The Third Private Car

Eos moved smoothly beneath the surface of the sea, its hull cutting through the ink-black water. Guided by charts and compasses, the Submarine proceeded in the direction of the island where Flower Country was located.

Inside the captain's cabin, Lucas half-leaned against the head of the bed. Wisps of bloody electric arcs danced on the fingertips of his left hand, the current twisting and changing. At times it formed a baring, clawing thunder dragon, at others it condensed into a thunderbird spreading its wings to fly, and in the blink of an eye it broke apart into several slender thunder swords, circling and flowing in midair.

The bloody mist overflowing from the fingertips of his right hand took shape synchronously. A blood tiger crouched down in a pouncing posture, a blood spear slanted forward, and the killing intent was fierce.

Although he felt that these fancy shapings were actually all show and no substance, none of it was as direct and brutal as smashing current and blood Qi out all at once.

Still, it was really useful for bluffing.

After finishing his exercise, he put away his ability and went to the kitchen. Before long, a steaming bowl of soba noodles was ready.

The soup base was made in the style of Kingdom of Ye, sour, spicy, fresh, and savory. Come to think of it, it could also be considered the flavor of Wano Country, as the two countries had shared the same lineage all along.

As usual, he carried the noodles to Robin's room, planning to finish farming favorability as usual and leave.

Just as he put the noodles on the table and was about to leave, a voice so soft it was almost inaudible came from behind him.

"You don't... have to leave today."

Lucas was startled. When he turned back, he deliberately put on an exaggerated look of astonishment, stretching out a finger to point at his own nose:

"Are you talking to me?"

Robin didn't pick up his cue. Lowering her eyelashes, her fingertips gently twisted the bedsheet:

"Thank you for helping me shatter my inner demons. I've thought about it for a long time, and it seems this is the only way I can repay you."

"Just repaying a debt? No other reason?"

Lucas deliberately let his face fall, putting on a disappointed look.

"What else, Mr. Vampire?" Robin raised her eyes to glare at him with a cold face, but inwardly she felt a wave of secret regret. Why had she said those words on the spur of the moment?

Staying with someone of such a wicked temperament, the emotional management she had practiced hard for years was teetering on the verge of running out of control every single day.

"That won't do."

Lucas smiled with full malicious intent,

"Hurry up and say you like me. Louder."

Robin took several deep breaths before she suppressed the impulse to throw hands. With her arms crossed over her chest, rows of fair arms instantly sprouted from the floor, supporting his body like a relay team, and without another word she tossed him right onto the bed.

"You talk way too much."

Early the next morning, Lucas woke up feeling refreshed. A faint floral fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose. He turned his head sideways to look at the person sleeping soundly beside him, her cheeks still flush with a residual flush, her brow relaxed as if she were having some pleasant dream, her breathing light and shallow, even letting out a tiny, faint snore.

Not disturbing her, he gently pulled the quilt over her to cover her and tiptoed out of the room.

Marineford, Marine Headquarters.

Gion walked forward with her head down, her long hair hanging down in front of her shoulders, making her expression unclear. Jion followed closely behind her, his chattering voice buzzing around her ears like a fly.

"Big Sis, you've heard, right? Word came over from West Blue that some silver-haired brat is swaggering around with two women, and his looks are identical to that Lucas you described!

I told you he wasn't any good; he definitely had a change of heart! Stop thinking about him and go out with me instead. I guarantee I'll be wholeheartedly devoted to you!"

Gion didn't speak, but her fingertips quietly clenched tight.

She had long since learned more detailed intelligence from a certain inconvenience-to-name-ice-cube man.

Her heart felt terribly blocked, as if stuffed with a ball of water-soaked cotton, heavy and dull.

Clearly she had met him first, and clearly she had fallen for him first. Why did it turn out like this?

Overwhelmed with annoyance and distraction, she just kept walking forward.

She didn't stop until she reached her front door. With her back to Jion, she gave her reply:

"You needn't trouble yourself over my affairs. You're a good person, but we're not suited."

She pushed the door open and entered, shutting it behind her with a backhand that cut Jion's voice off outside.

Jion stood frozen in place outside the door, his complexion ashen and his gaze scattered. After just a few seconds, he puffed out his chest again, his eyes turning resolute once more.

What did a little setback like this amount to?

His willpower in this matter had always been more tenacious than his cultivation. It didn't matter how many times he failed; he would always be able to wait it out.

Behind the door, Gion slid slowly down into a sitting position against the door panel.

Clasping her knees, she looked up at the ceiling. The chaotic thoughts in her mind tumbled back and forth before finally condensing into a resolute idea.

She was going to go find him.

And ask him clearly to his face.

TO BE CONTINUED

(PS: Strictly speaking, the original work never wrote about Robin's reaction when facing romance, so when writing fanfiction, if one wants to gather Robin and Nami, all kinds of emotional feedback have to be made up by the author himself. Who made Oda unwilling to mess with this sort of thing in the protagonist group?

Regarding Jion's form of address for Gion, in the manga it is indeed Big Sis.

Of course, this Big Sis is not the same as our Chinese Big Sis. In Conan, Heiji's address for Haibara is also often translated as Big Sis, which carries the implication of both respect and fear.

As for the accent issue, readers over there might not be able to tell, but it is indeed there.

Sakazuki and Uta also speak with accents when talking. This is also the basis for many people to speculate on their father-daughter relationship.)