Robin heard the disdain in his tone when he mentioned the World Government and sighed inwardly.
If the World Government didn't scare him, then Crocodile wouldn't either.
But… she couldn't just leave with him so easily. Alabasta still held a Poneglyph, and this was an opportunity she couldn't afford to miss.
With that thought, she smiled helplessly.
"My dream is to decipher all the Poneglyphs and uncover the truth about the missing 100 years of history—history that the World Government has buried."
She gazed at him, her tone firm yet playful. "If you promise to help me achieve my dream, I will become your divine consort."
"No problem."
Robin nodded, though his immediate response didn't put her at ease.
"You may not know this, but the leader of Baroque Works is none other than one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—Crocodile."
"He plans to seize the Kingdom of Alabasta and is using me to decipher the Poneglyph there. But once I do, he'll likely kill me."
Hikaru listened expressionlessly, contemplating the situation. Perhaps he could use her uncertainty to make her more obedient—to make her naturally fall in line with him.
"So, before I become your consort, I need to read the Poneglyph in Alabasta. If you truly want me, then when the time comes, you can come and rescue me."
Robin's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Surely, a god wouldn't refuse such a small request? After all, if you won't even let me read a Poneglyph that's within my grasp, why should I trust your promise?"
Hikaru smirked. "No need for all that hassle." His voice carried an air of absolute confidence.
"We'll just go to Alabasta and kill Crocodile. The members of Baroque Works don't even know he's their leader."
He shrugged casually. "Once he's dead, I'll personally take you to read the Poneglyph."
Robin didn't object. She simply studied him with interest before a teasing smile played on her lips.
"I saw you bring two women onto your airship just now… It seems gods aren't above worldly desires after all. Are you so greedy for beauty?"
Hikaru chuckled. "A god's desires surpass those of mortals." His golden eyes gleamed. "Besides, every divine consort I take enhances my power."
Robin blinked, caught off guard. "They… make you stronger?"
"That's the beauty of the Goro Goro no Mi." Hikaru answered smoothly. "Once we develop its potential together, you'll understand."
No matter how ridiculous the explanation, everything could be attributed to his Thunder Fruit mastery. No questions needed—just accept that this god was simply too powerful.
Robin flushed slightly before turning away, gathering the books she had been reading and slipping them into her cross-body bag. Then, as if nothing had happened, she gave Hikaru a subtle nod.
Understanding her signal, Hikaru effortlessly scooped her up and carried her toward the Little Zenny airship.
A certain sea turtle, left behind in the ocean, blinked slowly.
"What about me…??"
Meanwhile, Somewhere on the Ocean…
The Foxy Pirates were sailing at full speed, their ship cutting through the waves.
They lived for Davy Back Fights, a bizarre pirate game where crews battled to steal each other's members.
In a world where strength ruled, perhaps only Luffy and his crew would lower themselves to play along instead of just crushing them outright.
At this moment, Pickles stood at the ship's edge, peering through a telescope. Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock.
"Captain! The Marines were attacked! The sailors on deck are all down—probably dead!"
"What?!"
Foxy snatched the telescope from him, pressing it to his eye. Sure enough, the Marine warship was littered with collapsed bodies. It was impossible to tell whether they were unconscious or dead.
"Captain, are we still heading that way? Looks like that female colonel got captured… If her captor is still nearby, we're dead if we go."
Foxy clenched his fists, pounding the railing in frustration.
"Damn it! I don't know what happened to Hamburg and Porche…!"
Pickles quickly tried to calm him down. "Captain, your life is more important! We've already captured plenty of pirates. Just abandon them before we get dragged into something we can't handle."
Suddenly—
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion roared across the sea.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning magnified in Foxy's vision. Before he could even react and fire his Slow Beam, a massive foot made of thunder came crashing down, stomping his head deep into the deck.
"The user of the Slow-Slow Fruit... Silver Fox Foxy."
Hikaru looked down at Foxy, who had once been an unimpressive and wretched figure, but was now barely clinging to life, his body bloodied and broken.
A smirk curled at the corner of Hikaru's lips.
"I'll be taking that fruit."
"Captain!!"
The pirates erupted in sheer panic.
Foxy had been instantly crushed, leaving them paralyzed with fear. They knew there was no chance of victory—but on the open sea, where could they even run?
Hikaru's golden eyes sparked with lightning, his Observation Haki locking onto the trembling pirates aboard the ship.
[Thunder Art: Lightning Eyes!]
In the next instant, twin beams of lightning shot out from Hikaru's gaze, cutting through the ship like divine judgment itself.
Wherever his sight fell, flesh turned to ash, and screams were swallowed by the roaring thunder.
The intense heat ignited the wooden ship, and flames spread rapidly across the deck.
Some pirates who survived the lightning strike suffered an even crueler fate—burning alive in the raging inferno.
But amidst the devastation, Foxy still lived—barely.
Hikaru's control over his power was precise, ensuring Foxy remained on the brink of death, but not beyond it just yet.
Extending his right hand, a strange, white lightning crackled at his fingertips. With a swift motion, he thrust his palm toward Foxy.
In a realm unseen by the naked eye, a pale pink energy emerged, ensnared within the white lightning.
The power of the Slow-Slow Fruit.
Hikaru reached into his coat and retrieved a fresh apple, pressing the stolen Devil Fruit essence into it.
As the apple's surface shifted and swirled, taking on the distinct Devil Fruit spiral pattern, Hikaru's smirk widened.
"Perfect. Time to head to Alabasta."
With a flick of his wrist, the remnants of Foxy's ship erupted in a final surge of divine fury.
"God's Judgment!"
With those parting words, Hikaru vanished in a flash of lightning, streaking across the sky.
A real man never looks back at an explosion.
As for the treasure on the pirate ship?
Hikaru wasn't interested. Foxy was dirt poor—his Observation Haki only picked up a few million berries at best.
He merely shrugged. "Not worth my time."
Perhaps when he gained a spatial ability—like the Door-Door Fruit—he'd consider collecting spoils with ease.
Three Days Later – Marine Headquarters, Marineford
In the Admiral's Office, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at his desk, deep in thought. His round glasses rested on his nose, and his braided beard hung neatly against his chest.
Stacks of classified reports littered the desk before him.
Across from him, Admiral Aokiji Kuzan lay sprawled across the office sofa, an eye mask over his face, legs propped up on the coffee table.
Officially, he was on paid leave.
Unofficially? He just didn't care.
"Buru Buru!! Buru Buru!!"
The sharp, urgent ring of a Den Den Mushi shattered the silence.
Sengoku's brow furrowed as he immediately picked up the receiver.
"Pata—"
A frantic voice blared through the line.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Urgent intelligence report! The user of the Thunder Fruit has appeared!"
"He has kidnapped Navy Captain Hina!"
The Den Den Mushi mimicked the panicked expression of the intelligence officer, its voice trembling with urgency.
Sengoku's pupils shrank.
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