THE WOMAN WHO BRINGS DARKNESS

High above the streets of Water 7, a figure is falling rapidly through the air. It is Monkey D. Luffy, screaming at the top of his lungs, "NOOOOOOOOO...!!" as he plummets past the towering stone structures and aqueducts of the city. The wind rushes past him as he falls toward the lower levels of the town.

With a massive crash and a cry of "GYA!!", Luffy lands hard on the stone ground below. Nami, standing nearby, is furious and terrified, clutching her chest as she screams, "GOOD LANDING, MY BUTT!! I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK!!!" Luffy, rubbing his head, tries to justify his actions: "WE CAN'T HELP IT! WE COULDN'T USE THE ELEVATOR BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE SEEN, YOU SAID SO YOURSELF!" Nami retorts, "BUT I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO JUMP DOWN! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, THAT LONG-NOSED SHIPWRIGHT!?" Luffy laughs it off with a "HEH... HEH..." while Nami sighs, looking up at the gloomy sky. "The sky and the town are... so gloomy... Let's go back to the hotel."

An announcement echoes across the city of Water 7: "THIS IS A WARNING TO EVERYONE ON THE ISLAND. AQUA LAGUNA IS APPROACHING. ALL OF THE SHIPYARDS IN ZOUSEN-JIMA ARE NOW OPEN... AS SHELTERS FOR EVACUEES DURING THE STORM." The streets are filled with the sound of rushing water and wind. Citizens are busy preparing for the massive tide. One man hammers wooden planks over his door, shouting, "I'M SEALING THE DOOR! DID YOU FORGET ANYTHING?" A woman replies, "NO, WE'RE READY TO GO TO THE SHIPYARDS." The man mutters, "IF THE DOOR ISN'T SEALED TIGHT, IT'LL LEAK, AND ALL THE FURNITURE IN THE HOUSE WILL BE RUINED." Meanwhile, a female official with a megaphone continues the broadcast: "AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE WILL BE A CROWD ENTERING THE SHIPYARDS. SO PLEASE, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. ALSO, DOCK 1 IS CURRENTLY IN DISARRAY, THEREFORE..."

In the crowded streets, citizens panic as the wind grows stronger. "THE WIND IS GETTING STRONGER..." "LET'S HURRY IT UP!!" "IF WE DON'T... THOSE KILLER PIRATES MAY COME!!" "AH! SCARY!!" The announcement continues over the speakers: "SEA TRAIN, PUFFING TOM, WILL LEAVE THE STATION FOR SENTO BOBURA AT EXACTLY 1 PM." At the Blue Station, guards are checking passengers. The announcement warns: "ALL PASSENGERS MUST SHOW THEIR FACES BEFORE BOARDING. THE USAGE OF MASKS ABOARD TODAY'S TRAIN IS FORBIDDEN! PLEASE SHOW YOUR TICKET AS WELL AS YOUR FACE! THE STRAW HAT PIRATES, WHO ATTEMPTED TO ASSASSINATE MAYOR ICEBERG, ARE STILL AT LARGE... PLEASE COOPERATE TO HASTEN THEIR ARREST." A woman is forced to remove her mask before boarding.

Roronoa Zoro sits on a high ledge, reading a newspaper with a grim expression. "SO THIS IS WHY... THE REASON I'M BEING CHASED IS BECAUSE I'M AN ASSOCIATE OF THE ASSASSIN..." He looks down at the paper, noting, "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW... WE CAN'T GO BACK TO THE HOTEL... ONLY MY, LUFFY'S, AND ROBIN'S PICTURES ARE IN HERE. THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE WE HAVE BOUNTIES ON OUR HEADS..." Down below, near the hotel, citizens and Galley-La workers are searching. "ARE YOU SURE, MISTER?" "YES. THEY CAME HERE YESTERDAY... THEY WERE SLEEPING HERE LAST NIGHT." The hotel owner confirms, "THEIR BAGS ARE STILL IN THEIR ROOMS... THEY'LL BE BACK."

At the Rocky Peninsula, a group of armed citizens and shipwrights find the Going Merry anchored. "ARE YOU SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT SHIP?" "YES, THIS IS IT. JUST LOOK AT THE FLAG." They look at the Straw Hat Jolly Roger waving in the strong wind. "YEAH. THAT'S STRAW HAT ALRIGHT..." "NOBODY'S HERE..." "THEY'VE PROBABLY ABANDONED THIS SHIP, BY THE LOOKS OF IT." "I HEARD THAT THEY FOUND OUT THIS SHIP IS NO GOOD YESTERDAY." "THEY'VE LIKELY ABANDONED IT ALREADY... THERE'S ALMOST NOTHING LEFT ON THAT SHIP..." Nearby, Usopp, heavily bandaged, is hiding behind some rocks, watching them with a worried expression. "WHO ARE THEY? THEY'RE CARRYING WEAPONS..."

