As the Heart Pirates' ship drew closer, Conis busied herself in the kitchen, Bonney cleaned the deck, and Enzo trained diligently in the gravity chamber.
Meanwhile, Robin, lounging on a deck chair with a book in hand, caught sight of the approaching ship.
She closed the book, stood up, and walked toward Ron's room.
When Robin entered, she found Ron sitting cross-legged on the floor, his attention fully focused on the Float-Float Fruit's powers. A sphere of water floated above his palm, constantly shifting in shape.
Robin leaned against the doorframe, book still in hand, as she observed him.
"There's a pirate ship heading our way," she said calmly.
Hearing this, Ron activated his Observation Haki.
His senses swept across the ship and its crew. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he "saw" their identities.
Robin raised an eyebrow. "You know this pirate crew?"
"I've heard of them."
Ron stood up, brushing off his pants. "Let's go take a look."
The two walked to the deck together.
Before long, the Heart Pirates' ship reached the Traveler.
Trafalgar Law, armed with his signature nodachi, stepped onto the deck accompanied by the polar bear mink Bepo and Shachi.
"Who's in charge of this ship?" Law asked, his sharp eyes scanning Ron and Robin.
"That would be me," Ron stepped forward, meeting Law's gaze. "What do you need?"
Law scrutinized the black-haired youth before him, a strange sense of familiarity nagging at him. It was as though he had seen Ron's face somewhere before.
"We're here to trade for some suppli—"
Before he could finish, Bepo grabbed his arm abruptly.
"What's your problem?" Law snapped, turning to glare at the mink.
But then he noticed both Bepo and Shachi trembling violently, their faces pale as if they'd seen a ghost.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?!"
"C-Captain…" Shachi stammered, his voice quivering. Tears and snot streamed down his face as he pointed at Ron. "I think… I think that's the guy who killed… the Golden Lion!"
"The Golden Lion…?" Law froze, his expression stiffening.
"You're saying he's the Traveler Ron?"
Bepo nodded furiously, fear written all over his face.
"There's no doubt about it! He looks exactly like the man in the wanted poster! And that woman beside him—she's Nico Robin! They're the same as in the photos!"
Law spun around, his gaze locking onto the duo before him.
The black-haired youth's face matched the infamous image printed in newspapers—Traveler Ron, the man who had slain the legendary Golden Lion.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Law's temple.
Ron, noticing the realization dawning on his visitor, smiled faintly. "Looks like you've heard of me?"
Without hesitation, Law activated his Devil Fruit power. A translucent sphere began to form, intending to teleport himself and his crewmates back to their ship.
But before the sphere could expand, a hand suddenly fell on his shoulder, halting the technique mid-cast.
Under the subtle yet overwhelming pressure radiating from Ron, Law's entire body stiffened. Cold sweat drenched him, and he found himself unable to move, as though an invisible force had locked him in place.
A voice, tinged with amusement, whispered into his ear.
"Leaving so soon? I have a few questions for you."
From the mouths of Law and his crew, Ron and Robin learned about many of the recent major events unfolding across the seas.
Among them was the explosive news of Ron's defeat of the Golden Lion, which had shaken the world. The Marines had branded him a criminal for sheltering Nico Robin and issued a bounty of 430 million Berries on his head.
"So that's how it is. Recognized me because of the bounty, huh?"
Sitting on a chair, Ron sipped his cola with a calm smile. "For a first bounty, 430 million isn't bad at all."
His relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with Robin's heavier expression.
While she had always anticipated a day might come, she hadn't expected it to arrive so soon.
Now, they were no longer carefree travelers; instead, they bore the label of criminals. To the world, they were akin to pirates—targets to be hunted and subdued by the Marines.
Sitting nearby, Trafalgar Law gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his unease growing.
Even though Ron had shown no hint of hostility or bloodlust, Law couldn't suppress the anxiety gnawing at him, knowing the man's identity and the terrifying feats he had achieved.
Behind Law, Bepo and Shachi stood stiffly, heads lowered and trembling. Neither dared to even glance in Ron's direction, terrified that a single wrong move might provoke the Traveler, leading to their immediate demise.
After all, the man before them was no ordinary pirate—he had slain the legendary Golden Lion, Shiki, and was now carrying a 430-million-Berry bounty on his head. To them, Ron was a living legend who had left an indelible mark on the sea.
As capable as their captain was, Law was no match for someone of Ron's caliber. If they angered this man, it could very well mean the end of the Heart Pirates.
"Other than this, is there any other news?" Ron asked, his tone calm as his gaze fell on Law. "For instance… has the Marines made any moves to come after me?"
Law nodded cautiously.
"The Marine Admiral Akainu and Marine Hero Vice Admiral Garp."
The moment Law said those names, Robin's eyes widened in shock.
Even Ron's calm expression faltered for a moment, his gaze narrowing slightly.
"So, Fleet Admiral Sengoku intends to erase me as a potential threat," Ron muttered, his tone tinged with amusement. "It seems the strength I displayed in defeating the Golden Lion has truly unsettled him."
A faint smile curved on Ron's lips.
What Sengoku couldn't have known was that Ron had acquired the powers of the Golden Lion's Float-Float Fruit.
"As long as that troublesome Kizaru doesn't show up, they won't be able to catch me," Ron added, his voice brimming with confidence.
"When did they set out?" Robin asked, her tone laced with concern as she turned to Law.
Law thought for a moment before responding, "Word is, they left Marineford three days ago. Given the speed of their warships, they should have already reached the North Blue by now."
Robin's heart sank, her eyes narrowing as she processed the information. She turned to look at Ron, hoping to gauge his reaction.
To her surprise, Ron remained as calm as ever, sipping on his chilled cola with the same relaxed demeanor, showing no signs of worry.
Biting down on his straw, Ron flashed her a reassuring smile.
"Relax. The Marines won't catch us."
The confidence in his voice was so unshakable that it soothed the turmoil in Robin's heart.
Meanwhile, Law stared at Ron, utterly astonished.
This was no ordinary pursuit—it involved an Admiral of the Marine Headquarters and the legendary Garp, both working together. Where did Ron's overwhelming confidence come from?
Suddenly, Ron's gaze sharpened, his head turning slightly to the southeast.
"What's wrong?" Robin asked, noticing the shift in his expression.
"Speak of the devil," Ron said with a faint smile, his eyes fixed in the distance. "They've arrived sooner than I expected."
His words sent a jolt through Robin, Law, and his crewmates.
"Are you saying… Akainu and Garp are already nearby?!" Law couldn't help but exclaim.
Without hesitation, Ron nodded, then stood up and looked at the visibly tense Heart Pirates.
"You can head back now. Thanks for bringing me this information."
Ron's words were accompanied by a polite smile, but the underlying meaning was clear.
It was time for them to leave—before things became dangerous.