By the time Jin returned to the room, Garp had already taken his men and left.
"That stinky old man didn't give you a hard time, did he?" Merry hurried over and asked.
Even if he hadn't attacked directly, who knew whether he'd said something threatening—like using their lives to pressure Jin?
After all, the World Government and the Marines had done things like that before.
"No," Jin replied. "He just asked me a question."
"A question?" Sanji asked curiously. "What kind?"
"He asked whether I'm from Wano Country."
"Granny Kokoro mentioned Wano too," Nami said, puzzled. "So where exactly is that place?"
Why was everyone so curious about whether Jin came from Wano?
Could it be that the ninjas there were all as strong as him?
The group blinked, then instinctively turned toward their living encyclopedia—Nico Robin.
But to their surprise, her expression had grown noticeably heavy.
"Wano Country…" Robin murmured. "I do know something about it."
She knew.
She knew far too well.
Back in Alabasta, Crocodile had ordered her to decipher the Poneglyph there—and it contained information about Pluton.
That terrifying weapon, capable of destroying an island with a single shot…
Was hidden in Wano Country.
"Robin, what's wrong?" Merry asked worriedly. "You don't look so good. Are you sick?"
"What? Sick?!" Chopper panicked instantly. "Doctor!"
"Doctor!"
"…I am the doctor."
Seeing Chopper about to rush over, Robin quickly said, "Don't worry. I'm fine. I just remembered something."
Suppressing her thoughts, she explained calmly, "In some books I've read, there were records about Wano. But that country has been closed off for a very long time, so very little information has spread outside."
"That's it?"
"That's it," Robin said with a shrug. "That's all I know."
She deliberately avoided mentioning the Ancient Weapon.
Those matters weren't something the crew needed to bear right now.
"Tch, that's all?" Jin curled his lips. "So it's just an isolationist country."
"No wonder they're curious about my origins. They probably want information about that place."
"That's possible," Robin said after some thought.
"Maybe the Marines know things we don't," Sanji analyzed calmly.
"But honestly… it doesn't really have much to do with us."
All they needed to know was that Jin was a partner they could entrust their lives to.
The rest—did it really matter?
They weren't CP9. They wouldn't dig into things they had no right to ask.
"True enough."
"Luffy and the others still not back yet?"
"Not yet," Sanji shook his head, then smiled.
"But Luffy said once he wakes up, we're having a banquet."
"So we should start preparing ingredients," Sanji added.
"That guy's appetite is terrifying."
"Didn't he just eat not long ago…?"
"You really underestimate that bottomless pit," Nami snorted.
"No matter how much food there is, he'll finish it."
Honestly, half the reason the Straw Hats were always broke was because that idiot ate too much.
If they weren't lucky along the way, they'd probably be starving three days out of every ten.
"Then I'll help too," Jin said, rolling up his sleeves.
"I'm pretty good at cutting flesh."
Sanji: "..."
Nami: "???"
"You mean preparing ingredients, right?"
"What else would I mean?" Jin raised a brow.
"Did you think I meant cutting people?"
"For that, one slash is enough. No need to complicate things."
He wasn't from the interrogation division—no fancy methods needed.
"Good…" Nami let out a breath of relief.
"Alright, anything that needs cutting, leave it to me."
As he spoke, Jin picked up his Kusanagi blade, making Sanji's eyelid twitch.
His earlier words echoed vividly in Sanji's head.
"Bastard! Use a kitchen knife!"
"This blade cuts meat really fast."
"No! There aren't that many giant chunks of meat—use a kitchen knife!"
"…Fine."
Jin pouted but obediently set the sword aside.
"I'll help too~" Merry said cheerfully.
Seeing her adorable expression, Jin decided to tease her.
"Little Merry wouldn't sneak food, would she?" he squatted down.
"Of course not!"
"Then why did you look away?"
"Hmph, Jin's mean!"
Merry puffed up and ran behind Sanji, peeking out with only her head showing.
"Hahahahaha!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Ahem. Sneaking food is definitely not allowed," Sanji said seriously.
"But… I do need a taste tester to sample freshly cooked dishes."
"Merry-chan, interested?"
"Wow! Me, me!"
"Sanji, I want to too…" Chopper looked up with hopeful eyes.
Faced with two pairs of sparkling gazes, Sanji hesitated—then broke into a wide smile.
"Alright! Two taste testers!"
"Sanji, I—"
"Shut up and get back to work!"
"Hahahahaha!"
By the time the ingredients were ready, Luffy and the others had returned, and Sanji's food was already roasting.
And just like that, a grand banquet began.
"Woooo! Banquet time!!" Luffy laughed loudly.
"Hahahahaha!"
"So this is what a banquet feels like…" Jin said, sitting beside Zoro.
No wonder everyone loved these.
The atmosphere alone was intoxicating.
"You'll get addicted to this feeling," Zoro said—
then immediately sprayed his sake out.
"Pffft!"
Luffy had just stuck chopsticks up his nose.
"…That idiot," Zoro muttered.
Jin's mouth twitched. He didn't know what to say—but somehow, it really did feel nice.
He found himself smiling.
Then he noticed something off.
Robin was leaning against a distant wall, her expression uneasy.
Jin instinctively wanted to go over, but she subtly shook her head, signaling him not to.
His eyes narrowed when he saw the frost forming on her wine glass.
Seeing that Jin stayed put, Robin finally relaxed.
"Nico Robin…" Aokiji's voice sounded softly.
"Saul let you live. Whether that was right or wrong… I still don't know."
"Can you give me your answer now?"
"Yes," Robin replied firmly.
"I've already found my reason to live."
"…That's good."
Aokiji's voice faded.
"Then live well. Ohara… has not been destroyed."
When Robin rushed over, he was already gone.
As if remembering something, she immediately looked toward Jin.
Seeing him sitting calmly where he was, she finally let out a breath.
"Robin! Come join the banquet!"
"O—okay!"
Elsewhere, Aokiji rode his bicycle lazily through the streets.
When he passed beneath a large tree, he stopped.
"Were you seeing me off, kid?"
"Figures I couldn't hide it from you," Jin's voice came from above.
Standing on the tree branch, he looked down.
"What are you here for? Don't tell me you planned to threaten Robin again."
Jin didn't come down.
Aokiji didn't look up.
That was better for both of them.
"And if I were?" Aokiji asked.
"Then we finish the fight we didn't last time."
"Ah~ how scary," Aokiji chuckled.
"But can you really do it?"
"Won't know unless we try."
The air between them seemed to collide silently.
After a moment, Aokiji spoke again.
"Newcomers these days are terrifying."
"You're a clone, aren't you?"
Jin didn't deny it—just kept staring.
"Starting a fight in the city would disturb the civilians," Aokiji said lazily.
"I'd rather not get complaints."
Clearly, he was giving himself a way out.
Jin said nothing.
"If I truly wanted to act," Aokiji continued, his smile fading,
"I wouldn't need threats."
Then he looked serious.
"Kid, answer me one thing."
"Go on."
"Are you from Wano Country?"
"Luffy's grandfather already asked me that," Jin replied calmly.
"I can say this for sure—I'm not."
"…I see."
Aokiji fell silent, then smiled, as if letting go of something deep within.
"If you have something you want to protect… then protect it properly."
With that, he pedaled away, humming softly.
"…That guy," Jin muttered, watching him leave.
"What exactly is he thinking?"
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