Chapter 28: To Catch a Robin, To Kill a Wolf

An horrified squeal echoed through the halls of CP0's new base. Professionally and gently Stussy wiped the blood of her hands. With a tiny, satisfied smile Stussy turned to the cameras, through which Rob Lucci was watching.

-His report confirmed that Kuma did indeed send Nico Robin to the East Blue. Not only that, but right into Tequila Wolf. I'll travel there with a minor fleet to apprehend her…

-A minor fleet? Think, Stussy. Why would Kuma choose to send the Devil Child right into government territory like that? His old allies in the revolution must be planning to take on the bridge. If we get their attention they'll do everything in their power to get to Robin before us, the worst case scenario, Rob Lucci calmly responded.

-Then what do you suggest we do, commander? Stussy asked, barely containing her resentment.

-Send word to the management of Tequila Wolf to double the guards at the checkpoints and triple the speed of deliveries across the bridge. We'll be on standby until they inevitably get a hold of her, Rob Lucci said, finishing the conversation.

As she left the interrogation room, Stussy mumbled furiously to herself.

-Oh, so afraid of losing the bird that you want to sit on your ass? Okay, catboy, we'll see who catches her first…

Meanwhile, the guards that had been standing outside the room rushed to the secret Transponder Snail in his room.

-Mr. Sengoku, the CP0 is traveling to Tequila Wolf in order to apprehend the demon child, he whispered.

-Thank you. Your service will be handsomely rewarded.

A few days later, the East Blue

Tequila Wolf was the most majestic, oppressive creation Koby had ever seen. Stone shaped by decades of wind, water and chained hands, stretching to the sky. Within the vastness of the bridge, it would be a momentous task to find a single woman.

SWORD's ship pulled into the makeshift harbor on one of the many pillars supporting the bridge. Smoker tied Koby and Helmeppo's hands together and pushed them onto the pier.

-Damn it, this is embarrassing! Why couldn't we have come as Navy officers? Helmeppo protested.

-We don't want Lucci knowing we're here. Rather embarrassed than dead, Smoker answered.

They walked up to a small guard booth next to the pillar. Smoker cleared his throat to get the guard to look up from his… adult magazine.

-These are the guys? Smoker nodded.

-Yeah, do you really think they'll be able to get out of these ropes without getting noticed? Smoker asked.

-Yeah, they ain't got time to check up on every little slave. Word from upper management that we need to triple the speed with which we're sending resources around now. They're having to withhold food to keep people working now, the guard said as he unlocked the door of an elevator. They entered and began a long, awkward journey to the top of the bridge.

When they reached the top, they were met by bitingly cold winds and massive pyramids of large rocks.

-Hey, new guys? Perfect, we need to get rid of all of these things if we want to get lunch! Slaves shouted, seeing Koby and Helmeppo.

-If I were you, I'd find Nico Robin fast, Smoker joked as the door closed behind them.

Meanwhile, on one of the many islets surrounding Tequila Wolf.

A Transponder Snail rang. Sabo smiled, recognizing the face on the snail.

-This is Wild Joe, speaking to Gill Bastar. Bastar, do you hear me?

-Yes, Wild Joe, I hear you loud and clear. We believe that we have observed the target. Operation Wanted can begin! Koala answered. Sabo slammed the phone down on the snail in excitement.

-You heard her, guys! After so many months of waiting, we're going to finish what Kuma started! Sabo turned to the members of the Revolutionary Army that were present.

-During your call I managed to invent a couple of new death rays! Can't wait to try them out! An uncomfortably wide grin spread across Lindbergh's face.

-Why is it always death with you? You scare this lady's gentle heart! Morley responded.

-Please, we ain't got time to be gentle. We're going to have to be ruthless if we're going to whip the poor slaves into action, Belo Betty spit out her cigarette and trampled it with her flag.

-Sabo, before you begin to waste time by celebrating, what about the theory that the CP0 is approaching Tequila Wolf this very instant? It could spell doom for this entire operation, Inazuma pessimistically added.

-I appreciate you worrying, Inazuma, but until the day that every man, woman and child on the six seas are free, we won't bend to the wills of tyrants like Rob Lucci! Karasu, send your crows to rally the men! Sabo declared, his coat billowing majestically in the wind.

In a small, forgotten room in the depths of Tequila Wolf…

Koala returned to double-check that she had been right. Seeing the raven hair and deep blue, perpetually observing eyes she knew that this was, in fact, the Demon Child.

-Nico Robin, I presume? She asked, getting the woman to look up from her book. After silently observing her for a couple of seconds, her completely straight lips curled to a tiny smile.

-O-oh, sorry, that was a kinda corny line, Koala self-consciously stuttered.

-No, no, it's not that. It's just that I've been her before, surrounded by pursuers, Nico Robin returned to her book.

-May the best one win.

Can't believe I get to write a Straw Hat into my One Piece-fanfiction.