41 We (Don't) Have Problems!

...

"Hmmm.....~ So boring...~"

"..."

"Hmmmm...~"

"..."

"Hmmmmmmm.....~"

"..."

"HMMMMMMMMM.....~!"

"Argh, shut up!"

-Bam!-

Slamming her fist against Luffy's head without mercy, Nami snorted as she looked at the knocked down Luffy with an annoyed look on her face.

"Why are you sulking all of the sudden? It's annoying!"

"But Nami...~ How come we provoked a Shichibukai, but nothing has happened so far?"

Standing up as he rubbed the bump that had formed on his head because of Nami's punch, Luffy looked grumpily at the sea surrounding them, as he complained in a little voice.

"Whaaat...? Why are you angry about that?! You should be happy that we haven't met any trouble aside from Drum! That way we can bring Vivi faster to Arabasta to stop Crocodile!"

"But it's too boring!"

-Sigh...-

"What am I going to do with you...?"

Massaging her temples as an annoyed expression appeared on her face, Nami sighed.

It was then that suddenly another voice came from behind her and made her frown even deeper.

"Luffy is right. How come that Shichibukai hasn't sent his men to hunt us down? I was expecting some action, but it seems like that Crocodile isn't much"

Sitting on a corner of the ship, Zoro could be seen yawning slightly as he spoke with a dissatisfied expression on his face.

-Bam!-

Of course, his comments also gained him a punch to the head by Nami.

"Really, is there no one normal in this crew...?"

Sighing in exasperation, Nami grabbed her head with both hands as she complained with a dispairing voice.

However, soon, another voice came from behind her and made her raise one of her eyebrows.

"They have a point Nami... I've got to know how Baroque Works operates because of all my years working for them, and they have never been this... Inactive. Which it's even more unnerving considering that those two executives know that we have discovered Crocodile's real identity..."

Coming down from the second floor of the ship, where the kitchen was located, Vivi looked at Nami with a grave expression on her face, as she bit softly her nail in nervousness.

And how could she not? The fact that those two executives of Baroque Works had flown away ready to alert Crocodile was already a sign that trouble was coming. However, no matter how much they waited, trouble never presented itself.

While for Luffy and Zoro it was simply a matter of boredom. For Vivi, who knew how dangerous and scheming Baroque Works was, it was really unsettling to not know what they were planning by letting them travel safely. Even more considering how close they were to Arabasta now.

Was Crocodile just gonna let her get to her father and to the Rebel Army?

The cruel and scheming Crocodile she knew would never allow such a thing.

And that was the most terrifying thing of all. What was he planning? What kind of evil scheme would they face once they got to Arabasta...?

Would they be prepared? Would they be able to get through it safely?

She doubted that.

She had been helped by them, and she didn't want them to get hurt just because of her selfish desires.

It was, after all, a fight of her own. She had been already lucky enough to have them help her so far.

However, having them involved anymore in her Kingdom's conflict, and having them fight against a Shichibukai at that, was obviously only a selfish desire of hers., and she didn't want them to suffer the consequences of her own greed.

However, no matter how much she pleaded with them to not involve themselves more than what they already were, they still remained stubborn and carefree as ever. Making her want to pull her hair out of sheer stress.

After all, just the thought of them falling into Crocodile's hands because they were following her was something that stressed her mind immensely.

If they were to die because of her fault, she would never forgive herself...

-Flap, Flap!-

Fortunately for her, though, that worry wouldn't last much longer.

-Coo, Coo!-

"Hmm?"

It was at that moment that Nami spotted a certain bird coming in their way, and exclaimed in surprise.

After that, she looked for a coin inside her pocket and smiled softly as she found one there.

Then, noticing the small ship where all the straw hats were currently navigating, the bird flew down in their direction before then it landed right in front of Nami and gave her what seemed to be a newspaper from a bag that it was carrying on its chest. Making Nami smile widely at the paper in her hands, and give the bird the coin she had taken out of her pocket earlier as payment.

-Coo!-

Then, letting a thankful cry, the bird started flapping its wings once again, before then it flew away. Leaving all the straw hats there looking curiously at Nami, who was holding the newspaper with an interested gaze in her eyes.

