Jacob stood beside Reiju as she examined a vial of glowing green liquid. Their discussion had notably turned toward the strongest humanoid species, the Lunarians.
"They possessed the ability to generate fire," Jacob said, watching the flames flicker in his palm. "It's said they were nearly indestructible, able to withstand any environment, and could fly. But now, they're extinct."
Reiju hummed in thought. "An ancient race with fire control? That sounds almost like the power you wield, doesn't it?"
Jacob smirked. "Maybe. But mine is from devil fruit. But their fire is innate, and their physical constitution is to die for."
Before Reiju could press further, Jacob noticed Kuina walking into the lobby. Her step was fast, and she looked utterly annoyed.
"Kuina!" he called out. "Where did you go?"
She glanced at him, unimpressed. "All the swordsmen here were weak. I expected more from the Grand Line."
Jacob chuckled, shaking his head. "You sound disappointed."
"I am." Kuina walked closer. "What about Hanafuda? Have you tracked him?"
Jacob leaned against the counter. "Yeah. He's in Little Garden. We're leaving tonight."
Before anything more could be said, a sudden flash of electric static filled the lab.
With a sharp crackle, Raki appeared, her dark hair standing on end, dragging behind her a brown beaver and a vulture convulsing from electrocution.
"Caught these two snooping around," she announced casually.
Jacob eyed the animals with mild amusement before giving a simple order:
"Lock them up."
***
Robin's fingers tightened slightly around the bounty posters as she studied them. Fire King Jacob, the most notable among them, had a 63-million-berry bounty—significant but not insurmountable. However, what caught her attention was Kuina's bounty of only 15 million, despite her single-handed destruction of Baroque Works' presence in Whiskey Peak.
"The Marines is underestimating them," she muttered to herself.
She adjusted her telescope, focusing on the massive flying cloud fortress hovering above the desert. It was a marvel of dials and propulsion, unlike anything she had ever seen. She could see figures moving along its edges, though the details were intricate to make out from this distance.
Was this indeed the crew behind Jacob's growing reputation?
An unsettling static hum crackled through the air as she pondered her next move. A presence—right behind her.
Before she could react, a sudden jolt of electricity surged through her body. A sharp spasm overtook her limbs, her vision blurred, and her world faded into blackness as she collapsed onto the back of the giant crab.
The last thing she heard was an amused voice, distorted by electric energy.
"Snooper."
***
Robin's eyes flickered open as she regained consciousness. The well-lit prison room around her was unfamiliar, and the soft hum of machinery indicated that she was aboard an advanced ship—not just any advanced ship, but the massive flying fortress she had seen earlier.
Her hands were shackled, the cool metal biting into her wrists. The weight of Seastone dampened her strength but didn't entirely incapacitate her. Low-dosage Seastone, she realized.
Standing before her was Jacob—the Fire King.
Despite his youthful appearance, something about him stood out, like how he carried himself—that unwavering confidence—which made him seem far older than his years.
Jacob crossed his arms, leaning slightly against the cell bars. "We're heading to Little Garden," he informed her casually.
Robin took in his calm but piercing gaze and let out a small, knowing smirk. "And what do you plan to do with me, Fire King?"
Jacob tilted his head, his voice amused. "That depends. Why were you snooping?"
Robin let out a light chuckle, shifting her shackled wrists. "A woman has her secrets."
Jacob studied her for a moment before speaking again. "I know about the O'Hara Incident."
The teasing glint in Robin's eyes dulled. A flicker of genuine sorrow crossed her face.
"Such a tragic event. I wasn't aware that a young man like you is well-read of the past events, which I'm sure you weren't even born yet at that time," she murmured.
Jacob didn't push further, but the awkwardness hung between them.
A beat passed before Robin's smirk returned, her usual teasing demeanor slipping back into place. "Are you interested in my knowledge, Fire King San?"
Jacob met her gaze and smiled. "Not Really. But for your information, I have a Poneglyph onboard."
Robin's fingers twitched slightly in her cuffs. For the first time in years, she was genuinely caught off guard. But just as quickly as the surprise came, she masked it with an amused expression.
"Oh?" she mused. "Then maybe you're more interesting than I thought."
Jacob turned to leave but paused at the door.
"My real name is Jacob D. Saul, by the way."
Robin's breath hitched. Her smirk faltered just slightly, but she quickly recovered.
D. Saul.
She watched him go, her mind now racing with possibilities.
***
Jacob shut the cell door behind him, his mind already moving ahead to the next steps. Robin was an enigma, but he had planted the seed of doubt in her mind. Whether she trusted him or not didn't matter—she was thinking. He thought people could be led precisely where he wanted them.
A familiar presence was waiting on the wall as he walked down the hallway.
Carina.
She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a playful smirk curving her lips.
"I swear, I didn't mean to eavesdrop," she said in a singsong voice. "But you know me, Jacob. Information just finds its way to me."
Jacob sighed, giving her a knowing look. "And?"
Carina grinned. "'Jacob D. Saul,' huh? I didn't know that that was your name. Kaya said that your real name was Usopp."
Jacob's smirk mirrored hers, but inside, he was amused by her curiosity. Of course, it was a lie.
"You don't believe me?" he asked, tilting his head in mock innocence.
Carina stepped closer, looking up at him with her mischievous blue eyes. "Oh, I believe you're up to something. You just fed her a story to make her second-guess herself. But I'm curious—why pick that name? Why 'Saul'?"
Jacob's smirk widened. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Carina let out a dramatic sigh. "You're no fun, Flame Boy. Keeping secrets from your main lover."
Jacob didn't answer, simply walking past her.
Carina followed, matching his pace, her curiosity still burning. "You think she'll take the bait? You think you can actually win her over?"
Jacob's smirk never faded, but his thoughts were sharp.
I don't need to 'win' Robin over. I just need to make her think I'm useful.
And if she believes I hold the key to something she desires… she'll follow me willingly.
For now, all he had to do was wait.
***
The ancient jungle of Little Garden—a land untouched by time—was now blanketed in an eerie silver sheen. Spiderwebs stretched from treetop to treetop, clinging to the trees, the cliffs, and even the mighty bodies of the two legendary giants.
Broggy roared in frustration, his massive muscles bulging as he attempted to rip free from the thick strands. But the webs were unnaturally strong, resisting even the raw might of a warrior who had fought for a hundred years. Beside him, Dorry lay unconscious, tangled in a cocoon of webbing, his dark beard barely visible beneath the layers.
The remains of past hunters, animals, and unlucky pirates were scattered throughout the island—all wrapped in the same silk, hanging like trophies in a predator's lair.
And in the heart of it all, a lone figure sat cross-legged on a large, elevated rock.
Hanafuda, the Collector of Ancient Zoans. The Black Beast.
Hanafuda exhaled slowly, eyes closed, his expression calm amidst the chaos. His dark cloak billowed slightly as a breeze swept through the island, rustling the webs like an ominous whisper.
Surrounding him, his eighty pirate subordinates moved carefully through the webbed jungle, each searching for their actual prize—the Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit rumored to be hidden on the island.
One of his men, a gaunt, wiry pirate with dark goggles, approached and kneeled before him. "Captain, we've checked the northern ruins and the volcanic ridge—nothing yet. But the webs have caught something... interesting."
Hanafuda's golden eyes flickered open.
"Interesting?" His voice was smooth, almost amused.
The pirate hesitated, then gestured towards the treetops.
The massive form of a long dead T-Rex hung above them, suspended in a tangle of webs.
But that wasn't what caught Hanafuda's attention.
A Devil Fruit—covered in strange black markings—was clutched in the dinosaur's dead jaws.