The next morning, Alvin slowly woke up on the sofa, as if surfacing from a deep and suffocating dream.
"Hiss…"
"My head hurts…"
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
"No."
His gaze sharpened instantly as he looked toward the unfinished Sea King meat on the dining cart beside him. The events of last night surged back into his mind like a violent tide.
The meat had been drugged.
"Robin!"
Alvin rushed into Robin's room.
It was empty.
No trace of her remained.
His heart sank.
He understood immediately. Robin had drugged him.
"What happened… Robin…" His voice was low, filled with confusion and distress.
His emotions felt like a sky buried beneath thick storm clouds, heavy and suffocating, as if a fine rain were falling somewhere unseen.
He returned to the living room and collapsed onto the sofa like a deflated balloon. The brightness that usually lingered in his expression was gone.
Perhaps it was emotional bias, but ever since arriving in this world, aside from his grandmother, Robin had been the closest thing to family he had.
And now she had left without a word, in such a strange and painful way.
It left a hollow ache in his chest.
Could it be…
Was she threatened?
Alvin searched desperately for an explanation. That was the only possibility he could come up with. Their trust in each other had been genuine.
But who could have forced her?
Aokiji?
Did that man come to West Blue?
If it really was Aokiji, Alvin could do nothing about it right now. But if it truly was him, then at least Robin would be safe.
However…
Aokiji…
Alvin shook his head, trying to clear the chaos in his mind, and walked slowly toward the bathroom.
Two hours later, he emerged, freshly showered and dressed in clean clothes.
On the surface, he appeared renewed. He looked once again like the calm and confident young man people were familiar with.
But if Robin were here, she would know.
His heart was far from calm.
He returned to the living room and sat down quietly. From the system storage, he took out his sniper rifle.
Carefully, almost reverently, he began disassembling it.
He wiped each component meticulously.
This rifle was like a trusted companion. It might not have been the most advanced weapon on the market, but Alvin had grown with it.
Switching to a superior rifle now might actually disrupt his rhythm. This one had been refined through years of practice, like an extension of his own body.
At this moment, his eyes were like still water.
Steady.
Unmoving.
He cleaned every part with absolute precision.
Only when the hour hand of the wall clock slowly moved between eleven and twelve did he calmly reassemble the rifle. He returned it to the system storage, packed up the rest of his belongings into storage as well, and walked out of the suite.
When he arrived at the hotel entrance, heavy rain poured from the sky.
Despite the storm, a large crowd had gathered, clearly waiting for him.
The moment Alvin stepped outside, the noise ceased.
All eyes locked onto him.
A woman holding an umbrella walked forward gracefully.
"Daru asked me to deliver a message. He will allow you to enter Garbage Mountain first. He hopes you will not disappoint his expectations."
Her face was solemn, her tone unwavering.
It was clear she had near blind faith in Daru.
Alvin gave her a brief glance.
He said nothing.
He simply stepped forward, allowing the rain to strike his body as he walked steadily toward the dense forest of Garbage Mountain.
As he disappeared deeper into the trees, the crowd erupted into motion, rushing toward Garbage Mountain like a swelling tide.
"Let's go!"
"Today we'll see who truly deserves to be called West Blue's number one sniper!"
"This is going to be incredible!"
"I'm betting on Alvin! He's only fifteen and already has a 30 million Berries bounty!"
"Please. Just a kid. His bounty is probably inflated. Daru will crush him!"
"I support Alvin! Youth means potential!"
"Hmph!"
…
The crowd clearly split into two camps.
One side supported Alvin wholeheartedly.
The other firmly believed that Daru, the former top sniper of West Blue, would prevail.
In a quiet corner stood a man wearing sunglasses and a gray overcoat. His sharp gaze followed the direction Alvin had taken.
"Nico Robin… It seems you truly developed feelings for that boy."
...
The spectators did not dare venture deep into Garbage Mountain. They remained at the outskirts, waiting.
Meanwhile, Alvin had already penetrated deep into the forest.
As people speculated when Daru would appear, the tightly packed crowd suddenly parted.
It was as if an invisible force had pushed them aside, clearing a wide path down the middle.
The previously noisy atmosphere fell into silence.
All eyes focused on the far end of the path.
A figure approached slowly.
He wore a black combat suit. His posture was straight and unyielding. A heavy, professionally crafted sniper rifle rested across his back.
It was Daru.
The man everyone had been waiting for.
"Daru! He's already inside! Defeat him and reclaim the title of West Blue's number one sniper! I believe in you!" the umbrella woman shouted passionately.
Her voice cut through the rain like thunder.
Her excitement ignited the crowd.
"That's right!"
"Daru, show him the difference!"
"Take him down!"
"Prove you're the best!"
Cheers echoed across the outskirts of Garbage Mountain.
People from every corner had gathered to witness this clash.
In this moment, they were united by a single purpose.
To see which sniper would emerge supreme.
"He will fall to my bullet," Daru said calmly.
Then, under countless expectant gazes, he stepped into the forest.
...
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