It was, after all, one of the only ways of knowing what was happening around the world while they were still stranded in the middle of the ocean.

"Let's see, what interesting things have been...- Huh?"

However, It was when Nami was about to start reading the newspaper out loud for the others to hear, that suddenly her eyes almost popped out of their sockets and her mouth went agape because of the astonishment she felt when she read its contents.

"What's wrong Nami?"

Noticing the change in her expression, Luffy tilted his head confusedly, before he walked toward her and looked at the newspaper with a curious expression. Trying to see what had shocked her so much.

Unfortunately, as soon as he read what was there, he immediately made the same expression and exclaimed loudly in surprise.

"Whaaaaaaaat...?!"

"...?"

Curious about their reaction, Zoro raised an eyebrow in curiosity, as he waited for them to snap out of their stupor while remaining seated.

Vivi on the other hand approached Nami and started shaking her shoulders when she saw that she was still looking at the contents of the newspaper with a surprised expression on her face.

However, before she even had the chance to ask her what was wrong, Nami's smile grew wide as the sea, before then she started shaking Vivi hastily in happiness. Making the latter stutter as she tried to speak because of how fast she was being shaken by Nami.

"We are no longer in dangeeeer!!!"

"N-Na-m- mi, wha-a-a-t's w-w-rong-?!"

"Crocodile has been defeated! We don't have to fight a Shichibukai anymore!"

At hearing that, Vivi's eyes went wide open, as she yelled in a shocked voice.

"What?!"

...

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|A day before, inside a luxurious inn...|

...

"So, you are telling me that Princess Vivi and that pirate crew discovered Mr.0's real identity, and now they are coming to Arabasta?"

-Squeak!-

-Coooo...!-

"..."

Looking at a bunch of hand-made portraits in her hands, Nico Robin would be seen smiling softly as if amused by the story she had just heard.

In front of her, were the two animal executives of Baroque Works who had seen and heard Vivi confess that she knew Crocodile's real plan. They had a firm expression, as if ready to receive orders at any moment now that their organization was in problems

It seemed that as the messengers/executioners of Baroque Works that they were, they were ready to go and try to kill the pirate crew. Or at the very least, go and call any of the other executives to take care of them... Any of those options worked for the two animals.

However, unfortunately for them, this time Robin was going to let them down.

"What a lucky girl she is"

-Riiiip...!-

Ripping the portraits apart, Robin smiled beautifully at the two stunned animals in front of her, before she then patted their heads as they looked confusedly at each other after seeing the only portraits that they had of the pirate crew being ripped apart right in front of them.

Soon, however, Robin shook her head, as she spoke to the two animals with a solemn tone. Making the animals tremble in surprise after hearing what she said.

"Crocodile was defeated a few days ago. Didn't you know? That means that from now on Baroque Works is dissolved completely, as there's no further need for us to continue with his plan"

""...?""

Looking confusedly at each other, the executives raised an eyebrow, before they looked back at Robin and titled their heads in confusion, seemingly looking at her with a questioning gaze.

Of course, Robin knew what they meant with that gaze.

"Fufufu... How cute... But no. I'm not going to become the next boss. I've already joined someone else"

Hanging their heads low, the animals looked at each other for a brief moment, before they nodded and left the inn. Leaving only Robin there alone, smiling softly at the sight of the two ex-executives of Baroque Works leaving for good.

Then, sighing softly, Robin walked back inside her room and threw herself onto her bed, seemingly wanting to relax.

"Somehow it seems like my wish will take a little bit more... But as long as I can accomplish it. I'm fine with it"

Taking out a small notebook from her pocket, Robin smiled satisfyingly, before she then began writing something in there.

And as she did, soon a funny expression appeared on her face as she started muttering something in a low voice.

"From a Shichibukai planning on taking down an entire Kingdom, to a mysterious bounty hunter that managed to save an entire country in less than an hour... For some reason, I feel like the people I join are stranger each time..."

Chuckling at that, Robin smiled softly, before she went back to writing in her notebook. Seemingly losing track of time after that.

And with that, a lot of hours passed.

...

-To be Continued...-

°°°

(A/N: I felt that this chapter was too short, so I will try to write another one for tomorrow.

Don't trust me though, Terraria just got updated and who knows how many hours will I waste in there?)