Is this guy… an idiot?!
Bound tightly, Robin raised her head and stared at Luffy in shock.
She had clearly explained to him, in detail, everything dangerous about herself—yet he acted as though he hadn't heard a single word, stubbornly clinging to his own decision.
Was it confidence born of overwhelming strength and fearless boldness… or was his brain simply wired wrong? Dull beyond saving?
For a moment, countless thoughts surged within Robin's alluring eyes, rippling like waves.
But then again… someone worth 180 million Beli in Marine bounties couldn't possibly be a fool, right?!
"I…"
Caught completely off-guard by Luffy's sudden invitation, Robin hesitated, her lips parting as she tried to respond.
Before she could finish, Red suddenly spoke from her side.
"Free her, Zoro."
"She's already agreed to join us!"
"No problem—heh!" Zoro grinned broadly.
Now that he understood Robin's importance, he couldn't help but view her in a new light.
A flash of pristine steel light streaked past.
The chains binding Robin shattered as if enchanted, breaking apart in an instant and revealing edges so smooth they looked polished.
The chain that had consecutively restrained Smoker, Vivi, and Robin…
Had reached the end of its existence.
"Welcome aboard, Nico Robin!"
"Trust me—this is absolutely a wise choice!"
Red extended his hand, pulling the stunned Robin up from her chair, then smiled warmly.
"You may not adapt right away, but please believe in our sincerity."
"And besides…"
"With your strength, there's no way you could leave this ship anyway, right?"
"So if you can't resist… you might as well enjoy yourself."
"Sanji, Nami—take Robin around and help her get familiar with the Going Merry."
A cunning glint flickered in Red's eyes as he decisively sealed the matter, giving Robin no chance to argue.
"Yesss~ I'd be honored!!!"
Sanji nearly exploded with excitement at the special assignment, secretly flashing Red a thumbs-up.
Nami, on the other hand, silently facepalmed.
She said nothing, but the helpless look on her face made it clear just how incomprehensible she found Luffy and Red's recklessness.
And so, as the dazed Robin was ushered into the cabin by Sanji and Nami…
The unexpected incident finally came to an end.
Zoro returned to his training area and picked up his weights, resuming his cultivation.
Meanwhile, Luffy and Usopp were already slinging arms around each other, enthusiastically debating what dishes to order from Sanji for the evening's welcome party.
"Hey! Are you seriously going to travel with that woman!?"
"She's the Demon Child—bounty of 79 million Beli at age eight!!!"
Unable to accept how casually the Straw Hats had invited a mysterious woman aboard, Smoker finally voiced his protest.
Unfortunately, his well-meaning warning was met with complete indifference.
"Save your breath, Colonel Smoker."
Red walked up beside him with a faint smile.
After confirming that Robin had entered the cabin, he leaned in close to Smoker's ear and lowered his voice.
"On this ship, Luffy's decisions are absolute."
"And I don't want to hear terms like Demon Child ever again aboard this ship."
"Do you really think what you believe is the truth?"
"Until you can determine what's real and what isn't, I suggest you refrain from voicing opinions so freely."
"When it comes to Robin… the Marines owe her far too much. Far too much."
Seeing Smoker's perplexed expression, Red reorganized his thoughts and continued quietly.
"You, who were raised under Marine doctrines of so-called justice, may not know this…"
"Twenty years ago, on a single day…"
"A massive fleet assembled by Marine Headquarters attacked Robin's homeland."
"Ohara was erased. Every last citizen slaughtered."
"All of it—just to conceal a certain crime committed by the World Government in history!"
"Can you imagine that!? An entire island! Tens of thousands of lives—gone—because of the whim of those in power!"
"Oh, and the fleet commander at the time…"
"Was none other than today's Marine Admiral—Akainu, Sakazuki."
"And the reason Robin survived that catastrophe…"
"Was thanks to your good friend—Kuzan."
"The Marines you believe in aren't nearly as clean as you imagine."
"If you can… hurry and find your own justice."
After delivering those words in a solemn tone, Red lightly patted Smoker on the shoulder.
Then he turned away, resuming control over the sea waves and pushing the ship forward.
