Dongze Appears, Bound for Laugh Tale (Continued)

But as soon as they reached the waters near the Sabaody Archipelago, Kuina vanished.

"Huh? Where did Miss Kuina go?"

Sanji came out of the cabin carrying a glass of juice, ready to make a show of his attentiveness.

Zoro recalled the look on Kuina's face earlier. A thoughtful glint entered his eyes, and he waved a hand.

"She left!"

Sanji shook his head regretfully, then turned to Zoro with a long sigh.

When Sanji started grumbling again, Zoro put a hand to his forehead. He simply could not understand how two people could be so different—or how Sanji's mind could work in such bizarre ways.

Zoro looked at the little sword in his hand and fell into thought.

With its Sword Intent spent, the Little Wooden Sword had once again become plain and subdued.

"She's already gotten that far? Damn it! Even I'm feeling the pressure now!"

What followed strayed little from the original course of events. The Supernovas gathered at Sabaody, Luffy punched a Celestial Dragon at the auction house, and Kizaru arrived, calling everyone terrifying while dropping one Supernova after another with a kick.

Later, Robin stepped in to stop Kizaru, and Tyrant Kuma arrived. He sent the entire Straw Hat Pirates flying, pulling events back onto their original track. There was only one difference: Robin was not sent flying. Under the combined assault of Kuma and Kizaru, she had no choice but to retreat.

Afterward, Kizaru gave Kuma a meaningful look. Something about the man felt off. He almost seemed to be on their side!

But Kizaru did not expose him. Instead, he smiled and said, "Is that really all right? You sent the culprit flying. Now I can't account for this, and the World Government will come down on you too!"

Kuma said nothing. He