71. Launch! Buster Call!

Out on the wide ocean, Al held a steaming cup of tea made by Vivi, enjoying the sea breeze as he watched the daily scuffle between Tom and Spike.

It appears to be all because of a certain female cat they encountered back in Arabasta.

Even after days of sailing, Tom is still smitten. Every so often, he pulls out a photo of the cat, showering it with kisses and hugs, all the while taunting Spike.

This angered Spike, who spent the entire day chasing after Tom!

Al could only watch helplessly as these two friends bickered.

He sighed in resignation.

Turning back to his quarters, Al opened his diary as usual and continued writing about their journey.

"The wind is favorable, and the tide is cooperating. It seems like smooth sailing today."

Nami stood at the bow, arms extended, embracing the humid sea breeze.

Carina approached Nami, offering her a cup of black tea, and delicately brushed away strands of hair tousled by the wind.

Just as Carina was about to speak, Nami let out a small snort and focused her gaze on the sea.

With a hint of skepticism, she pointed towards a frog swimming on the surface of the water.

"Carina, have you ever seen a frog swimming like that, freestyling?"

In response to Nami's question, Robin, who was reclining on a chair reading a book, chuckled lightly before Carina could respond.

"There are countless peculiar creatures in the sea, far more fascinating than Tom and Spike," Robin remarked.

"A frog swimming freestyle? That doesn't strike me as odd at all."

Nami glanced over at Tom, who was currently being pinned down by Spike, wearing a perplexed expression. She nodded slightly, seemingly in agreement with Robin's observation.

However, in the next moment...

Nami appeared to have noticed something unusual. She looked at Robin with a smirk and exclaimed, "Why did you suddenly appear on our ship and keep insisting on joining our crew?"

Carina and Vivi also regarded Robin with suspicion.

Even though Robin had been with them since they embarked on their journey and had been sailing alongside them for a while now...

There was still something about Robin's past that made them uneasy, unable to fully trust her!

The vice president of Baroque Works, their former enemy!

In response to Nami's inquiry, Robin took a sip of her coffee, choosing not to elaborate but instead smiled and replied, "Why do you ask? Aren't we already comrades?"

"I don't understand why Captain Al allowed you on board, but don't try anything funny. I'll be keeping a close watch on you," Nami asserted sternly.

Puffing out her cheeks, she placed her hands on her hips and approached Robin with indignation.

Those piercing eyes seemed intent on penetrating Robin's facade.

Robin opted not to respond. After leisurely sipping her coffee, she quietly utilized her Devil Fruit ability to extract a bag of jewels from Nami's treasure chest.

Placing the bag of jewels on the table, Robin feigned concern and remarked, "This money is causing quite the headache."

In the blink of an eye, as Robin anticipated, Carina and Nami's eyes transformed into the shape of Bele, indicating their suspicion.

Witnessing this, Vivi instinctively stepped back, her fear and apprehension towards Robin palpable.

Even Spike and Tom, caught up in their chase, couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger seeing Nami and Carina being manipulated once more.

Just as they were contemplating confronting Robin, she suddenly interjected with praise, "Tom looks even cuter today, and Spike is becoming more and more handsome."

With just that one sentence, Tom and Spike, previously aggressive, suddenly became remarkably obedient!

Tom even emitted a cheerful "whoosh" sound as he playfully rubbed against Robin.

Meanwhile, Spike retrieved a pair of sunglasses from behind him, showcasing his newfound charm in front of Robin.

"I can run, I can run, where are you!" Spike exclaimed gleefully.

Witnessing this unsettling sight, Vivi hurriedly knocked on Al's door.

Upon hearing Vivi's call, Al calmly set down the pen in his hand and stepped out of the room.

After witnessing how easily the others were manipulated by Robin, Al couldn't help but express his frustration.

"This guy is something else, frightening!" he muttered under his breath.

Robin appeared to sense Al's gaze upon him. She leisurely set down her book and approached Al directly.

"Captain, the weather today is splendid," Robin remarked politely, attempting to divert the conversation.

However, Al chose not to acknowledge Robin's courteous attempt to change the subject.

Al pressed his index finger against his lips, emitting a soft hiss, before gesturing towards the individuals on the deck with a grave tone.

"Quiet down. If you awaken those two fellows in the cabin's basement, we might find ourselves in another predicament," he warned sternly.

With that, Al led the way into the cabin's living room, and Robin, seemingly intrigued by something, nodded in understanding and followed him.

Vivi stood there in a daze for a while before realizing, hadn't she sought Captain Al's assistance?

"How did Captain Al get so close to that woman?" Vivi exclaimed, expressing his concern.

Before Vivi could finish his exclamation, Al gently patted him on the head.

