Invitation

Invitation

Meanwhile.

Over on the Conomi Islands.

"Emergency notice! Emergency notice! Marine Branch 16 Emergency Management Office reminds you: Due to an unknown cold current, temperatures on our island will drop sharply tonight. The lowest temperature may fall to 0°C. At the same time, the sudden drop in temperature over nearby waters may cause water vapor to condense into heavy fog, affecting shipping and creating a high disaster risk. Please reduce unnecessary travel and prepare for the cold and freezing conditions."

"Emergency notice..."

The sudden broadcast warning from the Den Den Mushi instantly shattered the peaceful night of the Conomi Islands.

Those still awake and those roused from sleep began spreading the word, urging everyone to take precautions. Vendors and shopkeepers who had planned to stay open all night also started packing up early. With the sudden drop in temperature, they could only head home to rest.

The moment the Security Force received the news, they all mobilized, heading out to inspect the area and remind civilians who had not yet received the notice.

Although the Conomi Islands had never encountered any terrifying cold currents over the years, and many villagers did not even know cold currents could occur here, Marine Branch 16 had suddenly issued a warning. That meant this cold current had to be truly severe, so everyone took it very seriously.

Following orders was also a rule every civilian on this island was expected to obey!

The civilians across the island began taking action together to withstand the cold current that might soon arrive.

At that moment.

Somewhere in Cocoyasi Village on the Conomi Islands.

A girl with a high blue ponytail tied behind her head, wearing a strange tight top patterned with circles, white shorts, and white thigh-high platform boots that accentuated her long, fair legs, her face covered in heavy smoky makeup, curiously watched the townspeople suddenly grow busy.

She rubbed the huge duck in a hat beside her, a puzzled expression on her face. "A cold current warning? Quick Run Duck, can the waters of the East Blue really have such terrifying cold currents?"

Why did she not know about that?

This sea was obviously very warm!

But in response to the girl's question, the duck called Quick Run Duck looked equally confused and let out a quack. "Quack~"

"You don't know either, huh? Forget it. No matter how terrifying a cold current is, could it be worse than the ones on the Grand Line?"

Hearing her duck's reply, the girl stopped dwelling on it. Though she was curious about how such a town in the East Blue could be so prosperous, as a trainee member of Baroque Works, she had not forgotten why she had come.

She was to find the Marine Colonel who had dealings with the mysterious president and inform him about this collaboration.

As long as she completed this mission, she would receive her own codename and become an official member of Baroque Works. By then, she would be one step closer to her own goal.

Still, the girl curiously glanced around Cocoyasi Village before her. "Is he really the Marine Colonel from Marine Branch 16? Could it be him?"

Could a Marine Colonel connected to the mysterious president of Baroque Works, who might have planned the Alabasta Kingdom's civil unrest, really build a town like this?

And would he even warn a group of civilians when a cold current might strike?

Just as the girl wondered whether she had found the wrong person.

Suddenly.

Her body began trembling uncontrollably, and then she sneezed. "Achoo!"

She shivered as she rubbed her arms, staring blankly at the street that had gone from bustling to deserted in an instant. "It really got cold!"

No, there really was a terrifying cold current here?

Why was it different from the intelligence she had gathered?

Of course~

Now was not the time to think about that. Seeing snow begin to fall and feeling the cold grow sharper by the second, the girl hugged herself and said with a shiver, "Looks like we need to find somewhere to stay first, Quick Run Duck!"

"Quack~"

"What? You don't have any money either? Me? I don't have money either! Did you forget? I ran away from the palace, so I didn't bring any money. I'm only a trainee at Baroque Works. How could I possibly have money? What are we supposed to do now?" The girl immediately hugged her duck in despair. "Is my first mission going to end with me freezing to death in a place like this?"

"Quack~" Faced with her master's despair, Quick Run Duck's duck face showed the same despair.

It was just a duck. How could it possibly have brought money with it?

Just as the girl and duck hugged each other in despair, having no idea what to do next.

Elsewhere.

Marine Branch 16.

"Xia Che~"

Having finished handling their matters and rushed over, Nami and Guina both raised their heads, staring at the scene before them with worried expressions.

"What kind of monster is that?" Nami's face tightened as she said anxiously, "He can freeze the sea? Change the airflow?"

As soon as she finished speaking.

"A Marine Admiral." Robin's grave voice came from beside them, though worry was hidden in it as well. "That is the power of the Devil Fruit, the Logia-type Ice-Ice Fruit!"

"A Devil Fruit, the legendary treasure of the sea worth a hundred million?" Hearing Robin's words, Nami's worried face froze for a moment before she quickly came to her senses. "No, this is not the time to care about that. Why is another Marine here? And a Marine Admiral at that? Didn't we already cooperate with the Marine Hero?"

"I... I'm sorry~"

Seeing Robin suddenly apologize, Nami and Guina seemed to guess something. They understood that this Marine Admiral might have come because of Robin.

But as companions...

How could they blame Robin at a time like this?

"It's okay. That guy is really strong. He even defeated the terrifying Arlong Pirates!" Nami patted Robin's back and smiled. "Since he didn't run away, that means he is confident he can defeat his enemy, just like back then with me. So everything will be fine."

"That's right, Senior Brother is very strong! Even the old man said Senior Brother might become the strongest swordsman on the seas someday." Guina nodded as well, watching the two fighters with a serious expression. "We have to believe in Senior Brother Xia Che."

"I..."

"If it really comes down to it, the three of us can go out to sea and become pirates with him. With my skills, the Marines definitely won't catch us." Though she was afraid, Nami still smiled and raised her fist when she saw Robin's worried expression.

Then she glared at Robin, curled both hands into claws, and bared her teeth playfully. "And you, once this is over, you had better explain yourself properly. Xia Che told me you were planning to quietly resign without even saying anything."

"I... Okay! I'll apologize properly!"

Faced with Nami and Guina's comfort, the worry on Robin's face seemed to lessen considerably. After nodding, she raised her head again, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked at that figure.

The figure who had stepped forward for the first time to protect her, the Devil Child, against a Marine Admiral. Unconsciously, the corners of her lips lifted. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but her gaze was firm as she shouted at him, "Dear BOSS, I don't want to resign yet!"

As the three of them anxiously watched that figure.

Xia Che, who had also heard Robin's words, revealed a faint smile.

Things had come to this.

Robin had even shouted it out. There should be no need to fight anymore.

Though damn, it really was cold!

However.

When he raised his head, thinking his father-in-law... guardian's test should be about over.

He found Kuzan looking at him meaningfully. "If you can't win, you'll go out to sea and become pirates?"

"..."

Xia Che looked at Kuzan speechlessly, but still answered with righteous indignation, "I... No, I wouldn't! That girl was talking nonsense. How about I punish her myself after we get down there? Severely!"

Then, in a suggestive and tempting tone, he added, "Or you could just pretend you didn't see anything? Later, I'll take you to Red Romance. I'll cover every expense."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Kuzan remained unmoved by Xia Che's bribe. His face even darkened a little. This guy had not given up on trying to bribe him?

Did he really look like such an easily bought Marine?

His eyes sharpened, and he stopped paying attention to Xia Che's nonsense.

"Ice Block—Two-Spiked Lances!"

As his words fell, the frost drifting through the air gathered together in the blink of an eye. Dozens of vicious, razor-sharp ice spears formed in the freezing air around him before shooting toward Xia Che.

At that moment.

The chill seemed to grow even more biting, as if it truly intended to freeze the man before him solid!

"Show me your true strength! Let me see whether you truly have the power to protect this criminal, Dander Xieche!"