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Just as the Going Merry was about to leave Whiskey Peak and head deeper into the Grand Line, a voice drifted down from the second-floor deck.
"How wonderful it is to escape from a senior agent."
"Oh? Would you really call this an escape?" Ikki replied with a smile.
Everyone turned to see the speaker—a woman lounging on the second-floor deck, her legs crossed, one hand resting casually on her cheek. She wore a revealing purple cowboy outfit, complete with a matching hat, and observed the crew with a faint, enigmatic smile. (T/N: Lord knows I will...)
The woman was none other than Nico Robin.
Her sudden appearance set the entire crew on high alert. Weapons were drawn as they prepared for a fight.
With a calm glance at the group, Robin activated her Flower-Flower Fruit ability, disarming everyone in an instant. Then her gaze shifted to Ikki, who had been the first to notice her.
"You," she said, her tone curious, "are the only one on this ship who doesn't seem to harbor any ill intent toward me. Why is that?"
Robin's life as a fugitive, with a bounty of 79 million Berries, had sharpened her ability to sense hostility. She was accustomed to being hunted and betrayed. For someone not to view her as a threat was unusual, to say the least.
Ikki smiled at her question. "Simple," he said. "You don't have any ill intent toward us, so why should I have any toward you?"
Robin's smile widened. Without another word, she produced a Eternal Pose, holding it out for the crew to see.
"This is a Eternal Pose. It will let you bypass the next island entirely," she said, tossing it to Ikki.
Ikki caught the Pose and, without hesitation, handed it to Luffy. As the captain, the decision of where to sail rested with him.
The crew already knew who this woman was. Thanks to Vivi and Igaram's earlier explanations, they understood that Robin was Crocodile's partner and a key figure in Baroque Works.
Vivi, in particular, found it hard to hide her discomfort. She couldn't shake the suspicion that Robin had manipulated events, subtly guiding her investigation into Crocodile's identity. In her mind, Robin had played a hand in exposing Alabasta's plight.
Luffy didn't hesitate for a moment. Upon learning Robin was an enemy, he crushed the Eternal Pose in his hand, reducing it to shards.
"You don't get to decide this ship's course," Luffy declared firmly.
Ikki wasn't surprised by Luffy's response.
He remembered a similar moment from a theatrical story where Luffy had been given a Eternal Pose that led directly to Laugh Tale, the final island of the Grand Line. Even then, Luffy had refused to take a shortcut to his dream. For Luffy, the journey was just as important as the destination—if not more so.
Robin observed Luffy's defiant gesture with a soft smile. She turned, making no effort to stop the crew from departing.
Ikki considered stopping her, trying to convince her to stay. But after a moment's thought, he let the idea pass.
Forcing Robin to remain wouldn't guarantee her loyalty to the crew. In the original tale, Robin had joined the Straw Hats out of convenience, seeking a temporary refuge. It wasn't until much later that she developed a genuine sense of belonging.
After the events on Sky Island, Nico Robin began to integrate into the Straw Hat crew. By the time of the Enies Lobby arc, the bonds she formed with her new companions were so strong that they were willing to risk their lives and freedom to save her from CP9.
With this in mind, Ikki decided it was best to let the original events play out as intended, trusting that Robin would find her place on the crew in due time.
Shortly after Robin departed on her giant turtle, Zoro approached Ikki, curiosity written all over his face.
"Why didn't you try to stop her from leaving?" Zoro asked bluntly.
Ikki smiled. "My chivalry doesn't allow me to take action against a lady."
Zoro: ...
Zoro gave Ikki a deadpan look, thinking, 'Do you think you're Sanji or something? I didn't see any chivalry when you pummeled Miss Valentine.'
Knowing Ikki wasn't in the mood to elaborate, Zoro didn't press further.
The crew's next task was deciding their route. Igaram had a Eternal Pose that led directly to Alabasta, which would have been the most efficient choice.
However, Luffy had other plans. He wanted to follow the Log Pose to the next island, Little Garden. The reason? The name intrigued him.
Igaram initially wanted to protest. Alabasta was in dire straits—time was of the essence. But before he could speak, Vivi intervened.
Vivi understood her captain's nature and the dynamics of the crew. Although Luffy might seem reckless, his decisions had a way of rallying his crew behind him. Even if the journey to Little Garden posed a risk, no one would strongly object once Luffy made up his mind.
Turning to Igaram, Vivi spoke calmly. "The situation in Alabasta isn't as bad as it seems. My father is still there, and so are the ministers. Our priority right now is ensuring our safety. Only if we stay safe can we contact the Marines and expose Crocodile's conspiracy."
Igaram considered her words and nodded. He realized that his princess was growing into a capable leader. Her perspective was far more balanced and thoughtful than his own.
And so, the Going Merry set sail toward Little Garden, guided by the Log Pose.
Once the ship stabilized on its route, Ikki retrieved the bronze reward [Compound Bow] he had acquired earlier. He decided it was time to practice his archery skills. After all, he also possessed a powerful bow, and it would be a waste not to learn how to use it properly.
Ikki prepared a round, drifting kayak as a target, tying it to the stern of the Merry. He then set up his compound bow, drawing the attention of Usopp, Luffy, Vivi, and Igaram.
Curiosity piqued, the four approached to watch.
"What are you doing?" Luffy asked, his head tilted.
Ikki smiled and held up the bow. "Let me show you the art of piercing the bullseye from 100 steps away!"
Taking an arrow, Ikki adopted a standard archer's stance. The bow's unique design caught everyone's interest—it was unlike any they'd seen before.
The target floated about 20 meters away. While this distance would be manageable on land, the rocking waves of the sea made the shot far more challenging.
Ikki took his time aiming, waiting for the target to steady. When the moment felt right, he released the string with a sharp twang.
The arrow flew straight—and missed the target entirely.
Silence fell as Ikki scratched the back of his head, looking visibly embarrassed.
"Twenty meters and I missed... If this were 100 or 200 meters..." he muttered, imagining the disaster. He couldn't help but think of the sharpshooters in this world—snipers who could hit targets from thousands of meters away.
Before the awkwardness could settle in, Vivi stepped forward, her smile warm.
"I've practiced archery for years in the palace," she said. "May I give it a try?"