manager!"
A few minutes later, a bespectacled man in a suit hurried out. He inspected the gold with a loupe, sweating profusely.
"Incredible..." the manager whispered. "Pure gold. Ancient craftsmanship. This is... this is a fortune."
He did some rapid calculations on an abacus.
"Alright," the manager smiled professionally. "Given the volume and purity, the bank is prepared to offer you... 100 Million Berries."
Luffy's jaw dropped. "ONE HUNDRED MILLION?!"
Usopp grabbed his head. "We're rich! We're billionaires!"
"Deal!" Luffy shouted, reaching for the handshake. "Thank you, ossan!"
"Hold it."
A hand chopped down between Luffy and the manager.
Nami stepped forward. The air in the bank suddenly grew cold. She wasn't smiling. She was adjusting her gloves with the precision of a surgeon about to perform a lobotomy.
"Did you say... 100 Million?" Nami asked softly.
The manager gulped. "Y-Yes, miss. It is a very generous offer—"
"Generous?" Nami scoffed. She picked up a golden idol. "This is a Shandorian artifact from the 4th Age of the Sky Era. The historical value alone is worth 50 million. And you want to buy the entire lot for 100?"
She leaned over the counter, her eyes flashing with the symbol of the Berry.
"Are you trying to scam a poor, defenseless pirate girl?" Nami batted her eyelashes, then slammed her hand on the table. "CRACK!"
"I-I... well... the market fluctuates..." the manager stammered, loosening his tie.
"300 Million," Nami declared.
"Three...?!" The manager choked. "Miss, that's impossible! Our liquidity—"
"300 Million," Nami repeated, leaning closer. "Or I take my business to the black market. I hear the Galley-La shipwrights pay well for raw materials. Or maybe I'll just tell everyone in town that the Water 7 Bank tries to cheat honest pirates."
"Please! Lower your voice!" The manager was weeping now. "Okay! Okay! 200 Million! That's my limit!"
"300," Nami said flatly.
"250! Please! I have a family!"
"300."
Ten minutes later.
Luffy, Usopp, and Nami walked out of the bank carrying three massive suitcases stuffed with cash.
"300 Million Berries!" Nami kissed the stack of bills in her hand. "Now that is a good day's work! Let's go shopping!"
"We're rich! Shishishi!" Luffy cheered.
He swung one of the heavy suitcases around like a toy. "Look at this! It's so heavy with money!"
"Be careful, Luffy!" Usopp warned, struggling with his own suitcase.
"It's fine!" Luffy grinned. He tossed the suitcase high into the air. "Catch!"
But Luffy miscalculated the wind. Or perhaps he just used too much rubber force. The suitcase soared up, spun wildly, and began to arc downward—straight toward the deep, murky canal water next to the walkway.
"THE MONEY!" Nami screamed, her eyes bulging.
"NOOOOO!" Usopp yelled.
Without thinking, both Nami and Usopp dove toward the canal, arms outstretched, desperate to catch the fortune before it sank.
SPLASH!SPLASH!
They hit the water hard.
But the suitcase didn't hit the water.
Just inches above the surface, a rubber hand snapped out, grabbed the handle, and retracted instantly.
SNAP.
Luffy caught the suitcase safely in his hand. He let out a breath he had been holding. "Phew! That was close! Good thing I'm stretchy!"
He looked over the edge of the canal. "Hey! Nami! Usopp! Why are you guys swimming? The money is safe!"
Two soaking wet, shivering figures climbed up the stone steps. Nami's hair was plastered to her face. Usopp spat out a small fish.
They stood there, dripping water, shaking with rage.
"Luffy..." Nami growled, a vein popping on her forehead.
"You..." Usopp cracked his knuckles.
"Safe?" Luffy blinked innocently. "Yeah! I caught it!"
WHACK! THUD! BAM!
"YOU ALMOST GAVE US A HEART ATTACK!" Nami roared, beating Luffy with her wet purse.
"WHY DID YOU THROW IT IN THE FIRST PLACE?!" Usopp joined in, kicking him.
Luffy sat on the ground with two fresh bumps on his head, hugging the suitcase. "Sorry..."
