Back to Whiskey Peak

Li Ziming and Robin did not head straight to Alabasta. Instead, he made a detour to Whiskey Peak to retrieve his bartending tools and liquor.

"So many injured people." Robin looked at the bandaged people lining the streets. "It's easy to imagine just how much trouble those guys caused here."

"Right now, I just hope my bar survived." Li Ziming had no fondness whatsoever for the Straw Hat Pirates. Only one thought occupied his mind: if those bastards had wrecked his bar, he would blow them sky-high.

"Let's hope so." Robin shook her head at the damaged shops on either side. "But I'd advise you not to get your hopes up."

"Then we'll blow those bastards sky-high the next time we see them." Li Ziming was so angry that faint little explosions popped around his body.

When they reached the bar, Li Ziming finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least there was no visible damage, which suggested they had not used his shop as a battlefield.

"Hey!" Just as Li Ziming was about to push the door open, a voice stopped him.

"You're Mr. 5 and Miss All Sunday!" The voice trembled with excitement. "The boss has put a bounty on you! If we catch you, we'll be rich!" By the end, the speaker sounded utterly delirious.

"Quite a crowd," Li Ziming said disdainfully. "But you think a bunch of trash like this can catch me?"

"You may be a high-ranking agent, but with this many people, we can wear you down! Get him, everyone! We'll split the bounty once we catch him!" Unable to contain their excitement, some of them rallied their companions and charged.

"Oh, really?" Li Ziming shrugged, and the first few attackers were blasted off their feet.

"Damn it, that's his Devil Fruit power! Be careful! Don't let him blow you up!" Some shouted warnings, but their bodies betrayed them as they backed away, showing no intention of advancing.

"It's fine! He can't possibly use that power too many times!" That came from a dimwit who charged straight at Li Ziming.

Rather than retreat, Li Ziming charged into the crowd of Baroque Works members. His bar was right behind him, after all, and he had no desire to catch it in his explosions.

"You're asking for it!" Seeing Li Ziming run toward them, the attackers grew excited and swarmed around him.

Some, however, set their sights on Robin. She was a woman, after all, and few expected her to be particularly strong. Compared with men, women seemed like easier targets.

But Robin had been living on the run since she was eight. How could she possibly be weak? Arms sprouted from the bodies of the men charging her, locking their joints and bringing them down.

"Whew..." Li Ziming let out a long breath and bent forward slightly. "Big Explosion!"

A violent explosion erupted around Li Ziming, sending out ring after ring of shock waves. The closest pirates flew backward, coughing blood, while even those on the outskirts lost their footing and fell.

"I'm not done yet." Li Ziming straightened up and used Soru in rapid succession, finishing off anyone still capable of fighting.

"Not bad," Robin praised him after he had dealt with everyone. "With strength like that, no wonder you were so confident about not fearing the higher-ranked agents."

"Ah, I'm feeling faint!" Standing beside Robin, Li Ziming shouted and toppled straight toward her.

"At least put a little effort into your acting. That was ridiculously overdone." Robin stepped aside, giving him no chance to take advantage of her.

"Ah, how heartbreaking. I'm injured, and there's nobody to help me up." Li Ziming lay on his side, propping his head up with one hand.

"Aren't you worried about your shop anymore?" Robin rolled her eyes, reminding him to get his priorities straight.

"Oh, right!" Li Ziming clapped his hands together, and his head promptly hit the ground. "Ow!" Rubbing his head, he pushed open the bar's door and froze in the doorway.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you going in?" Robin looked at him curiously, unsure why he had stopped there.

"Robin..." Li Ziming sounded utterly forlorn. "I swear... I'm going to blow Straw Hat and those other bastards sky-high!" By the end, he was practically radiating darkness.

"Is it really that bad?" Robin pushed past him and saw the miserable state of his bar.

Bottles lay everywhere, the floor was a mess, and the shelves where Li Ziming kept his liquor were bare, apart from a few empty bottles.

At the sight, Robin gave Li Ziming a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"Robin-chan!" Li Ziming threw his arms around her in anguish, then started nuzzling against her.

"Your bartending tools would cry if they saw you like this." Robin grabbed his cheek and pulled him off her.

"Come on, I really am upset," Li Ziming grumbled, rubbing his cheek. "Besides, I'm sure my tools would understand!" His expression was resolute, but he still went behind the counter to look for them.

"The measuring cup..." Li Ziming stared at a pile of shards on the floor. "The muddler." He looked helplessly at the metal muddler in his hand, now bent at an acute angle. Thoroughly disheartened, he forced himself to keep looking despite the heartache. "Strainer, cocktail shaker—intact." At least the shaker had escaped unscathed, and the strainer stored with it had shared its good fortune. "Juicer—intact." He let out a long breath. At least some of the essential tools were unharmed, though the bar spoon, pour spouts, ice tongs, and drinking glasses had been completely smashed to pieces.

"Well, at least the most important things are fine." His voice was filled with sorrow.

"What, are you going to let the Straw Hat Pirates off the hook?" Robin teased with a smile.

"No! I'm absolutely going to blow those bastards sky-high!" Li Ziming told her through gritted teeth.

"So, are we taking these with us?" Robin curiously picked up a bottle by her feet and waved it in front of him.

"Honestly, only these two things are still usable. What else is there worth taking?" Li Ziming said helplessly.

"Then let's go." Robin looked at him. "Are you sure you're only taking those two? You won't be able to come back here again."

"People have to keep looking ahead. If I'd kept dwelling on the past, I'd probably have died long ago." Li Ziming smiled. "Besides, my tools and liquor hold my most precious memories." Then his expression darkened. "Except those bastards wasted all my liquor!"

"All right, let's head to Alabasta. When we run into the Straw Hat Pirates, you can blow them up however you like," Robin said helplessly.

"Wait, I still have some liquor stashed in my room. I just hope those bastards didn't find it." Li Ziming went into his room, then let out a cheer.

"So the liquor's safe?" Robin watched him with amusement.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Li Ziming nodded eagerly, almost too excited to speak.

"But we don't have enough room for all this liquor," Robin said helplessly.

"That's fine! There are other ships on Whiskey Peak. We can take one of those!" Li Ziming looked ready to defend his liquor to the death.

"All right, but that could slow us down considerably," Robin said helplessly.

"It's fine. We can bypass Little Garden and head straight to Alabasta. The route's a little longer, but we'll be fine as long as we bring enough supplies." Li Ziming wore an expression of absolute confidence.

"All right, but don't say I didn't warn you if we miss the Straw Hat Pirates." Unable to change his mind, Robin could only agree to his plan.

"No problem, no problem." Li Ziming waved dismissively. "I'll go find a ship, then. Sorry for the trouble, Robin, but I'll need you to handle loading everything." With that, he ran outside.

Soon afterward, the two of them loaded everything they needed onto the ship.

"All done." Li Ziming turned to Robin. "By the way, do you know how to sail?"

"Sail? No, I don't." Robin spread her hands. "But I can find our bearings."

"Then that's enough." Li Ziming walked over to the helm. "Let's set sail!"

Watching his smug expression, Robin smiled helplessly, then sat down to enjoy the gentle sea breeze.