In another part of the city, citizens continue their search. "DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE PIRATES?" "NO, SORRY." "IF WE CAN CATCH ANY OF THOSE THREE... WE CAN FIND THE REST EASILY!! HURRY! WE HAVE TO CATCH THEM BEFORE THE TIDE COMES!" Meanwhile, Sanji walks through the streets, smoking a cigarette, with Chopper by his side. Sanji observes, "THE SEA TRAIN IS STILL OPERATIONAL... ONE TRAIN DURING THE DAY, AND ONE IN THE NIGHT... THE WEATHER IS THIS BAD, AND THEY CAN STILL GO TO ENIES LOBBY AT 11PM... THE SEA TRAIN SURE IS AMAZING." He worries, "HOPEFULLY, ROBIN DIDN'T... GET ON THE TRAIN ALREADY... OTHERWISE, IT'LL BE A HELL OF A LOT OF TROUBLE. IT'S ALREADY HARD ENOUGH SEARCHING IN JUST WATER SEVEN..." Chopper looks downcast, wondering, "I WONDER WHY SHE LEFT... DID I MAKE HER MAD WHEN I WENT TO THE BOOK STORE?" Sanji replies, "IDIOT, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE."

Sanji shows a wanted poster of Nico Robin to a passerby. "HAVE YOU SEEN THE CUTE GIRL IN THIS PICTURE?" The man replies, "NO, BUT THE REAL PERSON IS AROUND 20 YEARS OLDER. SHE'S THE ASSASSIN! IF I'D SEEN HER, I'D BE TELLING THE GALLEY-LA BY NOW." Sanji and Chopper walk away. Sanji mutters, "THIS SOUNDS BAD..." Chopper asks, "I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO LUFFY..." Sanji says, "LUFFY IS FINE. IT'S NAMI-SAN THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT. THE WIND IS GETTING STRONGER, TOO... EVERYONE PROBABLY EVACUATED. THIS PLACE LOOKS SO DESERTED NOW..." Suddenly, Chopper stops and sniffs the air. "SNIFF SNIFF" "HUH?" Sanji spots someone across the canal and shouts, "HEY---!!! ROBIN-CHAN~~~!!!" Chopper gasps, "!" Sanji starts to say, "WHAT? CHOP-..." but Chopper reacts with shock, "!!"

Standing across the canal is Nico Robin, wearing a dark leather outfit. She looks at them with a cold, expressionless face. Sanji and Chopper are overjoyed and relieved to see her. "ROBIN-CHAN!!" Sanji yells. "ROBIN!" Chopper cries out. Sanji runs toward the edge of the canal, shouting, "WHERE DID YOU GO!? EVERYONE IS WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" Robin remains silent, staring back at them from across the water.

Sanji calls out to Robin, "LET'S GO BACK TO THE HOTEL! WE CAN'T TALK HERE. WAIT THERE. I'LL COME OVER TO YOU." Robin replies coldly, "NO. WE'RE FINE WHERE WE ARE." Sanji stops, surprised. "!" Robin continues, "I WON'T... GO BACK WITH YOU..." Sanji and Chopper stare at her in disbelief, shocked by her words. "!!?"

Sanji tries to understand, asking, "ER... WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, ROBIN-CHAN? AH! IS IT ABOUT THE THING IN THE PAPERS?" Chopper looks on, confused. "..... ROBIN!?" Robin looks down and says, "LET'S SAY OUR FAREWELL HERE... IN THIS TOWN..." Sanji quickly reassures her, "DON'T WORRY! WE DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Chopper adds, "THEY ALWAYS BLAME THE PIRATES WHENEVER ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS!" Robin closes her eyes and says, "YES. YOU GUYS WERE FALSELY ACCUSED OF THE CRIME. HOWEVER... FOR ME, IT IS THE TRUTH. I DID, IN FACT, INFILTRATE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE LAST NIGHT." Sanji gasps, "HUH?"

Robin looks directly at Sanji with a serious, dark expression. "I AM SHROUDED IN A DARKNESS THAT YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF. AND THAT DARKNESS WILL EVENTUALLY BE THE DEATH OF YOU." A flashback panel shows a silhouette of a CP9 agent speaking: "UP 'TIL NOW, EVERY GROUP THAT EVER ASSOCIATED WITH NICO ROBIN... HAS BEEN DESTROYED. THAT WOMAN IS ALWAYS THE SOLE SURVIVOR." Sanji is stunned, sweating as he stares at her. "...!!" Chopper looks completely lost. ".....?" Robin continues, "NOW... YOU WILL BE MY SCAPEGOATS FOR THIS INCIDENT. I WILL LEAVE SOON... AND THE SITUATION WILL WORSEN." Sanji shouts in frustration, "!!? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? WHY ARE YOU...!?"