---
In the backstreets of Water 7, Ben and Mini Merry were conducting their own investigation.
"We need to find a warehouse," Ben muttered, scanning the skyline. "Somewhere loud. Somewhere that smells like cola and bad decisions."
"Papa," Merry tugged his hand. "If we are meeting ruffians, I need to blend in. My current attire suggests 'tourist'. Protocol dictates camouflage."
"Camouflage?" Ben raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?"
"Sunglasses," Merry stated seriously. "Cool ones. Like the bad boys wear."
Ben chuckled.
He materialized a pair of sleek, black aviator sunglasses in his hand. He slid them onto Merry's face. They were slightly too big, making her look absolutely adorable.
"Better?" Ben asked.
Merry adjusted the glasses. She crossed her arms and leaned against a wall, adopting a tough pose.
"Yo, homie," Merry said, her voice dropping to a mimicry of a street thug. "Where the loot at? Spill the beans or get wrecked, ya dig?"
Ben blinked. "Merry... where on earth did you learn to talk like that?"
"Uncle Usopp," Merry chirped, breaking character for a second. "He told me this is how the cool pirates talk in the big city! Is it working? Do I intimidate the masses?"
Ben sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Remind me to have a talk with 'Uncle Usopp' about teaching slang to my daughter. But yes, Merry. You look very tough. Just... maybe don't threaten people unless they attack us first."
"Understood, Papa. Peace first. Wrecking second." She adjusted her shades. "Let's bounce."
Ben shook his head, smiling. "Let's bounce."
---
While Ben and his 'tough' daughter searched for the Franky Family, and the Gold Team dried off, Robin and Chopper were enjoying a quieter side of the city.
They strolled along the stone walkways lining the canals. Chopper was happily munching on a cloud of blue cotton candy that matched his nose.
"This city is amazing, Robin!" Chopper mumbled through the sugar. "The water is so clear! And the people are nice!"
"It is beautiful," Robin agreed, her eyes scanning the architecture. "A city built upon the water, slowly sinking, yet constantly rebuilding upwards. It is a testament to human resilience."
She paused at a bookstore window, admiring a rare text on shipwright history.
Unknown to them, they were being watched.
High above, on the rooftops, figures in black suits and masks moved silently. They were government agents—Cipher Pol. Not the elite CP9 yet, but the intelligence gatherers who monitored the city 24/7.
One agent pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
"Target sighted," the agent whispered. "Sector 4. Near the Blue Station Bookstore."
"Identify," a rasping voice came through the snail.
"Subject is Nico Robin. The Demon Child. Confirmed visual match."
"Is she alone?"
"Negative. She is accompanied by... a reindeer. A small reindeer wearing a pink hat and eating cotton candy."
There was a pause on the line.
"A reindeer?" The voice sounded confused, then sharp. "Wait. Cross-reference. The Straw Hat Pirates. Their pet is a reindeer."
"Checking... Match confirmed. Tony Tony Chopper. Pet of the Straw Hat crew."
"So she has joined them," the voice—Spandam—sneered. "Nico Robin has resurfaced, and she's with the rookie who destroyed G8 Marine Base. This is perfect."
"Orders, sir?"
"Do not engage yet," Spandam ordered. "I'm sending the elite. Keep eyes on her. If she moves toward the docks, intercept."
---
In the dark, secure office of the Government Tower (or rather, Spandam's office in Enies Lobby, communicating via long-distance snail), Spandam slammed his hand on his desk.
"BLUENO!" Spandam shouted into a different Den Den Mushi.
In a small bar in Water 7, a large man with hair like bull horns was wiping a glass. He stopped. He picked up the receiver hidden under the counter.
"This is Blueno."
"She's here," Spandam grinned, his mask distorting his face. "Nico Robin is in Water 7. She's with the Straw Hat Pirates."
Blueno's expression didn't change. "The Straw Hats? The ones who arrived at the Scrap Coast?"
"Yes. Listen closely. I want her. But I don't want a messy fight in the middle of the day. The Straw Hats are wild cards. If they fight back, they could wreck the city before we get the Pluton blueprints."
"Understood," Blueno said impassively. "Strategy?"
