Smoke still lingered in the air.
Broken stone.
Collapsed walls.
Shattered streets that once held laughter and music now groaned under the weight of destruction.
At the center of it all stood Giovanni… stretching his shoulders like he had just finished a light workout.
Behind him—
Rob Lucci's unconscious body lay embedded into a crater, his transformation gone, eyes rolled back, completely defeated.
Footsteps approached.
Calm. Confident. Annoying.
"Yo."
Giovanni didn't even turn.
"…You took your sweet time."
A figure dropped from above, landing lightly beside him. Rifle resting casually on his shoulder, a smirk already loaded.
Yassop.
Giovanni clicked his tongue.
"I was having fun."
Yassop snorted. "Fun? That what you call getting pressed by a government lapdog?"
Giovanni finally turned, eyes narrowing.
"…Pressed?"
"Yeah," Yassop said lazily, scratching his cheek. "From where I was sitting, it looked like you were struggling."
"Struggling?" Giovanni repeated slowly.
The air between them shifted.
"…Say that again."
Yassop grinned wider.
"You. Were. Struggling."
A vein popped on Giovanni's forehead.
"I wasn't struggling, you clown. I was testing him."
"Testing him?" Yassop laughed. "You mean letting him live longer than necessary because you got bored?"
Giovanni scoffed. "At least I don't sit three kilometers away playing hide and seek with a rifle."
"Oh?" Yassop tilted his head. "You needed that 'hide and seek' to save your girl, didn't you?"
Giovanni froze.
"…My girl?"
"Yeah," Yassop said, gesturing casually behind him. "The one you asked me to protect. Or did you forget already?"
Giovanni's eyebrow twitched.
"I didn't ask. I instructed."
"Same thing."
"Not the same thing."
"Pretty sure it is."
Giovanni stepped forward.
"You're still as insufferable as ever."
Yassop matched the step, smirking.
"And you're still loud for no reason."
They stood face to face now.
Tension rising.
Neither backing down.
"…You wanna go?" Giovanni asked.
Yassop shrugged. "Anytime."
"…Right now?"
"…If you want."
A beat.
Silence.
Then—
"…Tch."
"…Tch."
Both turned away at the exact same time.
"…Not worth it," Giovanni muttered.
"Yeah," Yassop agreed. "Wouldn't be fair for you."
"…Say that again."
"Nothing."
Before it could escalate again—
Soft footsteps approached.
"Um…"
Both of them turned.
Nico Robin stood there, small hands clasped together, looking between them.
"…Thank you."
Her voice was quiet.
Careful.
Almost fragile.
Giovanni blinked.
"Oh. Yeah. That."
He waved it off. "Don't worry about it."
Yassop leaned down slightly, studying her.
"…You're alone?"
Robin hesitated.
Her eyes flickered with something deeper. Fear, calculation… survival.
"…Yes."
Giovanni frowned slightly.
"That's not safe."
Robin lowered her gaze.
He sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"Look… you shouldn't be wandering around by yourself like that. Especially with people like those guys after you."
For a moment—
She didn't respond.
Inside her mind—
'These men… they're strong.
Strong enough to fight the World Government…
If I stay with them… I might survive longer.'
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Then—
She looked up.
And smiled.
A soft, innocent, perfectly crafted smile.
"…If… it's not too much trouble… could I stay with you?"
Both men froze.
Hit.
Directly.
"…Huh?" Giovanni blinked.
"My name is Robin," she said sweetly. "Nice to meet you."
Silence.
Wind passed.
Somewhere in the distance, rubble shifted.
Giovanni's brain stopped working.
Yassop's soul nearly left his body.
"…Cute…" Giovanni muttered.
"…Dangerously cute…" Yassop added.
They both turned away slightly, covering their faces.
"…We're cooked."
"…Absolutely cooked."
Robin tilted her head slightly, confused.
"…So… is that a yes?"
Giovanni instantly turned back.
"Of course it is!"
Yassop nodded immediately.
"Yeah, no problem."
Robin smiled again.
"…Thank you."
And just like that—
She had secured her place.
