Robin merely smiled and shook her head.
Mr. 1 immediately spoke up.
"You!"
"All right, Mr. 1. We're leaving."
Barn naturally understood what Robin was thinking. He hadn't held out much hope to begin with, and after seeing her gesture through his Mind's Eye, he promptly stood up.
But Barn stopped again at the doorway and asked,
"Will you be coming to the banquet tonight?"
Robin shook her head again and said,
"I'm afraid those people wouldn't welcome me."
Barn nodded and closed the door.
"Boss..."
Mr. 1 spoke up.
"All right, Mr. 1. I don't want to force anyone to do something they don't want to do."
Barn smiled and took a small Den Den Mushi from inside his clothes. It was the very one he had used to contact Dragon.
"Deliver this to Koza for me. Remember to report to the Sabaody Archipelago with your companions."
"...Yes, boss."
Mr. 1 took the Den Den Mushi from Barn and left... Barn remained where he was, straightened his clothes, and said with a smile,
"All right, time for the banquet."
That evening's banquet was lively. Yes, unusually lively. Perhaps it was because Luffy and the others were there. The guards, accustomed to solemn banquets, found it a little strange at first. But when they saw the king, Vivi, Igaram, and even Chaka and Pell laughing heartily too, they stopped holding back their own joy and joined in.
Luffy had always had that kind of charm, spreading happiness to everyone around him. The scene reminded Barn of the happy days under Captain York when he had first set out to sea. Even as he sipped his rum, the smile never left his lips.
Just as before, after the banquet, Cobra led them to the enormous baths in the Royal Palace. The