The protagonist, Kong Tai, was unaware that immediately after leaving Alabasta, two groups were heading his way to cause trouble.
One formidable crew, strong enough to clash head-on with a Four Emperor's fleet, had been evaded due to a change in their course.
Meanwhile, another group of unfortunate souls was sailing directly towards them.
Destiny! Sometimes it works in mysterious ways.
However, anyone who sought trouble with Kong Tai was essentially queuing up for hell.
Whether sooner or later, the outcome was the same; they would only live a little longer.
Boom—!
Just like that.
A day after departing Alabasta, they encountered a ship intent on taking their heads.
From the crow's nest.
Arlo looked down at the figures on the ship next to them, who were jumping up and down, desperately trying to extinguish the flames engulfing their vessel. The firelight reflected in his eyes, and a sneer spread across his face.
"They're practically asking for death. Do they challenge anyone who comes their way?"
Since they had drawn their guns, they were surely prepared for death. Therefore, Arlo felt no sympathy for the ship sinking in flames or the people on it.
He lowered his gun, blew on the barrel, and then leaned over the railing of the crow's nest. He shouted down to Kong Tai at the ship's bow, "Kong Tai, done."
"Okay."
Kong Tai, without looking up, raised his hand and gave Arlo a thumbs-up.
The Freedom continued forward, and as they passed the adjacent ship, Robin couldn't help but glance over.
One look was all it took for her to pause.
Seeing the flag fluttering atop the ship, a complex emotion flickered in Robin's eyes.
"What's wrong, Sister Robin?"
Guina noticed Robin's shift in emotion. Following Robin's gaze to the neighboring ship, a hint of curiosity appeared in her eyes.
Robin was the oldest person on their ship, aside from Indigo, so everyone usually called her Sister Robin.
Of course, Kong Tai and Indigo did not refer to her that way.
The former, because Kong Tai's true age was actually older than Robin's. Although in this life he was only a seventeen-year-old boy, his soul was undeniably that of an older man.
As for the latter, it was obvious, wasn't it!
Indigo was truly the oldest person on this ship.
Though he never revealed his age, judging by his appearance, he must have been at least forty.
After all, he was already the ship's doctor on Shiki's crew twenty years ago.
"It's nothing."
Robin withdrew her gaze, turned to Guina with a slight smile, then picked up the juice from the coffee table and took a sip.
She placed the teacup down, looked up at a white cloud drifting in the sky, her eyes filled with remembrance. "I've seen the flag on that ship."
"Oh!"
Guina's juice-drinking motion paused, and she quickly put down her teacup, turning to Robin. "Quick, tell us, what's the story?"
In truth, everyone on the ship was filled with interest for the newly joined Robin.
After all, they would be companions from now on, and they were eager to learn about Robin's past.
They also knew that such things couldn't be rushed, and they could only gradually learn about it through their future interactions.
Robin withdrew her gaze, turned to Guina, the corners of her mouth curving upwards into a gentle smile.
She blinked and said with a laugh, "It's not really a big deal. This guy and his associates used to hunt me down. Back then, they were quite strong, and if it weren't for Crocodile, I might have really been captured by them."
She was referring to the time a few years ago when she was pursued by the Navy and forced to enter the Grand Line.
When she first entered the Grand Line, unfamiliar with the surroundings, these people had deceived her, making her believe they had no connection to her. Naively, she believed them and boarded their ship.
She hadn't expected to be quite famous in the Grand Line. The people here were completely different from the Four Seas. Back in the West Blue, most pirates and bounty hunters didn't know her, which allowed her to survive her dangerous childhood.
If she hadn't been sharp and discovered their unusual behavior, escaping midway, one group might have succeeded.
Even so, she was chased by them for a long time until she met Crocodile, who was also looking for her. Only then did they give up their pursuit.
Actually, she wasn't surprised to encounter this group of bounty hunters here. What surprised her was Arlo's strength.
Arlo had, with a single shot, dealt with a bounty hunter team famous in the first half of the Grand Line, the very team that had forced her to flee everywhere years ago.
Although she had witnessed the strength of the silver-haired group in Rain Dinners, she knew that they were bounty hunters who had even captured pirates with bounties over a hundred million.
They were in a completely different league from Pola, whom Arlo had killed in Rain Dinners.
If Arlo was this strong, then Tao, with a bounty similar to his, should be about the same. And Hua, with a five hundred million bounty, would be even more formidable.
What's more, there were the two beside her.
Although Guina's bounty was not as high as Hua's, after a few days of getting along, she knew that within the ship, besides Captain Kong Tai, Guina held the highest authority. Moreover, the other three, Hua, Tao, and A, were somewhat afraid of Guina, indicating that Guina's strength must also surpass Hua's.
And Guina had even injured Crocodile.
Being part of such a crew, whose strength could be considered unparalleled in the Grand Line, at least in her understanding, even if a Marine Admiral were dispatched, they would likely retreat in defeat.
This gave her an immense sense of security. Such security was something she hadn't felt since leaving Ohara.
Humans, after all, were social creatures. It was only when they truly found companions that they could experience this sense of security.
"Mmm! This feeling is truly wonderful!"
Guina shifted her gaze, watching the ship slide past the Freedom, a cold glint in her eyes. "Since they pursued Sister Robin, they deserve to die."
"Hehe!! It's all in the past."
Robin collected her thoughts, turned to Guina, and smiled. "This group is a bounty hunter team that roams the first half of the Grand Line. They also have many collaborations with Baroque Works. I don't know the specifics of their cooperation, only that whenever they come to Rain Dinners, they go directly to Crocodile.
"And Crocodile seems to appreciate them, always wanting them to join Baroque Works. But this group has always been evasive, refusing to join."
"Oh..."
Guina withdrew her gaze, replied indifferently, then relaxed her body and picked up the juice from the coffee table, taking a sip.
Clearly, she had no interest in these details. If not for wanting to know about Robin's past, she might not have asked Robin any questions.
Robin was accustomed to Guina's sudden change in demeanor.
After a few days, she had already figured out the personalities of everyone on the ship.
Of course, she still didn't know what Kong Tai's personality was like.
She only knew that Kong Tai was very mature, not at all like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy should be.
But at times, he was also a bit childish, curious about everything. As soon as he discovered something new, he was always the first to rush forward.