Al proceeded to softly stroke Vivi's head, reassuring him with a calm voice, "You may not fully understand Robin yet, but rest assured, she harbors no hostility towards us."

With that said, Al took Vivi's hand and led him into the living room.

"What would you two like to drink?" Al asked softly, standing in front of the refrigerator and addressing the two girls seated on the sofa, exchanging glances.

"Juice," one of them requested.

"Coffee," the other replied.

After preparing the drinks, Al settled himself between the two women and passed the beverages over to them.

Observing Vivi's lingering concern, Al chose not to press further, confident that time would eventually ease Vivi's apprehension.

"Everything requires an adjustment period," he mused quietly.

"Captain Al, may I ask what my father said that night that made you so eager to head to the Water 7?" Vivi inquired, attempting to steer the conversation away from his own unease.

Robin, too, appeared intrigued by the topic.

Being in the basement of the Arabasta palace, she and Al had been poring over historical texts regarding the whereabouts of Pluton.

Al had explicitly mentioned the location of Pluton's blueprints, stating his lack of interest in the weapon.

However, that very night, taking advantage of the cover of darkness, Al hastily set sail with his crew for the Water 7.

If it weren't for Robin's desire to speak with Crocodile at that moment, she might not have been able to board Al's ship.

In response to Vivi's question, Al let out a soft sigh, retrieving a letter from his pocket and passing it to Vivi.

"Captain Al, what is this?" Vivi asked with suspicion as he accepted the letter. After reading its contents, his expression darkened.

"Are you kidding me?" he exclaimed in disbelief.

Clearly unable to accept what he had read, Vivi's eyes welled up with tears as he hastily retreated to his room, covering his mouth.

Witnessing Vivi's intense reaction, Robin couldn't help but feel curious. She took the envelope from Al and began reading its contents attentively.

The letter read: "To King Cobra of Arabasta, if you don't want your country to perish, use any means necessary to lure Al and his crew to the Water 7. Otherwise, Arabasta will be expelled from the World Government. As for the consequences of expulsion, I believe you understand better than anyone."

After absorbing the shocking contents of the letter, Robin expressed her disbelief, remarking, "This is the World Government... it's unbelievable."

Al, feeling helpless, extended his hands in a gesture of resignation. He then shared the news of his victory over Crocodile and pointed to the image above, suggesting, "This picture is likely the cause. I have no idea where these individuals came from."

Looking in the direction of Al's finger, they saw the photo.

In the image, Vivi, Robin, Nami, Carina, and others sat together, enjoying afternoon tea with smiles adorning their faces.

"Is it because of me?" Robin pondered aloud, her tone tinged with guilt.

Al shook his head, offering a reassuring smile. "It's likely the group of Marines who see you as part of my crew."

"A newcomer who took down one of the Shichibukai shortly after setting sail, and paired with the Devil Child."

"Even just one of us poses a significant threat to the World Government, so it's understandable for them to act hastily," Al remarked, acknowledging the gravity of their situation.

Robin frowned slightly, appearing to have much on her mind, yet unable to voice her thoughts.

Noticing the change in Robin's demeanor, Al, who was familiar with her, could easily surmise her inner turmoil.

Standing up, Al walked outside with a determined grin on his face.

"From the moment I set sail, I made a vow. As captain, I promise to never ignore any crisis the crew faces!" he declared firmly.

"Since you're on board now, you're my partner," Al affirmed, his voice resolute.

"No matter what kind of ambush those Marines have set up in the Water 7, as long as the sun rises, we'll weather through it," he added confidently.

Staring at Al's gentle and confident smile, Robin felt as though a fog was lifting from her heart.

Just as Robin was about to speak up...

Nami's sudden exclamation interrupted her thoughts, causing Robin to swallow the words that were caught in her throat.

"Captain Al, I see the island!" Nami called out excitedly.

But before her words could fully register, the deafening roar of a sea train sounded from behind.

Nami's expression turned fearful as she stared at the rapidly approaching sea train.

"Quick! Tom, Spike, paddle faster! We're about to crash!!!" she shouted urgently.

Carina decisively crossed her fingers, conjuring a protective barrier around the boat.

Tom and Spike were shaken to their cores, their bodies trembling in fear as they darted around the deck.

If Nami hadn't swiftly intervened with a punch, they might not have resumed paddling after the initial shock.

"Damn it, is it too late?" Nami's face drained of color as he muttered, his mind reeling in disbelief at the imminent collision with the sea train.

In a moment of desperation, as Robin's voice trailed off, numerous pairs of arms sprouted from the boat, coalescing into a pair of wings.

With all her might, Robin lifted the entire ship into the air just as it was on the brink of collision with the sea train.

