West Blue Kingdom

Hotel.

Lin Qi was pulled onto the bed by the girl.

"Listen to me. There's no need for this. It's dangerous by my side. You're better off on your own."

The girl bit her lower lip, held her hands before her chest, and stepped closer to Lin Qi.

"Hundred Petal Flower!"

Her hands crossed, and pale white hands sprouted from all around the room.

"I'm a Devil Fruit Ability User too. I won't hold you back, so don't leave me behind."

Seeing the Devil Fruit power, Lin Qi was completely stunned.

Wasn't this Robin's ability?

Roty... Robin...

So the girl before him was Robin!

"As long as you let me stay, I'm willing to do anything," Robin said again.

"Fine. You can stay."

"But let me make this clear first—it's very dangerous around me."

Robin could read ancient writing, something Lin Qi desperately needed.

"It's fine. I'm not afraid of danger."

Hearing that she could stay, Robin smiled like a blooming flower.

That night, Lin Qi and Robin got a good rest at the hotel.

Early the next morning, Lin Qi got up early, only to find that Robin had risen even before him.

She had bought a whole tableful of fragrant breakfast.

Actually, having Robin as a secretary wouldn't be bad.

Lin Qi wolfed down breakfast while considering what to do next.

He had been out of sight for two and a half months. The Marines surely thought he had gone missing.

Since nearly three months had already passed, there was no rush to return in the next few days.

He needed to use this time to quickly complete the mission of becoming a King.

The three-year deadline was drawing near. If he failed to finish it soon, it would count as a failure.

The other half of the World Transfer Scroll had already been delivered to the West Sea by the Bounty Hunter.

Everything was ready but the money.

His next task was to earn money and buy a Kingdom.

"I need to go out for something. Stay home and don't wander around."

"Alright, I understand."

Robin cleared away the dishes and gave Lin Qi a sweet smile.

When he arrived in town, Lin Qi first wrote letters to Hina and Sister Gion, telling them he was safe.

After thinking about it, he wrote a letter to Smoker as well.

He had asked him to find "Hundred Plans" over a year ago. He had no idea whether Smoker had found him yet.

If Smoker had found his whereabouts, a Logia like Smoker could take him down as easily as playing around.

Then he asked the owner for newspapers from two and a half months ago.

In theory, the Marines would definitely publicize an act like his—sacrificing himself to save others—to showcase Marine justice.

Sure enough.

Lin Qi found his own name in the headline of one of the newspapers.

Rear Admiral Lin Qi Fights Kaido Alone, Covering the Soldiers' Retreat.

Under such a headline, the story was written to be as moving and tear-jerking as possible.

Lin Qi read it with a dumbfounded expression.

Since when had he taken two slashes for saving the soldiers?

That old bastard Sengoku was dishonest.

He ruthlessly criticized Sengoku's dishonest behavior in his heart.

At the very end of the newspaper, it read: Rear Admiral Lin Qi killed in action (presumed). In recognition of his military achievements, he was posthumously promoted to Vice Admiral.

At least there was some good news. He had been promoted.

In the New World, as long as one had the ability, business opportunities were everywhere.

Disguising himself, Lin Qi accepted several bounty missions from the Marines and began his hunt.

Over half a month, he killed more than a dozen Great Pirates and raised 2.8 billion Berries.

"I'm going to the West Sea. Are you willing to come with me?"

That day, Lin Qi explained the World Transfer Scroll's function to Robin, leaving her utterly astonished.

"That's amazing. Something like that actually exists."

"Of course I'm willing. Don't even think about leaving me behind."

"Alright, then hold my hand."

Lin Qi had already exchanged the 2.8 billion Berries for banknotes and placed them in a suitcase.

After marking the spot, he grabbed Robin's hand and activated the transfer.

The two of them instantly felt the world spin around them.

By the time they recovered, they were already in the West Sea.

Lin Qi picked up the other half of the scroll and carefully put it away.

Traveling from the Grand Line to the West Sea in an instant left Robin deeply shocked.

"Let's see... We're currently within Baron Kingdom."

Lin Qi took out a map he had prepared in advance to determine their location.

The Bounty Hunter had been fairly trustworthy and delivered it to the right place.

"Come on. Let's ask where the Royal Palace is first."

The reason Lin Qi had chosen Baron Kingdom was that the nation's people were not yet living in utter misery.

The King was eager to sell the Kingdom not only because of his own extravagance and debauchery, which made him unfit to govern.

More importantly, his position as King was simply too humiliating.

There was a town in the Kingdom called Sinful Paradise, filled with evildoers.

Every few days, the King would be threatened with death and extorted for money.

The young King had mentally collapsed.

The previous old King had tried sending troops to wipe out Sinful Paradise, but the old King ended up dead.

That was why the young King wanted to dump the burden and run away.

However, none of those problems were problems to Lin Qi.

It was practically a perfect start.

After finding out the Royal Palace's location, Lin Qi took Robin and snuck inside late at night.

Robin easily dealt with the few incompetent guards.

The sleeping King opened his eyes and saw a blade held to his neck. He instantly wet himself in terror.

"D-Don't, Hero, we can talk this out. How much money do you want?"

"Don't kill me. There are gold bars under my pillow. You can take them. Spare my life, and you can come back for more next time."

Lin Qi and Robin exchanged a glance and nearly laughed.

He was far too practiced at this. He clearly hadn't been robbed only once or twice.

As expected of the most chaotic West Sea. Even the scenery was different.

"Put your mind at ease." Lin Qi tapped the King's head with the flat of his blade.

"I only used the knife to create a pleasant environment for our upcoming conversation."

"Um... Hero, please speak plainly." It was the first time the King had encountered such a civilized robber, and he was somewhat unaccustomed to it.

"Alright, then I'll get straight to the point."

"I heard you want to sell the position of King. How much?"

The moment he heard that Lin Qi was here to buy the throne, the King immediately changed his expression.

"Two... no, one hundred billion! One hundred billion at the lowest!"

Gritting his teeth, the King named a fire-sale price.

His Kingdom was worth far more than that, but in order to escape this hell sooner, he was willing to go all out.

Lin Qi could not be bothered to waste words. He plunged Dragon Abyss into the floor.

"I'm not haggling with you. You know perfectly well why you want to sell the Kingdom."

"Looking across the entire West Sea, no one but me would dare take over your Kingdom."

"One price: two billion Berries."

"With that money, you can live out the rest of your life as a wealthy man."

"This..."

The King hesitated.

On one hand, Lin Qi's offer was too low. On the other, he felt Lin Qi was right and feared he would be trapped here forever.

Seeing the King waver, Lin Qi added fuel to the fire.

"Since I pity you, I'll give you 2.5 billion Berries."

"Alright, deal!"

Afraid Lin Qi would change his mind, the young King hurriedly grabbed his hand.

There weren't many suckers like this left.

He never wanted to see those criminals from Sinful Paradise again.

Robin looked at Lin Qi with admiration. She knew how powerful he was; it was almost as if he had picked up a Kingdom for free.