But—
That moment didn't last long.
CLANG!
CLANG! CLANG!
Heavy footsteps.
Armor.
Weapons.
Dozens—
No—
Hundreds of soldiers flooded the streets, surrounding them from every direction.
Spears raised.
Guns aimed.
A formation tightened.
At the front—
A tall man stepped forward.
Crown. Armor. Presence.
King Riku Doldo III.
His expression was stern.
Controlled.
"…You two."
Giovanni blinked. "Oh."
Yassop sighed. "Here we go."
Riku's gaze swept across the destroyed streets.
The broken buildings.
The injured civilians being carried away.
His jaw tightened.
"…For the destruction you have caused in my country…"
His eyes locked onto Giovanni.
"…You will come with us."
Silence fell.
Giovanni slowly turned.
Looked around.
Really looked this time.
The damage.
The chaos.
The aftermath of his "fun."
"…Oh."
"…That's… bad."
Yassop casually reached for his rifle.
"Want me to clear a path?"
Giovanni immediately grabbed his wrist.
"No."
Yassop raised an eyebrow. "No?"
Giovanni shook his head slowly.
"…We did this."
"…We deal with it."
Yassop studied him for a moment.
Then smirked.
"…Didn't expect you to say that."
"Yeah well," Giovanni muttered. "Don't get used to it."
He stepped forward.
Hands relaxed at his sides.
"I'll come."
The soldiers tensed.
Weapons tightened.
Riku watched carefully.
"…You will not resist?"
Giovanni shrugged. "Don't see the point."
Yassop sighed dramatically.
"…This is annoying."
Robin looked between them.
Then quietly stepped closer.
Standing beside Giovanni.
Small.
Silent.
But choosing.
Riku exhaled slowly.
"…Very well."
He turned.
"Take him."
Chains were brought forward.
Soldiers approached cautiously.
Giovanni didn't resist.
As he was escorted away—
Giovanni glanced back once more at the ruined street.
"…Tch."
"…Guess I overdid it."
---
The royal halls of Dressrosa echoed with hurried footsteps.
"Wait for me—!"
A small figure darted past startled guards, her pink hair fluttering behind her like a banner.
Scarlett Riku.
Her eyes sparkled.
"A pirate… a real pirate!"
Her voice carried excitement, not fear.
All her life, she had heard stories.
Pirates were monsters. Brutal. Bloodthirsty. Lawless.
Men who laughed while cities burned.
Men who killed without remorse.
Men who smiled with blood on their hands.
Scarlett's pace quickened.
"But I've never actually seen one…"
Her heart pounded. Not with fear.
But curiosity.
Wonder.
Anticipation.
To her, pirates were like creatures out of a story.
And today—
She was finally going to meet one.
The grand doors to the audience chamber burst open.
"FATHER—!"
Scarlett stopped mid-step.
Everything… froze.
Silence.
Heavy.
Awkward.
Unbelievably awkward.
At the center of the room…
A young man was on his knees.
Face planted to the floor.
Sobbing.
Ugly crying.
"I'M SORRYYYYYY—!!"
His voice cracked through the chamber like a dying animal.
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO DESTROY THE CITYYY!! I SWEAR I DIDN'T!! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME—!!"
Scarlett blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Her brain refused to process what she was seeing.
The "fearsome pirate" she had imagined…
Was currently groveling.
Crying.
Begging.
Sniffling loudly.
Snot practically dripping.
"I CAN PAY FOR DAMAGES!! WAIT, I DON'T HAVE MONEY!! BUT I'LL FIGURE IT OUT—!! JUST DON'T EXECUTE ME—!!"
A long silence filled the hall.
One of the royal advisors slowly leaned toward another.
"…Are we sure we arrested the right man?"
Another adjusted his glasses.
"…This is… tragic."
A third sighed deeply.
"I've never seen dignity collapse this completely in real time."
Scarlett's excitement died on the spot.
Her face flattened.
"…That's a pirate?"
Disappointment.
Pure, unfiltered disappointment.
At the head of the chamber, King Riku Doldo III sat with a hand on his forehead.