Despite Robin's valiant efforts, the ship's hull was still damaged by the sea train's impact!

Al ventured into the cabin for the first time to inspect the damage. Observing the two individuals still sleeping peacefully in the darkness, he couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief.

Fortunately, the damage to the keel wasn't severe, allowing them to continue their journey to the island.

"Are you all alright?" Al inquired, still in a daze from the recent ordeal.

The group exchanged glances, momentarily frozen by the intensity of the situation. Carina spoke up apologetically, "I'm sorry, Captain Al. I failed to protect the ship properly."

"It's alright. We can always repair or replace the ship if needed. And let's not forget, we have Tom and Spike," Al reassured them, his tone calm and reassuring.

Al smiled warmly and patted Tom and Spike on the shoulder in appreciation.

Spike and Tom reciprocated by patting their own chests confidently, expressing their readiness for any challenge.

Their gestures seemed to convey, "Building a ship is a trivial matter."

Upon arriving at the Water 7, Al promptly summoned Tom and Spike, enlisting their help to negotiate with the city's mayor to purchase the coveted Adam Tree.

Dealing with ordinary wood was proving to be quite challenging, as this was already the second ship they had to replace due to their adventures.

In Arabasta, thanks to Vivi and the fast runners, the crew managed to acquire a new, larger boat to replace the previous small one built by Tom and Spike.

However, despite their renowned shipbuilding skills, the new boat ended up being scrapped in less than a month.

While Tom and Spike were undoubtedly skilled shipbuilders, their penchant for adventure often led to their creations meeting untimely ends.

As Al and Tom departed, Nami and Carina exchanged a knowing glance before disembarking from the boat.

They needed to head into the city to purchase supplies, especially since Tom and Spike had voracious appetites. Without adequate provisions, they wouldn't be able to sustain their journey.

"Aren't you planning to go to the Water 7?" Robin inquired, leaning against the guardrail and casting a glance at the still-shocked Vivi.

After a few moments of hesitation, Vivi gazed solemnly at the passageway leading to the cabin. With a shake of his head, he replied:

"No, I'll stay on the boat and keep watch," Vivi declared firmly.

Observing this, Robin didn't press the matter further and simply hummed lightly before disembarking from the boat. Vivi didn't inquire about her destination, as he hadn't fully accepted Robin yet. However, her recent actions had begun to convince him that Robin harbored no ill intentions towards them.

As they stepped into the Water 7, Tom and Spike couldn't contain their excitement. They donned leisurely swimming trunks, behaving as if they were embarking on a vacation.

"You two..." Al began, sighing softly as he attempted to explain a few things to Tom and Spike. However, they seemed too caught up in their excitement to pay much attention. 

Al decided to proceed to the mayor's office alone, leaving Tom and Spike to their antics.

As Al's figure faded from view, the smiles on Tom and Spike's faces grew more audacious.

"Yahoo!" Tom exclaimed, retrieving a lifebuoy from behind and securing it around his body. With unwavering confidence, he leaped into the water, creating a splash of waves around him.

Just as Spike was about to jump, a man wearing only a pair of underpants suddenly plummeted from the sky, landing directly on top of him.

Startled and inexplicably flattened to the ground, Spike quickly rose to his feet, seething with anger. He retaliated by kicking the man into the water, still clutching him tightly.

As the man was sent flying into the water, a book without a cover slipped from his grasp.

Curious, Spike picked up the book and flipped through it casually. To his surprise, it turned out to be a shipbuilding manual. He tucked it behind his back, hiding it away for later perusal.

Immediately afterward, Spike hurriedly donned a lifebuoy. With a wild scream, he swung on it like a man possessed and launched himself into the water with a splash.

Meanwhile, in a dark alley not far from Tom and the others, a man with a long nose observed the scene intently. Without delay, he swiftly retrieved a den den mushi from his pocket.

"Moshi, Moshi, I've found the Cowboy Pirates, but..." he spoke urgently into the den den mushi, his voice trailing off ominously.

"Just what?" the voice on the other end of the phone bug demanded anxiously.

The long-nosed man swallowed hard, trembling as he spoke, "The design blueprint of the Ancient Weapon Pluton seems to have fallen into the hands of them!"

Before he could continue, an angry voice erupted from the phone bug, "Damn it, it's Nico Robin and Pluton again!"

"What do these pirates intend to do to the World Government!"

Listening to the heated argument unfolding through the den den mushi, the man broke out in a cold sweat.

Once the quarrel subsided, several voices, each with a different tone, spoke simultaneously: "Alert the Marines! Initiate a Buster Call on the Water 7 immediately!"

"This dangerous threat cannot be allowed to persist any longer!"

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