Chapter 438: Storm Brewing at the Coffee Shop

Seeing Robin look like this, Bruno just smiled softly and set the menu in front of her.

“No need to be so tense. Drinks here are actually pretty good.”

“And trust me, my brewing skills aren’t half bad.”

“Then I’ll have a coffee.” Now that things had come to this, Robin just wanted to hear what this so-called CP9 agent from the World Government wanted with her.

The two of them talked for more than ten minutes. No one knew what exactly was said, but Robin’s face grew colder and colder.

Bang!

“I hope I’m not interrupting?”

Wearing a mask, Ye Fan suddenly pushed open the café door and strode inside.

“Robin, don’t tell me you’re really thinking of leaving with them?”

“Who are you?” Bruno heard the familiar voice, but for a moment couldn’t quite believe it.

“Ye Fan?”

“How did you end up here?” Robin hadn’t expected the person barging in would be Ye Fan.

Had Ye Fan just overheard all their conversation? The thought drained the color from Robin’s face.

She planned to sacrifice herself to save Luffy and the others. After all, she knew just how terrifying the World Government could be. Though she trusted in Luffy’s strength, that didn’t mean she wanted to see anyone get hurt—especially when it came to facing an enemy like the World Government.

“I’m Ye Fan. So, you’re a CP9 agent?”

Ye Fan strode right up to Robin and plopped down in the seat next to her, mask covering his face as his eyes fixed on Bruno across the table.

“What’s your goal here?” Bruno didn’t want this uninvited newcomer disrupting his carefully-laid plans.

If they managed to capture Robin, it would be a huge accomplishment for their group.

After years of watching Iceburg here, they were restless, but now with a big merit right in front of them, how could they not go all out?

Ye Fan suddenly turned to Robin and asked, “Robin, do you know why Luffy set sail in the first place?”

The question caught Robin completely off guard.

But in her heart, Robin already knew—Ye Fan had probably overheard everything said between her and Bruno just now.

“Luffy… well, he’s not always the most reliable, but his goal is to become King of the Pirates.” Robin hesitated.

Even as she spoke the words, Robin realized something was off.

After all, the first Pirate King, Roger, died at the hands of the World Government. If Luffy’s dream was to become Pirate King, then they’d inevitably clash with the World Government someday. There was no room for surrender.

Seeing the understanding flicker across Robin’s face, Ye Fan knew she’d caught his meaning. If Luffy wanted to be Pirate King, war with the World Government was inevitable—there was no point in backing down.

“Plus, isn’t this just CP9? If you’re still worried, think about it—at your current strength, there’s no way he can force you to go.”

Ye Fan wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest.

Everyone on the ship had been boosted by his Great Revitalizing Pill. At this point, Robin could take on ten Brunos without breaking a sweat.

Even in the New World, only one or two Great Revitalizing Pills make it onto the market every year—yet somehow, everyone here got their own supply.

“Hey, I’m warning you—not to challenge the World Government.”

“You have no idea how powerful the World Government is.” Bruno wasn’t trying to sound weak, but the murderous intent radiating from Ye Fan was enough to make his whole body go numb and icy.

This reaction? Most people call it pure instinctive fear.

“Wagada!”

But Ye Fan waited and waited. Robin still didn’t act, so it was clear to him she was still haunted by the threat of the Buster Call.

“Don’t worry. I know you’re scared. But soon, you’ll realize a Buster Call is really nothing to be afraid of.” Ye Fan waved his hand in front of Robin, telling her not to worry.

Clang!

Bruno had just started to turn and run, when suddenly a longsword was resting on his shoulder—no one knew when it had appeared.

“I’m not done talking. You think you can just walk away?” Ye Fan’s killing intent locked onto Bruno alone, making him freeze on the spot, his limbs icy cold.

“What do you want?” Bruno, with no way forward, had to turn and ask Ye Fan.

He looked calm on the surface, but his heart was racing with terror. No one expected Ye Fan’s bounty and his real strength to be so far apart. The moment Ye Fan let loose, Bruno felt like an old granny was waving him over to his grave.

“Are you seriously going to go against the World Government?”

“Let me go now and I’ll pretend I never saw either of you.” Bruno softened his tone a bit. He had no intention of wasting his life here for nothing.

“Robin, what do you think we should do?”

Ye Fan tossed the question Robin’s way, as she quietly sipped her coffee.

“For now, let’s just lock him up.”

Robin was still wavering inside. She honestly didn’t know if Luffy and the others could stand up to a Buster Call. Everyone knew one could wipe out a small or medium island in an instant.

Everything she’d witnessed along the way made her more confident in the crew’s strength, but facing the World Government, with eight centuries of history behind it, left her feeling uneasy.

“Fine, Bruno. Count yourself lucky today.”

Ye Fan withdrew the longsword, which vanished instantly—it was a metal sword created by his Elementalization ability.

Bang!

With a flick of his hand, Ye Fan tossed a huge coil of rope onto the bar. “You know what to do!”

……

Meanwhile, Kaku—with his long nose—arrived at the Going Merry.

“Hmm, that’s a strong gunpowder smell. Was there a battle here just now?” Kaku landed on the deck, instantly picking up the heavy scent.

“Who are you??”

A young boy walked out of the cabin.

“And you are?” Kaku was surprised. He’d worked as a shipwright for a few years now, and this boy looked oddly familiar. But, as a secret agent, what could he possibly have in common with a random kid?

“I’m Kaku—a shipwright. Miss Nami invited me to check out this ship.” Clearly, this little guy was guarding the ship. Even if he didn’t know what the boy could do, if he’d been trusted as a guard, he was probably pretty strong. Kaku didn’t want to cause any trouble.

“Wagada, come on in.”

Merry eyed the man who looked so much like Usopp. Sensing no ill intent, he didn’t stop him and instead circled the ship with him, checking it over together.

Elsewhere, Rob Lucci headed toward the café.

In fact, the moment Nami and the others arrived on the island, they’d already spotted Robin on the ship. Bruno’s job was to lure her out to that drink shop so they could set their next plan in motion.

Franky’s men returned to Franky House, a warehouse they’d remodeled into their hideout.

“Boss Franky, there’s a new ship docked at the port. Looks really sturdy!”

“Oh, Super!!”

Franky tossed a pose and strode down from his seat wearing nothing but a pair of bright red shorts.