"…This is giving me a headache."
He sighed.
Deeply.
"Stand up."
Giovanni immediately shot upright. Then slipped and nearly fell again.
"Yes, Your Majesty—!!"
He stood stiff, trembling like a leaf.
Trying to look serious.
Failing completely.
Riku's gaze shifted.
"…Scarlett. What are you doing here?"
Scarlett snapped out of her daze.
"Ah! I just, I heard there was a pirate—!"
She pointed.
"…That?"
Giovanni turned.
Their eyes met.
Time slowed.
Boom.
A heartbeat.
Loud.
Clear.
Overwhelming.
Scarlett stood by the doorway.
Sunlight spilling behind her.
Pink hair glowing.
Eyes sharp.
Alive.
Beautiful.
Giovanni froze.
Completely.
His brain short-circuited.
…
…
…oh.
'This… is bad.'
'This is very bad.'
'Why is she so beautiful?'
'No, seriously, what is this?'
'Is this allowed?'
Scarlett's face remained completely unimpressed.
Flat.
Judging.
Cold.
Giovanni internally recoiled.
'OI!! WHAT'S WITH THAT DISAPPOINTED LOOK—?!'
Outwardly, he forced a smile.
It twitched.
Badly.
"…Hi."
Scarlett didn't respond.
Riku pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…Enough."
His voice cut through the room.
"This situation has already caused enough disruption."
He looked at Giovanni.
Measured.
Calm.
"You destroyed part of my city."
Giovanni immediately bowed again.
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO—!!"
"I am aware," Riku said, cutting him off.
"There were no casualties."
A pause.
"…Which is the only reason you are still alive."
Giovanni froze mid-bow.
"…Thank you for not killing me."
Another advisor leaned over.
"…He thanked you for not executing him."
"…I've never seen someone so relieved to stay alive."
Riku exhaled.
"Therefore, I have decided on your punishment."
The room grew quiet.
Scarlett leaned forward slightly.
Curious again.
"You will fight."
Giovanni blinked.
"…Fight?"
Riku nodded.
"In the colosseum."
A pause.
"Five matches."
Silence.
Then—
"…Wait, that's it?"
Everyone turned to Giovanni.
Riku raised an eyebrow.
"…That is a light sentence."
Giovanni blinked again.
Then suddenly—
He dropped to his knees once more.
"THANK YOU SO MUCH—!!"
The advisors stared.
"…He's grateful for forced combat."
"…This man is unbelievable."
Scarlett stared at him.
Still trying to process.
"…He's not scary at all."
Giovanni wiped his tears and stood up again.
Completely fine now.
As if the breakdown never happened.
"Alright! Five matches, right?"
He stretched his arms.
Cracked his neck.
Grinned.
"Easy."
The shift was so sudden it gave everyone whiplash.
Riku narrowed his eyes slightly.
'…This one is dangerous.'
Scarlett tilted her head.
'…He changed.'
Giovanni looked around.
"…So where do I fight?"
---
A bar somewhere across the Island.
Laughter exploded through the building.
"GYAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!!"
Shanks slammed his mug onto the table, tears streaming down his face.
"I CAN'T!! I CAN'T DO THIS—!!"
Beckman exhaled slowly, cigarette between his fingers.
"So he's been captured by the royal guard."
Yassop leaned back in his chair, barely holding it together.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
His shoulders started shaking.
"…Yeah, he has."
Shanks wiped his tears.
"HE WAS CRYING—?!"
Yassop lost it.
"HE WAS BEGGING—!!"
The two burst into laughter again.
Loud.
Unrestrained.
Completely merciless.
Limejuice crossed his arms, unimpressed.
"…That idiot."
Lucky Roo munched calmly, unfazed.
"Sounds like him."
Limejuice snorted.
"First time back in action and he's already arrested."
Shanks raised his mug.
"To Giovanni."
Yassop raised his.
"The dumbest man alive."
Beckman lifted his slightly.
"…But still one of ours."
They clinked.
Far away—
In Dressrosa—
A certain pirate sneezed.
"…Someone's talking about me."
---
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