Somewhere on the Grand Line—
A tropical island stood surrounded by endless blue sea, lush with greenery from coast to center.
Ancient trees, so thick several people would have to join hands to encircle them, rose everywhere. Their broad canopies overlapped, forming a deep rainforest.
At the heart of that jungle stood a cluster of white buildings.
The pure white walls contrasted sharply against the vibrant green around them, giving the place a quiet, almost sacred atmosphere.
On the second-floor balcony of one of those buildings, a woman in an elegant light-colored coat sat quietly in a wicker chair.
A pure white sunhat rested on her head.
A book lay open across her knees, while strands of black hair fell softly beside her face.
Warm sunlight poured over the balcony, making her skin look smooth and pale as jade, further highlighting her graceful, noble air.
After a while, she seemed to grow tired of reading.
She slowly closed the book, lifted her delicate face, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and reached for the porcelain teacup on the nearby table.
That simple movement revealed the beauty hidden beneath the brim of her hat.
It was an exquisitely beautiful face.
Young, yet already touched with maturity.
It was Robin.
Half a year had passed since she last met Kairos.
"Kairos…"
Robin took a light sip of tea.
The name rose naturally in her heart, and a faint smile appeared on her lips before she even noticed it.
"I wonder what you're doing now…"
At that moment, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from below.
A newspaper vendor came running over excitedly, waving a fresh paper in his hand.
"Come and see! Big news! Kairos, the former Supernova, has appeared again!"
The moment he shouted, the entire area stirred.
"Kairos?!"
"What did he do this time?"
People immediately rushed over, pulling out money to buy newspapers.
"My god! After disappearing for a whole year, Kairos' bounty increased by another three hundred million!"
"What?! He defeated one of the Seven Warlords?!"
The voices drifting up from below made Robin freeze.
Her slender fingers trembled slightly around the teacup.
But she quickly hid it.
Kairos…
I wonder when we'll meet again.
Robin slowly stood and looked toward the vast blue sea in the distance.
A faint, starlike light shimmered in her eyes.
At the same time—
Kairos was also looking out over the endless blue ocean.
"Hm? An island?"
He suddenly stood.
A small island had appeared in the distance.
It was not particularly large, roughly the size of a small town.
Kairos took out his sea chart.
After checking it carefully, however, he found no matching location.
"An uninhabited island?"
A faint crimson light flashed in his eyes.
Observation Haki activated.
Then Kairos paused.
He saw a flag fluttering in the wind.
A white background.
A blue emblem.
The Marine flag.
Kairos frowned.
What place was this?
A branch base?
No.
There was no branch number on the flag.
"Guess I'll take a look."
Kairos did not think too much about it and quickly made his decision.
A Marine island.
There should be plenty of strong people there.
The place looked like a military dormitory district.
Around twenty white-painted buildings stood neatly in rows, each marked with the blue Marine insignia.
From one of those buildings, a young girl with pink hair walked out.
Her face still carried a trace of youth, but she already had a sharp, heroic air about her.
A travel bag hung over her shoulder as she turned back for one last look at the place where she had spent the past year.
Today—
Tina was graduating from the recruit training camp.
She felt some reluctance to leave, but anticipation filled her heart even more.
She was an elite among elites.
A genius like her would rise quickly through the ranks after leaving the training camp.
Sooner or later, she would become a Marine officer.
Thinking about her future, Tina walked toward the harbor.
Marine warships came here regularly to transport recruits.
She had arrived early.
There was still half an hour before today's ship arrived.
"Hello. May I ask what this Marine island is for?"
Suddenly—
a clean, low male voice sounded behind her.
"Recruit Training Camp Number One."
Tina answered almost by instinct.
But the moment the words left her mouth, she froze and spun around.
Standing only a single step behind her was a young man in a fitted black coat.
His features were handsome and sharp.
His eyes were so clear they seemed free of impurities.
When did he get there?!
Tina stared at him in shock.
He had come so close, yet if he had not spoken, she would never have realized anyone was standing behind her.
"Who are you?!"
Tina immediately stepped back half a pace, her expression turning vigilant.
The man was not wearing a Marine uniform.
And he had asked what this place was.
That meant—
he was definitely not a Marine.
"A training camp?"
Kairos' eyes flickered slightly.
The name sounded familiar.
He ignored Tina's question and murmured thoughtfully,
"Is Zephyr here?"
The moment he asked that, Kairos finally paid attention to Tina's appearance.
Now that he looked carefully…
Wasn't this Tina?
If Kairos had to describe her in his own words—
she was basically someone whose Devil Fruit sounded tailor-made for bondage enthusiasts.
A smile appeared on Kairos' face as another thought surfaced.
"Spar with me?"
Kairos looked at Tina, interest flashing in his eyes.
Tina did not answer.
Instead, her vigilance deepened.
That phrase…
"Spar with me…"
Why did it sound so familiar?
Suddenly—
realization struck her like lightning.
She remembered yesterday's newspaper.
The face before her—
was familiar.
"It's you! Kairos!"
Tina recognized him instantly, and her gaze sharpened.
"You actually dare come here?!"
Then—
she took a combat stance without hesitation.
"Tina is going to arrest you!"
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