"Sky Island?"
Ain and Koala repeated the name in unison, exchanging wide-eyed glances.
"Could it be that?" Koala whispered, her excitement barely contained.
Mentioning Sky Island inevitably brought to mind the legendary Golden City that Luffy had often talked about with unrestrained enthusiasm. For months, he had grumbled to anyone who would listen that the Revolutionary Army's progress was agonizingly slow. With no updates on the Golden City, he even began to suspect his father, Dragon, of embezzling the treasures to fund his army.
Now, hearing Robin mention Sky Island again, and claiming these items were highly valuable, both Ain and Koala immediately thought of the shiny treasures Luffy had dreamed of.
Robin, seeing their eager expressions, smiled knowingly and nodded. "Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking."
Hearing this confirmation, the two women suddenly forgot their exhaustion. They rushed toward the stacked wooden crates, ignoring everything else.
Before they could pry open the boxes, Robin stepped in front of them, raising her hand to stop their eager approach. Her expression was calm, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone.
"These are only a small portion of what we brought back," she explained. "Our ships couldn't carry too much at once. There will be more in the future." She paused and added teasingly, "For now, let's focus on finding the great Vice Admiral. I'm sure he'd love to chat."
Koala and Ain barely registered Robin's playful jab. Their attention was fixed on the more than fifty large wooden crates stacked neatly on the lift.
"If this is just a small part," Ain murmured, swallowing hard, "I can't even imagine how much gold is in the Golden City."
Without wasting another moment, Ain dashed off to gather the Marines and workers to help transport the treasure.
Koala, however, had no patience for logistics. Pushing through the crowd, she summoned her Devil Fruit abilities, conjuring flame clouds to lift all the wooden crates effortlessly.
Robin, watching this display, raised an eyebrow in surprise. It had only been a few months since she had last seen Koala, and she hadn't expected her to become a Devil Fruit user.
"Interesting," Robin mused quietly. But before she could inquire further, Ain returned and gestured for everyone to move quickly.
Without waiting for instructions, Koala guided the crates using her flame clouds. Robin and Ain boarded one of the crates, and the group soared toward the Flower Capital.
Within minutes, they reached the outskirts of the capital, landing in a run-down area once known as the "Garbage District." Luffy had since renamed it the "Marine District."
In the past, the residents of this area survived by scavenging through the waste discarded by the Flower Capital. After Luffy's takeover, he relocated the inhabitants, providing them with stable jobs and housing in more prosperous areas like Hakumai.
Once the area was vacated, Luffy demolished the dilapidated buildings, planning to rebuild the site into a comprehensive Marine hub with research facilities, training grounds, and logistics storage.
On their way, Ain had alerted the staff to clear the construction site. By the time they arrived, the workers and guards had been evacuated, leaving the vast area eerily silent.
Koala landed the crates in front of a nondescript building. "This way," she said, leading the group inside.
The building, a temporary shelter for the craftsmen working on the project, was unremarkable. It was slated for demolition once construction was complete, with plans to plant trees in its place to obscure the area from prying eyes.
But beneath the surface lay something far more significant.
Long before construction began, Luffy had hollowed out the underground using his abilities, creating a hidden vault to store his treasures.
Ain approached a slightly raised patch of ground near the entrance and tapped on a watch strapped to her wrist. Instantly, the ground shifted, revealing a wide underground passageway that sloped downward.
The passage was large enough to accommodate seven or eight people walking side by side. Koala directed the crates into the tunnel with her flame clouds and turned to Robin, explaining, "This is where we keep all our treasures and spoils. There are several hidden passages, and one even connects directly to the Marine base in the Flower Capital."
Robin nodded, intrigued by the design. As the last of the crates disappeared into the tunnel, she followed Koala down the dimly lit passage.
The passage was dark at first, but as soon as the entrance closed, lights embedded in the ceiling flickered on, illuminating the way. Koala, walking ahead, glanced back at Robin with a smug grin.
"What do you think?" she asked, her tone proud. "Pretty impressive, right? This entire system was designed by Sister Olivia. She might have a… unique personality, but her work is nothing short of brilliant."
Robin raised an eyebrow at the mention of Olivia, silently taking note of the name. Though Koala's comments hinted at eccentricities—perhaps even moral flexibility—it was clear that Luffy had surrounded himself with highly capable individuals.
Watching Koala's confident demeanor and the smooth efficiency of the operation, Robin realized that Luffy's influence had grown far beyond what she had expected.
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