On the boundless, ice-bound sea, laughter and chaos filled the air.
"Haha, what a familiar feeling! It's like being back on Drum Island, pulling Dr. Kureha around to treat patients!"
Chopper happily pulled the sled, dashing across the frozen surface with boundless energy.
"Right! Chopper, that's it! Luffy and Zoro can't catch up to us at all!"
Usopp, lying on the sled with his long nose pointed proudly at the sky, patted his backside in mockery at the two Straw Hats chasing behind.
"Hehehe! Co and catch us, Luffy, Zoro! You two idiots, eat dust!"
"Ahhhh! Usopp, you're too arrogant!"
"You long-nosed bastard, how dare you mock !"
Both Luffy and Zoro erupted in anger at Usopp's taunts, doubling their speed despite slipping and tumbling across the ice.
"Charge! Rubber Rubber Roll!"
Luffy hurled himself forward, tumbling across the surface like a rolling boulder. He stretched his jaw wide, snapping at the air as he roared:
"Usopp! I'm going to bite your butt off!"
"Two Sword Style: Ice Sea Glide!"
Zoro stabbed two blades into the ice, using them as ski poles to propel himself faster. His gaze locked on Usopp's backside.
"Hmph, I'll carve a flower into that butt of yours!"
The distance closed fast.
"They're catching up…" Usopp paled as he glanced back, seeing Luffy stretching his neck like a predator ready to strike. Panic surged through him.
"Chopper! Run faster! If we get caught, they said they'll cook you into Chopper hotpot!"
"Ch-Chopper hotpot?!"
Chopper's fur bristled in terror, his hooves moving in a blur as he sprinted desperately.
"Wuwuwu! I don't want to be eaten!"
Alongside the frozen sea, the Going rry sailed steadily on unfrozen waters.
Nami reclined lazily in a lounge chair, sipping warm coffee as she sighed at the spectacle.
"I really envy those idiots… It's like they have endless energy."
"Nami-swaaan, your sugar cubes."
Sanji, ever the gentleman, held the small box out with a bow.
"Thank you, Sanji."
She accepted it with a smile.
Sanji cast a glance at the chaos on the ice, scoffing:
"Idiots are called idiots because of all that excess energy. Otherwise, they'd just be fools."
"Oh?"
Zoro's sharp ears caught the jab. He sneered mid-chase and barked back,
"Then that makes you the fool, Curly Brows! Fool Cook!"
"Fool Cook!" Luffy echoed gleefully, sticking out his tongue.
"Hehe, Fool Cook! Fool Cook!"
Even Usopp, despite being the target, took the chance to add fuel:
"Sanji is the biggest fool of all!"
"You bastards…"
Sanji's face twitched with rage, veins bulging. Yet when he turned toward Nami and Robin, his fury lted into a calm, charming smile.
"Excuse , my beautiful ladies," he said with a graceful bow, "but I must teach those fools a lesson."
Nami rolled her eyes.
"Go on then. I almost forgot—you're just as full of endless energy as they are."
Sanji's patience snapped.
"You brats! Don't let
catch you! I'll turn you into stir-fried moss head, rubber stew, and long-nosed Chopper skewers!"
"Like we're afraid of you! Fool Cook!" the trio mocked in unison.
At the very front, Chopper cried out miserably,
"Sanji! Why am I included too?! I'm innocent!"
"You're the top ingredient!" Sanji roared, charging after them with smoke trailing from his cigarette.
anwhile, on the deck of the rry, Shirogai sat comfortably in a chair, sipping milk tea as he watched the mayhem. His deanor was calm, his eyes sharp despite his relaxed smile.
"So, Shirogai, you fought two Admirals and ca back without a scratch?"
Nami's eyes widened, shining with admiration before excitent overtook her.
"Doesn't that an our crew now has a fighter on par with an Admiral?! We'll be unstoppable!"
Her confidence surged. She nearly jumped out of her seat in joy.
"… "
Robin, however, sat quietly on another lounge chair, staring at the icy horizon in silence.
Shirogai swirled his tea, taking a slow sip before answering with a faint chuckle.
"Nami, if I were you, I wouldn't think of this as good news."
"Huh?" Her joy froze instantly.
Shirogai's tone was calm, but his words carried weight.
"The Marines now know there's soone in our crew who can stand against two Admirals. If they decide to subjugate us, how many forces do you think they'll send? At least two Admirals, several Vice Admirals, and a fleet of warships."
Nami's breath hitched. "Vice Admirals…? So our minimum opponents would be them?"
Shirogai's eyes narrowed slightly as he muttered into his cup,
"More than that. They may deploy sothing even worse."
He thought of the Pacifistas, already being mass-produced. Against the current strength of the Straw Hats, even one Pacifista posed a lethal threat. Two could cause heavy casualties. Three or four could wipe them out completely.
Nami turned pale.
"Then this isn't good news at all… It's terrible!"
The weight of his words crushed her earlier excitent. She glared at him with a pout, muttering bitterly,
"Hmph! This is your fault, Shirogai! Challenging an Admiral—no, two Admirals! Now we're targets of Marineford!"
Shirogai blinked innocently, sipping again.
"What could I do? I didn't seek them out. They ca after ."
"…That's true," Nami admitted reluctantly. "Admirals aren't good people anyway."
She turned toward Robin, noticing her unease.
"Robin, that Admiral Shirogai ntioned—Aokiji… did he ever do anything to you? You've been restless ever since Shirogai used the Ice-Ice Fruit's power."
Robin flinched slightly, her eyes trembling before she forced a smile.
"Nami, I… I'm fine."
Shirogai's gaze sharpened as he spoke gently.
"If Robin ever wishes to share the secret she's kept buried in her heart, we'll be here to listen."
Robin inhaled deeply before answering with a soft chuckle.
"Okay."
Shirogai only shook his head. He knew—heart wounds were not easily healed. Robin's defenses ran deep, and no smile could fully conceal them.
_____
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