"Then, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to working on my new laboratory!?"
As Little Garden slowly faded from everyone's view, Usopp waved goodbye to the group and prepared to head back into the laboratory he had set up inside Laboon, continuing his research on his own exclusive ammunition.
But just then, Luffy suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Wait, Usopp!"
He hurried into the cabin. A moment later, he came stomping back out, cradling two massive eggs covered in different patterns.
"Usopp, Red said you have some kind of item called a Fire Stone over there. It might be able to speed up the hatching of dragon eggs…"
"So I'll have to trouble you to help me hatch these two dragon eggs!"
"No way, Luffy!? You actually managed to get dragon eggs!?"
Usopp's eyes went wide as he exclaimed in shock.
His gaze immediately swept over the two dragon eggs in Luffy's arms, each nearly as tall as half a person.
Just from their size alone, it was obvious their parents had to be enormous creatures.
"Huh?" Sanji, standing off to the side, suddenly spoke up in disbelief."So those were eggs you planned to hatch? I was just about to use them as tonight's dinner!"
"Looks like I'll need to change the menu at the last minute."
"What—what did you say!?" Luffy stared at Sanji in horror. "These are pets I worked really hard to catch! How can you be so cruel!?"
"Bastard! You're the one who eats the most every single time!!!"
BAM!!!Sanji smashed a punch straight down onto Luffy's head.
And precisely at that moment, a mature woman's laughter suddenly drifted down from above them.
"Pffft~"
"What an interesting bunch you are."
"Eh!?"
The sudden voice startled the Straw Hats, and everyone immediately looked toward its source.
There, they saw an unfamiliar woman sitting leisurely atop the roof of the Going Merry's cabin.
Beneath a wide-brimmed purple cowboy hat, smooth jet-black hair cascaded down her back. A matching purple halter top accentuated alluring curves, while her long, slender legs were crossed, gently swaying in the air.
The newcomer was none other than the current Baroque Works agent who, after some investigation, had finally tracked down the Straw Hat crew—Nico Robin.
"Miss All Sunday!!!"
Unaware of Robin's true identity, Vivi cried out in shock.
When that familiar codename reached their ears, the Straw Hats immediately realized what it meant.
"Baroque Works!?"
Nami swiftly assembled her Clima-Tact. Brilliant arcs of lightning burst from her hands and surged through the staff in an instant.
Zoro and Smoker also drew their weapons in unison.
Although the Seastone tip of Smoker's jitte had long since been sawed off by Usopp for other uses, after spending so many days together, Usopp had already rebuilt the weapon for him.
While it no longer restrained Devil Fruit abilities, Usopp had coated the jitte with a special material that allowed Smoker to inject smoke into it, granting him remote control over the weapon.
On top of that, Usopp had installed a toxin-releasing mechanism at the tip and prepared multiple poison modules with different effects, allowing Smoker to swap them out based on the opponent.
At first, Smoker had refused outright, insisting he would never use a weapon made by pirates.
But after a sparring match with Luffy—during which the new weapon accidentally sent Luffy running to the toilet for several hours—Smoker instantly fell in love with it.
Truly, the law of "it smells good once you try it" exists in every world.
"Huh!? There was really someone up there!?"Luffy looked up in surprise, still hugging the dragon eggs.
"I knew Observation Haki picked up an unfamiliar presence…"
"Idiot! Something this important—say it sooner next time!"
Usopp immediately jumped down from the railing, whipping out his slingshot and loading a round that looked like a plant seed.
"Hehehe~"
Seeing the Straw Hats' reaction, Robin let out another soft laugh.
That gentle voice pierced straight through Sanji's heart.
"Now that I look closely… isn't she an absolutely beautiful lady?!"
His eyes instantly turned into hearts—the only odd one out in an otherwise tense standoff.
"Hey! Who are you!? And why are you on my ship!?"The realization finally hit Luffy as he shouted at Robin.
Robin remained calm. Resting her chin against her slender hand, she smiled serenely.
"Didn't that princess over there already explain it?"
"I'm an assassin from Baroque Works—specifically here to kill Princess Vivi."
"Oh! So you're a bad guy!"Luffy nodded as if everything suddenly made sense.
The very next instant—
STEP!!!
Still holding the dragon eggs, Luffy vanished as if he had teleported, reappearing behind Robin. His rubbery leg whipped out in a sharp arc, aiming for her back.
"Vivi is our friend! I won't let you hurt her!" Luffy roared.
"What!?"
The sudden attack rattled Robin's focus.
Fortunately, with Luffy carrying the eggs and standing on the Going Merry, he hadn't gone all-out, leaving her just enough time to respond.
Robin arched backward, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"Twelve Fleur: Rope!!!"
Whoosh—
Petal-like phantoms filled the air.
From the Going Merry's lookout tower, a string of arms sprouted unnaturally, grabbing Robin by the collar and pulling her up into midair.
However…
If this were the Straw Hat crew of the original timeline, Robin might have escaped.
But the Straw Hat crew of now was not something simple tricks could deal with!
"Special Move! Green Star: Binding Vines!!!"
Shooom!!!
After waiting for just the right moment, Usopp released the trigger.
A vivid green projectile streaked forward in a straight line, striking Robin in midair with pinpoint accuracy.
In the next instant, the shell shattered, revealing a tiny plant seed infused with bright Pokémon energy!
The Pokémon move Usopp had injected into the seed—Giga Drain—activated!!!
As it absorbed Robin's stamina, the seed began growing at an unbelievable rate.
In moments, it transformed into a mass of green vines, sliding like tendrils across her smooth skin and rapidly coiling around her body.
This was Usopp's latest invention!
By storing the Pokémon move Giga Drain inside ammunition—or injecting it during launch—he allowed the seed to grow explosively upon impact, using the enemy's own strength to achieve his goal.
With her body bound, Robin's calm expression finally broke. Having lost her ability to escape, she fell straight down from midair and landed on the soft Grassy Terrain below.
Shing—!!!
In an instant, weapons from all sides were aimed straight at her head.
Each one could render her completely helpless in a single heartbeat.
Step… step… step…
At that moment, Red walked forward lightly, brushing past Usopp and Zoro. He squatted in front of Robin, pulled the vines from her mouth, and clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk~"
"I really don't know whether to call this underestimating your enemies…""Or just seeking death."
"To actually come aboard the Going Merry yourself…"
"With your intelligence network, there's no way you didn't know our bounties—or our strength."
"So…"
Red smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming as he met Robin's gaze head-on.
"Were you really trying to die?"
"Nico Robin!?"
"You…!?"
Hearing Red casually call out her real name, Robin ignored the pain and stared at him in shock.
"How do you know my name!?"
(End of Chapter)