Above the Grand Line, an anomalous cloud drifted through the sky.
Unlike the surrounding clouds that moved with the wind, this one flowed in the opposite direction, as if defying the natural order.
Standing atop the cloud were four figures: Rolan, Nami, Lina, and Robin.
Originally, Rolan planned to travel to the West Blue alone.
His goal was simple and direct, to meet only one man, the Surgeon of Death.
He had no interest in unnecessary company.
However, after days of close interaction, Robin gradually shed much of her former guarded distance.
She insisted on accompanying him, her tone gentle but resolute.
Nami and Lina naturally followed her lead, pestering Rolan until he finally gave in.
Rolan had always found it troublesome to deal with such persistence.
After a brief moment of silence, he agreed without further resistance.
He had already instructed Kuro to lead the rest of the Ion Tempest into the New World first.
With Kuro's strength and calculating mind, establishing a foothold there would not be a problem.
Thus, Rolan was in no rush.
The journey to the West Blue became a slow and deliberate detour.
"Hey, Rolan," Lina said as she clung to his arm, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"What is the West Blue like?
Is it different from the East Blue?
Will the scenery be even more beautiful?"
Rolan glanced at her briefly.
"I do not know.
Scenery is scenery.
There should not be much difference."
Robin smiled faintly from the side.
"The East Blue is called the weakest of the Four Seas.
The West Blue has far more dangerous people.
If you are careless, you might end up thrown into the sea as fish food."
Lina stiffened instantly and tightened her grip on Rolan's arm, her eyes darting around.
Nami frowned slightly.
"Robin san, do not just say such scary things so casually."
Rolan let out a quiet breath through his nose.
Even though Robin had softened over time, her habit of calmly delivering unsettling statements had not changed in the slightest.
---
After four days of steady travel, the group finally arrived in the West Blue.
The moment they reached the first town, Lina's eyes lit up.
"Wow.
So this is the West Blue?
The buildings look completely different.
It is so beautiful.
Let us explore first."
Before anyone could object, she had already pulled the others forward.
Robin spoke evenly, "Lina, we came here to find someone.
Shopping can wait until later."
Lina slowed, her shoulders drooping as she lowered her head.
"But I really want to go shopping…"
Rolan observed all three of them closely.
The excitement in their eyes was obvious, even Robin's calm mask could not fully hide it.
"We will take a look around the town first," he said flatly.
"If there are any local specialties, we can bring them back for the others."
Lina lifted her head.
"But are we not here to recruit someone?"
"The person is in the West Blue.
They are not going anywhere," Rolan replied calmly.
"We will look around first."
Lina's mood brightened instantly.
She moved closer and lightly brushed her lips against his cheek in a quick, impulsive gesture.
Rolan did not react beyond a slight pause.
His expression remained unchanged.
Nami looked visibly excited, already scanning the shops ahead.
Robin smiled softly, clearly prepared to enjoy the rare leisure.
Information across the Four Seas was far more isolated than in the Grand Line, so none of them bothered to disguise their identities.
As they walked through the streets, the striking combination of one man and three beautiful women quickly drew countless eyes.
They entered a lively tavern and had just taken their seats when a crude voice rang out.
"Hey.
You women over there, come drink with this old man."
Lina frowned immediately.
Nami calmly continued browsing the menu without looking up.
Robin merely glanced at the bearded man once before returning her attention to the list of dishes, clearly accustomed to such situations.
Rolan looked at the man with mild interest, his gaze detached.
In his heart, he sighed quietly.
Why were there always such short sighted fools everywhere.
"Hey.
Did you not hear me?" the man shouted.
"I said come drink with me."
Whispers rippled through the tavern.
"It is over for them.
That is Whiskers."
"Yeah, they are done for."
The bearded man puffed his chest proudly as he heard the murmurs.
He turned to his mustached subordinate.
"Go.
Bring those women over to pour wine for your captain."
The subordinate strode up to their table, placing an arm directly over Rolan's shoulder as he sneered.
"Kid, are these your women?
Let our captain enjoy them."
Rolan lowered his eyes slightly and let out a slow breath.
"Looks like I am still far from as patient as Shanks."
In the next second, a terrifying pressure burst from him.
His Conqueror's Haki surged outward in a silent wave.
The mustached man's body stiffened violently.
His eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the floor, white foam spilling from his mouth.
The tavern froze.
"What happened?"
"Did that man do something?"
"He is already dead."
The bearded man's pupils shrank as he stared at his fallen subordinate.
He rose slowly to his feet, fury twisting his face.
"Brat," he roared, "are you tired of living?
Do you even know who I am?
I am Whiskers, Babu Ye Er.
A pirate with a bounty of 450,000,000 berries."
Rolan turned his head calmly and looked at the man, who barely reached his chest even while standing straight.
"Whiskers?" he said indifferently.
"Never heard of you."
Babu Ye Er's face twisted as he drew a pistol and pointed it straight at Rolan's temple.
"You do not know your place.
I am one of the top ten pirates in the West Blue, and you dare say you do not know me?"
Panic spread instantly.
"Run.
Whiskers is making a move."
"Just leave.
Do not get dragged into this."
In seconds, the tavern emptied, leaving only a few trembling figures behind.
Rolan frowned slightly.
"So this is the West Blue.
A 450 million bounty only ranks top ten here."
The East Blue truly deserved its reputation as the weakest sea.
He had no desire to cause trouble, yet trouble always found its way to him.
Babu Ye Er stepped forward and smashed a bottle of red wine on the floor with a loud crash.
"You knocked out my subordinate.
Bring these three women with me, and I will grant you a painless death."
Rolan's gaze shifted to Nami, Lina, and Robin.
All three were smiling calmly, completely unconcerned.
He looked back at the pirate and shook his head.
"You can curse me.
You can smash my wine.
I do not care," he said evenly.
"But the moment you drag my companions into this, you are already dead."
For a brief instant, fear tugged at Babu Ye Er's heart.
His undershirt was soaked through with cold sweat.
Still, he forced himself to steady his nerves and pressed the gun harder against Rolan's head.
"Big words for someone about to die."
Just as he began to squeeze the trigger, a voice echoed from a dark corner of the tavern.
"Babu Ye Er, I strongly advise you not to act.
This man is not someone you can afford to provoke."