"This is the last island," Robin sighed, holding the map. "I'll use my abilities to search this one. Honestly, do you think she might have already left this sea area?"
"Who knows?" Bardock shrugged. "If she's gone, then we're simply not fated to cross paths. We can't force it."
The moment they set sail from the Ilusia Kingdom, Bardock had steered them straight toward this cluster of islands with the sole purpose of recruiting Perona. According to the original manga, Perona was adopted by Gecko Moria when she was eleven. Right now, she should only be ten. Logically, she shouldn't have met Moria yet. However, Bardock knew he was a massive butterfly flapping his wings all over this timeline; the original plot was just a reference now, not an absolute guarantee.
"Ah... I am hunted by the entire world. I'm so incredibly sorry for existing. If there's a next life, I just want to be a flower..."
Without warning, Robin suddenly dropped to her knees, planted her hands on the deck, and stared blankly at the floorboards, her voice completely devoid of hope and filled with soul-crushing despair.
"Robin?! Are you okay?!" Mansherry gasped, fluttering over in a panic. She had no idea why the normally composed woman had suddenly given up on life.
Bardock blinked, freezing in his tracks. Then it clicked. 'She just got hit by a Negative Hollow!'
He bit his lip, desperately trying to hold back a burst of laughter, but his shoulders began trembling uncontrollably.
Then, he slapped his thigh in realization. It had been way too long since his Video Transponder Snail got any fresh blackmail material! It was probably too late to record it now, since the Negative Hollow's effects wore off quickly, but he scrambled to pull the snail out and perch it on his shoulder anyway. Missing this golden opportunity physically hurt him. Although the chances were slim, what if there was a round two?
By the time he got the snail ready, Robin had already snapped out of it. She stood up, brushing the dirt off her knees, and glared daggers at Bardock.
"You were laughing just now, weren't you?"
"No! No, I wasn't! I didn't even make a sound! I mean... I didn't laugh!" Bardock lied through his teeth, putting his hands up defensively.
"Hmph!" Robin huffed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Leo, Mansherry, be very careful. Do not let any of those white ghosts touch you, or you will become overwhelmingly depressed. Captain, she's over there. You lead the way this time."
Robin was clearly still fuming. It was absolutely humiliating. Wanting to be a flower? How could she even think something like that?! And she had said it out loud in front of everyone! She wanted the deck to swallow her whole.
"Alright, alright, I'll take the lead. Stay close," Bardock chuckled, walking toward the direction Robin pointed out. He made sure to keep his guard up, though. While he enjoyed watching other people become the butt of a joke, he had absolutely zero desire to experience a Negative Hollow himself.
They hadn't walked far inland before they spotted several white, intangible ghosts floating through the trees, seemingly searching for something.
The moment the ghosts spotted Bardock's group, they froze, quickly gathering together to monitor the intruders from a safe distance.
A few moments later, a very different-looking ghost drifted out from the tree line. It was a translucent, floating young girl holding a red parasol, glaring down at them furiously. This was undeniably Perona, currently using her Astral Projection ability.
"Hey! Was it you?!" Perona pointed an accusatory finger at Robin. "Suddenly sprouting an arm with an eye on it out of nowhere?! That's terrifying, you know! You need to apologize right now!"
"Wasn't me. I didn't do it. You've got the wrong person," Bardock immediately threw Robin under the bus.
"You're the terrifying one!" Robin snapped, refusing to back down. She was still holding a massive grudge for that humiliating experience earlier. Expecting an apology? Keep dreaming. "Floating around like a ghost in broad daylight! What if you scare these children?"
She pointed to Mansherry, who had timidly ducked behind Leo.
"Oh, so it was you!" Perona huffed, crossing her arms. "Hmph! This is my home, and I can do whatever I want! It's none of your business! I haven't even punished you for trespassing on my island without permission yet!"
Perona was incredibly stubborn, and there was no way she was going to let this taller woman talk down to her.
"Your home? Can you prove it?" Robin challenged, crossing her arms to match. "If you call out to the island, will it answer you? Besides, your 'home' is awfully big. Are you claiming the entire island belongs to you?"
While speaking, Robin shot a subtle, sharp glance at Bardock, signaling him to slip away and find Perona's physical body while she kept the ghost distracted.
Bardock nodded slightly. Right now, none of them possessed Haki or any abilities capable of harming a ghost. Since Perona's attention was entirely focused on bickering with Robin, he activated Soru, vanishing silently into the forest toward the direction Robin had indicated earlier.
