The sea was calm.
A small boat drifted lazily across the water, rocking gently with the tide.
At its center—
Flat on his back—
Arms behind his head—
Mouth slightly open—
Fast asleep—
Was Giovanni.
"…Zzz…"
A seagull landed on the edge of the boat.
Tilted its head.
Stared at him.
"…Zzz…"
The bird pecked at a loose rope.
Nothing.
Then at his boot.
Still nothing.
"…Zzz…"
The boat drifted closer.
And closer.
Until—
THUD.
The bottom scraped lightly against sand at the shore of Dressrosa.
The boat rocked once—
Twice—
And settled.
Still—
He didn't wake up.
"…Zzz…"
Not far from the shore—
A group of pirates stood watching.
Ragged.
Greedy.
Eyes locked on the easy prize drifting right into their hands.
"…You see that?"
"…Guy's alone."
"…Must be loaded…"
One of them grinned.
"…He's sleeping."
"…That's free money."
Another hesitated.
"…Something feels off…"
The first pirate scoffed.
"…You always say that."
"…Look at him."
"…He's dead asleep."
He cracked his knuckles.
"…I'll check his pockets."
Step.
Step.
Step.
Closer.
Giovanni didn't move.
The pirate crouched.
Hand reaching—
Slowly—
Carefully—
Toward his coat.
"…Heh…"
Fingers brushed the fabric.
And then—
SNAP—!
A scream tore through the shore.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH—!!"
The pirate collapsed instantly—
Clutching his arm—
Bent the wrong way—
Completely broken.
Standing over him—
Still half-lidded—
Barely even awake—
Was Giovanni.
"…Huh…"
He blinked.
"…What's that noise…"
He yawned.
Stretching slightly—
As if he hadn't just shattered a man's arm.
The rest of the pirates froze.
"…W-what the hell—?!"
"…He didn't even wake up—!"
"…He caught him in his sleep—!"
Giovanni rubbed his eyes.
"…Why are you screaming so loud…"
He glanced down.
Saw the guy writhing.
"…Oh."
A pause.
"…You shouldn't touch people like that."
Silence.
"…RUN."
They didn't hesitate.
The entire group turned—
And bolted.
Full sprint.
Gone.
"…Huh?"
Giovanni blinked.
"…Why are they running…"
He scratched his head.
"…I didn't even do anything…"
A breeze passed.
Warm.
Different.
He paused.
Then slowly turned—
Looking out at the island.
Buildings.
Color.
Music.
Laughter.
His eyes widened.
"…Wait…"
"…No way…"
He looked back at the sea.
Then at the sand.
Then at the city again.
"…I'm here already?"
A grin spread across his face.
"…DRESSROSA?!"
He jumped off the boat—
Landing lightly on the sand.
"…That was fast…"
"…Rayleigh would be pissed if he knew I made it this easy…"
He stretched again—
Rolling his shoulders.
"…Alright…"
His eyes lit up.
"…Let's see what this place has."
---
The streets of Dressrosa—
Were alive.
Music echoed through every corner.
Bright colors filled the air.
People laughed—
Danced—
Shouted—
Celebrated.
It wasn't just an island.
It was a festival.
Constant.
Unending.
Giovanni walked through the streets—
Eyes scanning everything.
"…Damn…"
"…This place is actually insane…"
Women in elegant dresses spun through the streets—
Partners guiding them in rhythm.
Guitars played.
Feet stomped.
Hands clapped.
"…Oi!"
A hand grabbed his wrist.
Before he could react—
He was pulled.
Spun.
And suddenly—
He was dancing.
"…Huh—?!"
A beautiful woman smiled at him—
Eyes sparkling.
"Don't just stand there!"
"Move!"
Music swelled.
And instinct kicked in.
His body moved.
Naturally.
Effortlessly.
Step.
Turn.
Spin.
The rhythm caught him.
And just like that—
Giovanni was dancing.
"…Oh—!"
He grinned.
"…This is actually fun!"
The woman laughed.
"Of course it is!"
"This is Dressrosa!"
More people gathered.
Clapping.
Cheering.
"…Who's that guy?"
"…He's good!"
"…Look at his footwork—!"
Another woman joined.
Then another.
"…Wait—"
"…Why are there more—"
Spin.
Dip.
Turn.
Now he was surrounded.
"…Okay, this is getting—"
Another hand grabbed him.
"Dance with me!"
"No, me!"
"You're amazing!"
"…WAIT—!"
Too many.
Way too many.
FLASH—
He slipped out.
Vanished from the circle.
Reappearing—
In a nearby alley.
Breathing lightly.
"…That escalated quickly…"
He leaned against the wall.
"…I just wanted to look around…"
"…Not start a festival…"
He exhaled.
"…Alright…"
"…Focus."
His expression sharpened slightly.
"…Shanks said to meet at a bar…"
"…Somewhere around here…"
He pushed off the wall.
