Red Port

Back aboard the warship, Kane thought it over and over, the more he thought, the more something felt wrong. Robin noticed his unusual behavior and came over to ask with concern:

"Did you run into trouble?"

"I have a few doubts."

After Kane told Robin everything he had done without holding anything back, he quietly watched her, wanting to hear her thoughts.

Robin had spent ten years on the run and had plenty of experience with conspiracies. After thinking for a moment, she understood what was strange about it.

"Since Black Maria said they were there to rescue Doflamingo, that means Doflamingo contacted Kaido."

"But the former Jack and two Flying Six alone could never rescue him, because Vice Admiral Tsuru is too strong."

"That's it! That's exactly it!"

Kane suddenly understood. He picked Robin up and kissed her fiercely, only putting her down after her face had turned bright red.

"I get it. Doflamingo wants Kaido's men to fall here, preferably forming a blood feud with the Marines..."

Kane froze mid-sentence, then rubbed his chin meaningfully.

"Though it seems the one who's made an enemy of Kaido... is me."

Robin immediately grew nervous. That was Kaido, one of the Four Emperors who ruled over the second half of the Grand Line—the Hundred Beasts Kaido, known as the strongest creature in the world!

Even if Kaido did not personally make a move against Kane, he had countless powerful subordinates, not to mention innumerable pirates willing to do anything just to curry favor with him.

The more Robin thought about it, the more frightened she became. She instinctively clung tightly to Kane, afraid she might lose him the next second.

"Don't be afraid. It's fine."

Kane stroked Robin's back. This kind of comfort quickly settled her heart.

Sure enough, under Kane's soothing touch, Robin's wildly pounding heart soon calmed down, though worry still lingered on her pretty face.

"I'm a Marine. Usually, no one would come looking to provoke me."

Kane calmly met Robin's eyes, and his composed emotions quickly spread to her.

"Besides, we'll reach Marine Headquarters soon. I've never heard of any pirate daring to cause trouble at Marine Headquarters."

Kane's reasoning was not particularly convincing. Robin had calmed down, but she was still worried.

"Looks like you need a stronger kind of comfort."

"Huh? What are you... mmph!"

Ever since Black Maria had retreated with the remaining pirates, they had not encountered another pirate ship on their way to Red Port.

The smooth journey eased much of Tsuru's concern, though she still personally kept watch over Doflamingo's group the entire time to prevent any further mishaps.

And when the towering Red Line became visibly closer and closer, everyone aboard the warship let out a sigh of relief, knowing they were about to enjoy a period of peace and quiet.

"So this is Red Port? It's not that big."

At dusk, Kane sat in the lookout tower, shading his eyes with one hand as he looked down at the port where the warship was about to dock, full of curiosity.

"The place itself isn't large. Its location is simply important."

Cuckoo's tone was indifferent, as though she had little interest in Red Port.

From afar, Red Port was merely a peninsula extending from the foot of the Red Line. It was the same color as the Red Line, small in area, sparse in vegetation, and rather inconspicuous.

Yet no one underestimated this place.

Above it lay the Celestial Dragons' holy land, Mary Geoise. Deep beneath it was Fish-Man Island, and it was separated from the Sabaody Archipelago by only the Red Line. Its geographical position could not have been better.

Thus, the peninsula had been developed into an important stop for crossing the Red Line.

The Bubble Cable Cars responsible for carrying people and goods up and down had become Red Port's famous specialty and attraction.

Every day, tens of thousands of people traveled between Red Port, the Red Line, and the Sabaody Archipelago via the Bubble Cable Cars connected to the Red Line.

Among them were civilians, merchants, Marines, and Celestial Dragons, who remained arrogant wherever they went.

Fortunately, the Celestial Dragons had their own exclusive Bubble Cable Cars, so others did not need to worry about encountering them during a ride.

"That must be the Bubble Cable Car reserved for the Celestial Dragons, right?"

Kane spotted the tracks embedded into the Red Line's cliff face from far away, along with the Bubble Cable Cars moving up and down them.

Those enormous round bubbles formed from Sabaody's natural resin were set into metal bases, each capable of holding nearly a hundred people.

Two of the cable cars were especially luxurious in appearance, inlaid with gold and gemstones. They were clearly not meant for ordinary people.

"That's right."

Cuckoo's expression darkened slightly, as though she had recalled something unpleasant.

"What's wrong? Did it remind you of something unhappy?"

The perceptive Kane moved closer to Cuckoo, slipped his arm beneath the Justice coat draped over her shoulders, and gently wrapped it around her waist.

"Mm. I once escorted Celestial Dragons on a trip. They... were disgusting."

Cuckoo leaned against Kane naturally, but disgust filled her face. Clearly, her memories of the Celestial Dragons were far from pleasant.

Kane recalled the look of distaste Cuckoo had shown when she mentioned Bubble Cable Cars before. Already disgusted by the Celestial Dragons himself, he felt even more irritated by them now.

Nestled in his arms, Cuckoo softly began telling him about her experience.

"Five years ago, when I was on an assignment involving the Celestial Dragons, I served as a guard for a ten-year-old Celestial Dragon girl."

"She went to the Sabaody Archipelago to play, and she never walked the entire time. Instead, she rode on the back of a girl who was barely older than her."

"That girl wore heavy shackles around her neck. If she moved even slightly too slowly, she would be whipped."

"I saw with my own eyes that the girl did not even dare let her steps jostle too much. Even when she was whipped, she gritted her teeth and did not dare make a sound."

"And that was merely the most insignificant thing I saw and heard in Mary Geoise."

Cuckoo spoke very calmly, but a vivid image had already formed in Kane's mind.

"No one restrains them? Or..."

Kane leaned close to Cuckoo's ear, letting his warm breath brush against it.

Cuckoo instinctively ducked away. Her gaze at Kane was bright as spring as she asked curiously,

"Or what?"

Kane smiled mysteriously, gently kissed Cuckoo's cheek, and whispered,

"Or perhaps someone could... punish them?"

Cuckoo's eyes widened abruptly. She warily scanned their surroundings and even spread out her Observation Haki.

Only after confirming that no one was eavesdropping did she stare at Kane in disbelief and warn him in a low voice,

"Kane, remember this: you must never say something like that carelessly."

"Once someone hears it and reports it to the Celestial Dragons, no matter whether they have proof or not, the Celestial Dragons will hunt you down!"

Kane frowned. He truly had not expected a situation where murder required no evidence, only an accusation.

"Then if someone makes a false accusation, wouldn't the person being framed be doomed?"

"Exactly. Though the person making the false accusation would not fare much better either."

Cuckoo lowered her voice.

"In the eyes of the Celestial Dragons, everyone except themselves is beneath them."

"To them, the falsely accused person has offended them, but the accuser has spoiled their mood."

"And they happen not to care whether dealing with those who offend them also harms other people..."

A finger suddenly pressed against Cuckoo's soft, full lips, blocking the rest of her words.

Cuckoo looked at Kane in confusion and saw him shake his head slightly.

"Talking about them feels too unlucky. Let's change the subject."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Let's talk about what animal you want to play later."

Cuckoo's eyes immediately lit up. She climbed onto Kane, grabbed his collar, and said excitedly,

"I won't be an animal. I want to be a beast tamer!"

"Beasts can be very fierce."

"Then I still want to be a beast tamer!"

"Looks like the beast can have a full meal."

"One meal~ will that be enough~"

"Looks like tonight's beast tamer has quite an appetite."

"...Mmm!"