Betty took another sip from her glass, smacking her lips in an exaggerated manner. Her face suddenly contorted, and she spat out the remnants of her drink.
"Damn it! Why does this taste so weird? That black-hearted barkeep must've sold us counterfeit booze!"
Robin chuckled softly. "Nope. That's the specialty whiskey from this island. I ordered it just for you."
Betty shot her an unimpressed look, clearly not amused. "Some friend you are. I really don't know who taught you to be so devious."
Robin smiled, unfazed by the playful jab. She rose from her seat and followed Betty as they exited the tavern.
Outside, the streets were lively with the bustling crowd. Robin and Betty made their way toward the main group, who were busy gathering supplies for their next mission.
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi on Robin's belt let out its distinctive ring:
Bulu Bulu Bulu~ Bulu Bulu Bulu~
Robin picked it up, her curiosity piqued as the snail's eyes blinked open. A familiar voice came through the line, one that made both women pause.
"Moshi moshi. This is Little Flame. Are you all right?"
Both women froze, their expressions turning serious.
Robin's lips curled into a knowing smile as she stepped into a quieter part of the street. Betty followed, scanning the area with her Observation Haki to ensure no one was eavesdropping.
Once they reached an isolated alley, Robin finally responded. "Well, well, finally decided to call, have you? It's been ages since I last heard your voice."
On the other end, Koala groaned in mock annoyance. "Sister Robin, must you tease me every time?"
Robin's tone turned light and teasing. "Oh, I can't help it. You're just so adorable, little Koala."
"You're impossible! Humph, I'm not talking to you anymore," Koala retorted, though her voice betrayed a hint of amusement.
Betty smirked, leaning closer to the Den Den Mushi. "Cut her some slack, Koala. Now, what's this call about? I assume it's not just to chat."
"Right to business, huh?" Koala said. "Have you been keeping up with the news? Any thoughts on what's been happening in Wano Country?"
Betty raised an eyebrow. "We've seen the reports, though they're mostly just puff pieces for your Marine higher-ups. Funny, though—your name doesn't appear anywhere."
Koala let out a frustrated huff. "It can't be helped! Do you think someone like me could take credit for fighting Kaido? When he showed up, I had no choice but to hide and pray the fight wouldn't destroy everything around me. But the reports about Luffy? Those are 100% true. Even Sister Hancock and the admirals confirmed it."
Robin's eyes glinted with intrigue. "So, it's true. Luffy really managed to injure Kaido?"
Koala's voice turned enthusiastic. "Of course! Isn't that amazing?"
Ignoring Koala's excitement about Luffy, Betty crossed her arms. "Let's focus. Why are you calling us? What's your next move?"
"Actually, I'm calling on behalf of Luffy," Koala said, her tone shifting. "He wanted me to ask about your progress. How's your search going? Are you planning to head to Wano Country?"
Robin and Betty exchanged glances, silently deliberating. Robin spoke up first. "We've made significant progress but haven't visited three key locations: Zou, Wano Country, and Tottoland. Zou's mobility makes it hard to track, and Wano and Tottoland are entrenched in the territories of the Four Emperors. We planned to regroup at headquarters to reassess before acting."
"But if you're asking us to go to Wano," Betty added, "it sounds like plans are about to change."
Koala chuckled. "Bingo. Wano is under Marine jurisdiction now—or rather, Luffy's jurisdiction."
Robin and Betty stared at the snail, speechless for a moment.
Robin was the first to recover. "Luffy's in charge? That changes things. Fine, we'll head to Wano."
"Great!" Koala said brightly. "Let me know when you're close, and I'll share the quickest route to Wano."
After ending the call, Betty lit a cigarette, her rare smile curling as smoke drifted into the air. "I have to hand it to Luffy. He's full of surprises. Good fortune just falls into his lap, doesn't it?"
Robin chuckled, pulling her hood tighter. "He does have a knack for it. Let's regroup with the others. We have a little surprise for him, and I think he'll love it."
Far above the New World's turbulent seas, The Stormbreaker sailed gracefully among the clouds. Having bid farewell to Garp and Aokiji, Luffy stood at the ship's helm, gazing ahead at their next destination.
Two new passengers had joined his crew. One was Gion, who had chosen to temporarily follow Luffy, her reasons known only to her. The other was Kizaru, casually hitching a ride, much to the crew's bewilderment.
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