Robin's gift?
Has she already started taking action so soon?
Shano raised an eyebrow, finding it a bit amusing.
He remembered it clearly.
In the original timeline, when Robin first boarded the Merry, aside from Sanji who immediately welcomed her, everyone else remained highly cautious and hostile towards her.
And as for Robin,
She easily found Nami's and Chopper's weak points, separating and conquering them. With just a few tricks, she quickly dispelled all the crew's vigilance against her.
Now, are my own crew members unable to escape the same outcome?
If doing so can help Robin feel at ease and integrate into the group faster...
Shano grinned, he'd just sit back and enjoy the show, not bothering to interfere in any way.
"Uncle Zeff."
He looked up, focusing on Zeff across the way, who was engrossed with a book, and chuckled, "Did Robin happen to give you something nice too?"
"Oh, Captain, how did you know?"
Zeff looked up in surprise, closed the book in his hand, and showed Shano the cover.
"Look, this is from Miss Robin, the 'Complete Guide to Lost Alabasta Cuisine,' she said she found it in Crocodile's collection."
He flipped through the pages again, his eyes shimmering with excitement.
"Alabasta truly is an ancient civilization. So many dishes recorded in here, even I haven't seen before! Especially this Gaia roast, it uses a natural stone slab grilled by blazing sun as cookware, then adds basil and perilla leaves..."
Once the subject of cooking comes up, Zeff couldn't stop talking, continuously chatting away to Shano and Smoker.
Shano let it in one ear and out the other, his gaze shifting toward the high walls made of bamboo nearby.
Tsk, even the most steady and composed old man on the ship was easily taken down.
Wonder if any of the younger girls can escape Robin's grasp?
...
Meanwhile.
In the women's bathhouse just across the wall.
Amidst the white mist, radiant holy lights clashed and jostled against one another.
"Whoa, thank you, Sister Robin!"
Nami excitedly hugged Robin, "Drum Island, Thor Island... You've prepared nautical chart information for all the islands near Alabasta? That's amazing! My Grand Line charting plan can make a significant leap forward all at once!"
"It was nothing."
Robin smiled gently, and once Nami excitedly ran off to peruse the navigational data, she handed a thick stack of books to Nojiko.
"These are a few fist technique manuals collected by Baroque Works Studio, mainly focusing on Mr. 2's Okama Kenpo. It's not something girls can learn, but there's some valuable content to fill in gaps and as reference."
Nojiko took it, her eyes lighting up after just a few pages.
What a treasure!
As Robin had said, for her, who had been practicing several fist techniques simultaneously, this summarized manual offered a considerable amount of useful insights, proving quite beneficial.
"Sister Robin!!!"
Nojiko couldn't help but pounce forward as well.
In the corner of the bathhouse.
Kuina, wrapped in a towel, leaned against the bamboo fence, coldly glaring at that slender figure.
Hmph.
Sly old woman.
Clearly just a rookie who joined under Lord Shano, yet using this gifting method to quickly close the gap with the crew members?
Even Nami and Nojiko are calling her sister!
So annoying.
This mature woman's effortless composure is simply infuriating!
But...
Since I've seen through her, I won't fall for it!
The gifts, just refuse them outright...
"Deputy Captain Kuina."
A gentle voice came from beside her, a light floral fragrance filled the air, and Kuina turned her head in surprise to see Robin already in front of her.
"Is it okay to call you that?" Robin blinked, "After all, that's what they call you in the newspaper and the warrant."
"Uh, it's okay to call me that here,"
Kuina's face flushed red, she whispered, "But please don't call me that in front of Lord Shano yet, he... he hasn't officially approved it, and I can't..."
"It'll surely be fine."
Robin leaned slightly forward, her smile gentle, "I saw it all during the fight at the dock, your commanding presence and formidable strength, this position is surely rightfully yours, isn't it?"
"Eh, really, is it?"
Kuina was already feeling a bit dizzy. Damn, it must be the hot steam in this bathhouse, making her almost lose her footing!
"And, Deputy Captain, I also prepared a gift for you, it's a famed blade that's been circulating through Alabasta for quite some time."
"Of course, its quality can't compare to your Wado Ichimonji, but it should barely qualify as a spare blade."
"This is..."
Kuina's eyes widened, a look of surprise blossoming in her gaze, "One of the Fifty Skillful Grade Blades, Hua State!"
...
On the other side of the bamboo wall.
After hearing Kuina unconsciously call out "Sister Robin,"
Shano shrugged, diverting his gaze.
Well, even the swordswoman was won over, not to mention my two muddle-headed sisters. The outcome is already obvious.
...
The next day, morning.
Everyone had fully recovered and was in peak condition.
The Endgame, having fully charged its magnetic force, did not linger and set off from Hot Spring Island the same day, heading to the next destination indicated by the Log Pose, Alabasta.
Shano sat under a sun umbrella, leisurely sipping coffee and gazing toward the sea's horizon.