Stepping back toward the street—
And then—
THUD.
Something small bumped into him.
"…Oh—?"
He looked down.
A little girl.
No older than twelve.
She had fallen slightly from the impact.
"…Hey, are you okay—"
He reached out—
Instinctively—
To help her up.
She lifted her head.
And in that moment—
Giovanni froze.
Completely.
Eyes widening.
Heart skipping.
"…No way…"
His mind blanked.
Then—
A name surfaced.
'…Nico Robin…?'
The alley fell quiet.
Too quiet for a place like Dressrosa.
The music from the streets outside still echoed faintly—
Distant laughter—
Clapping—
Life continuing as if nothing was wrong.
But here—
In this narrow strip of shadow—
The air felt heavy.
The little girl stood in front of him.
Small.
Fragile.
Trying her best to compose herself.
"I—I'm sorry…"
Her voice was soft.
Polite.
Too polite.
Nico Robin lowered her head slightly.
"I wasn't looking where I was going…"
Giovanni didn't answer immediately.
He was watching her.
Closely.
The way her shoulders tensed.
The way her eyes avoided his.
The way her body looked ready to run at any second.
And then—
He noticed it.
Dark rings.
Under her eyes.
Faint.
But unmistakable.
'…How long has it been since she slept properly…'
His gaze softened slightly.
Fragments of memory surfaced.
A newspaper.
Years ago.
A headline that shook the world.
Ohara Incident
A child.
Declared a criminal.
A survivor.
'…So it's true…'
'She's been running… this whole time…'
His expression hardened, just a little.
'…That's insane…'
'No child should have to live like that…'
Robin took a small step back.
"I'll be going now…"
Her voice was quick.
Almost rushed.
As if staying even one second longer was dangerous.
She turned—
But froze.
Footsteps.
Multiple.
Closing in.
From both ends of the alley.
Robin's body stiffened instantly.
"…No…"
Her breath hitched.
"…Not here…"
Black suits.
Clean.
Cold.
Precise.
Figures stepped into view—
Blocking both exits.
Giovanni's eyes narrowed slightly.
'…That uniform…'
No doubt.
'CP9.'
His gaze shifted—
Landing on one figure in particular.
Tall.
Calm.
Unmoving.
Eyes like a predator.
Rob Lucci
'…So it's him…'
Robin's fear exploded.
Her breathing quickened.
Her eyes trembled.
'…They found me…'
'No… no… not yet…'
Her thoughts spiraled.
'This is it…'
'This is where it ends…'
Her fingers curled slightly—
As if trying to hold onto something—
Anything.
But there was nothing.
No escape.
No miracle.
Just the end.
Lucci stepped forward.
Slow.
Measured.
Like a hunter approaching prey that had nowhere left to run.
"Nico Robin."
His voice was calm.
Flat.
"Your escape ends here."
Silence.
"The World Government has no intention of wasting further resources chasing a child."
Another step.
"So surrender quietly."
Robin couldn't answer.
Her throat tightened.
Her voice—
Gone.
Fear gripped her completely.
Giovanni glanced at her briefly.
Saw everything.
The panic.
The despair.
The resignation.
'…She's already given up…'
Lucci's gaze shifted.
Landing on Giovanni.
"…And you."
A pause.
"I am Rob Lucci."
"An operative of the World Government."
His tone didn't change.
"Hand over the girl."
Simple.
Direct.
Robin's eyes slowly turned—
Toward Giovanni.
For just a moment—
Hope flickered.
Small.
Fragile.
But then—
It died.
'…What am I thinking…'
Her expression fell.
'He's just some random person…'
'He can't do anything…'
Her fists tightened.
'…I have to get out of this myself…'
'Like always…'
Giovanni moved.
Casually.
Reaching into his coat.
Pulling something out.
A skewer.
Grilled meat.
Still warm.
He held it out—
Toward Robin.
"…Here."
Robin blinked.
"…Huh…?"
"…It's good."
He nodded slightly.
"…You should try it."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the CP9 agents paused.
Robin stared at him.
Confusion flooding her face.
"…W-what…?"
He nudged it closer.
"…Take it."
"…You look like you need it."
Her hand moved—
Almost automatically.
She took the skewer.
Still confused.
Still unsure.
Lucci's voice cut through the moment.
"…Did you not hear me?"
A faint edge entered his tone.
"I said—"
"Hand over the girl."
Giovanni didn't even look at him.
"…No."
One word.
The air shifted.
Lucci's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You dare defy a direct order from the World Government?"
A step forward.
"Then I will take her by force."
The agents behind him adjusted their stances.
Ready.
Prepared.
Robin's grip tightened on the skewer.
Her heart pounded.
'…This is bad…'
But then—
Giovanni finally turned.
Slowly.
Facing Lucci.
And smiled.
"…I'd like to see you try."
The alley grew still.
---
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