Smoker was left standing alone in the cold ocean wind, eyes wide, lost in thought.
…
…
Perhaps already accustomed to switching allegiances, Robin's change in attitude was faster than anyone expected.
In just a single afternoon, she had seemingly accepted her brand-new identity as a member of the Straw Hat Pirates.
By the time the welcome banquet began, she was already seated among them, chatting and laughing naturally.
"So the vice-captain has abilities like that, huh? How incredible!"
As Luffy and Usopp proudly explained Red's powers in vivid detail, Robin covered her mouth and let out a mature, captivating laugh.
Everyone seemed drawn in by her warmth—yet no one noticed the guarded vigilance hidden deep within her eyes.
"Speaking of which, Mr. Long Nose, your move this afternoon was impressive too!"
"You knocked me out of the air—was that a Devil Fruit ability?"
"Hah!"
Usopp planted his hands on his hips and laughed loudly.
"My power doesn't come from any Devil Fruit!"
"That was the result of years of hard-earned sniping mastery!!!"
"Oh my! That's truly admirable!"
Robin feigned amazement once more, her eyes filled with admiration.
"Ahaha~ it was nothing special!"
Usopp instantly puffed up, lifting his long nose proudly—completely conquered.
Then, Robin's gaze shifted toward Nami, who was sipping orange juice.
"That storm earlier was incredibly dangerous…"
"For a navigator to react so quickly—"
"That's truly amazing!!!"
"…"
"…"
With her flawless social awareness and conversational finesse, Robin's familiarity with the Straw Hats skyrocketed.
Their closeness increased dramatically.
Even if it was… one-sided.
"Hmph. Succubus…"
Watching Robin smoothly win everyone over, Smoker let out an irritated snort as if seeing through it all.
Yet the next moment, his gaze fell back to the rippling surface of the drink in his hand, recalling Red's words from earlier.
Knowing Red's personality, Smoker was certain he wouldn't lie about something this serious.
Besides…
Given the rumors he'd heard at Marine Headquarters, Admiral Akainu truly did seem capable of such atrocities.
"My justice…"
Smoker murmured to himself from the edge of the gathering, then raised his glass and drained it in one swallow.
…
…
The new member's welcome banquet didn't last long.
When the cool moonlight shone straight down over the Going Merry, the celebration drew to a close.
After exchanging good nights, everyone dispersed—some to rest, some to train, others to continue unfinished insect breeding projects.
After the feast, Robin appeared to have blended perfectly into the Straw Hat crew.
But what she didn't know was—
That night, back in his private cabin, Red immediately opened the Pokémon interface on his device.
Seeing that the last name on the list was still Princess Vivi, he let out a bitter smile.
"Just as I thought… it really wasn't that simple."
Judging from the results, Robin's performance tonight wasn't her true feelings.
The fact that she hadn't become Red's Pokémon was proof enough.
All that laughter and camaraderie were merely camouflage—her way of surviving on the seas.
Which was understandable.
Not everyone had a heart as unbreakable as Luffy's.
Even the Straw Hats themselves—without Red's ability to see the future supporting them—they would never have accepted a woman from the enemy so easily.
Of course… Sanji the pervert was excluded.
"Whatever. It'll happen sooner or later. Let nature take its course."
Red sighed lightly.
Feigning compliance or going with the flow…
At the very least, Robin—sent by Crocodile to assassinate Vivi—had successfully switched sides and washed herself clean, joining the Straw Hats.
Propelled by the Palu Sea Wave, the Going Merry cut through the rolling sea like a blade, sailing toward the crew's next destination.
…
…
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Nothing disruptive occurred during that time.
The Straw Hats—and their temporary companions—each carried out their training or research methodically.
Even Robin, newly joined, seemed influenced by them, beginning to practice her Devil Fruit abilities.
The day after the welcome banquet, when the crew realized Robin hadn't received Pokémon energy from Red…
They immediately understood.
Yet having already decided to treat her as a true companion, no one brought it up.
Instead, everyone tacitly cooperated, carefully avoiding any abnormal behavior around her.
During those days, Red also broke from habit.
For several consecutive days, he didn't take anyone into the Pokémon world.
