"Shishishi…"
After Nami and Vivi's explanation, Luffy finally understood the situation.
All those people Zoro had cut down were bounty hunters. He scratched his head awkwardly, patted Sandy's shoulder, and laughed.
"You should've said so earlier! So they were bounty hunters! I totally misunderstood Zoro!"
Sandy slapped his hand away, grabbed Luffy by the head, and pointed toward the graveyard on Whiskey Peak.
"See that? If it weren't for Zoro, that's where you'd be sleeping right now."
Luffy nodded vigorously. "Sorry, I misunderstood you guys. But that banquet earlier was so fun! You know, Sandy—the food was amazing! Especially the squid, and the grilled meat, and—"
"SO noisy!" Nami snapped, clearly annoyed.
She was trying to negotiate with Vivi and Luffy's loud voice wasn't helping.
Luffy instantly shut up.
Zoro crossed his arms and looked over. "Nami, I heard this involves a Shichibukai. You sure you still want in?"
Nami froze. Shichibukai.
Her face drained of color. "I don't want the reward anymore. Goodbye! Oh—don't say goodbye!"
The contrast in her tone was almost comical.
Vivi smiled bitterly. "It's too late to regret it now. Those two agents already reported you."
Nami screamed, "I don't want this! Why?! Why do we have to bump into a Shichibukai the moment we enter the Grand Line?"
Sandy couldn't help but mock her. "Well, that's what you get for being greedy. While Zoro and I were peacefully drinking, someone couldn't resist the smell of money and dragged us into this mess…"
Duang!
Nami's fist slammed into Sandy's head. "I'm already regretting it to death, and you're still rubbing it in!"
Sandy got up, wrapped his arm around her waist, and laughed. "What are you so scared of? How about we just run back to Cocoyasi Village and make some babies?"
"Let go of me!" Nami yelled, blushing furiously. "Who wants to marries you?!"
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "What's there to be afraid of? It's just one Shichibukai, right? Since we've already been targeted, let's just go meet him."
Nami spun on him. "What do you know?! Do you even realize how strong a Shichibukai is?! The World's Greatest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, is one of them! Are we supposed to fight that level?"
Vivi nodded seriously. "There are seven in total. Each one has overwhelming strength. The World Government gives them special privileges—they're basically legalized pirate lords."
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Ohh… that's so cool!"
Zoro smirked. "A Shichibukai, huh? Sounds interesting."
Nami facepalmed. "Do you idiots even understand how serious this is?!"
Sandy chuckled. "That Shichibukai—Crocodile—seems loaded. I didn't expect him to send his lackeys here just to collect our heads for bounty. Since that's the case… why don't we go collect his money instead?"
"NA-NANI?!" Everyone turned to him in shock.
Nami screamed, "You want to go demand compensation from Crocodile? Are you insane?!"
Sandy ignored her. "We're pirates. First rule: get that bounty up. Second: do whatever the hell we want. If someone dares to mess with us, why should we just take it? Let's smash 'em."
Luffy grinned from ear to ear. "Yeah! Let's do it!"
Zoro's hand tightened on his sword, silently agreeing.
Nami, however, was still panicking. "That's a Shichibukai! You're all crazy!"
Sandy leaned in closer with a sly grin. "I heard Crocodile's very rich. You sure you want to pass up all that treasure?"
And just like that, the greed in Nami's eyes flickered back to life.
The Captain had already decided, so she had no choice but to follow… and the "very rich" part didn't hurt either.
She turned quickly to Vivi. "Is it true? Crocodile's rich?"
Vivi nodded. "Yes. He owns casinos all over Alabasta."
Nami threw her hands up. "Then it's settled—we're going to Alabasta!"
Zoro suddenly asked, "What about Sanji and Usopp?"
Luffy blinked. "…Oh right. They're still sleeping."
He scratched his head, then said, "I'll go wake them up. Then we'll set sail for Alabasta!"
The Going Merry set out in a rush.
Sanji and Usopp, still rubbing their eyes from sleep, nearly fainted when they heard they were going to demand compensation from Crocodile of all people.
"W-what kind of fever dream is this?!"
"Huhuhu… things escalated fast."
Everyone turned at the sound of a woman's voice.
At the second-floor railing of the Merry stood a tall woman with a hat, long legs, and a teasing smile.
Luffy pointed. "Who are you? Why are you on our ship?"
Vivi answered nervously, "She's the Vice President of Baroque Works—Nico Robin!"
Instantly, the crew became alert.
Luffy took a stance. "Are you here for revenge?"
Robin didn't answer. Instead, she used her Devil Fruit ability to pluck Luffy's Straw Hat off his head and placed it gently on her own.
Sandy watched the scene, unimpressed.
He stretched out on the deck, yawned, and fell asleep. Dawn was breaking, and he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep the entire night.
Not his fault—those poor girls were hungry, and he just had to feed them. They were lonely, and he just had to comfort them. He was… a man of duty.
Meanwhile, Robin made her intentions clear. She wasn't here for revenge or any mission—just curiosity.
Before leaving, she tossed Nami a permanent Log Pose. "Follow this, and you'll reach Alabasta."
But Luffy, being Luffy, crushed the Log Pose right in front of everyone. "I'm the Captain. I decide where we go."
Robin simply smiled, left on her turtle, and vanished into the sea.
The Going Merry continued on course.
Nami noticed Sandy snoring on the deck. "Is he that tired?"
Zoro shrugged. "He didn't sleep at all last night."
Nami planted her hands on her hips and scolded Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji. "You guys are way too careless. Except for Zoro and Sandy, all of you let your guard down the moment we landed. Learn from them, got it?"
"Understood!" ×3
Nami nodded in satisfaction. "Zoro, nothing's happening right now. Why don't you get some rest too?"
Zoro shook his head. "No need. I already slept during the day."
If Sandy had heard Nami holding him up as a role model while he slept like a log, he probably would've laughed himself awake.