"Corner her," Spandam commanded. "Get her alone. Use the leverage. She has a new crew, right? Use that as a leverage."
Spandam laughed cruelly. "Tell her this: If she doesn't surrender quietly... if she doesn't come with us to Enies Lobby... we will initiate a Buster Call on Water 7."
Blueno's eyes narrowed slightly. "A Buster Call? On a civilian population center?"
"Threaten it!" Spandam screamed. "She knows what that means! She survived Ohara! Tell her the ships are already targeting the island. Tell her that if she resists, every single person in Water 7—and every single one of her precious Straw Hat friends—will be burned to ash."
"Play on her trauma," Blueno nodded. "Effective."
"Exactly. Make her choose. Her life... or theirs. She'll break. They always do."
"I will execute the order immediately," Blueno hung up.
He took off his apron. He walked to the back door of the bar. His body began to change, his muscles tightening, his demeanor shifting from 'bartender' to 'assassin'.
---
Robin and Chopper turned a corner onto a bustling street lined with mask shops and souvenir stands. The crowd was dense, people laughing and haggling.
"We should get back to the ship soon," Chopper said, finishing his candy. "Sanji is making dinner! And Ben promised to show us a new trick!"
"Yes," Robin smiled, though her eyes scanned the crowd habitually. "I'm sure it will be—"
A large man in a simple suit brushed past her.
It wasn't a collision. It was too smooth, too deliberate. As he passed, he leaned in, his shoulder barely grazing hers.
"CP9."
The whisper was low, barely audible over the noise of the crowd, but to Robin, it sounded like a thunderclap.
She froze. Her blood turned to ice.
"The back alley behind this mask shop," the voice—Blueno—continued, walking away without breaking stride. "Come alone. Or the Buster Call returns."
The man disappeared into the crowd.
Robin stood paralyzed on the street. The Buster Call. The nightmare she had run from for twenty years. It was here.
"Robin?" Chopper looked up, noticing her sudden stillness. "What's wrong? Did you see a book you liked?"
Robin swallowed hard. She forced a smile onto her face. It felt brittle, like it might crack. She couldn't let Chopper know. If he knew, he would fight. And if he fought... he would die.
"Chopper," Robin said, her voice remarkably steady. "I... I think I dropped my bookmark. At the bookstore we just passed."
"Oh!" Chopper perked up. "I can go get it! I'm fast!"
"Would you?" Robin knelt down, patting his hat. "Thank you, Doctor. It was a blue bookmark. Check the counter. I'll... wait here for a moment."
"Okay! I'll be right back!" Chopper saluted. "Don't move!"
He turned and sprinted back the way they came, his small hooves clattering on the stone.
Robin watched him go. Her smile faded, replaced by a look of profound sorrow.
"I'm sorry, Chopper," she whispered.
She turned and walked toward the narrow alleyway behind the mask shop. The shadows seemed to reach out to greet her.
---
The alley was dead silent. The noise of the festival was muffled here.
Blueno stood in the shadows, arms crossed.
"You came," he said flatly.
"You threatened a Buster Call," Robin said, her arms crossed in a defensive posture. "Is it true?"
"The Golden Den Den Mushi is authorized," Blueno lied (or told a half-truth). "Ten battleships. Five Vice-Admirals. If you do not surrender... Water 7 will share the fate of Ohara. And your new crew... the Straw Hat Pirates... they will burn first."
Robin trembled. The image of the tree of knowledge burning filled her mind. Saul's frozen smile. The destruction of everything she loved.
She couldn't let that happen to them. Not to Luffy. Not to Ben. Not to any of them.
"If I come..." Robin's voice shook. "You promise... you won't touch the Straw Hats?"
"We have no interest in rookie pirates," Blueno stated. "Our mission is you. If you cooperate, they live. We will let them sail away."
"Okay," Robin dropped her arms. The fight left her body. "I accept."
"Wise choice," Blueno said.
He reached out. A door appeared in the air—the Doa Doa no Mi. He opened it, revealing a swirling green dimension.
"Step inside, Nico Robin."
Robin took one last look at the street where Chopper had run off.
"Goodbye," she whispered.
She stepped through the door. Blueno followed. The door slammed shut, vanishing into thin air.