"In just one month, 20 million Berries were recovered, and thirteen pirate ships were seized. The headquarters is extremely satisfied with the performance of the Whiskey Peak branch."
Nicole Robin had learned to navigate complex human interactions from a young age. Since she was eight, she had been surviving alone, devouring books and absorbing knowledge like a sponge—especially on how to understand people. She's an expert at silent diplomacy; her calm demeanor didn't mean she lacked the ability to speak. When she finally did voice her thoughts, even Vivi felt soothed by her subtle warmth.
As expected, the vice president gave Whiskey Peak's branch a glowing review.
Yet, on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Nicole Robin herself felt conflicted. As the acting vice president handling the daily operations of Baroque Works, her schedule was suffocating. Vivi and her group had been sending resources and intelligence back to headquarters regularly, earning vital supplies in return. Robin could barely keep up. Those thirteen captured pirate ships were the real headache. What would Baroque Works even do with them in Alabasta? It's a desert kingdom—there's no need for that many sea vessels. Trade via sea? Dredge up sand and export it? The region was barren, lacking in exportable goods. The idea was absurd.
Robin rubbed her temples in exhaustion. This nonstop pace was killing her. No matter how she looked at it, the Whiskey Peak team needed to stand down for a few days.
She cleared her throat slightly and said in her measured tone, "Ahem... the headquarters is quite pleased with Whiskey Peak's performance. You've made a name for Baroque Works. Over the last month, the number of bounty hunters affiliated with us, both among the Billion and Million groups, has grown significantly."
The airheaded Mr. 9 and the enthusiastic Ms. Monday beamed with pride. Mr. 8, despite being an undercover agent, also looked pleased. Only Vivi wore a calm, thoughtful expression. She suspected Robin had more to say.
Sure enough, Robin's voice took on a sharper edge: "However, your recent actions have also drawn significant attention to the organization—and some of that attention is...unwanted."
With no need for more buildup, she got straight to the point: "The pirate ship you sunk yesterday... one of its passengers was a national from the Kamabakka Kingdom."
Mr. 9 and Ms. Monday blinked blankly. Illiterate and largely ignorant of global geography, they'd never even heard of Kamabakka. Vivi, a reincarnated soul from another world who'd studied the One Piece timeline extensively, prided herself on knowing the ranks of the Admirals, the Yonko, and even the Gorosei—but the Kamabakka Kingdom? Even she was stumped. She looked toward Mr. 8—Captain Igaram, veteran courtier of Alabasta—for help.
"Ahem—mama~!" Igaram coughed theatrically like an opera singer preparing his solo. He paused with a troubled expression. "Is that… the kingdom once ruled by the so-called 'miracle man'?"
Nicole Robin's voice stiffened for a moment. "Even though the current queen—Ivankov—was once imprisoned in Impel Down, there are still many... residents... in that kingdom. They're not your typical citizens. They call themselves 'new humans'. The locals refer to it as a miracle land—others see it as a fairyland. But let me be clear: the order from Mr. 0 is unambiguous. Baroque Works must not provoke the Kamabakka Kingdom under any circumstance."
To the members of Baroque Works, Mr. 0 was a near-mythical figure. No one except Robin knew that he was actually Sir Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. That he would personally intervene in a minor branch's affairs only served to raise Igaram's suspicions. His eyes lit up with realization as he processed the layers of implications in Robin's words.
With a commanding tone, Robin continued: "Effective immediately, cease all operations at Whiskey Peak. Go underground. I will notify you when to resume activity."
Vivi tilted her head thoughtfully. Kamabakka Kingdom…? A vivid image entered her mind—broad-shouldered men in heavy makeup and dresses, glitter and garish colors, laughing flamboyantly while pirouetting through the air. The infamous Okama. She shuddered. Whether it was Crocodile or Robin making the call, she agreed: don't mess with them. Absolutely not worth it.
"During this dormancy, your task from HQ is to recruit high-profile bounty hunters. I'll send you a list shortly. In addition, you are to seek treasure-hunters, shipwrights, and arms dealers. Your underground period will last five months. At the end of that time, your deliverables will be evaluated. And if your contributions are lacking... you know what happens."
With that cold warning, Robin abruptly ended the call.
Moments later, the Den Den Mushi flickered to life again and spat out a document densely packed with names. It was a list of bounty hunters whose reputations had surged recently.
While the other assignments—rebuilding ships, locating rare artifacts—were long-term objectives, recruitment was the immediate priority. The more allies they gathered, the better.
The four examined the list. Despite the Great Pirate Era causing a mass migration of adventurers from every corner of the world, the One Piece world remained segmented. Many people never left their birth islands. Now, with so many heading out to sea seeking the mythical One Piece, locating people even with known names and bounties was no easy task.
Robin had narrowed the scope to two regions closest to the Grand Line: the East Blue and South Blue.
Per orders, Vivi (Ms. Wednesday) was to pair up with the energetic Mr. 9, while the seasoned Mr. 8 teamed up with the brawny Ms. Monday. These were fixed assignments, with no room for rearrangement.
Vivi skimmed the names quickly and settled on their target. "I'm not strong," she admitted. "If Mr. 9 is going to cover for me, then we'll head to East Blue. It's the least dangerous of the seas."
The elder courtiers didn't argue. They divided the list in half and went their separate ways to gather new allies for Baroque Works.
Before departing, Igaram pulled Vivi aside.
"Your Highness—mama~! Ahem, Ms. Wednesday! You must be careful at sea," he warned. "Never climb the mast! Strange birds lurk in the skies!"
Vivi blinked. Strange birds?
"And mama~! Stay away from the center deck! That's where snipers can easily target you! Just thinking about it makes me sick with worry!"
Despite how silly his concerns sounded, Vivi smiled and listened patiently. The old man meant well, and she'd always respected his dedication.
But then came the last bit—
"And above all else, watch out for falling meteorites!"
She nearly choked.
What in the actual hell? Meteorites? Was he mistaking East Blue for a battlefield with Admiral Fujitora? There were no meteor-summoning Admirals in their path—no gravity-blades crashing down from orbit. She was going to the East Blue, not a Naruto-style hidden warzone or the heart of the New World!
Still, she held her laughter in. "Mmhm. Got it," she said, patting his shoulder. "Thank you."
She didn't believe in omens. But she did believe in absurdity. And sometimes, in a world like this, they were one and the same.