Chapter 4: Reacquainted

"How? How is it that you are still alive?"

Raiku had just settled in and sat down with Robin and the red-headed girl who had introduced herself as Nami. After recovering from the shock of seeing each other, Raiku had come into the cafe and told Robin that it was indeed him.

"It's a long story. The real question is, what are you doing back here? Especially at this time of year!"

"Uh, Robin, who is this guy and what, is he talking about?" Interrupted Nami, who had no idea what was going on.

"Excuse me for not introducing myself. My name is Raiku. Robin and I, we knew each other a long time ago." Raiku said. "Anyway, please answer my question. Why are you here?"

Robin responded this time. "M-my crew, I never told them about this place. I never told them about what happened here."

"And yet you thought it was a good idea to come back!"

"Robin, what is he talking about, what happened to you here?"

"I just thought that if I kept my head low and avoided conversation no one would notice me." Robin said worryingly.

"You don't understand Robin, it's different this time. He's here for this year's festival. Berezda is here." Raiku said in a panic.

"What, Berezda!" Nami whispered with a shocked look on her face. Even she had heard of the infamous pirate Berezda back when she was a member of Arlong's crew. Realizing the seriousness of the situation and noticing that they were making a scene, Nami decided it was time to head back to the ship.

"Okay, I'm still not quite sure what we're talking about here, but I think it would be better if we took this back to our ship to discuss in private. Don't you agree Robin?"

"Yes I think that would be best," said Robin, who was still in shock after hearing that Berezda was on the island.

"Come on, I'll show you where we are docked." Nami said as she gestured for Raiku to follow her.

...

"And you're sure it's them."

"Yes Captain, after reviewing their wanted posters again, I can confirm that the two infamous rookie pirates "Strawhat" Monkey D. Luffy, and "Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro are located on the island at this time."

"Hmm, very interesting."

After remembering the names of the two men he had encountered at the restaurant earlier, Metsumo had immediately gone to his Captain, Berezda with the news.

"So, this "Luffy" thinks he can just come to my island and start to cause a ruckus with my crew because he just entered the big leagues, hahahaha!" Laughed Berezda as he looked at Luffy's photograph in his wanted poster. "Oh yes, I know very well what you have done Monkey D. Luffy, single-handedly beating Crocodile of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, very good. But do not think just because you beat him, means that someone like you, could ever beat someone like me. Hahahahahahaha!"

"There is something else to Captain." Metsumo continued. "If our Intel is correct, the "Demon Child" Nico Robin, should currently be among his crewmates, and thus presumably, on the island as well."

"What! Robin, here, I want her head!" Berezda Roared. "Metsumo, Kotetsu, do whatever you must to capture that girl, alive if possible, so I can kill her myself!"

"Yes Sir!" Metsumo said.

"As always, Captain," chimed in Kotetsu before both of them went off.

...

It wasn't long after Nami, Robin, and Raiku arrived on the Going Merry, that the rest of the crew joined them. The first question all of them had of course was, who was the man the Nami and Robin had brought back to the boat. After explaining the situation, the crew sat down in the main cabin while Sanji went to go make some drinks. It was after Sanji returned with the drinks and sat down himself, that Raiku began to speak.

"As all of you know, I used to be a friend of Robin, for those of you who don't know, my name is Raiku, I have lived on this island my entire life and have been subjugated to the horrible fate that has befallen us every year for the past 16 years."

"Wait what do you mean by horrible fate exactly?" Said Chopper.

"16 years ago, a pirate crew known as the Berezda Pirates came across Concho Island and secretly took over it." This comment came from Robin who felt that she also needed to add to the story what she could to make up for not telling the crew earlier.

"That's correct, ever since that time, the villagers on this island have been subjugated to horrible things under Berezda's rule. You are all familiar with the festival that is held every year on this island, correct."

"Yes, of course. I've always dreamed of going to it since I was a little girl and heard stories of it from sailors who came to visit my island," said Nami.

"The festival is a ruse set up by Berezda in order to make money to fund a secret project he is working on. All the money earned from the festival is given to Berezda to fund this project. Even though the government knows that the festival is a ploy by Berezda, even they are not aware of this project."

"Wait if the government knows he's doing this, why don't they step in and stop him?" Said Usopp.

"They planned to at first, but the growing popularity of the festival in recent years has caused them to back off."

"That's Horrible!" Yelled Nami.

"Whatever keeps the nobles happy, the government will support, good or bad."

"Just what is this project Berezda is working on anyway?" Said Sanji.

"It's a weapon of mass destruction, once it's finished, Berezda plans to use it to bring neighboring countries to their knees."

"Wait a second. If this project is so secret, how is it that you know about it?" Asked Zoro.

"That is a good question, well?" Added Usopp.

"He knows about it, because I told him," said Robin.

"WHAT," all members of the crew said at once.

"I think it would be better if you just heard our story," said Raiku. "Now, let's start at the beginning, when Robin and I, first met."