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"Alright. For the next few days, everyone acts according to what I've laid out." Ikki turned to Robin with a serious look. "One more thing. Jack, the one we've been holding. I need you and the others to move him into the gym and keep him restrained. The Marines absolutely cannot see him. If they spot him, they'll try to take him off my hands."
Ikki had plans for Jack. He intended to use him as leverage to negotiate a ransom with Kaido. Handing him over to the Marines for nothing would be a significant loss. And if it came to it, Jack could serve as the sacrifice to summon Astolfo. Devil Fruit users carried the fruit within their bodies, which made them viable as summoning catalysts.
Ginrummy flinched slightly at the mention of Jack's name.
She remembered following Jack to Dressrosa, the string of defeats his group had suffered at the hands of Ikki's crew, and the deaths of every Beasts Pirates member Jack had brought along except herself.
In that moment, she felt a quiet, genuine gratitude that she was a woman, and that her looks and figure had been enough to catch Ikki's attention.
Otherwise she would have ended up exactly like the rest of them, thrown overboard to feed the fish, with no chance of joining Ikki's crew and gaining the strength she had since acquired.
She had no path back to the Beasts Pirates now.
That door had closed long ago. And if she was being honest with herself, she didn't want it open. Being here, training under Ikki, was an opportunity she never could have imagined from where she had started.
"Don't worry, Ikki. I'll keep a close eye on him. After the amount of anesthetic we had pumped into him back at Nojiko's island, I doubt he has much fight left in him." Robin said with a light laugh.
"I'll help watch him too." Ginrummy raised her hand immediately.
"I'm counting on you, Ginrummy." Ikki nodded with satisfaction and patted her on the shoulder.
Ginrummy felt a quiet warmth at that.
With everything settled, Ikki left Ginrummy, Belo Betty, and the others in the gym. He headed out with Nami, Shyarly, Viola, and the rest toward the warship where Gion was stationed.
By the time they crossed over, the coastline of Marine Headquarters was clearly visible. Even without Observation Haki, the dense crowd of powerful figures standing at the port was plain to see.
With his Haki extended, Ikki picked up something more specific: patches of hostility directed his way, scattered among the gathered forces. The presence that struck him most, though, was not hostile so much as intent. Focused and razor-sharp. The gaze of Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, had already found him.
'That's quite a look he's giving me. Is he actually going to draw his sword and come at me right here?'
Ikki murmured to himself.
Back in the gym, Ginrummy walked alongside Robin toward the room where Jack was being held.
"Sister Robin, will Captain Ikki be alright?"
"Hmm? Are you worried the Marines or the Warlords might move against him? Don't be. The Marines think very highly of Captain Ikki right now. They need something from him, so they won't touch him. And Gion is on their side as well. As for the Warlords, Mihawk is clearly very interested in Captain Ikki, but with the Marines watching over everything, a real fight won't happen. And if things somehow got out of hand anyway, Gion would step in."
Robin spoke with a calm smile. She had noticed, quite clearly, that Gion was thoroughly taken with Ikki. If anyone tried to harm him, Gion would be the first Marine to move. And beyond Gion, Ikki had strong, reliable people around him. Robin genuinely didn't think he would find himself in serious trouble.
Ginrummy was quiet for a moment, then spoke again, more hesitantly.
"The Marines and the Warlords, I'm not so concerned about those. What I'm actually more worried about is Kaido of the Beasts. Captain Ikki is strong, you're strong, everyone here is strong. But Kaido is one of the Four Emperors, and Jack matters to him. If Captain Ikki really does use Jack as a sacrifice, Kaido will come after us with everything he has."
Robin nodded. "Jack is one of the Three Calamities and one of the faces of the Beasts Pirates. If we kill him here, Kaido won't let it go. But Jack was the one who came looking for trouble with us first. He was captured because he wasn't strong enough. If you're genuinely worried about Kaido becoming a threat, the answer is simple, Ginrummy. Train harder and get stronger."
Robin patted her on the shoulder and continued toward the room. Jack had been given a large dose of anesthetic, but he was still an Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruit user. Ordinary Zoan users already had exceptional vitality and resilience.
Ancient Zoan users were in another category entirely, far harder to keep down and far more dangerous if they shook off restraints. If Robin didn't keep watch personally, something unexpected could happen.
"Get stronger. Right. I understand. I'll work hard, Sister Robin."
Ginrummy nodded firmly and fell into step behind her.
Then, after a short pause: "Um, Robin, could you also teach me how to get Captain Ikki's attention? If I can get him more interested in me, he'll definitely put more effort into training me."
The thought of Ikki's ability to develop his crew sent a rush of excitement through her. She wanted a Zanpakuto of her own more than almost anything else. She had seen what Robin carried, what Kalifa wielded, and she wanted that same power for herself, a blade of her own that she could draw and use with real skill.
"Hehe. Now that we're partners, I'll certainly help you with that, Ginrummy."
Robin smiled warmly, and began to explain.