"You...!" Perona seethed.
Everyone knew that when dealing with a troll, you could never take them seriously, because the moment you did, you lost. Perona, unfortunately, took it very seriously. How was she supposed to 'prove' it? She was the only living resident left on the island, so of course it was her home! But trying to actually produce a deed to an entire ruined island was just ridiculous.
"Get them, Negative Hollows! Make her repent, you sharp-toothed witch!"
Enraged and embarrassed, Perona commanded her ghosts to swarm Robin and the two dwarves.
Having already experienced the soul-crushing despair of a Negative Hollow, Robin knew exactly what not to do. She immediately sprinted sideways, gracefully dodging the ghostly dive-bombs. Leo and Mansherry, having been warned beforehand, easily evaded the sluggish ghosts with their superior Tontatta agility.
"Resorting to violence just because you're losing an argument? How petty," Robin taunted smoothly as she dodged another ghost.
Perona's face turned completely red with fury.
"I'll make you all apologize a hundred times! Wait... one, two, three... where's the fourth one?!"
Perona suddenly realized the boy who had been standing in the front was missing. He must have gone after her real body!
Panicking, Perona tried to fly back toward her physical form, but her ghostly projection suddenly froze in mid-air. It was too late.
Bardock strolled casually out of the tree line. Draped over his shoulder was Perona's unconscious physical body. In his other hand, he was holding a ragged, beat-up stuffed bear.
"My, my. You were just a second too late. Almost gave me a run for my money," Robin smiled sweetly, walking up to Bardock. She had already decided that once this girl joined the crew, she was going to make sure Perona got a taste of her own Negative Hollows.
"You guys are so despicable!" Perona's astral projection pouted, floating down toward them. Despite her stubborn attitude, she knew exactly when she was beaten. "Fine! I surrender! What do you want?"
"It's simple," Bardock said, his expression turning serious as he set her physical body gently on the grass. "I want you to join my crew. Become one of us."
"Join you? Are you guys pirates?"
"Not right now. But maybe eventually."
Seeing Perona's confusion, Bardock elaborated. "I'm Bardock. This is Robin, Leo, and Mansherry. Right now, we're just an adventuring crew. But in the future, it's highly likely we're going to step on the World Government's toes. When that day comes, we'll be branded as pirates whether we fly a Jolly Roger or not."
"That sounds incredibly dangerous," Perona muttered, floating backward slightly. "Can I refuse?"
"What do you think?" Robin offered a terrifying, dark smile.
Perona actually felt a chill run down her astral spine, which shouldn't have been physically possible for a ghost. These people were terrifying!
"If you refuse, I'll have no choice but to unleash the most cruel, horrific torture known to mankind upon this stuffed bear," Bardock added, shaking the ratty Kumashi doll in his hand.
"No! Please! Don't hurt Kumashi!" Perona shrieked, her astral form rapidly flying back into her physical body. Her real body immediately shot up from the grass, tears welling in her eyes. "I'll join! I'll join you guys, okay?! Just give him back!"
Bardock paused, utterly bewildered. Even Robin, Leo, and Mansherry were caught off guard. They hadn't expected her to care so deeply about a ragged old toy.
Robin's gaze softened, a pang of sympathy hitting her chest. To live entirely alone on a ruined, desolate island—no family, no friends, not even a stranger to talk to—with only a stuffed bear for company... this girl's childhood wasn't much happier than her own.
'Alright, I forgive her,' Robin decided internally.
"Hey, Perona," Robin smiled warmly. "Leo here is the greatest tailor in the world. If you join us, he can patch your Kumashi up so it looks brand new. Right, Leo?"
"Yep! I can fix him right up!" Leo grinned proudly.
"Really?!" Perona sniffled, looking at Leo with immense gratitude. She wiped her eyes and looked at the rest of them. "I'm Perona! I'll join your crew! Please take care of me!"
"Welcome aboard, Perona!" Bardock grinned. "Yay! A new friend!" Mansherry cheered. "Welcome to the crew, Perona," Robin nodded.
"Alright!" Bardock clapped his hands. "Perona, your official roles will be the ship's secondary lookout and primary cannoneer!"
"Captain, we don't have any cannons," Leo pointed out, tilting his head.
"She'll develop her own soon enough!" Bardock laughed. "Now, let's keep moving. We've got a lot more sea to cover before we head back!"