"Good night."
"Mm, good night."
Nami got up and walked back into the cabin, while Lina sat alone, gazing up at the stars and lost in thought.
Aokiji would probably come looking for them soon. Lina had been deeply impressed by the overwhelming strength he'd displayed the first time he appeared.
He knew Aokiji had been keeping an eye on Robin in secret. Some time had passed since they left Alabasta, so the man was bound to come after them.
Doflamingo wasn't weak, but in front of Aokiji, he'd only needed to move a finger. One exchange, and he was down. Another, and the whole crew was down. One more, and several of Blackbeard's commanders were down together.
His strongest fighter in a one-on-one was the Mage Undead, who had just fused with Enel's template. If Aokiji didn't open with a big move, it might manage a few exchanges—but winning...
Lina still remembered Aokiji's first appearance. He'd opened with Ice Age, freezing a vast stretch of sea,
and that was just...
"Ugh... my head hurts." Lina couldn't help shaking her head and sighing at the thought. He felt around in his shirt pocket for a cigarette.
Huh? Where were his cigarettes?!
Looking completely bewildered, he sat up and patted himself down from chest to waist, checking both trouser pockets. Then it suddenly dawned on him.
The Cloud-Treading Skill?
Lina: "..."
Damn!
What Lina didn't know was that, besides Aokiji, Doflamingo was also in the first half of the Grand Line.
After Crocodile's defeat, the World Government had called a meeting to discuss the next Shichibukai. Doflamingo had gone to attend it, too.
He'd arrived in the first half after the Alabasta incident, then followed the Straw Hat Crew to Jaya Island two days ago...
Early the next morning, at the