After reaching Level 30, Vivi's current strength alone would be enough to stun Cobra and Alabasta's nobles.
With his Pokémon Kingdom plan confirmed as viable, Red returned to his original intentions.
Such precious game time—it only made sense to invest it in the Straw Hat Pirates.
After days of accumulation, the device's stored energy had finally reached a considerable level.
That day, Red at last gathered enough power to exchange for the special item he'd coveted for so long.
Without hesitation, he activated the device and focused his mind.
"System—exchange for the Silph Scope!"
In the next instant, a device similar to a pair of binoculars appeared in his palm.
[Item: Silph Scope]
[Effect: A special scope manufactured by Silph Co. that allows the user to see things normally invisible.]
The Silph Scope—an item Red had picked up in Giovanni's office after defeating him at Team Rocket's Celadon base.
Its original purpose was to reveal Ghost-type Pokémon within Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town.
After being used once, it lost all value in the game world.
But…
A game item losing relevance didn't mean its effect disappeared.
That was why Red had long wanted to exchange it into reality.
And his goal was—
…
…
Night fell.
Countless stars filled the dark sky, their faint light reflected across the calm ocean surface.
For a moment, the entire world seemed submerged in starlight.
And the small, lively sailing ship—the Going Merry—wandered freely through that endless sea of stars.
Creak.
As a door opened, Red stepped out with a strange device on his head.
With light, eager steps, he moved across the immaculate deck.
A red flash flickered across the device.
Red lifted his head, excitement lighting his face as he looked toward the small figure seated in Luffy's special spot—existing between illusion and reality.
"Good evening, Merry."
His voice shattered the stillness of the night.
In an instant, the world seemed to explode like a ruptured silver screen—transitioning from static serenity into vibrant motion.
"Hmm?!"
The small, ethereal figure spun around, revealing the face of a cloaked child, her eyes hidden.
Yet even without seeing them, Red could sense the excitement and joy upon her face.
"R-Red?!"
Ship spirit Merry jumped to her feet, staring in disbelief.
"You can see me now?!"
"Of course!!!"
A surge of indescribable emotion flooded Red's heart.
Memories that had once made him cry countless times welled up, his eyes glistening.
Thankfully, the Silph Scope concealed his expression.
Keeping his composure, Red tapped the device and smiled.
"Don't forget—I'm an all-powerful Trainer."
"There's nothing in this world I can't do."
"Mmm~ I know, I know!"
Merry leapt lightly from the ram figurehead, barefoot, drifting midair like a ghost as she floated toward him.
Then she suddenly grinned mischievously.
"I don't just know you're an all-powerful Trainer, Red."
"I also know you're not actually from this world… right?"
"?!"
This time, Red was genuinely stunned.
"How did you know?!"
He hadn't told anyone since arriving in this world.
Yet Merry burst into laughter like a playful child.
"Ahahaha~ so even you can be startled, Red!"
"If everyone saw your expression right now, they'd think they were dreaming!"
She spoke to him warmly, like they were longtime friends.
Then, without warning, she opened her arms and hugged him.
"But still…"
"Thank you, Red."
"You made everyone stronger—and you stopped me from being separated from them, like in your memories."
"Memories?"
Feeling the barely-there contact, Red hesitated, then wrapped his arms around her translucent form.
A realization struck him.
"Merry… were you born from all our memories!?"
"As expected of you, Red."
"You figured it out quickly."
Merry drifted back into the air, smiling as she explained.
"But 'memories' isn't entirely accurate."
"My awareness comes from everyone's memories, yes—but what formed my body…"
"Are the emotions and spirit everyone unconsciously poured into the Going Merry."
"I'm lucky—to be the ship of the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Everyone's will is strong, and their love for me is real."
"And among them, the one I'm most grateful to…"
"Is you, Red."
Merry turned her back to him, moonlight cascading through her transparent body.
Whether in reflection or shyness, it was unclear.
"Every time you looked at me, Red, your emotions were so intense…"
"That's why I was able to awaken so quickly."
"Thank you for coming to this world."
"Thank you… for changing my fate!!!"
(End of Chapter)