Sanji demands answers, "WHY AM I DOING THIS? YES, THERE'S NO NEED TO TELL YOU ALL THAT." Robin replies calmly, "WE HAVEN'T KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR LONG... AND AFTER TODAY, WE WON'T SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN. SAY 'HELLO' TO EVERYONE FOR ME." Chopper stands in silence, tears welling in his eyes. Sanji screams, "...! ROBIN-CHAN!! YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY SENSE! DID SOMETHING HAPPEN TO YOU!? ROBIN!!! LET'S GO BACK TOGETHER!!" Robin turns her back to them, saying, "IN THE TIME I'VE BEEN WITH YOU... YOU HAVE TREATED ME WELL."

Robin delivers her final words: "GOOD-BYE." Sanji and Chopper are frozen in shock. Robin begins to walk away. Sanji mutters, "HEY... I... I DON'T BELIEVE THIS..." Chopper suddenly leaps across the canal, crying out, "WAIT A MINUTE!! ROBIN-CHAN!!" Sanji yells, "THIS ISN'T FUNNY!!!" Chopper runs after her, screaming, "ROBIN~~~!!" but Robin continues walking down the street without looking back.

Robin has completely disappeared. Sanji sits on the stone steps by the canal, looking dejected. Chopper stands beside him, crying. "SHE'S GONE..." Chopper whimpers. "YEAH..." Sanji replies quietly. Sanji squeezes the water out of his hair with a wet sound. After a long silence, Sanji says, "..... CHOPPER." Chopper looks up, "HUH?" Sanji instructs him, "FIND LUFFY. TELL HIM EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. DON'T MISS A SINGLE WORD." Chopper asks, "WHAT ABOUT YOU, SANJI?" Sanji, lighting a cigarette, replies, "I HAVE A PLAN. DON'T WORRY, I'LL BE FINE." Chopper looks at him with concern. "?"

Back in the city, the search for the Straw Hats intensifies. Galley-La shipwrights and citizens shout, "WHERE ARE YOU HIDING!? ARE YOU ON ONE OF THE ROOFS!? WE'LL GET YOU EVENTUALLY!!" On a bridge, others ask, "ANYTHING FROM THAT STREET?" "NOTHING." "I SAW THEM COME THIS WAY." Underneath the very bridge they are standing on, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami are hiding. Luffy is clinging to the underside of the stone arch using only his fingers and toes, trembling from the strain ("SLIP...", "PUL... PUL... PUL..."). Nami whispers, "IS IT... SAFE NOW...?" Zoro replies, "NOT YET."

Luffy loses his grip and falls into the water with a loud splash, screaming, "WAAA AH!!" Nami and Zoro are startled. Suddenly, Chopper appears on the bridge above, sniffing the air. "SNIFF........!!" He spots them and jumps down. Luffy pops his head out of the water, coughing. "HOW DID YOU FIND US, CHOPPER?" Chopper replies, "SMELL." Luffy says, "OH." Zoro climbs out, saying, "I THINK IT'S CLEAR NOW." Nami angrily yells at Zoro, "CLEAR? THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, YOU WERE BEING CHASED BY SO MANY OF THEM!" Zoro retorts, "AND THEN YOU GOT US SPOTTED, TOO!" Nami defends herself, "I COULDN'T HELP IT! THERE'S JUST SO MANY... IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT..." Luffy looks around and asks, "AH! WHERE'S SANJI?" Chopper, with a very serious face, begins to explain what happened with Robin. Luffy is shocked: "IS THAT FOR REAL!!? ROBIN REALLY SAID THAT!?" Chopper nods silently.

The crew gathers on a rooftop, surrounded by the silent city as the storm approaches. Zoro speaks up, breaking the silence: "IT'S TIME FOR EVERYONE TO WAKE UP... ROBIN STARTED OUT AS OUR ENEMY. THEN WE LET HER ON OUR SHIP. SHE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT US OUT OF FEAR AFTER ALL THIS TIME. BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT... IS THAT WOMAN..." Luffy and Nami listen intently, their faces filled with tension. Zoro finishes his thought: "...FRIEND OR FOE...?" The page ends with close-ups of Luffy's determined face and Nami's worried expression.

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