Caught Robin

Thud, thud.

The fat pirate woman collapsed. Then, as if setting off a chain reaction, the pirates across the deck fainted one after another.

Robin's vision swam too. Her right hand trembling, she pulled a packet of powder from her clothes and swallowed it dry, without even taking time to mix it with water.

Only after taking the antidote did her symptoms gradually subside.

"..."

Looking at the unconscious pirates strewn across the ship, the small girl braced herself against the wall and struggled back to the cabin. She found a Den Den Mushi and dialed a number she had called not long ago.

"It's done. The coordinates are... Please come quickly."

With that taken care of, little Robin sat beside the railing, staring blankly ahead as the cold sea wind blew over her.

Turbid waves surged beneath a deathly silence. The song of Binks' Sake, which had filled the sea moments ago, seemed to belong to another world.

She did not notice

the plump white dove soaring high among the clouds at a speed that belied his size. His sharp eyes took in everything below.

An hour later.

On a nearby stretch of sea.

"Colonel Bako, are you going over alone again?"

"It's too dangerous, Colonel! Let us come with you!"

On the warship's deck, the marines of the 329th Branch watched Bako descend a rope into a speedboat, their faces full of concern.

"Don't worry, boys! I'll be fine!"

Bako deftly started the speedboat and looked up at them.

"According to our informant, those pirates are holding a feast at sea. The best move is for me to sneak aboard amid the commotion and catch them off guard! Bringing the warship close would only alert them."

"Boys..."

He broke into a grin and laughed. "Stop worrying about