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Upon hearing the senior officer's words, the Marines couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines.
In other words, those two notorious pirates, Chopper Giorno with a bounty of 200 million and Jolyne Kujo, with a bounty of 160 Million, are really still on this island?
......
At this moment, Chopper Giorno and Jolyne Kujo, with their bounties hanging over their heads, were strolling through the streets of the Bourgeois Kingdom.
Liam had no intention of following Cavendish to the palace.
First off, he wasn't particularly interested in the palace.
Secondly, with Den Den Mushi City Fortress at their disposal, they didn't need to stay anywhere special, not even a hotel or the palace.
Third, Robin expressed her wish to go shopping.
"Then how will I find you?" Cavendish muttered, clearly displeased.
"Are you feeling ill, kid?" Liam asked, taken aback, placing a hand on Cavendish's forehead. "Although our bet states you have to follow us if you lose, I only asked you to be our guide. You've already given us a map and advice, so why are you hanging around here? You need to be bossed around to feel comfortable?"
Even if you're into being bossed around, you're no Hancock!
Liam could tolerate Hancock's whims, but this kid, Cavendish, wasn't someone he was willing to accommodate.
"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Cavendish snapped, his face flushing with anger. "I want to find you... So I can defeat you!"
The genius swordsman, fourth prince of his kingdom, gritted his teeth. "To think I would lose to you... Even Hakuba lost... I won't accept this! Just you wait... I'll..."
Liam wasn't interested in Cavendish's schemes. He patted the boy's shoulder and mused, "If you feel out of place not being ordered around, maybe... does your palace have a library? Once you return, why not pay a visit?"
"Library?" Cavendish blinked, swatting Liam's hand away as he roared, "What do you mean, uncomfortable not being ordered around? I told you, you're spouting nonsense!"
"Should we head to the bookstore first, or the food street?"
Liam, already absorbed in planning a shopping spree with Robin, continued studying the map Cavendish had given them.
"You dare ignore me?!" Cavendish fumed, his indignation rising. He suddenly paused, a thought crossing his mind. "Wait, take 'it' for a trip? Who's 'it'?"
Cavendish glanced around, confused. Are there others here?
After a moment of thought, Cavendish noticed that the two girls following Giorno and Jolyne were eyeing him oddly... the slightly older brown-haired one seemed to be stifling a laugh. What's so funny?!
And the younger girl, Marianne, who had been rescued from the Sword Pirate crew, looked at him like he was a fool.
"You're so dumb," Marianne commented, her tone mocking. To her, it was clear that the pitch-black robot Big Brother was standing right next to Cavendish. As Cavendish turned his head, the black-armored figure had already moved partially behind him, yet Cavendish remained blissfully unaware...
Cavendish was burning with frustration!
His entire life, women had always adored and pampered him. Never before had someone like Jolyne simply ignored his charm, and now even a girl younger than him was looking down on him! Was the world facing its end? How could this be? It defied all logic!
Frustrated, Cavendish returned to the palace.
"Don't forget the Eternal Pose of Foolshout Island!" Liam called out from behind him.
"Got it!" Cavendish waved him off impatiently, his frustration growing. How did he lose? How could Hakuba lose?
What Cavendish didn't know was that not only could Liam easily defeat "Hakuba" with sheer power, but even Robin could handle "Hakuba" without breaking a sweat.
Of course, it wasn't because Liam or Robin could mimic Hakuba's movements. His abilities could only replicate Cavendish's body. What truly made Cavendish formidable was Hakuba's personality, that mad and bizarre talent for Life Return, and an extraordinary talent in Swordsmanship.
Robin couldn't tap into those aspects through his ability... However, the Flower-Flower Fruit (Hana Hana no Mi) was a natural counter to speed-type fighters like Hakuba.
In the Dressrosa arc of the manga, there had already been a clash between Robin and "Hakuba." No matter how fast "Hakuba" was, he couldn't outpace Robin's ability to activate her Flower-Flower Fruit (Hana Hana no Mi). With just a thought, Robin could sprout dozens of arms on "Hakuba," pinning him down and rendering him immobile.
This isn't surprising, as the "blooming" of the Flower-Flower Fruit is a technique that works within a certain range, not one that requires direct sight. In the manga, Robin has frequently sprouted flower arms and even clones in places she couldn't see... As long as "Hakuba" stays within the range of Robin's powers, he is destined to be neutralized by them.
This is what Robin meant in the manga when she said, "In front of me, speed is meaningless."
B.I.B. nodded toward the main body and trailed closely behind Cavendish, scanning the palace's library for Robin.
"Shall we head to the food street first?" Robin pointed at the map with a smile, asking the question.
Koala nodded obediently.
Marianne piped up, "I want to drink milk."
Robin, holding one child's hand while the other sat on Liam's shoulder, led the four of them toward the heart of Bourgeois Kingdom.
......
Their group naturally attracted the attention of those around them.
However, Liam clearly paid no mind to the gazes of others, while Robin remained more cautious, occasionally using her Flower-Flower Fruit to sprout eyes and ears in nearby corners, keeping an eye on the situation.
Marianne, seated on Liam's shoulder, sipped her milk and licked her ice cream, completely lost in her own little world.
Koala, holding her ice cream, felt a bit overwhelmed by the busy street, as if every passerby's eyes were probing her, trying to see the mark on her back...
Liam and Robin leisurely strolled along with the two children, eating, shopping, buying clothes, and visiting a few bookstores. Before they knew it, the sun had already started to set.
At that moment, a "bururu bururu" sound came from Robin's shoulder bag.
She took out the small green Den Den Mushi, fed it some food, and watched it open its mouth wide.
Robin peered inside, then turned to say, "She's awake."
Liam, having a blast tossing cake with Marianne and Koala, raised his hand and called out, "Ceasefire!"
Pā jī, a piece of cake splattered right onto Liam's face.
Liam wiped the cream off his face, playfully rubbing Marianne's chubby cheeks. With Koala giggling along, they all made their way toward the green Den Den Mushi's city fortress.
When they arrived at the restaurant to prepare for lunch, they found Prince Cavendish already waiting there. In his hand, he held an Eternal Pose…
(End of Chapter)